Agriculture

Milk Regulatory Equity Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2005

Milk Regulatory Equity Act of 2005 - Amends the the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to subject specified Class I milk handlers (including producer-handlers) to federal milk marketing order minimum and uniform price requirements applicable to the county in which the plant of the handler is located, at federal order class prices, if the handler has packaged fluid milk product route dispositions, or sales of packaged fluid milk products to other plants, in a marketing area located in a state that requires handlers to pay minimum prices for raw milk purchases. Exempts from such provision: (1) a handler operating a nonpool plant; (2) a producer-handler for any month during which packaged fluid milk route dispositions and sales to other plants are less than three million pounds of milk; or (3) specified handlers whose fluid milk products are disposed of as route dispositions or transfers, or whose dispositions or transfers are in states requiring minimum prices for raw milk purchases. Subjects a Class I milk handler in the Arizona-Las Vegas marketing area (Order 131) to minimum milk price requirements for any month in which the handler distributes in such area at least three million pounds of Class I products from his or her own production. States that minimum milk price and exemption provisions under this Act shall not be construed as affecting, expanding, or contracting the treatment of producer-handlers except as provided for by such provisions. Excludes Nevada from federal milk marketing orders.

To increase the renewable fuel content of gasoline sold in the United States by the year 2025 to 25 billion gallons, to require Federal agencies to use ethanol and biodiesel in government vehicles, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2005

Amends the Clean Air Act to extend to 2025 certain requirements increasing the applicable volume of renewable fuel in gasoline. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to require the head of each federal agency to ensure that, in areas in which ethanol-blended gasoline is reasonably available at a generally competitive price, the agency purchases such gasoline with at least 10% ethanol, rather than nonethanol-blended gasoline, for its vehicles that use gasoline. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to: (1) authorize appropriations for FY2007-FY2015 to the Department of Agriculture bioenergy program; and (2) direct the Secretary of Agriculture to give priority to production of both cellulosic ethanol, and hydrogen using ethanol technology. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make ethanol and biodiesel refining property eligible for 7-year depreciation. Creates a new flexible fuel hybrid motor vehicle income tax credit. Extends: (1) the alternative technology vehicle credit through calendar 2014; (2) the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit through calendar 2024; (3) the volumetric excise tax credit for alternative fuels and the alternative fuel mixture credit through FY2014; and (6) the biodiesel producer credit and the small ethanol producer credit through calendar 2024.

Sodium Fluoroacetate Elimination Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2005

Sodium Fluoroacetate Elimination Act - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the manufacture, processing, possession, or distribution in commerce of sodium fluoroacetate (known as Compound 1080). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) provide for the collection and destruction of remaining stocks of sodium fluoroacetate; and (2) compensate those (excepting a federal agency) transferring sodium fluoroacetate to the Secretary within 18 months of enactment. Amends federal criminal law to subject a person to fine or imprisonment for possession of sodium fluoroacetate.

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain real property in the Dixie National Forest in the State of Utah, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2005

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Dixie National Forest in Utah to Kirk R. Harrison. Requires proceeds from the conveyance to be used to acquire other real property or interests for inclusion in the Dixie National Forest.

Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2005

Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from taking any action that would permanently close, restrict, render or declare as unserviceable any aircraft landing strip located on federal land under their respective jurisdiction, unless: (1) the head of the aviation department of each state in which the aircraft landing strip is located approves the action; (2) notice of the proposed action has been published in the Federal Register; (3) a public comment period on the action has been provided; and (4) the relevant Secretary and the head of the aviation department of each state in which the affected aircraft landing strip is located have taken into consideration any comments received during the comment period. Directs the Secretaries to: (1) adopt a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues related to the management of federal land under their jurisdiction; and (2) require regional managers to adhere to it. Declares that a policy affecting air access to an aircraft landing strip located on federal land will not take effect unless certain conditions are met.

To provide for the conveyance of certain National Forest System land to the towns of Laona and Wabeno, Wisconsin, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2005

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey two specified parcels of National Forest System (NFS) land in Forest County, Wisconsin, to the towns of Laona and Wabeno, at their request, for use as industrial park sites in exchange for the appraised fair market value of the parcels. Authorizes the Secretary to sell specified parcels of NFS land located in Florence and Langlade counties, Wisconsin, for fair market value. Makes the proceeds available to the Secretary to acquire land for inclusion in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

A bill to provide a supplemental payment to assist agricultural producers in mitigating increasing input costs, including energy and fertilizer costs.

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2005

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make a supplemental payment (equal to the direct payment that the producer received for a 2005 crop) to assist agricultural producers in mitigating increasing input costs, including energy and fertilizer costs.

Agriculture Access to Justice Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2005

Agriculture Access to Justice Act - Amends the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act to: (1) revise requirements for the award of statutory damages in an action for intentional violation of the Act; (2) provide for recovery of attorneys fees by a prevailing defendant in certain circumstances; and (3) set a statute of limitations of two years after a specified request date for any claim.

Energy Consumer Relief Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2005

Energy Consumer Relief Act of 2005 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal oil and gas tax subsidies including: (1) the election to expense certain refineries; (2) treatment of natural gas distribution lines as 15-year property; (3) treatment of natural gas gathering lines as 7-year property; (4) the new rule for determining small refiner exception to oil depletion deduction; and (5) amortization of geological and geophysical expenditures. Repeals certain oil and gas production incentives, including those with respect to: (1) royalty relief for deep water production; (2) the Alaska offshore royalty suspension; (3) oil and gas leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska; (4) management of federal oil and gas leasing programs; (5) oil and gas research programs); and (6) ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resources. Instructs the President to suspend royalty relief for production of crude oil or natural gas from federal lands during periods in which the average price has risen over specified amounts. Requires that specified increased revenues received in the Treasury as the result of the enactment of this Act be made directly available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for obligation and expenditure under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a refundable tax credit for energy cost assistance for farmers and ranchers. Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish an Energy Emergency Grant Program to make grants to small business concerns that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of a significant increase in the price of heating oil, natural gas, gasoline, transportation fuel, propane, or kerosene.

To authorize farmers in the State of Louisiana to operate certain commercial motor vehicles anywhere in the State without a commercial drivers license until January 1, 2006.

United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2005

Authorizes an operator of a farm vehicle to operate without a commercial driver's license anywhere in the State of Louisiana until January 1, 2006.

Tax Relief for Private Forest Landowners Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005

Tax Relief for Private Forest Landowners Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow income averaging for individuals who sell or exchange timber, on the same basis as is currently allowed for individuals engaged in a farming or fishing business.

Forests for Future Generations Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005

Forests for Future Generations Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to develop research protocols for collecting and analyzing scientific information about the effectiveness and ecological impacts of catastrophic event recovery projects and emergency stabilization treatments undertaken as part of a burned area emergency response to increase the long-term benefits of management activities and to decrease short-term impacts. Requires such Secretaries to enter into at least one cooperative agreement with one land-grant college or university in each Forest Service Region to form forest health partnerships to utilize the education, research, and outreach capacity of land-grant colleges and universities to address the recovery of forested land after a catastrophic event. Requires such Secretaries to conduct catastrophic event recovery evaluations of damaged federal lands. Directs such Secretaries to prepare a list of pre-approved management practices that may be immediately implemented as part of catastrophic event recovery projects or catastrophic event research projects. Requires determinations of whether or not to: (1) use any pre-approved management practices that can be immediately implemented; and (2) develop and carry out a recovery or research project or part of such a project using the alternative arrangements authorized by this Act. Directs such Secretaries to clarify agency-wide guidance regarding reforestation in response to catastrophic events. Provides for assistance to restore landscapes and communities affected by catastrophic events. Directs such Secretaries to establish a community protection and recovery fund for each recovery project. Provides for the availability and use of pre-approved management practices and alternative arrangements on National Forest experimental forests.

Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005

Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005 - Directs the President: (1) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to revise the USAID country plan for Ethiopia to provide support for independent human rights monitoring and related training for government officials, and to provide support for training political parties on organization building, message development, and election monitoring; (2) through the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program of the Department of Justice, to provide training for Ethiopian police, security, and prison personnel in maintaining international standards for arrest and interrogation; (3) through USAID, to support programs to increase the independence and competence of the Ethiopian judicial system, and to provide assistance for development of Ethiopia's Nile and Awash River resources, including assistance to help Ethiopia with technology for the construction of dams, irrigation systems, and hydroelectric power that might prevent future famine; (4) provide financing for U.S.-Ethiopian commercial ventures; and (5) suspend joint security activities until a certification is made that Ethiopia is observing international human rights standards and enforcing the principle of the rule of law. Declares that the current stalemate in the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea has the potential to lead to conflict and must be addressed. Prohibits assistance to the governments of Ethiopia or Eritrea (with exceptions for assistance for democracy, peacekeeping, child survival and health, education, and agriculture) until the Secretary of State certifies that Ethiopia or Eritrea is taking steps to comply with the Algiers Agreements. Prohibits nonessential U.S. assistance to Ethiopia if the government of Ethiopia obstructs U.S. technical assistance to Ethiopian opposition parties.

African-American Farmers Benefits Relief Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005

African-American Farmers Benefits Relief Act of 2005 - Provides de novo review for qualifying claims filed under the consolidated class action action lawsuits of Pigford v. Veneman and Brewington v. Veneman.

Rural Water Supply Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005

Rural Water Supply Act of 2005 - Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a rural water supply program in reclamation states to: (1) investigate and identify opportunities to ensure safe and adequate rural water supply projects for domestic, municipal, and industrial use in small communities and rural areas; (2) plan the design and construction, through the conduct of appraisal investigations and feasibility studies, of such projects; and (3) oversee the construction of specified projects recommended in feasibility reports. Requires activities to be carried out in cooperation with a qualifying non-federal project entity. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and publish in the Federal Register criteria for determining the eligibility of a rural community for assistance and for prioritizing requests; and (2) develop a rural water programs assessment. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) proposed project appraisal investigations; and (2) recommended project feasibility studies. Twenty-First Century Water Works Act - Directs the Secretary to develop and publish criteria for determining the eligibility of a rural water supply project for financial assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to make available loan guarantees to lenders for a project meeting the criteria. Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of agreement providing for Department of Agriculture financial appraisal functions and loan guarantee administration for activities.

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to unilateral altering, by the European Union, of the standards for imports of certain wood products.

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005

Expresses the sense of Congress that the European Union's unilateral attempt to alter the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures Number 15 (ISPM 15) as it applies to imports of wood packaging materials violates the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Urges the President to ask the European Commission to agree to: (1) suspend the requirement that all wood packaging be debarked until there is credible scientific evidence of the need for such a standard; (2) allow the processing of relevant scientific data through authorized IPPC channels; (3) develop a clear definition of "debarked" wood packaging for pallets and containers, if the relevant IPPC entities conclude that changing ISPM 15 is technically justified, and communicate it to all participating nations in a clear and unambiguous manner; (4) allow sufficient time for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a system for using a "debark" mark or other stamp or indication for pallets and containers; and (5) establish an implementation date for the new requirement with which U.S. wood packaging manufacturers can reasonably comply.

THE ROLE OF U.S. AGRICULTURE IN THE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF AVIAN INFLUENZA

United States · United States Senate · 17 November 2005

A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to restore the original deadline for mandatory country of origin.

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2005

Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to change the country of origin labeling implementation date to September 30, 2006.

To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to implement mandatory country of origin labeling requirements for meat and produce on September 30, 2006.

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2005

Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to change the country of origin labeling implementation date to September 30, 2006.

SUPERFUND LAWS AND ANIMAL AGRICULTURE

United States · United States House of Representatives · 16 November 2005

Marc L. Kesselman, of Tennessee, to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture, vice Nancy Southard Bryson.

United States · United States Senate · 16 November 2005

Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2005

Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to define "beef," "lamb," "imported beef," "imported lamb," "United States beef," and "United States lamb." (Excludes from inclusion as "United States beef" or "United States lamb" beef or lamb produced from imported animals.) Deems misbranded imported beef or imported lamb that bears a label indicating a quality grade issued by the Secretary of Agriculture (thereby prohibiting the use of such labels on such imported products).

Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2005

Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act - Instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish in the Federal Register an oil savings target and action plan for specified calendar years. Amends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a national tire fuel efficiency program for passenger cars and light trucks. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a national testing and assessment program to determine the fuel economy of heavy duty vehicles. Instructs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) prescribe average heavy duty vehicle fuel economy standards; and (2) conduct a research and development program for electric drive transportation technology. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a lightweight material research and development program. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy to accelerate efforts to improve hybrid technologies. Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to allow an advanced technology motor vehicles manufacturing tax credit. Terminates the limitation on the number of qualified hybrid and advanced lean burn technology vehicles eligible for the alternative motor vehicle credit. Directs the Secretary of Energy to issue regulations requiring that by FY2016 each federal agency achieve at least a 30% reduction in its fleet petroleum consumption. Amends the IRC to: (1) establish a fuel-efficient tax credit for private fleets; (2) subject heavy vehicles to the depreciation limitation for certain luxury automobiles; and (3) increase the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit. Requires certain minimum percentages of light-duty motor vehicles manufactured for model years 2012 and beyond to use specified propulsion technologies and fuels. Amends federal transportation law to establish the Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Trust Fund. Amends the Clean Air Act to prescribe minimum annual quantities of renewable fuel from cellulosic biomass and sugar. Amends the the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a low-interest loan and grant program for farmer-owned ethanol producers to develop infrastructure, including pump stations, for the retail delivery of any fuel containing at least 85% ethanol. Amends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a program to designate Transit-Oriented Development Corridors. Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a national media campaign to decrease oil consumption in the United States over the next decade.

To enhance the effectiveness of rural business financing programs.

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2005

Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide rural business loan guarantees and grants to entities in urbanized areas if rural businesses would benefit from use of the financing. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary to provide renewable energy systems and energy improvement loan guarantees and grants to businesses in urbanized areas if rural businesses would benefit from use of the financing.

Agriculture Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2005

Agriculture Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency assistance to farm or aquacultural producers (other than sugarcane producers) in a disaster county who incurred qualifying crop or quality losses with respect to the 2004, 2005, or 2006 crop due to damaging weather or related condition. Limits: (1) assistance to only one crop year; and (2) 2006 crop losses to only those losses caused by a 2005 hurricane or tropical storm. Directs the Secretary to make emergency financial assistance to: (1) commercial ornamental nursery and fernery producers in a disaster county for eligible inventory losses due to a 2005 hurricane; (2) tropical fruit producers in a disaster county who have suffered a qualifying loss due to a 2005 hurricane; (3) citrus and vegetable producers in a disaster county for losses caused by a 2005 hurricane or tropical storm; (4) certain sugar processors in Florida and Louisiana to compensate first processors and producers for crop and other losses related to 2005 hurricanes, tropical storms, excessive rains, and floods; (5) livestock producers in a disaster county for 2005 or 2006 losses (as elected by a producer); and (6) producers in a disaster county for specified infrastructure losses caused by a 2005 hurricane. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include nursery trees, Christmas trees, pecan trees, timber, and forest products in the tree assistance program. Waives specified cost-sharing requirements related to 2005 hurricane assistance. Amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to include nursery or fernery crop producers in the emergency conservation program. Provides assistance for farm producers in a disaster county for repairing structures, barns, storage facilities, poultry houses, beehives, greenhouses, and shade houses due to 2005 hurricane damage. Provides emergency grants for low-income migrant and seasonal farmworker assistance. Provides assistance for: (1) reseeding, rehabilitation, and restoration of oyster reefs in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, or Mississippi; (2) fisheries disaster assistance; and (3) lump sum payments to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for assistance to persons in a disaster county who have experienced significant economic hardship due to the loss of fisheries, oysters, lobsters, stone crabs, or clams, destroyed or damaged processing facilities, or closures due to red tide or other water quality issues. Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to timber losses resulting from Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, or Wilma to: (1) increase allowable reforestation expenses; and (2) exempt such losses from capital loss limits.

To repeal the amendment made by section 796 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, exempting from harboring sanctions compensation for alien volunteers for certain religious organizations.

United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2005

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to repeal as if included in the enactment of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, the provision (section 796 of such Appropriations Act) exempting from harboring sanctions compensation for alien volunteers for certain religious organizations.

To provide for an automatic one-year extension of the authorizations of appropriations and direct spending programs of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and to provide for an additional one-year extension if implementing legislation is not submitted with respect to the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization negotiations by January 15, 2008, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2005

Provides for: (1) an automatic one-year extension of the authorization of appropriations for a crop year and direct spending programs and authorities (other than such crop programs) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002; and (2) an additional one-year extension of them if the President does not submit implementing legislation to Congress with respect to the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations by January 15, 2008. Provides, with the exception of peanut storage costs, the same automatic one-year extension and additional one-year extension for: (1) authorizations of appropriations in the Act scheduled to expire on September 30, 2007; and (2) termination of a program or authority in calendar year 2007.

Agriculture Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2005

Agriculture Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency assistance to farm or aquacultural producers (other than sugarcane producers) in a disaster county who incurred qualifying crop or quality losses with respect to the 2004, 2005, or 2006 crop due to damaging weather or related condition. Limits: (1) assistance to only one crop year; and (2) 2006 crop losses to only those losses caused by a 2005 hurricane or tropical storm. Directs the Secretary to make emergency financial assistance to: (1) commercial ornamental nursery and fernery producers in a disaster county for eligible inventory losses due to a 2005 hurricane; (2) tropical fruit producers in a disaster county who have suffered a qualifying loss due to a 2005 hurricane; (3) citrus and vegetable producers in a disaster county for losses caused by a 2005 hurricane or tropical storm; (4) certain sugar processors in Florida and Louisiana to compensate first processors and producers for crop and other losses related to 2005 hurricanes, tropical storms, excessive rains, and floods; (5) livestock producers in a disaster county for 2005 or 2006 losses (as elected by a producer); and (6) producers in a disaster county for specified infrastructure losses caused by a 2005 hurricane. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include nursery trees, Christmas trees, pecan trees, timber, and forest products in the tree assistance program. Waives specified cost-sharing requirements related to 2005 hurricane assistance. Amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to include nursery or fernery crop producers in the emergency conservation program. Provides assistance for farm producers in a disaster county for repairing structures, barns, storage facilities, poultry houses, beehives, greenhouses, and shade houses due to 2005 hurricane damage. Provides emergency grants for low-income migrant and seasonal farmworker assistance. Provides assistance for: (1) reseeding, rehabilitation, and restoration of oyster reefs in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, or Mississippi; (2) fisheries disaster assistance; and (3) lump sum payments to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for assistance to persons in a disaster county who have experienced significant economic hardship due to the loss of fisheries, oysters, lobsters, stone crabs, or clams, destroyed or damaged processing facilities, or closures due to red tide or other water quality issues. Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to timber losses resulting from Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, or Wilma to: (1) increase allowable reforestation expenses; and (2) exempt such losses from capital loss limits.

Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2005

Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan African Countries Act of 2005 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to provide technical assistance to small and medium enterprises in sub-Saharan African countries. Authorizes the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to small and medium enterprises in such countries for: (1) financial sector improvement; (2) financial institution lending programs; (3) technology and information resources; (4) rural and peri-urban business development; (5) small business development in post-conflict states; (6) youth entrepreneurship programs; (7) intellectual property rights protection; and (8) anti-corruption initiatives. Directs: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative to develop a comprehensive plan to expand agricultural trade between sub-Saharan African countries and the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act; (2) the Secretary of State to undertake actions to strengthen internationally recognized labor rights and standards in sub-Saharan African countries; (3) the Secretary of Labor to undertake activities to promote social dialog among business, government, labor, and nongovernmental organizations; (4) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to provide training and technical assistance to producers to ensure that their exports meet U.S. requirements; (5) the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Foreign Agriculture Service, to undertake activities to improve market access for U.S. agricultural products in sub-Saharan African countries; (6) the President, through USAID, to provide technical assistance to eligible sub-Saharan countries to meet African Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility requirements, and to provide such countries with transportation and communications infrastructure; and (7) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to conduct trade training programs for U.S. small businesses which convey basic information on selling goods to foreign markets, including markets in sub-Saharan African countries.

Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2005

Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements Act of 2005 - Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to make permanent the authorization for the Secretary of Agriculture to use Forest Service appropriations for the purpose of entering into cooperative agreements with government, private, and nonprofit entities and landowners for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other resources on public or private land and/or the reduction of risk from natural disaster.

BSE and Other Prior Disease Prevention and Public Health Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2005

BSE and Other Prion Disease Prevention and Public Health Protection Act - Prohibits the importation of a covered article that: (1) if containing animal-derived material, does not state in English that the covered article contains animal-derived material and the name of the derivative animal, and if a ruminant, identifies the country of origin and states whether specified risk material from the ruminant is or may be part of the covered article; (2) if not containing animal-derived material, does not state in English that the covered article does not contain animal-derived material; and (3) contains animal-derived material from a ruminant that was in any country at a time at which there was a transmission risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Prohibits the introduction into interstate or foreign commerce of a covered article that contains: (1) specified risk material from a ruminant, or any material from a ruminant that was in any foreign country when there was a BSE transmission risk; or (2) any material from a ruminant exhibiting signs of a neurological disease. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) develop an enforcement plan for the regulatory ban of certain animal proteins in ruminant feed; (2) promulgate regulations prohibiting same-farm admixing of ruminant and nonruminant feed; (3) in conjunction with the National Prion Disease Pathology Research Center at Case Western Reserve University, expand survey efforts for prion diseases in humans; and (4) monitor animal feed and provide for the registration of certain animal feed businesses. Directs the Secretary to accelerate the establishment of a ruminant identification program capable of tracing, within 48 hours, the movements of disease-exposed animals from birth to slaughter. Directs the Secretaries to: (1) jointly establish a prion disease task force; and (2) develop appropriate compliance standards. Defines: (1) covered article; (2) prion disease; and (3) specified risk material.

Providing that any agreement relating trade and investment that is negotiated by the executive branch with other countries must comply with certain minimum standards.

United States · United States Congress · 10 November 2005

Urges the compliance of any trade and investment agreement that is negotiated by the executive branch with other foreign countries with certain minimum standards regarding: (1) investor and investment policy; (2) specified services; (3) policies to support American workers and small, minority, and women-owned businesses; (4) environmental, labor, and other public interests; (5) U.S. trade laws; (6) food safety; (7) agriculture and food security; (8) transparency; (9) governmental authority; (10) access to medicines and seeds; and (11) special treatment for developing countries.

Health Freedom Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2005

Health Freedom Protection Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to provide that a food or dietary supplement is not a drug solely because the label or labeling contains a claim to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from: (1) restricting the reprinting and distribution or sale of any U.S. government publication or any accurate quotations of such a publication, including content concerning nutrients and disease treatment or prevention; or (2) construing the distribution or sale of, or accurate quotation from, such a publication in connection with the sale of a food or dietary supplement as evidence of an intent to sell that food or dietary supplement as a drug. Requires the Secretary to allow claims on food or nutrient labeling that characterize the relationship of a nutrient to the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of a disease (with no more than a three-sentence disclaimer) unless the Secretary proves by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) there is no scientific evidence that supports the claim; and (2) the claim is inherently misleading and incapable of being rendered nonmisleading through the addition of a disclaimer. Authorizes the use of specified health claims on the label of all foods and dietary supplements, including claims related to saw palmetto, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and calcium. Allows a statement for a dietary supplement to include words that are recognized as signs or symptoms of disease so long as the statement does not include the name of a specific disease. Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to exempt from being regulated as advertising: (1) government publications exempted from reprinting or distribution restrictions under FFDCA; or (2) accurate summaries of scientific publications. Places the burden of proof that an advertisement for a dietary supplement or ingredient is false and misleading on the Federal Trade Commission.

Captive Supply Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2005

Captive Supply Reform Act - Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 respecting livestock producer-packer forward contracts to: (1) require the inclusion of fixed dollar amount base pricing and public bidding; (2) prohibit formula pricing; (3) limit individual contract size; and (4) exclude from the definition of "formula price" futures-based prices and base adjustments resulting from factors outside packer control.

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2005

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 - Provides for reconciliation of the budget for FY2006 pursuant to H.Con.Res. 95 (congressional budget resolution) by the House Committees on: (1) Agriculture; (2) Education and the Workforce; (3) Energy and Commerce; (4) Financial Services; (5) the Judiciary; (6) Resources; (7) Transportation and Infrastructure; and (8) Ways and Means. Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 2005 - Prescribes or revises requirements for: (1) reduction of covered commodities and peanuts program payments; (2) reduction in advance direct payments; (3) cotton competitiveness; (4) reduction in the use of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for watershed rehabilitation programs; (5) reductions in funds for the conservation security program; (6) limitations on use of CCC funds for agricultural management assistance programs; and (7) termination of the use of CCC funds for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements programs. Terminates funding for enhanced access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas, valued-added agricultural product market development grants, rural business investment programs, rural business strategic investment grants, rural firefighters and emergency personnel grants, and for initiative for future food and agriculture systems. Revises requirements for the food stamp program, commodities for the emergency food assistance program, and food stamp residency requirements with respect to qualified aliens. Authorizes federal payments to states for 100% of administrative costs relating to disaster food stamp programs in effect during the presidentially declared emergency in response to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2005 - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) require universal engagement and family self-sufficiency plans with respect to block grants to states for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); and (2) revise work participation requirements and work-related performance improvement. Promotion and Support of Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Act of 2005 - Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to establish a fatherhood program. Amends the SSA to provide state option to make TANF programs mandatory partners with one-stop employment training centers. Expresses the sense of Congress that a state welfare-to-work program should include a mentoring program. Places a prohibition on offshoring for states who receive block grants for TANF. Caring for Children Act of 2005 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 with respect to child care and a waiver of authority to expand the availability of services under such Act. Establishes program coordination demonstration projects. Higher Education Budget Reconciliation Act of 2005 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to: (1) student loans; (2) unsubsidized Stafford loans; (3) elimination on termination dates from Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act of 2004; (4) loan fees from lenders; and (5) higher education relief. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums. Medicaid Reconciliation Act of 2005 - Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) regarding: (1) prescription drugs under Medicaid; (2) revision of asset transfer rules; (3) expanded access to certain benefits; (4) managed care organization provider tax reform; (5) Medicaid transformation grants; (6) modified enforcement of documentation requirements; (7) emergency services furnished by noncontract providers for Medicaid managed care enrollees; (8) adjustment in computation of Medicaid federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to disregard an extraordinary employer pension contribution; (9) Health Opportunity Accounts; (10) Hurricane Katrina health care relief; and (11) Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Energy Relief. Digital Television Transition Act of 2005 - Provides for: (1) additional deadlines for the analog spectrum recovery; (2) auction of recovered spectrum; (3) revision of the Digital Television Conversion Fund; (4) establishment of a digital-to-analog converter box program and a Public Safety Interoperable Communications Fund; (5) low-power television transition and digital-to-analog conversion; (6) consumer education regarding analog televisions; and (7) deployment of broadband wireless technologies. Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 - Requires merger of the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund into the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF). Revises requirements for deposit insurance coverage, reserve ratio and reserve range, and DIF restoration plans. Requires studies of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) structure, expenses, certain activities, and further possible changes to the deposit insurance system. FHA Asset Disposition Act of 2005 - Provides for Federal Housing Administration asset disposition. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require fees with respect to immigration services for intracompany transferees. Federal Judgeship Act of 2005 - Provides for: (1) circuit judges for the circuit courts of appeals; (2) district judges for the district courts; (3) establishment of a judicial district in the Virgin Islands; and (4) revisions of the jurisdiction of the Virgin Islands court and its jurisdiction over income tax matters. Enhanced Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2005 - Provides for: (1) additional bankruptcy judgeships; (2) temporary bankruptcy judgeships; and (3) conversion of existing temporary bankruptcy judgeships. Judicial Administration and Improvements Act of 2005 - Modifies: (1) the number and composition of circuit courts; (2) the number of circuit judges; (3) places of circuit courts; and (4) requirements for judicial assignments. Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2005 - Provides for: (1) a leasing program for lands within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and (2) national mining and minerals policy. Northern Nevada Sustainable Development in Mining Act - Provides for disposal of certain public lands in Nevada. Central Idaho Sustainable Development in Mining Act - Provides for disposal of certain public lands in Idaho. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to modify requirements for commercial leasing of oil shale and tar sands. Ocean State Options Act of 2005 - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act regarding: (1) determination of adjacent zones and planning areas; (2) administration of leasing, including natural gas leases; (3) reservation of lands and rights; (4) environmental studies; and (5) review of OCS development and production plans. Federal Energy Natural Resources Enhancement Fund Act of 2005 - Establishes the Federal Energy Natural Resources Enhancement Fund. Terminates the effect of all existing federal law prohibiting the spending of appropriated funds to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities for OCS areas. Renames the Minerals Management Service as the National Ocean Energy and Royalty Service. Rigs to Reefs Act of 2005 - Authorizes use of decommissioned offshore oil and gas platforms and other facilities for mariculture, artificial reef, and scientific research, or other uses. Establishes the Federal Energy and Mineral Resources Professional Development (FEMRPD) Fund. Energy and Mineral Schools Reinvestment Act - Requires use of FEMRPD funds to maintain and restore historic and existing petroleum and mining engineering education programs. Establishes a Committee on Petroleum, Mining, and Mineral Engineering and Energy and Mineral Resource Education. Prohibits new OCS onshore and offshore mineral lease fees after January 1, 2005. Establishes the Atlantic OCS Region and the Pacific OCS Region headquarters. National Geologic Data and Mapping Fund Act of 2005 - Establishes the National Geological Data and Mapping Fund. Prescribes requirements for: (1) leases for areas located within 100 miles of California or Florida; (2) the sale and conveyance of certain federal lands; and (3) extension of vessel tonnage duties. Work, Marriage, and Family Promotion Reconciliation Act of 2005 - Amends the SSA to modify requirements relating to: (1) the TANF program; (2) child (foster) care; (3) child support; (4) child welfare; and (5) supplemental security income (SSI). Promotion and Support of Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Act of 2005 (sic) - Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to establish a fatherhood program. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to repeal requirements for the annual distribution of the continued dumping and subsidy offset.

Influenza Preparedness and Prevention Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2005

Influenza Preparedness and Prevention Act of 2005 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to stockpile antivirals, pandemic influenza vaccines, and essential supplies for a pandemic influenza. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit any cause of action for liability related to a qualified pandemic or epidemic product or a security countermeasure, with an exception for willful misconduct. Requires the Secretary to establish a buyback protocol to purchase excess stocks of influenza vaccine. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop a regulatory roadmap to address issues surrounding emergency use authorization of influenza vaccine. Establishes the Office of Safety Evaluation and Pandemic Preparedness. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to develop a public education campaign about pandemic influenza and preparedness. Requires the United States Geological Survey to carry out an interagency effort to detect avian influenza in wild birds. Provides for the expansion and intensification of influenza research. Requires the Director of CDC to expand and intensify Global Disease Detection Initiative efforts. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) a proposal to study the feasibility of establishing a Pandemic Fund to support pandemic influenza control and relief activities. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to expand and intensify efforts to prevent pandemic influenza. Requires states, as a condition of receiving funds from CDC or the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to have a Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain farming business machinery and equipment as 5-year property for purposes of depreciation.

United States · United States Congress · 4 November 2005

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a five-year depreciation recovery period for certain farming business machinery or equipment placed in service before January 1, 2010.

Farmers Tax Deferral Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2005

Farmers Tax Deferral Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat the exchange of qualified agricultural property as a like-kind exchange for purposes of allowing the nonrecognition or deferral of gain from such exchange; and (2) allow installment sales treatment of such property. Defines "qualified agricultural property" as any single purpose agricultural or horticultural property and any equipment or fixtures related to such property.

Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2005

Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to develop research protocols for collecting and analyzing scientific information about the effectiveness and ecological impacts of catastrophic event recovery projects and emergency stabilization treatments undertaken as part of a burned area emergency response to increase the long-term benefits of management activities and to decrease short-term impacts. Requires such Secretaries to enter into cooperative agreements with land-grant colleges and universities to form forest health partnerships to utilize their education, research, and outreach capacity to address the recovery of forested land after a catastrophic event. Requires such Secretaries to conduct catastrophic event recovery evaluations of damaged federal lands. Directs such Secretaries to prepare a list of pre-approved management practices that may be immediately implemented as part of catastrophic event recovery projects or catastrophic event research projects. Requires determinations of whether or not to: (1) use any pre-approved management practices that can be immediately implemented; and (2) develop and carry out a recovery or research project or part of such a project using the alternative arrangements authorized by this Act. Directs such Secretaries to clarify agency-wide guidance regarding reforestation in response to catastrophic events. Provides for assistance to restore landscapes and communities affected by catastrophic events. Provides for the availability and use of pre-approved management practices and alternative arrangements on National Forest experimental forests.

A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain real property in the Dixie National Forest in the State of Utah, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2005

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Dixie National Forest in Utah to Kirk R. Harrison. Requires proceeds from the conveyance to be used to acquire other real property or interests for inclusion in the Dixie National Forest.

To authorize appropriate action if negotiations with Japan to allow the resumption of United States beef exports are not successful, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 28 October 2005

Directs: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative to certify to Congress by December 15, 2005, that Japan is no longer prohibiting the importation of U.S. beef; (2) the Secretary of the Treasury, if such certification is not made, to impose additional tariffs (which shall continue until the certification is submitted to Congress) on Japan by December 31, 2005; and (3) the Secretary of Agriculture to begin negotiations with Japan to end such beef import prohibitions.

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2005

Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005 - Provides for reconciliation of the budget for FY2006 pursuant to H.Con.Res. 95 (congressional budget resolution) by the Senate Committees on: (1) Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; (2) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (3) Commerce, Science, and Transportation; (4) Energy and Natural Resources; (5) Environment and Public Works; (6) Finance; (7) Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and (8) the Judiciary. Agricultural Reconciliation Act of 2005 - Provides for: (1) reduction of commodity program payments; (2) a forfeiture penalty for nonrecourse sugar loans; (3) cotton competitiveness; (4) national dairy market loss payments; (5) advance direct payments; (6) a conservation reserve program; (7) a conservation security program; (8) environmental quality incentives program; and (9) an initiative for future agriculture and food systems. Safe and Fair Deposit Insurance Act of 2005 - Provides for: (1) establishment of the Deposit Insurance Fund; and (2) a merger of the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund into it. Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 - Revises requirements for deposit insurance. FHA Asset Disposition Act of 2005 - Provides for Federal Housing Administration asset disposition. Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 - Provides for: (1) an extension of a television broadcast license that authorizes analog television service; (2) additional deadlines for the recovered analog spectrum; (3) supplemental license fees; (4) establishment of the Digital Transition and Public Safety Fund; and (5) additional funds for the essential air service program. Authorizes leasing, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 Coastal Plain Area (ANWR). Makes technical corrections to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Amends the Social Security Act regarding: (1) payment for prescription drugs under Medicaid; (2) long-term care under Medicaid; (3) eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid; (3) state financing under Medicaid; (4) revising the Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) programs; and (5) an option for Hurricane Katrina disaster states to delay application. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) with respect to student loans. Hurricane Katrina Higher Education Recovery Act - Requires waiver authority and modifications to certain HEA provisions with respect to certain students and institutions affected by Hurricane Katrina. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Education to audit and investigate each program carried out by the Department that includes response and recovery activities related to Hurricane Katrina. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums. Higher Education Amendments of 2005 - Amends HEA with respect to specified higher education programs. Amends: (1) the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986; (2) the United States Institute of Peace Act; (3) the Higher Education Amendments of 1998; and (4) the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978. Navajo Nation Higher Education Act of 2005 - Reauthorizes the Navajo Community College Act. Changes the name of the Navajo Community College to Dine College. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to recapture unused employment-based immigrant visas and to impose fees for immigration services for intracompany transferees.

Los Padres National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2005

Los Padres National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2005 - Authorizes an exchange of approximately 340 acres held by the United Water Conservation District of California (the District lands) and approximately 440 acres of National Forest System lands. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to reserve easements in the conveyance of National Forest System lands for access to roads and trails, including perpetual unrestricted rights of pedestrian and equestrian access over all existing roads and trails. Requires the District to agree to construct a gravel parking area upon the District lands to provide access to the Potholes trail of the Los Padres National Forest. Permits the District to reasonably regulate vehicular access to the parking area. Exempts water rights from this land exchange. Permits the the values of the lands to be exchanged to be equalized through the payment of a cash equalization payment in excess of the statutory limit specified under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Provides for the costs of conducting this land exchange to be shared equally by the District and the Secretary. Adds the District lands acquired by the Secretary under this Act to the Los Padres National Forest.

National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2005

National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to prohibit any state or political subdivision from establishing or continuing in effect for any food in interstate commerce: (1) any requirement that is not identical to specified FFDCA provisions (that would result in materially different requirements), including those related to adulterated foods, unsafe food additives, and new animal drugs; or (2) any notification requirement that provides for a warning concerning the food's safety that is not identical to FFDCA provisions. Allows a state to petition for an exemption or to establish a national standard regarding any requirement under FFDCA or the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act relating to food regulation. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Service to provide such an exemption if the requirement: (1) protects an important public interest that would otherwise be unprotected; (2) would not cause any food to be in violation of any federal law; and (3) would not unduly burden interstate commerce. Allows a state to establish a requirement that would otherwise violate FFDCA provisions relating to national uniform nutrition labeling or this Act if the requirement is needed to address an imminent hazard to health that is likely to result in serious adverse health consequences and if other requirements are met. Declares that this Act does not preempt certain state and local laws relating to labeling or a consumer advisory relating to food sanitation imposed on a food establishment or recommended by the Secretary.

Waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 2744) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2005

Waives points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 2744) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes.

A bill to authorize appropriate action if negotiations with Japan to allow the resumption of United States beef exports are not successful, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2005

Directs: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative to certify to Congress by December 15, 2005, that Japan is no longer prohibiting the importation of U.S. beef; (2) the Secretary of the Treasury, if such certification is not made, to impose additional tariffs (which shall continue until the certification is submitted to Congress) on Japan by December 31, 2005; and (3) the Secretary of Agriculture to begin negotiations with Japan to end such beef import prohibitions.

Payment Limitation Integrity Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2005

Payment Limitation Integrity Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations to establish measurable standards to prevent the use of separate entities to exceed commodity payment limitations and to provide payments only to active farmers. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide that if the Secretary determines that a person has committed fraud in connection with the adoption of a scheme or device to evade payment limitations such person shall be ineligible for farm program payments in the crop year for which the scheme or device was adopted and the succeeding five crop years.

Equine Equity Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2005

Equine Equity Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat any race horse as three-year property for depreciation purposes; and (2) reduce to 12 months the holding period for capital gains treatment of horses. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to include horses in livestock assistance, compensation, or feed programs. Amends certain agricultural acts to qualify horses for disaster and other assistance programs. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to qualify horse breeders for emergency loans under the agricultural credit program.

Renewable Diesel Standard Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2005

Renewable Diesel Standard Act of 2005 - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue regulations to ensure that the U.S. diesel fuel supply contains a specified annual volume (in gallons) of renewable fuel in 2008 through 2015. (Requires the percentage of renewable fuel in the U.S. diesel motor pool to be .006 for 2008 if the Administrator fails to promulgate such regulations.) Directs the Administrator to set the standard for renewable fuel content for 2016 and thereafter in consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy, according to a specified formula, taking into consideration certain economic and environmental factors. Establishes a program of credits for diesel fuel producers who exceed the renewable fuel standards established by this Act. Authorizes the Administrator, upon the petition of one or more states, to waive renewable fuel content requirements for economic, environmental, or supply reasons.

Virgie S. Arden American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2005

Virgie S. Arden American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act - Amends the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to detain for examination, testing, or the taking of evidence: (1) any horse at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction which is sore or which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is sore; and (2) any horse or other equine which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is being shipped, transported, moved, delivered, received, possessed, purchased, sold, or donated in violation of such prohibition.