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United States · Law · S

S. 3447 (95th)

Agricultural Trade Act of 1978

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

23 August 1978

Last action

21 October 1978 · President

Status

Public Law 95-501.

Sponsors

Sen. Stone, Richard (Dick) [D-FL], Sen. Morgan, Robert B. [D-NC]

Subjects

Agriculture

Source updated

14 January 2025

Agriculture

Summary

Agricultural Export Trade Expansion Act - Title I: Intermediate Credit - Amends the Food for Peace Act of 1966 to authorize the Commodity Credit Corporation to finance export sales of agricultural commodities on credit terms in excess of three years, but not more than ten years. Restricts such financing to export sales that will: (1) develop or maintain the importing nation as a foreign market for the commercial sale and export of United States agricultural commodities without displacing normal commercial sales; or (2) otherwise improve the capability of the importing nation to purchase and use, on a long-term basis, such commodities. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to obtain commitments from purchasers to prevent resale or transshipment to other nations of commodities, the domestic sale or distribution of reserve stocks, so financed. Establishes a penalty for noncompliance with such commitments. Exempts export sales financed under this title from the cargo preference laws. Title II: Commodity Credit Corporation Financing of Deferred Payment Sales; Credit Sales to the People's Republic of China - Directs the Secretary to provide Commodity Credit Corporation financing to exporters of agricultural products who wish to extend deferred payment terms of not to exceed three years to buyers in other nations in order to meet sales competition from other nations or to make additional export sales. Limits such financing of sales to nations eligible for financing under the Corporation's short-term export credit sales program. Authorizes the Corporation to provide short-term export credit and deferred payment financing for commercial sales of agricultural commodities out of private stocks on terms of not to exceed three years to the People's Republic of China. Title III: Agricultural Counselors - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to designate as Agricultural Counselors or Agricultural Attaches certain Department of Agriculture officers or employees assigned to posts abroad. Requires each Counselor or Attache to submit to the Secretary an annual report detailing the social, political, and economic factors affecting agriculture and agricultural trade in the nation or area to which such Counselor or Attache is assigned. Title IV: Establishment of United States Agricultural Trade Offices - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1954 to direct the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to establish abroad not less than six nor more than 25 United States Agricultural Trade Offices, for the purpose of developing, maintaining, and expanding international markets for United States agricultural commodities.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 23 August 1978

    Calendars

    Placed on calendar in Senate.

    Source: Calendars

  2. 23 August 1978

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, S. Rept. 95-1142.

    Source: Committee

  3. 23 August 1978

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, S. Rept. 95-1142.

    Source: Committee

  4. 23 August 1978

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 8 September 1978

    Floor

    Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.

    Source: Floor

  6. 8 September 1978

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #376 (65-1).

    Source: Floor

  7. 25 September 1978

    Passed

    Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 10584.

    Source: Floor

  8. 25 September 1978

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 10584.

    Source: Floor

  9. 25 September 1978

    Floor

    Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.

    Source: Floor

  10. 28 September 1978

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference scheduled in Senate.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  11. 29 September 1978

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference scheduled in House.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  12. 10 October 1978

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 95-1315.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  13. 10 October 1978

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 95-1315.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  14. 11 October 1978

    Passed

    Senate agreed to conference report.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  15. 11 October 1978

    Passed

    Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  16. 11 October 1978

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1755.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  17. 11 October 1978

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1755.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  18. 14 October 1978

    President

    Measure enrolled in Senate.

    Source: President

  19. 14 October 1978

    President

    Measure enrolled in House.

    Source: President

  20. 14 October 1978

    Vote

    House agreed to conference report, roll call #935 (356-4).

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  21. 14 October 1978

    Vote

    Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #935 (356-4).

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  22. 20 October 1978

    Floor

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  23. 20 October 1978

    President

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: President

  24. 21 October 1978

    President

    Public Law 95-501.

    Source: President

  25. 21 October 1978

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  26. 21 October 1978

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

· Official source

Yes 0 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0

    Versions

    No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

    Documents

    3 official files

    Public Law (PDF)

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    • Public Law (PDF)

      Public Law · EN · 22 October 1978

      ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    • Conference report filed in House

      summary · EN · 11 October 1978

      Open at official source

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    • Introduced in Senate

      summary · EN · 23 August 1978

      Open at official source

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    Sponsors

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