7 USC 612c: Appropriation to encourage exportation and domestic consumption of agricultural products
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7 USC 612c: Appropriation to encourage exportation and domestic consumption of agricultural products Text contains those laws in effect on January 4, 1995
From Title 7-AGRICULTURECHAPTER 26-AGRICULTURAL ADJUSTMENTSUBCHAPTER III-COMMODITY BENEFITS

§612c. Appropriation to encourage exportation and domestic consumption of agricultural products

There is appropriated for each fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1936 an amount equal to 30 per centum of the gross receipts from duties collected under the customs laws during the period January 1 to December 31, both inclusive, preceding the beginning of each such fiscal year. Such sums shall be maintained in a separate fund and shall be used by the Secretary of Agriculture only to (1) encourage the exportation of agricultural commodities and products thereof by the payment of benefits in connection with the exportation thereof or of indemnities for losses incurred in connection with such exportation or by payments to producers in connection with the production of that part of any agricultural commodity required for domestic consumption; (2) encourage the domestic consumption of such commodities or products by diverting them, by the payment of benefits or indemnities or by other means, from the normal channels of trade and commerce or by increasing their utilization through benefits, indemnities, donations or by other means, among persons in low income groups as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture; and (3) reestablish farmers' purchasing power by making payments in connection with the normal production of any agricultural commodity for domestic consumption. Determinations by the Secretary as to what constitutes diversion and what constitutes normal channels of trade and commerce and what constitutes normal production for domestic consumption shall be final. The sums appropriated under this section shall be expended for such one or more of the above-specified purposes, and at such times, in such manner, and in such amounts as the Secretary of Agriculture finds will effectuate substantial accomplishment of any one or more of the purposes of this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the amount that may be devoted, during any fiscal year after June 30, 1939, to any one agricultural commodity or the products thereof in such fiscal year, shall not exceed 25 per centum of the funds available under this section for such fiscal year. The sums appropriated under this section shall be devoted principally to perishable nonbasic agricultural commodities (other than those receiving price support under section 1446 of this title) and their products. The sums appropriated under this section shall, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, continue to remain available for the purposes of this section until expended; but any excess of the amount remaining unexpended at the end of any fiscal year over $300,000,000 shall, in the same manner as though it had been appropriated for the service of such fiscal year, be subject to the provisions of section 3690 1 of the Revised Statutes, and section 5 1 of the Act entitled "An Act making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-five, and for other purposes". A public or private nonprofit organization that receives agricultural commodities or the products thereof under clause (2) of the second sentence may transfer such commodities or products to another public or private nonprofit organization that agrees to use such commodities or products to provide, without cost or waste, nutrition assistance to individuals in low-income groups.

(Aug. 24, 1935, ch. 641, §32, 49 Stat. 774 ; Feb. 29, 1936, ch. 104, §2, 49 Stat. 1151 ; Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title II, §203, 52 Stat. 38 ; June 30, 1939, ch. 253, title I, 53 Stat. 975 ; July 3, 1948, ch. 827, title III, §301, 62 Stat. 1257 ; Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, title IV, §411, 63 Stat. 1057 ; Jan. 30, 1954, ch. 2, §5(b), 68 Stat. 7 ; Dec. 23, 1985, Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §1561, 99 Stat. 1589 .)

References in Text

Section 3690 of the Revised Statutes, and section 5 of act June 30, 1875, referred to in text, which were classified to sections 712 and 713 of former Title 31, Money and Finance, were repealed by act July 6, 1949, ch. 299, §3, 63 Stat. 407 .

Codification

Section was not enacted as part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

1985-Pub. L. 99–198 inserted sentence authorizing a public or private nonprofit organization that receives agricultural commodities or the products thereof under clause (2) of the second sentence to transfer such commodities or products to another public or private nonprofit organization that agrees to use such commodities or products to provide, without cost or waste, nutrition assistance to individuals in low-income groups.

1954-Act Jan. 30, 1954, substituted "(other than those receiving price support under section 1446 of this title)" for "(other than those designated in section 1446 of this title)," in next to last sentence.

1949-Act Oct. 31, 1949, inserted sentence relating to perishable nonbasic agricultural commodities.

1948-Act July 3, 1948, inserted sentence providing for the accumulation of funds up to $300,000,000.

1939-Act June 30, 1939, in cl. (2), inserted "or by increasing their utilization through benefits, indemnities, donations or by other means, among persons in low income groups as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture".

1938-Act Feb. 16, 1938, inserted "Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the amount that may be devoted, during any fiscal year after June 30, 1939, to any one agricultural commodity or the products thereof in such fiscal year, shall not exceed 25 per centum of the funds available under this section for such fiscal year."

1936-Act Feb. 29, 1936, struck out cl. (3) and inserted in lieu thereof immediately preceding second proviso "(3) reestablish farmers' purchasing power by making payments in connection with the normal production of any agricultural commodity for domestic consumption. Determinations by the Secretary as to what constitutes diversion and what constitutes normal channels of trade and commerce and what constitutes normal production for domestic consumption shall be final. The sums appropriated under this section shall be expended for such one or more of the above-specified purposes, and at such times, in such manner, and in such amounts as the Secretary of Agriculture finds will effectuate substantial accomplishment of any one or more of the purposes of this section."

Effective Date of 1948 Amendment

Amendment by act July 3, 1948, effective Jan. 1, 1950, see section 303 of act July 3, 1948, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

Functions of all officers, agencies, and employees of the Department of Agriculture transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Agriculture by 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 2, §1, eff. June 4, 1953, 18 F.R. 3219, 67 Stat. 633, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title.

Federal Surplus Relief Corporation changed to Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation by amendment of its charter in 1935. It consolidated with Division of Marketing and Marketing Agreements of Agricultural Adjustment Administration to form Surplus Marketing Administration by 1940 Reorg. Plan No. III, §5, 5 F.R. 2108, 54 Stat. 1232, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. By Executive orders under First War Powers Act, former section 601 et seq. of Appendix to Title 50, War and National Defense, Surplus Marketing Administration merged into Agricultural Marketing Administration, which consolidated into Food Distribution Administration, which consolidated into War Food Administration, which terminated and its functions transferred to Secretary of Agriculture. By Memorandum 1118, Secretary of Agriculture, Aug. 18, 1945, functions of Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation transferred to Production and Marketing Administration. 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §501(a), eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7877, 60 Stat. 1100, transferred functions of Surplus Marketing Administration to Secretary of Agriculture. In his letter to Congress, the President stated that purpose of this transfer was to permit Secretary of Agriculture to continue the consolidation already effected in Production and Marketing Administration.

Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation and Division of Marketing and Marketing Agreements of Agricultural Adjustment Administration and their functions consolidated into Surplus Marketing Administration in Department of Agriculture by Reorg. Plan No. III, §5, eff. June 30, 1940, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. See, also, sections 8 and 9 of said plan for provisions relating to transfer of records, property, personnel, and funds.

Additional Appropriations

Joint Res. July 1, 1941, ch. 266, §34, 55 Stat. 407 , appropriated, in addition to the funds already provided, $25,000,000, to be used by the Secretary of Agriculture, for the purpose of effectuating this section, subject to the provisions of law relating to the expenditure of such funds.

Act July 1, 1941, ch. 267, §1, 55 Stat. 435 , made the funds provided for in this section available for the fiscal year 1942.

Joint Res. June 26, 1940, ch. 432, §41, 54 Stat. 627 , appropriated, in addition to the funds already provided, $50,000,000, to be used by the Secretary of Agriculture, for the purpose of effectuating this section, subject to the provisions of law relating to the expenditure of such funds.

Act June 25, 1940, ch. 421, §1, 54 Stat. 561 , made the funds provided for in this section available for the fiscal year 1941.

Act June 30, 1939, besides amending clause 2, provided for the availability of funds provided by this section during the fiscal year 1940.

Act Aug. 25, 1937, ch. 757, title I, §1, 50 Stat. 762 , provided for availability of portions of funds available under this section in fiscal years 1938 and 1939, for expenditure for price-adjustment payments with respect to 1937 cotton crop.

Use of Appropriation

Section 301 of act July 30, 1947, ch. 356, title III, 61 Stat. 550 , provided that, notwithstanding section 612c of this title, no more than $44,000,000 would be available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, for use in effectuating this chapter; that $65,000,000 of the fiscal year 1948 appropriation were made available to carry out the National School Lunch Act of June 4, 1946, without regard to the 25 per cent limitation in section 612c and exclusive of funds expended pursuant to the last sentence of section 9 of the National School Lunch Act: provided that no part of such funds were to be used for nonfood assistance under section 5 of said Act; and that the remainder of the fund appropriated by said Act for the fiscal year 1948 was rescinded effective July 1, 1947, carried to the surplus fund, and covered into the Treasury immediately thereafter.

Cancellation or Rescission of Appropriation

Section 112(f) of act Apr. 3, 1948, ch. 169, title I, 62 Stat. 148 , which provided in part for the rescission or cancellation of appropriations under this section as provided for in act July 30, 1947, ch. 356, title III, 61 Stat. 550 , was repealed by act Oct. 10, 1951, ch. 479, title V, §503(b)(1), as added June 20, 1952, ch. 449, §7 (c), 66 Stat. 144 .

Report on Entitlement Commodity Processing

Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §1773(f), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3811 , provided that:

"(1) In general.-Not later than January 1, 1992, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report regarding processing of entitlement commodities used in child nutrition programs to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

"(2) Consultation.-The Comptroller General shall consult with representatives of State and Federal commodity distribution authorities, local elected school authorities, local school food service authorities, and food processors with experience providing service to child nutrition programs regarding the scope and design of the report.

"(3) Evaluation.-The report shall evaluate the extent to which-

"(A) processing of entitlement commodities occurs in the States;

"(B) governmental requirements for participation in the processing vary among States; and

"(C) entitlement commodity recipients are satisfied with access to and services provided through entitlement commodity processing."

Soup Kitchens and Other Emergency Food Aid

Pub. L. 100–435, title I, §110, Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1651 , as amended by Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §1774(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3811 ; Pub. L. 102–237, title IX, §922(a), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1888 , provided that:

"(a) Purpose.-It is the purpose of this section to establish a formula so that the amount, measured by their value, of additional commodities that are to be provided to each State for redistribution to soup kitchens and food banks can be precisely calculated for fiscal years 1989 through 1995. The share of commodities, as measured by their value, to be provided to each State shall be based 60 percent on the number of persons in households within the State having incomes below the poverty level and 40 percent on the number of unemployed persons within the State.

"(b) Definitions.-As used in this section-

"(1) Additional commodities.-The term 'additional commodities' means commodities purchased under this section in addition to the commodities otherwise made available to soup kitchens and food banks providing nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress.

"(2) Average monthly number of unemployed persons.-The term 'average monthly number of unemployed persons' refers to the average monthly number of unemployed persons within each State in the most recent fiscal year for which such information is available as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

"(3) Food banks.-The term 'food bank' refers to public and charitable institutions that maintain an established operation involving the provision of food or edible commodities, or the products thereof, to food pantries, soup kitchens, hunger relief centers, or other food or feeding centers that provide meals or food to needy persons on a regular basis as an integral part of their normal activities.

"(4) Food pantry.-The term 'food pantry' means a public or private nonprofit organization that distributes food to low-income and unemployed households, including food from sources other than the Department of Agriculture, to relieve situations of emergency and distress.

"(5) Poverty line.-The term 'poverty line' has the same meaning given such term in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).

"(6) Secretary.-The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Agriculture.

"(7) Soup kitchens.-The term 'soup kitchens' refers to public and charitable institutions that maintain an established feeding operation to provide food to needy homeless persons on a regular basis as an integral part of their normal activities.

"(8) Total value of additional commodities.-The term 'total value of additional commodities' means the actual cost (including the processing and distribution costs of the Secretary), as paid by the Secretary, for all additional commodities purchased under subsection (c).

"(9) Value of additional commodities allocated to a state.-The term 'value of additional commodities allocated to a State' means the actual cost for additional commodities (including the processing and distribution costs of the Secretary) as paid by the Secretary for commodities purchased under this section and allocated to such State.

"(c) Amounts.-

"(1) 1991 fiscal year.-During fiscal year 1991, the Secretary shall spend $32,000,000, to purchase, process, and distribute additional commodities to States for distribution to soup kitchens and food banks within a given State that provide nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food and meals to needy persons and to other institutions that can demonstrate, in accordance with subsection (j)(3), that they serve predominantly needy persons.

"(2) 1992 through 1995 fiscal years.-There are authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1992 through 1995 to purchase, process, and distribute additional commodities to States for distribution to soup kitchens and food banks within a given State that provide nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food and meals to needy persons and to other institutions that can demonstrate, in accordance with subsection (j)(3), that they serve predominantly needy persons. Any amounts provided for fiscal years 1992 through 1995 shall be available only to the extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

"(3) Food pantries.-In instances in which food banks do not operate within a given State, the State may distribute commodities to food pantries.

"(d) Mandatory Allotments.-In each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot-

"(1) 60 percent of the total value of additional commodities provided to States in a manner such that the value of additional commodities allocated to each State bears the same ratio to 60 percent of the total value of additional commodities as the number of persons in households within the State having incomes below the poverty line bears to the total number of persons in households within all States having incomes below such poverty line, and each State shall be entitled to receive such value of additional commodities; and

"(2) 40 percent of the total value of additional commodities provided to States in a manner such that the value of additional commodities allocated to each State bears the same ratio to 40 percent of the total value of additional commodities as the average monthly number of unemployed persons within the State bears to the average monthly number of unemployed persons within all States during the same fiscal year, and each State shall be entitled to receive such value of additional commodities.

"(e) Allocation and Reallocation.-

"(1) Notification by secretary.-The Secretary shall notify each State of the amount of the allocation that the State is entitled to receive under subsection (d).

"(2) Notification by state.-

"(A) Acceptance amount.-A State shall promptly notify the Secretary of the amount of commodities that will be accepted by soup kitchens or food banks. In determining such amount, the State shall give priority to institutions that provide meals to homeless individuals.

"(B) Less than full amount accepted.-A State shall promptly notify the Secretary if the State determines that it will not accept the full amount of the allocation under subsection (d) (or a portion thereof).

"(3) Reallocation.-Whenever the Secretary receives a notification under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall reallocate and distribute the amount of such allocation (or any portion thereof) not accepted, in a fair and equitable manner among the States that accept the full amount of their respective allocations under subsection (d) and that have requested receipt of additional allocations.

"(f) Administration.-Subject to subsection (c), purchases under this section shall be made by the Secretary at such times and under such conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate within each fiscal year. All commodities purchased under subsection (c) within each fiscal year shall be provided to States prior to the end of each such fiscal year.

"(g) Maintenance of Effort.-If a State uses its own funds to provide commodities or services under this section, such State funds shall not be obtained from existing Federal or State programs.

"(h) Increased Commodity Levels and Maintenance of Effort.-

"(1) Increased commodity levels.-Commodities provided under the amendments made by section 104 [enacting sections 213 and 214 of Pub. L. 98–8, set out below] and under this section shall be in addition to the commodities otherwise provided (through commodity donations traditionally provided by the Secretary or the Commodity Credit Corporation) to emergency feeding organizations. The value of the commodity donations traditionally provided to such organizations shall not be diminished as a result of the purchases required by the amendments made by section 104 and this section.

"(2) Federal maintenance.-The purchase of commodities required under the amendments made by section 104 and under this section, shall not be made in such a manner as to cause any reduction in the value of the bonus commodities that would otherwise be distributed, in the absence of section 104 and this section, to charitable institutions, or to any other domestic food assistance program, such as the programs authorized under the National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.], the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 [42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.], the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.], or sections 4 and 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86, set out below].

"(3) Other maintenance.-Local agencies receiving commodities purchased under this section shall provide an assurance to the State that donations of foodstuffs from other sources shall not be diminished as a result of the receipt of commodities under this section.

"(i) New Formula.-Notwithstanding the provisions of this section that set forth the specific formula for allocating additional commodities to each State, the Secretary is authorized to establish a different precise formula, after prior notice and comment as required by section 553 of title 5, United States Code, only to the extent that-

"(1) any such formula is effective at the outset of, and throughout any given fiscal year;

"(2) any such formula can be used to precisely calculate the amount of commodities to be made available to each State by the Secretary for each fiscal year; and

"(3) such formula provides that each State is entitled to receive that value of additional commodities which results from the application of such formula to the total value of additional commodities.

"(j) Priority System for State Distribution of Commodities.-

"(1) Soup kitchens.-In distributing commodities under this section, the distributing agency, under procedures determined appropriate by the distributing agency, shall offer, or otherwise make available, its full allocation of commodities for distribution to soup kitchens and other like organizations that serve meals to homeless persons, and to food banks for distribution to such organizations.

"(2) Institutions that serve only low-income recipients.-If distributing agencies determine that they will not likely exhaust their allocation of commodities under this section through distribution to institutions referred to in paragraph (1), the distributing agencies shall make the remaining commodities available to food banks for distribution to institutions that distribute commodities to the needy. When such institutions distribute commodities to individuals for home consumption, eligibility for such commodities shall be determined through a means test as determined appropriate by the State distributing agency.

"(3) Other institutions.-If the distributing agency's commodity allocation is not likely to be exhausted after distribution under paragraphs (1) and (2) (as determined by the food bank), food banks may distribute the remaining commodities to institutions that serve meals to needy persons and do not employ a means test to determine eligibility for such meals, provided that the organizations have documented, to the satisfaction of the food bank, that the organizations do, in fact, serve predominantly needy persons.

"(k) Settlement and Adjustment of Claims.-

"(1) In general.-The Secretary or a designee of the Secretary shall have the authority to-

"(A) determine the amount of, settle, and adjust any claim arising under this section; and

"(B) waive such a claim if the Secretary determines that to do so will serve the purposes of this section.

"(2) Litigation.-Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the authority of the Attorney General of the United States under section 516 of title 28, United States Code, to conduct litigation on behalf of the United States."

[Amendment by Pub. L. 102–237 effective and implemented no later than Feb. 1, 1992, see section 1101(d)(1) of Pub. L. 102–237, set out as an Effective Date of 1991 Amendment note under section 1421 of this title.]

[Amendment by section 1774(a)(1) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Nov. 28, 1990, and amendments by section 1774(a)(2)–(4) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective and implemented the first day of the month beginning 120 days after the publication of implementing regulations which shall be promulgated not later than Oct. 1, 1991, see section 1781(a), (b)(2) of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

[Section 110 of Pub. L. 100–435 to be effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1988, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 100–435, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

Gleaning Clearinghouses

Pub. L. 100–435, title I, §111, Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1654 , as amended by Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §1774(b), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3812 , provided that:

"(a) Definition of Gleaning.-For purposes of this section, the term 'to glean' means to collect unharvested crops from the fields of farmers, or to obtain agricultural products from farmers, processors, or retailers, in order to distribute the products to needy individuals, including unemployed and low-income individuals, and the term includes only those situations in which agricultural products and access to fields and facilities are made available without charge.

"(b) Establishment.-

"(1) In general.-The Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter in this section referred to as the 'Secretary') is authorized to assist States and private nonprofit organizations in establishing Gleaning Clearinghouses (hereafter in this section referred to as a 'Clearinghouse').

"(2) Assistance.-The Secretary is authorized to provide technical information and other assistance considered appropriate by the Secretary to encourage public and nonprofit private organizations to-

"(A) initiate and carry out gleaning activities, and to assist other organizations and individuals to do so, through lectures, correspondence, consultation, or such other measures as the Secretary may consider appropriate;

"(B) collect from public and private sources (including farmers, processors, and retailers) information relating to the kinds, quantities, and geographical locations of agricultural products not completely harvested;

"(C) gather, compile, and make available to public and nonprofit private organizations and to the public the statistics and other information collected under this paragraph, at reasonable intervals;

"(D) establish and operate a toll-free telephone line by which-

"(i) farmers, processors, and retailers may report to a Clearinghouse for dissemination information regarding unharvested crops and agricultural products available for gleaning, and may also report how they may be contacted;

"(ii) public and nonprofit organizations that wish to glean or to assist others to glean, may report to a Clearinghouse the kinds and amounts of products that are wanted for gleaning, and may also report how they may be contacted;

"(iii) persons who can transport crops or products may report the availability of free transportation for gleaned crops or products; and

"(iv) information about gleaning can be provided without charge by a Clearinghouse to the persons and organizations described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii);

"(E) prepare, publish, and make available to the public, at cost and on a continuing basis, a handbook on gleaning that includes such information and advice as may be useful in operating efficient gleaning activities and projects, including information regarding how to-

"(i) organize groups to engage in gleaning; and

"(ii) distribute to needy individuals, including low-income and unemployed individuals, food and other agricultural products that have been gleaned; or

"(F) advertise in print, on radio, television, or through other media, as the Secretary considers to be appropriate, the services offered by a Clearinghouse under this section."

[Section 111 of Pub. L. 100–435 effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1988, except that such section to become effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1989, if final order is issued under section 902(b) of Title 2, The Congress, for fiscal year 1989 making reductions and sequestrations specified in the report required under section 901(a)(3)(A) of Title 2, see section 701(a), (c)(2) of Pub. L. 100–435, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

Continuation of Provision of Cheese Supplies

Pub. L. 100–435, title I, §130, Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1655 , was redesignated section 5(d)(2) of Pub. L. 93–86, set out below, by Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §1774(c)(2)(A), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3813 .

Encouragement of Food Processing and Distribution by Eligible Recipient Agencies

Pub. L. 100–435, title II, §220, Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1659 , as amended by Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §1772(h)(5), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3809 ; Pub. L. 102–237, title IX, §942, Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1893 , provided that:

"(a) Solicitation of Applications.-

"(1) In general.-Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 19, 1988], the Secretary of Agriculture shall, to the extent that the Commodity Credit Corporation's inventory levels permit, solicit applications, in accordance with paragraph (2), for surplus commodities available for distribution under section 202 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 [Pub. L. 98–8] (7 U.S.C. 612c note).

"(2) Requirements.-The solicitation by the Secretary of Agriculture under paragraph (1) shall be in the form of a request that any eligible recipient agency (as defined in section 201A of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 [Pub. L. 98–8, set out below]) submit an application to the Secretary that shall include an assurance that such agency will-

"(A) process any agricultural commodity received in response to such application into end-use products suitable for distribution through the Emergency Food Assistance Program;

"(B) package such products for use by individual households; and

"(C) distribute such products to State agencies responsible for the administration of the Emergency Food Assistance Program, at no cost to the State agency, for distribution through the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

"(3) Prohibition on payment of processing costs.-Funds made available under section 204 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 612c note) or funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not be used to pay any costs incurred for the processing, storage, transportation or distribution of the commodities or end-use products prior to their delivery to the State agency.

"(b) Review of Applications.-

"(1) Time of review.-Not later than 60 days after the Secretary of Agriculture receives an application solicited under subsection (a), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove such application.

"(2) Notice of disapproval.-If the Secretary disapproves the application submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall inform the applicant of the reasons for such disapproval."

[Amendment by Pub. L. 102–237 effective and implemented no later than Feb. 1, 1992, see section 1101(d)(1) of Pub. L. 102–237, set out as an Effective Date of 1991 Amendment note under section 1421 of this title.]

[Section 220 of Pub. L. 100–435 to be effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1988, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 100–435, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

Food Bank Demonstration Projects

Pub. L. 100–435, title V, §502, Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1671 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-The Secretary of Agriculture may carry out demonstration projects to provide and redistribute to needy individuals and families through community food banks and other charitable food banks-

"(1) agricultural commodities or the products thereof made available under section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431); and

"(2) to the extent practicable, agricultural commodities or the products thereof made available under section 32 of the Act entitled 'An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes', approved August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c).

"(b) Food Types.-The Secretary shall determine the quantities, varieties, and types of agricultural commodities and products thereof to be made available to community food banks under this section.

"(c) Report.-Not later than July 1, 1990, the Secretary shall submit, to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report describing any demonstration projects carried out under this section. The report shall include an analysis and evaluation of the distribution and redistribution of food under the demonstration projects and the feasibility of expanding the projects to other community food banks.

"(d) Termination.-The authority provided under this section shall terminate on September 30, 1990.

"(e) Authorization of Appropriations.-There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $400,000 for each of the fiscal years 1989 through 1990."

[Section 502 of Pub. L. 100–435 [enacting note above] effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1988, except that such section to become effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1989, if final order is issued under section 902(b) of Title 2, The Congress, for fiscal year 1989 making reductions and sequestrations specified in the report required under section 901(a)(3)(A) of Title 2, see section 701(a), (c)(2) of Pub. L. 100–435, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

Commodity Distribution Reform

Pub. L. 100–237, §§1–4, 7, 13, 14, Jan. 8, 1988, 101 Stat. 1733 , 1739, 1740, 1742, 1743, as amended by Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §§1772(h)(3), (4), 1773(a)–(e), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3809–3811 ; Pub. L. 102–342, title IV, §401, Aug. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 914 ; Pub. L. 103–448, title III, §303, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4750 , provided that:

"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

"This Act [amending section 1431e of this title and sections 1755, 1769, and 1786 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1786 of Title 42] may be cited as the 'Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987'.

"SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

"(a) Statement of Purpose.-It is the purpose of this Act to improve the manner in which agricultural commodities acquired by the Department of Agriculture are distributed to recipient agencies, the quality of the commodities that are distributed, and the degree to which such distribution reponds [sic] to the needs of the recipient agencies.

"(b) Sense of Congress.-It is the sense of Congress that the distribution of commodities and products-

"(1) should be improved as an effective means of removing agricultural surpluses from the market and providing nutritious high-quality foods to recipient agencies;

"(2) is inextricably linked to the agricultural support and surplus removal programs; and

"(3) is an important mission of the Secretary of Agriculture.

"SEC. 3. COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM REFORMS.

"(a) Commodities Specifications.-

"(1) Development.-In developing specifications for commodities acquired through price support, surplus removal, and direct purchase programs of the Department of Agriculture that are donated for use for programs or institutions described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall-

"(A) consult with the advisory council established under paragraph (3);

"(B) consider both the results of the information received from recipient agencies under subsection (f)(2) and the results of an ongoing field testing program under subsection (g) in determining which commodities and products, and in which form the commodities and products, should be provided to recipient agencies; and

"(C) give significant weight to the recommendations of the advisory council established under paragraph (3) in ensuring that commodities and products are-

"(i) of the quality, size, and form most usable by recipient agencies; and

"(ii) to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"(2) Applicability.-Paragraph (1) shall apply to-

"(A) the commodity distribution and commodity supplemental food programs established under sections 4(a) and 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86] (7 U.S.C. 612c note);

"(B) the program established under section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b));

"(C) the school lunch, commodity distribution, and child care food programs established under sections 6, 14, and 17 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755, 1762a, and 1766);

"(D) the school breakfast program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773);

"(E) the donation of surplus commodities to provide nutrition services under section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030a); and

"(F) to the extent practicable-

"(i) the emergency food assistance program established under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (Public Law 100–237 [Pub. L. 98–8, title II]; 7 U.S.C. 612c note); and

"(ii) programs under which food is donated to charitable institutions.

"(3) Advisory council.-(A) The Secretary shall establish an advisory council on the distribution of donated commodities to recipient agencies. The Secretary shall appoint not less than nine and not more than 15 members to the council, including-

"(i) representatives of recipient agencies, including food banks;

"(ii) representatives of food processors and food distributors;

"(iii) representatives of agricultural organizations;

"(iv) representatives of State distribution agency directors; and

"(v) representatives of State advisory committees.

"(B) The council shall meet not less than semiannually with appropriate officials of the Department of Agriculture and shall provide guidance to the Secretary on regulations and policy development with respect to specifications for commodities.

"(C) Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall receive reimbursement for necessary travel and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties of the committee.

"(D) The council shall report annually to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Committee on Education and Labor [now Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities] and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

"(E) The council shall expire on September 30, 1996.

"(b) Duties of Secretary With Respect to Provision of Commodities.-With respect to the provision of commodities to recipient agencies, the Secretary shall-

"(1) before the end of the 270-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988]-

"(A) implement a system to provide recipient agencies with options with respect to package sizes and forms of such commodities, based on information received from such agencies under subsection (f)(2), taking into account the duty of the Secretary-

"(i) to remove surplus stocks of agricultural commodities through the Commodity Credit Corporation;

"(ii) to purchase surplus agriculture commodities through section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) [probably means section 32 of act Aug. 24, 1935, which is classified to section 612c of this title]; and

"(iii) to make direct purchases of agricultural commodities and other foods for distribution to recipient agencies under-

     "(I) the commodity distribution and commodity supplemental food programs established under sections 4(a) and 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86] (7 U.S.C. 612c note);

     "(II) the program established under section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b));

     "(III) the school lunch, commodity distribution, and child care food programs established under sections 6, 14, and 17 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755, 1762a, and 1766);

     "(IV) the school breakfast program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); and

     "(V) the donation of surplus commodities to provide nutrition services under section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030a); and

"(B) implement procedures to monitor the manner in which State distribution agencies carry out their responsibilities;

"(2) provide technical assistance to recipient agencies on the use of such commodities, including handling, storage, and menu planning and shall distribute to all recipient agencies suggested recipes for the use of donated commodities and products (the recipe cards shall be distributed as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988] and updated on a regular basis taking into consideration the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as in effect at the time of the update of the recipe files);

"(3) before the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988], implement a system under which the Secretary shall-

"(A) make available to State agencies summaries of the specifications with respect to such commodities and products; and

"(B) require State agencies to make such summaries available to recipient agencies on request;

"(4) implement a system for the dissemination to recipient agencies and to State distribution agencies-

"(A) not less than 60 days before each distribution of commodities by the Secretary is scheduled to begin, of information relating to the types and quantities of such commodities that are to be distributed; or

"(B) in the case of emergency purchases and purchases of perishable fruits and vegetables, of as much advance notification as is consistent with the need to ensure that high-quality commodities are distributed;

"(5) before the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988], establish procedures for the replacement of commodities received by recipient agencies that are stale, spoiled, out of condition, or not in compliance with the specifications developed under subsection (a)(1), including a requirement that the appropriate State distribution agency be notified promptly of the receipt of commodities that are stale, spoiled, out of condition, or not in compliance with the specifications developed under subsection (a)(1);

"(6) monitor the condition of commodities designated for donation to recipient agencies that are being stored by or for the Secretary to ensure that high quality is maintained;

"(7) establish a value for donated commodities and products to be used by State agencies in the allocation or charging of commodities against entitlements; and

"(8) require that each State distribution agency shall receive donated commodities not more than 90 days after such commodities are ordered by such agency, unless such agency specifies a longer delivery period.

"(c) Qualifications for Purchase of Commodities.-

"(1) Offers for equal or less poundage.-Subject to compliance by the Secretary with surplus removal responsibilities under other provisions of law, the Secretary may not refuse any offer in response to an invitation to bid with respect to a contract for the purchase of entitlement commodities (provided in standard order sizes) solely on the basis that such offer provides less than the total amount of poundage for a destination specified in such invitation.

"(2) Other qualifications.-The Secretary may not enter into a contract for the purchase of entitlement commodities unless the Secretary considers the previous history and current patterns of the bidding party with respect to compliance with applicable meat inspection laws and with other appropriate standards relating to the wholesomeness of food for human consumption.

"(d) Duties of State Distribution Agencies.-On or before July 1, 1992, the Secretary shall by regulation require each State distribution agency to-

"(1) evaluate its system for warehousing and distributing donated commodities to recipient agencies designated in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 13(3) (hereafter referred to in this Act as 'child and elderly nutrition program recipient agencies');

"(2) in the case of State distribution agencies that require payment of fees by child and elderly nutrition program recipient agencies for any aspect of warehousing or distribution, implement the warehousing and distribution system that provides donated commodities to such recipient agencies in the most efficient manner, at the lowest cost to such recipient agencies, and at a level that is not less than a basic level of services determined by the Secretary;

"(3) in determining the most efficient and lowest cost system, use commercial facilities for providing warehousing and distribution services to such recipient agencies, unless the State applies to the Secretary for approval to use other facilities demonstrating that, when both direct and indirect costs incurred by such recipient agencies are considered, such other facilities are more efficient and provide services at a lower total cost to such recipient agencies;

"(4) consider the preparation and storage capabilities of recipient agencies when ordering donated commodities, including capabilities of such agencies to handle commodity product forms, quality, packaging, and quantities; and

"(5) in the case of any such agency that enters into a contract with respect to processing of agricultural commodities and their products for recipient agencies-

"(A) test the product of such processing with the recipient agencies before entering into a contract for such processing; and

"(B) develop a system for monitoring product acceptability.

"(e) Regulations.-

"(1) In general.-The Secretary shall provide by regulation for-

"(A) whenever fees are charged to local recipient agencies, the establishment of mandatory criteria for such fees based on national standards and industry charges (taking into account regional differences in such charges) to be used by State distribution agencies for storage and deliveries of commodities;

"(B) minimum performance standards to be followed by State agencies responsible for intrastate distribution of donated commodities and products;

"(C) procedures for allocating donated commodities among the States; and

"(D) delivery schedules for the distribution of commodities and products that are consistent with the needs of eligible recipient agencies, taking into account the duty of the Secretary-

"(i) to remove surplus stocks of agricultural commodities through the Commodity Credit Corporation;

"(ii) to purchase surplus agricultural commodities through section 32 of the Act entitled 'An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes', approved August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c); and

"(iii) to make direct purchases of agricultural commodities and other foods for distribution to recipient agencies under-

     "(I) the commodity distribution and commodity supplemental food programs established under sections 4(a) and 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86] (7 U.S.C. 612c note);

     "(II) the program established under section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)); and

     "(III) the school lunch, commodity distribution, and child care food programs established under sections 6, 14, and 17 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755, 1762a, and 1766);

     "(IV) the school breakfast program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); and

     "(V) the donation of surplus commodities to provide nutrition services under section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030a).

"(2) Time for promulgation of regulations.-The Secretary shall promulgate-

"(A) regulations as required by paragraph (1)(D) before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988]; and

"(B) regulations as required by subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) before the end of the 270-day period beginning on such date.

"(f) Review of Provision of Commodities.-

"(1) In general.-Before the expiration of the 270-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988], the Secretary shall establish procedures to provide for systematic review of the costs and benefits of providing commodities of the kind and quantity that are suitable to the needs of recipient agencies.

"(2) Information from recipient agencies.-Before the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988], the Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that information is received from recipient agencies at least annually with respect to the types and forms of commodities that are most useful to persons participating in programs operated by recipient agencies.

"(g) Testing for Acceptability.-The Secretary shall establish an ongoing field testing program for present and anticipated commodity and product purchases to test product acceptability with program participants. Test results shall be taken into consideration in deciding which commodities and products, and in what form the commodities and products, should be provided to recipient agencies.

"(h) Buy American Provision.-

"(1) In general.-The Secretary shall require that recipient agencies purchase, whenever possible, only food products that are produced in the United States.

"(2) Waiver.-The Secretary may waive the requirement established in paragraph (1)-

"(A) in the case of recipient agencies that have unusual or ethnic preferences in food products; or

"(B) for such other circumstances as the Secretary considers appropriate.

"(3) Exception.-The requirement established in paragraph (1) shall not apply to recipient agencies in Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The requirement established in paragraph (1) shall apply to recipient agencies in Hawaii only with respect to the purchase of pineapples.

"(i) Uniform Interpretation.-The Secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that regional offices of the Department of Agriculture interpret uniformly across the United States policies and regulations issued to implement this section.

"(j) [Amended section 6(e) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(e)).]

"(k) Report.-Not later than January 1, 1989, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the implementation and operation of this section.

"SEC. 3A. ADVANCE FUNDING FOR STATE OPTION CONTRACTS.

"(a) In General.-The Secretary may use the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation and funds made available to carry out section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) to pay for all or a portion of the cost, as agreed on with the State distribution agency, of food or the processing or packaging of food on behalf of a State distribution agency.

"(b) Reimbursement.-In such cases, the State distribution agency shall reimburse the Secretary for the agreed on cost. Any funds received by the Secretary as reimbursement shall be deposited to the credit of the Commodity Credit Corporation or section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), as appropriate. If the State distribution agency fails, within 150 days of delivery, to make the required reimbursement in full, the Secretary shall, within 30 days, offset any outstanding amount against the appropriate account.

"SEC. 4. FOOD BANK PROJECT.

"(a) Community Food Banks.-The Secretary shall carry out no less than one demonstration project to provide and redistribute agricultural commodities and food products thereof as authorized under section 32 of the Act entitled 'An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes', approved August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), to needy individuals and families through community food banks. The Secretary may use a State agency or any other food distribution system for such provision or redistribution of section 32 agricultural commodities and food products through community food banks under a demonstration project.

"(b) Recordkeeping and Monitoring.-Each food bank participating in the demonstration projects under this section shall establish a recordkeeping system and internal procedures to monitor the use of agricultural commodities and food products provided under this section. The Secretary shall develop standards by which the feasibility and effectiveness of the projects shall be measured, and shall conduct an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the projects.

"(c) Determination of Quantities, Varieties, and Types of Commodities.-The Secretary shall determine the quantities, varieties, and types of agricultural commodities and food products to be made available under this section.

"(d) Effective Period.-This section shall be effective for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988].

"SEC. 7. ASSESSMENT AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.

"(a) Assessment.-The Comptroller General of the United States shall monitor and assess the implementation by the Secretary of the provisions of this Act [see section 1 set out above].

"(b) Report.-Before the expiration of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988], the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report of the findings of the assessment conducted as required by subsection (a).

"SEC. 13. DEFINITIONS.

"For purposes of this Act:

"(1) The term 'donated commodities' means agricultural commodities and their products that are donated by the Secretary to recipient agencies.

"(2) The term 'entitlement commodities' means agricultural commodities and their products that are donated and charged by the Secretary against entitlements established under programs authorized by statute to receive such commodities.

"(3) The term 'recipient agency' means-

"(A) a school, school food service authority, or other agency authorized under the National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.] or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) to operate breakfast programs, lunch programs, child care food programs, summer food service programs, or similar programs and to receive donations of agricultural commodities and their products acquired by the Secretary through price support, surplus removal, or direct purchase;

"(B) a nutrition program for the elderly authorized under title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.) to receive donations of agricultural commodities and their products acquired by the Secretary through price support, surplus removal, or direct purchase;

"(C) an agency or organization distributing commodities under the commodity supplemental food program established in section 4 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86] (7 U.S.C. 612c note);

"(D) any charitable institution, summer camp, or assistance agency for the food distribution program on Indian reservations authorized under section 4 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note) to receive donations of agricultural commodities and their products acquired by the Secretary through price support, surplus removal, or direct purchase; or

"(E) an agency or organization distributing commodities under a program established in section 202 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 [Pub. L. 98–8] (7 U.S.C. 612c note).

"(4) The term 'State distribution agency' means a State agency responsible for the intrastate distribution of donated commodities.

"(5) The term 'Secretary' means Secretary of Agriculture, unless the context specifies otherwise.

"SEC. 14. GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE.

"Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act [see section 1 set out above] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 8, 1988]."

Food Bank Demonstration Project

Pub. L. 100–232, §3, Jan. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1566 , provided that:

"(a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out no less than one demonstration project to provide and redistribute agricultural commodities and food products thereof as authorized under section 32 of the Act entitled 'An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes', approved August 24, 1935, as amended (7 U.S.C. 612c), to needy individuals and families through community food banks. The Secretary may use a State agency or any other food distribution system for such provision or redistribution of section 32 agricultural commodities and food products through community food banks under a demonstration project.

"(b) Each food bank participating in the demonstration projects under this section shall establish a recordkeeping system and internal procedures to monitor the use of agricultural commodities and food products provided under this section. The Secretary shall develop standards by which the feasibility and effectiveness of the project shall be measured, and shall conduct an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the projects.

"(c) The Secretary shall determine the quantities, varieties, and types of agricultural commodities and food products to be made available under this section.

"(d) This section shall be effective for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 5, 1988] and ending on December 31, 1990.

"(e) The Secretary shall submit annual progress reports to Congress beginning on July 1, 1988, and a final report on July 1, 1990, regarding each demonstration project carried out under this section. Such reports shall include analyses and evaluations of the provision and redistribution of agricultural commodities and food products under the demonstration projects. In addition, the Secretary shall include in the final report any recommendations regarding improvements in the provision and redistribution of agricultural commodities and food products to community food banks and the feasibility of expanding such method of provisions and redistribution of agricultural commodities and food products to other community food banks."

Continuation of Distribution of Agricultural Commodities to Low-Income Elderly at Existing Levels

Section 1562(d) of Pub. L. 99–198 provided that: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in implementing the commodity supplemental food program under section 4 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86, set out as a note below], the Secretary of Agriculture shall allow agencies distributing agricultural commodities to low-income elderly people under such programs on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 1985] to continue such distribution at levels no lower than existing caseloads."

Report to Congress on Activities of Program Conducted Under Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983

Section 1571 of Pub. L. 99–198 provided that: "Not later than April 1, 1987, the Secretary of Agriculture shall report to Congress on the activities of the program conducted under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 [title II of Pub. L. 98–8, set out as a note below]. Such report shall include information on-

"(1) the volume and types of commodities distributed under the program;

"(2) the types of State and local agencies receiving commodities for distribution under the program;

"(3) the populations served under the program and their characteristics;

"(4) the Federal, State, and local costs of commodity distribution operations under the program (including transportation, storage, refrigeration, handling, distribution, and administrative costs); and

"(5) the amount of Federal funds provided to cover State and local costs under the program."

Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983

Pub. L. 98–8, title II, Mar. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 35 , as amended Pub. L. 98–92, §2, Sept. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 608 ; Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §§1562(e)(1), 1563–1566, 1567(c), 1568–1570, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1590–1594 ; Pub. L. 100–77, title VIII, §§811–814, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 536–538 ; Pub. L. 100–435, title I, §§101–105, Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1647–1650 ; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §1772(a)–(h)(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3808 , 3809; Pub. L. 102–237, title IX, §922(b), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1888 , provided that:

"Sec. 201. This title may be cited as the 'Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983', and is hereinafter in this title referred to as 'this Act'.

"eligible recipient agencies

"Sec. 201A. As used in this Act, the term 'eligible recipient agencies', means public or nonprofit organizations that administer-

"(1) activities and projects providing nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food to needy persons, including low-income and unemployed persons (including the activities and projects of charitable institutions, food banks, hunger centers, soup kitchens, and similar public or private nonprofit eligible recipient agencies) hereinafter in this title referred to as 'emergency feeding organizations';

"(2) school lunch programs, summer camps for children, and other child nutrition programs providing food service;

"(3) nutrition projects operating under the Older Americans Act of 1965 [42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.], including congregate nutrition sites and providers of home-delivered meals;

"(4) activities and projects that are supported under section 4 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86, set out as a note below];

"(5) activities of charitable institutions, including hospitals and retirement homes, to the extent that needy persons are served; or

"(6) disaster relief programs;

and that have been designated by the appropriate State agency, or by the Secretary, and approved by the Secretary for participation in the program established under this Act.

"availability of ccc commodities

"Sec. 202. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to complement the domestic nutrition programs, make maximum use of the Nation's agricultural abundance, and expand and improve the domestic distribution of price-supported commodities, commodities acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation that the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the 'Secretary') determines, in his discretion, are in excess of quantities needed to-

"(1) carry out other domestic donation programs,

"(2) meet other domestic obligations (including quantities needed to carry out a payment-in-kind acreage diversion program),

"(3) meet international market development and food aid commitments, and

"(4) carry out the farm price and income stabilization purposes of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 [7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.], the Agricultural Act of 1949 [7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.], and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act [15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.],

shall be made available by the Secretary, without charge or credit for such commodities, for use by eligible recipient agencies for food assistance.

"[(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §1565(a)(2), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1591 ]

"(c) In addition to any commodities described in subsection (a), in carrying out this Act, the Secretary may use agricultural commodities and the products thereof made available under clause (2) of the second sentence of section 32 of the Act entitled 'An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes', approved August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c).

"(d) Commodities made available under this Act shall include a variety of commodities and products thereof that are most useful to eligible recipient agencies, including, but not be [sic] limited to, dairy products, wheat or the products thereof, rice, honey, and cornmeal.

"(e) Effective April 1, 1986, the Secretary shall submit semiannually to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the types and amounts of commodities made available for distribution under this Act.

"(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the programs authorized by sections 153 and 1163 of the Food Security Act of 1985 [Pub. L. 99–198] (15 U.S.C. 713a–14 and 7 U.S.C. 1731 note) shall not be operated in a manner that will, in any way, reduce the quantities of dairy products that traditionally are made available to carry out this Act or any other domestic feeding program.

"(g)(1) Whenever commodities acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation are made available for donation to domestic food programs in quantities that exceed Federal obligations, the Secretary shall give equal consideration to making donations of such commodities to emergency feeding organizations participating in the program authorized by this Act as is given to other commodity recipient agencies, taking into account the types and amounts of commodities available and appropriate for distribution to these organizations.

"(2) In determining the commodities that will be made available to emergency feeding organizations under this Act, the Secretary may distribute commodities that become available on a seasonal or irregular basis.

"availability of ccc flour, cornmeal, and cheese

"Sec. 202A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law-

"(a)(1) To the extent provided in advance in an appropriation Act, in fiscal year 1988, flour, cornmeal, and cheese acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation that are in excess of quantities needed to-

"(A) carry out other domestic donation programs,

"(B) meet other domestic obligations (including quantities needed to carry out a payment-in-kind acreage diversion program),

"(C) meet international market development and food aid commitments, and

"(D) carry out the farm price and income stabilization purposes of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 [7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.], the Agricultural Act of 1949 [7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.], and Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act [15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.],

shall be made available as provided in paragraph (2).

"(2) The Secretary shall make such excess flour, cornmeal, and cheese available in any State, in addition to the normal allotment of such commodities (adjusted by any reallocation) for fiscal year 1988 under this Act, at the request of the chief executive officer of such State who certifies to the Secretary that-

"(A)(i) individuals in such State who are eligible to receive flour, cornmeal, and cheese under this Act are not receiving such commodities distributed under other provisions of this Act, or

"(ii) the number of unemployed individuals in such State has increased during the most recent 90-day period for which unemployment statistics are available prior to the date the certification is made, and

"(B) the distribution of flour, cornmeal, and cheese under this section in such State will not substantially displace the commercial sale of such commodities in such State.

"(b) Flour, cornmeal, and cheese made available under this section by the Secretary shall be made available without charge or credit in fiscal year 1988, in a usable form, for use by eligible recipient agencies in a State.

"(c) The amount of cheese made available under this section in fiscal year 1988 shall not exceed 14,000,000 pounds.

"(d) Whenever the Secretary receives a request submitted under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall immediately notify the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate that such request was received.

"processing agreements

"[Sec. 203. Repealed. Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §1567(c), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1592 ]

"initial processing costs

"Sec. 203A. The Secretary may use funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to pay costs of initial processing and packaging of commodities to be distributed under the program established under this Act into forms, and in quantities, suitable, as determined by the Secretary, for use in individual households when such commodities are to be consumed by individual households or for institutional use, as applicable. The Secretary may pay such costs in the form of Corporation-owned commodities equal in value to such costs. The Secretary shall ensure that any such payments in kind will not displace commercial sales of such commodities.

"federal and state responsibilities

"Sec. 203B. (a) The Secretary shall, as expeditiously as possible, provide the commodities made available under this Act in such quantities as can be used without waste to State agencies designated by the Governor or other appropriate State official for distribution to eligible recipient agencies, except that the Secretary may provide such commodities directly to eligible recipient agencies and to private companies that process such commodities for eligible recipient agencies under sections 203 and 203A of this Act. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in the distribution of commodities under this Act, each State agency shall have the option to give priority to existing food bank networks and other organizations whose ongoing primary function is to facilitate the distribution of food to low-income households, including food from sources other than the Department of Agriculture.

"(b) State agencies receiving commodities under this Act shall, as expeditiously as possible, distribute such commodities, in the quantities requested (to the extent practicable), to eligible recipient agencies within their respective States. However, if a State agency cannot meet all requests for a particular commodity under this Act, the State agency shall give priority in the distribution of such commodity to eligible recipient agencies providing nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food to needy persons, including low-income and unemployed persons. Each State agency shall encourage distribution of such commodities in rural areas.

"(c) Each State agency receiving commodities for individual household use under this Act shall distribute such commodities to eligible recipient agencies in the State that serve needy persons, and shall, with the approval of the Secretary, determine those persons in the State that shall qualify as needy persons eligible for such commodities.

"(d) Each State agency receiving commodities under this title may-

"(1) enter into cooperative agreements with State agencies of other States for joint provision of such commodities to an emergency feeding organization that serves needy persons in a single geographical area part of which is situated in each of such States; or

"(2) transfer such commodities to any such emergency feeding organization in the other State under such agreement.

"assurances; anticipated use

"Sec. 203C. (a) The Secretary shall take such precautions as the Secretary deems necessary to assure that any eligible recipient agency receiving commodities under this act will provide such commodities to persons served by the eligible recipient agency and will not diminish its normal expenditures for food by reason of the receipt of such commodities. The Secretary shall also take such precautions as the Secretary deems necessary to assure that commodities made available under this Act will not displace commercial sales of such commodities or the products thereof. The Secretary shall not make commodities available for donation in any quantity or manner that the Secretary, in the Secretary's discretion, determines may, substitute for the same or any other agricultural produce that would otherwise be purchased in the market. The Secretary shall submit to Congress each year a report as to whether and to what extent such displacements or substitutions are occurring.

"(b) Commodities provided under this Act shall be distributed only in quantities that can be consumed without waste. No eligible recipient agency may receive commodities under this Act in excess of anticipated use, based on inventory records and controls, or in excess of its ability to accept and store such commodities.

"state and local supplementation of commodities

"Sec. 203D. (a) Authorization.-The Secretary shall establish procedures under which State and local agencies, charitable institutions, or any other persons may supplement the commodities distributed under the program authorized by this Act for use by emergency feeding organizations with nutritious and wholesome commodities that such entities or persons donate to State agencies and emergency feeding organizations for distribution, in all or part of the State, in addition to the commodities otherwise made available under this Act.

"(b) Use of Funds and Facilities.-States and emergency feeding organizations may use the funds appropriated under this Act and equipment, structures, vehicles, and all other facilities involved in the storage, handling, or distribution of commodities made available under this Act, and the personnel, both paid or volunteer, involved in such storage, handling, or distribution, to store, handle or distribute commodities donated for the use of emergency feeding organizations under subsection (a).

"(c) Volunteer Workers.-State and emergency feeding organizations shall continue, to the maximum extent practicable, to use volunteer workers and commodities and other foodstuffs donated by charitable and other organizations in the operation of the program authorized by this section.

"authorization and appropriations

"(a)(1) There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995 for the Secretary to make available to the States for State and local payments for costs associated with the distribution of commodities by emergency feeding organizations under this title. Funds appropriated under this paragraph for any fiscal year shall be allocated to the States on an advance basis, dividing such funds among the States in the same proportions as the commodities distributed under this title for such fiscal year are divided among the States. If a State agency is unable to use all of the funds so allocated to it, the Secretary shall reallocate such unused funds among the other States. States may also use funds provided under this paragraph to pay for the costs associated with the distribution of commodities under the program authorized under section 110 of the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 [section 110 of Pub. L. 100–435, set out above], and to pay for the costs associated with the distribution of additional commodities provided pursuant to section 214.

"(2) Each State shall make available to emergency feeding organizations in the State not less than 40 per centum of the funds provided as authorized in paragraph (1) that it has been allocated for a fiscal year, as necessary to pay for, or provide advance payments to cover, the direct expenses of the emergency feeding organizations for distributing commodities to needy persons, but only to the extent such expenses are actually so incurred by such organizations. As used in this paragraph, the term 'direct expenses' includes costs of transporting, storing, handling, repackaging, processing, and distributing commodities incurred after they are received by the organization; costs associated with determinations of eligibility, verification, and documentation; costs of providing information to persons receiving commodities under this Act concerning the appropriate storage and preparation of such commodities; costs involved in publishing announcements of times and locations of distribution; and costs of recordkeeping, auditing, and other administrative procedures required for participation in the program under this title. If a State makes a payment, using State funds, to cover direct expenses of emergency feeding organizations, the amount of such payment shall be counted toward the amount a State must make available for direct expenses of emergency feeding organizations under this paragraph.

"(3) States to which funds are allocated for a fiscal year under this subsection shall submit financial reports to the Secretary, on a regular basis, as to the use of such funds. No such funds may be used by States or emergency feeding organizations for costs other than those involved in covering the expenses related to the distribution of commodities by emergency feeding organizations.

"(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), effective January 1, 1987, to be eligible to receive funds under this subsection, a State shall provide in cash or in kind (according to procedures approved by the Secretary for certifying these in-kind contributions) from non-Federal sources a contribution equal to the difference between-

"(i) the amount of such funds so received; and

"(ii) any part of the amount allocated to the State and paid by the State-

"(I) to emergency feeding organizations; or

"(II) for the direct expenses of such organizations;

for use in carrying out this title.

"(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), subparagraph (A) shall apply to States beginning on January 1, 1987.

"(ii) If the legislature of a State does not convene in regular session before January 1, 1987, paragraph (1) shall apply to such State beginning on October 1, 1987.

"(C) Funds allocated to a State under this section may, upon State request, be allocated before States satisfy the matching requirement specified in subparagraph (A), based on the estimated contribution required. The Secretary shall periodically reconcile estimated and actual contributions and adjust allocations to the State to correct for overpayments and underpayments.

"(5) States may not charge for commodities made available to emergency feeding organizations, and may not pass on to such organizations the cost of any matching requirements, under this Act.

"(b) The value of the commodities made available under this Act and the funds of the Corporation used to pay the costs of initial processing, packaging (including forms suitable for home use), and delivering commodities to the States shall not be charged against appropriations made or authorized under this section.

"relationships to other programs

"Sec. 205. (a) Section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [7 U.S.C. 2013(b)] shall not apply with respect to the distribution of commodities under this Act.

"(b) Except as otherwise provided in section 203A of this Act, none of the commodities distributed under this Act shall be sold or otherwise disposed of in commercial channels in any form.

"commodities not income

"Sec. 206. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commodities distributed under this Act shall not be considered income or resources for any purposes under any Federal, State, or local law.

"penalties

"Sec. 207. Section 4(c) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 [Pub. L. 93–86, set out as a note below] is amended by-

"(1) striking out 'or section 709' and inserting in lieu thereof 'section 709'; and

"(2) inserting after '(7 U.S.C. 1446a–1)' the phrase 'or the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983'.

"prohibition against certain state charges

"Sec. 208. Whenever a commodity is made available without charge or credit under any nutrition program administered by the Secretary for distribution within the States to eligible recipient agencies, the State may not charge recipient agencies any amount that is in excess of the State's direct costs of storing and transporting the commodities to recipient agencies minus any amount the Secretary provides the State for the costs of storing and transporting such commodities.

"commodity supplemental food program administrative expenses

"[Sec. 209. Repealed. Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §1562(e)(1), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1590 ]

"regulations

"Sec. 210. (a) The Secretary shall issue regulations within 30 days to implement this Act.

"(b) In administering this Act, the Secretary shall minimize, to the maximum extent practicable, the regulatory, recordkeeping, and paperwork requirements imposed on eligible recipient agencies.

"(c)(1) The Secretary shall as early as feasible but not later than the beginning of each fiscal year, publish in the Federal Register an estimate of the types and quantities of commodities that the Secretary anticipates are likely to be made available under the commodity distribution program under this Act during the fiscal year.

"(2) The actual types and quantities of commodities made available by the Secretary under this Act may differ from the estimates made under paragraph (1).

"(d) The regulations issued by the Secretary under this section shall include provisions that set standards with respect to liability for commodity losses under the program under this title in situations in which there is no evidence of negligence or fraud, and conditions for payment to cover such losses. Such provisions shall take into consideration the special needs and circumstances of emergency feeding organizations[.]

"(e) The Secretary is authorized to issue final regulations without first issuing proposed regulations (except as otherwise provided for in section 214(j)) for public comment in order to carry out the provisions of sections 213 and 214. If final regulations are issued without such prior public comment the Secretary shall permit public comment on such regulations, consider pertinent comments, and make modifications of such regulations as appropriate not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection [Sept. 19, 1988]. Such final and modified regulations shall be accompanied by a statement of the basis and purpose for such regulations.

"finality of determinations

"Sec. 211. Determinations made by the Secretary of Agriculture under this Act and the facts constituting the basis for any donation of commodities under this Act, or the amount thereof, when officially determined in conformity with the applicable regulations prescribed by the Secretary, shall be final and conclusive and shall not be reviewable by any other officer or agency of the Government.

"program termination

"Sec. 212. Except for section 207, this Act shall terminate on September 30, 1995.

"incorporation of additional commodities

"Sec. 213. (a) In General.-The Secretary shall administer the program authorized under this Act in a manner that incorporates into the program additional commodities purchased by the Secretary under section 214 to be distributed to States for use in such States by emergency feeding organizations, as defined in section 201A(1). Such additional commodities, to the extent practicable and appropriate, shall include commodities purchased within a given State for distribution within such State.

"(b) Supplement Commodities Available.-The Secretary shall supplement the commodities made available to emergency feeding organizations under sections 202 and 203D(a) with nutritious and useful commodities purchased by the Secretary under section 214.

"required purchases of commodities

"Sec. 214. (a) Purpose.-It is the purpose of this section to establish a formula so that the amount, measured by their value, of additional commodities that are to be allocated to each State can be precisely calculated for fiscal years 1991 through 1995. The share of commodities, as measured by their value, to be allocated to each State shall be based 60 percent on the number of persons in households within the State having incomes below the poverty level and 40 percent on the number of unemployed persons within the State.

"(b) Definitions.-As used in this section-

"(1) Additional commodities.-The term 'additional commodities' means commodities purchased under this section in addition to the commodities otherwise made available under sections 202 and 203D(a).

"(2) Average monthly number of unemployed persons.-The term 'average monthly number of unemployed persons' refers to the average monthly number of unemployed persons within each State in the most recent fiscal year for which such information is available as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

"(3) Poverty line.-The term 'poverty line' has the same meaning given such term in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).

"(4) Total value of additional commodities.-The term 'total value of additional commodities' means the actual cost (including the distribution and processing costs incurred by the Secretary), as paid by the Secretary, for all additional commodities purchased under subsection (e).

"(5) Value of additional commodities allocated to each state.-The term 'value of additional commodities allocated to each State' means the actual cost for additional commodities (including the distribution and processing costs incurred by the Secretary) as paid by the Secretary under this section and allocated to such State.

"(c) Purchase of Commodities.-The Secretary shall purchase a variety of nutritious and useful commodities of the types that the Secretary has the authority to acquire through the Commodity Credit Corporation or under section 32 of the Act entitled 'An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes', approved August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c note) [7 U.S.C. 612c], to supplement the commodities otherwise provided under the program authorized by this Act.

"(d) Types and Varieties.-The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable and appropriate, purchase types and varieties of commodities-

"(1) with high nutrient density per calorie;

"(2) that are easily and safely stored;

"(3) that are convenient to use and consume;

"(4) that are desired by recipient agencies; and

"(5) that meet the requirement imposed by section 203C(a).

"(e) Amounts.-To carry out this section there are authorized to be appropriated $175,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $190,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and $220,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1995 to purchase, process, and distribute additional commodities under this section. Any amounts provided for fiscal years 1991 through 1995 shall be available only to the extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

"(f) Mandatory Allotments.-In each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot-

"(1) 60 percent of the total value of additional commodities provided to States in a manner such that the value of additional commodities allocated to each State bears the same ratio to 60 percent of the total value of additional commodities as the number of persons in households within the State having incomes below the poverty line bears to the total number of persons in households within all States having incomes below such poverty line, and each State shall be entitled to receive such value of additional commodities; and

"(2) 40 percent of the total value of additional commodities provided to States in a manner such that the value of additional commodities allocated to each State bears the same ratio to 40 percent of the total value of additional commodities as the average monthly number of unemployed persons within the State bears to the average monthly number of unemployed persons within all States during the same fiscal year, and each State shall be entitled to receive such value of additional commodities.

"(g) Reallocation.-The Secretary shall notify each State of the amount of the additional commodities that such State is allotted to receive under subsection (f) or subsection (j) if applicable, and each State shall promptly notify the Secretary if such State determines that it will not accept any or all of the commodities made available under such allocation. On such a notification by a State, the Secretary shall reallocate and distribute the amount the State was allocated to receive under the formula prescribed in subsection (f) but declined to accept. The Secretary shall further establish procedures to permit States to decline to receive portions of such allocation during each fiscal year as the State determines is appropriate and the Secretary shall reallocate and distribute such allocation. In the event of any drought, flood, hurricane, or other natural disaster affecting substantial numbers of persons in a State, county or parish, the Secretary may request that States unaffected by such a disaster consider assisting affected States by allowing the Secretary to reallocate commodities to which each such unaffected State is entitled to States containing areas adversely affected by the disaster.

"(h) Administration.-Subject to subsections (e) and (f), or subsection (j) if applicable, purchases under this section shall be made by the Secretary at such times and under such conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate within each fiscal year. All such commodities purchased for each such fiscal year shall be delivered at reasonable intervals to States based on the allotments calculated under subsection (f), or reallocated under subsection (g), or calculated under subsection (j) if applicable, before the end of such fiscal year. Each State shall be entitled to receive that value of additional commodities that results from the application of the formula set forth in this section to the total value of additional commodities.

"(i) Maintenance of Effort.-If a State uses its own funds to provide commodities or services to organizations receiving funds or services under this section, such State shall not diminish the level of support it provides to such organizations or reduce the amount of funds available for other nutrition programs in the State in each fiscal year.

"(j) New Formula.-Notwithstanding the provisions of this section that set forth the specific formula for allocating additional commodities to each State, the Secretary is authorized to promulgate a different precise formula, after prior notice and comment as required by section 553 of title 5, United States Code, only to the extent that-

"(1) any such formula is effective at the outset of, and throughout any given fiscal year;

"(2) any such formula can be used to precisely calculate the amount of commodities to be made available to each State by the Secretary for each fiscal year; and

"(3) such formula provides that each State is entitled to receive that value of additional commodities which results from the application of such formula to the total value of additional commodities."

"settlement and adjustment of claims

"Sec. 215. (a) In General.-The Secretary or a designee of the Secretary shall have the authority to-

"(1) determine the amount of, settle, and adjust any claim arising under this Act; and

"(2) waive such a claim if the Secretary determines that to do so will serve the purposes of this Act.

"(b) Litigation.-Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to diminish the authority of the Attorney General of the United States under section 516 of title 28, United States Code, to conduct litigation on behalf of the United States."

[Amendment by Pub. L. 102–237 effective and implemented no later than Feb. 1, 1992, see section 1101(d)(1) of Pub. L. 102–237, set out as an Effective Date of 1991 Amendment note under section 1421 of this title.]

[Amendment by section 1772(a), (b), (d), and (h)(1) of Pub. L. 101–624 [amending title heading and sections 201, 202, 204, and 214 of Pub. L. 98–8] effective Nov. 28, 1990, amendment by section 1772(c), (f), and (g) of Pub. L. 101–624 [amending sections 204, 212, and 214 of Pub. L. 98–8] effective Oct. 1, 1990, and amendment by section 1772(e) of Pub. L. 101–624 [amending section 210 of Pub. L. 98–8] effective and implemented the first day of the month beginning 120 days after publication of implementing regulations which shall be promulgated not later than Oct. 1, 1991, see section 1781(a), (b)(1) and (2) of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

[Amendment by sections 101 and 103 of Pub. L. 100–435 [amending sections 204(c)(1), (2), 210(c), and 212 of Pub. L. 98–8] effective and implemented on Sept. 19, 1988, and amendment by sections 102, 104, and 105 of Pub. L. 100–435 [enacting sections 203D, 213, and 214, and amending sections 203B(a), 204(c)(1), and 210 of Pub. L. 98–8] effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1988, see section 701(a), (b)(1) of Pub. L. 100–435, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

Agricultural Export Promotion

Pub. L. 97–253, title I, §135, Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 772 , authorized Secretary of Agriculture, for each of fiscal years 1983, 1984, and 1985, to use up to $190,000,000 of Commodity Credit Corporation funds to carry out export activities through Commodity Credit Corporation under provisions of law in effect on Sept. 8, 1982, including activities authorized under amendments made by section 405(d) of Pub. L. 98–623 to sections 1707a and 1732 of this title and section 714c(f) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, even if those export activities were not included in budget program of Corporation.

[Amendments made by section 405(d) of Pub. L. 98–623, amending sections 1707a and 1732 of this title and section 714c(f) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, to be considered as having taken effect before Sept. 8, 1982, for purposes of section 135 of Pub. L. 97–253, set out above, see section 405(d) of Pub. L. 98–623, set out as an Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note under section 714c of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.]

Distribution of Commodities to Individuals in Cases of Hardship

Pub. L. 103–330, title VII, §709, Sept. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 2467 , provided that: "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act [see Tables for classification], commodities acquired by the Department in connection with Commodity Credit Corporation and section 32 [this section] price support operations may be used, as authorized by law (15 U.S.C. 714c and 7 U.S.C. 612c), to provide commodities to individuals in cases of hardship as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations acts:

Pub. L. 103–111, title VII, §710, Oct. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 1079 .

Pub. L. 102–341, title VII, §715, Aug. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 908 .

Pub. L. 102–142, title VII, §718, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 913 .

Pub. L. 101–506, title VI, §619, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1347 .

Pub. L. 101–161, title VI, §619, Nov. 21, 1989, 103 Stat. 983 .

Pub. L. 100–460, title VI, §619, Oct. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2261 .

Pub. L. 100–202, §101(k) [title VI, §619], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–322 , 1329-355.

Pub. L. 99–500, §101(a) [title VI, §619], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783 , 1783-29, and Pub. L. 99–591, §101(a) [title VI, §619], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341 , 3341-29.

Pub. L. 99–190, §101(a) [H.R. 3037, title VI, §619], Dec. 19, 1985, 99 Stat. 1185 .

Pub. L. 98–473, title I, §101(a) [H.R. 5743, title VI, §619], Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1837 .

Pub. L. 98–151, §101(d) [H.R. 3223, title VI, §619], Nov. 14, 1983, 97 Stat. 972 .

Pub. L. 97–370, title VI, §620, Dec. 18, 1982, 96 Stat. 1811 .

Pub. L. 97–103, title VI, §620, Dec. 23, 1981, 95 Stat. 1490 .

Commodity Distribution Program; Purchase of Agricultural Commodities; Furnishing Commodities to Summer Camps

Pub. L. 93–86, §4, Aug. 10, 1973, 87 Stat. 249 , as amended by Pub. L. 93–347, §1, July 12, 1974, 88 Stat. 340 ; Pub. L. 94–273, §2(1), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 375 ; Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, §§1302(a)(1), 1304(a), Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 979 , 980, Pub. L. 97–98, title XIII, §1334, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1292 ; Pub. L. 98–8, title II, §207, Mar. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 36 ; Pub. L. 98–92, §3, Sept. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 612 ; Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §1562(a), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1590 ; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §§1771(a), (b)(1), (c)(1), 1772(h)(2), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3806 , 3807, 3809, provided that:

"(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may, during fiscal years 1991 through 1995, purchase and distribute sufficient agricultural commodities with funds appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury to maintain the traditional level of assistance for food assistance programs as are authorized by law, including but not limited to distribution to institutions (including hospitals and facilities caring for needy infants and children), supplemental feeding programs serving women, infants, and children or elderly persons, or both, wherever located, disaster areas, summer camps for children, the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and Indians, whenever a tribal organization requests distribution of federally donated foods pursuant to section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [section 2013(b) of this title]. In providing for commodity distribution to Indians, the Secretary shall improve the variety and quantity of commodities supplied to Indians in order to provide them an opportunity to obtain a more nutritious diet.

"(b) The Secretary may furnish commodities to summer camps for children in which the number of adults participating in camp activities as compared with the number of children 18 years of age and under so participating is not unreasonable in light of the nature of such camp and the characteristics of the children in attendance."

"(c) Whoever embezzles, willfully misapplies, steals or obtains by fraud any agricultural commodity or its products (or any funds, assets, or property deriving from donation of such commodities) provided under this section, or under section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431), section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), section 709 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1965 (7 U.S.C. 1446a–1), or the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 [set out as a note above], whether received directly or indirectly from the United States Department of Agriculture, or whoever receives, conceals, or retains such commodities, products, funds, assets, or property for personal use or gain, knowing such commodities, products, funds, assets, or property have been embezzled, willfully misapplied, stolen, or obtained by fraud shall, if such commodities, products, funds, assets, or property are of a value of $100 or more, be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, or if such commodities, products, funds, assets, or property are of value of less than $100, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both."

[Amendment by section 1771(a) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Oct. 1, 1990, and amendments by sections 1771(b)(1), (c)(1), and 1772(h)(2) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Nov. 28, 1990, see section 1781(b)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

[Section 1334 of Pub. L. 97–98 provided in part that the amendment of section 4 of Pub. L. 93–86 by Pub. L. 97–98 is effective Oct. 1, 1981.]

[Section 1302(b) and section 1304(a) in part, both of Pub. L. 95–113, provided that the amendment of subsecs. (a) and (b) of section 4 of Pub. L. 93–86 and the repeal of subsec. (c) of section 4 of Pub. L. 93–86 are effective Oct. 1, 1977.]

[ Pub. L. 93–233, §8(b)(1), Dec. 31, 1973, 87 Stat. 956 , as amended by Pub. L. 93–335, §1(b), July 8, 1974, 88 Stat. 291 ; Pub. L. 94–44, §3(b), June 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 235 ; Pub. L. 94–365, §2(2), July 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 990 ; Pub. L. 95–59, §3(2), June 30, 1977, 91 Stat. 255 , eff. July 1, 1977, provided that: "Section 4(c) of Public Law 93–86 shall not be effective for the period ending September 30, 1978."] [For repeal of section 4(c) of Pub. L. 93–86, see section 1304(a) of Pub. L. 95–113.].

[For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.]

Commodity Supplemental Food Program

Section 5 of Pub. L. 93–86, as added Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, §1304(b)(2), Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 980 , and amended by Pub. L. 97–98, title XIII, §1335, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1293 ; Pub. L. 98–8, title II, §209, Mar. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 36 , as amended Pub. L. 98–92, §2(8), Sept. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 611 ; Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §1562(b), (c), (e)(2), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1590 ; Pub. L. 100–435, title I, §130, redesignated §5(d)(2) of Pub. L. 93–86 by Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §1774(c)(2)(A), (B), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3813 ; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §§1771(c)(2)–(f), 1774(c)(2)(C), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3807 , 3808, 3813; Pub. L. 102–237, title I, §118(a), title IX, §922(c), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1841 , 1889, provided that:

"(a) In carrying out the supplemental feeding program (hereinafter referred to as the 'commodity supplemental food program') under section 4 of this Act [set out as a note above], the Secretary (1) may institute two pilot projects directed at low-income elderly persons, including, where feasible, distribution of commodities to such persons in their homes; and (2) shall provide to the State agencies administering the commodity supplemental food program, for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995, funds appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury in amounts equal to the administrative costs of State and local agencies in operating the program, except that the funds provided to State agencies each fiscal year may not exceed 20 percent of the amount appropriated for the commodity supplemental food program.

"(b) During the first three months of any commodity supplemental food program, or until such program reaches its projected caseload level, whichever comes first, the Secretary shall pay those administrative costs necessary to commence the program successfully: Provided, That in no event shall administrative costs paid by the Secretary for any fiscal year exceed the limitation established in subsection (a) of this section.

"(c) Administrative costs for the purposes of the commodity supplemental food program shall include, but not be limited to, expenses for information and referral, operation, monitoring, nutrition education, start-up costs, and general administration, including staff, warehouse and transportation personnel, insurance, and administration of the State or local office.

"(d)(1) During each fiscal year the commodity supplemental food program is in operation, the types and varieties of commodities and their proportional amounts shall be determined by the Secretary, but, if the Secretary proposes to make any significant changes in the types, varieties, or proportional amounts from those that were available or were planned at the beginning of the fiscal year (or as were available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, whichever is greater) the Secretary shall report such changes before implementation to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

"(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall, to the extent that the Commodity Credit Corporation inventory levels permit, provide not less than 9,000,000 pounds of cheese and not less than 4,000,000 pounds of nonfat dry milk in each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995 to the Secretary of Agriculture. The Secretary shall use such amounts of cheese and nonfat dry milk to carry out the commodity supplemental food program before the end of each fiscal year.

"(e) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the commodity supplemental food program.

"(f) The Secretary shall, in any fiscal year, approve applications of additional sites for the program, including sites that serve only elderly persons, in areas in which the program currently does not operate to the full extent that this can be done within the appropriations available for the program for the fiscal year and without reducing actual participation levels (including participation of elderly persons under subsection (g)) in areas in which the program is in effect.

"(g) If a local agency that administers the commodity supplemental food program determines that the amount of funds made available to the agency to carry out this section exceeds the amount of funds necessary to provide assistance under such program to women, infants, and children, the agency, with the approval of the Secretary, may permit low-income elderly persons (as defined by the Secretary) to participate in and be served by such program.

"(h) Each State agency administering a commodity supplemental food program serving women, infants, and children shall-

"(1) ensure that written information concerning food stamps, the program for aid to families with dependent children under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), and the child support enforcement program under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is provided on at least one occasion to each adult who applies for or participates in the commodity supplemental food program;

"(2) provide each local agency with materials showing the maximum income limits, according to family size, applicable to pregnant women, infants, and children up to age 6 under the medical assistance program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (hereinafter referred to in this section as the 'medicaid program') which materials may be identical to those provided under section 17(e)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(e)(3)); and

"(3) ensure that local agencies provide to pregnant, breast feeding and post partum women, and adults applying on behalf of infants or children, who apply to the commodity supplemental food program, or who reapply to such program, written information about the medicaid program and referral to the program or to agencies authorized to determine presumptive eligibility for the medicaid program, if the individuals are not participating in the medicaid program.

"(i) Each State agency administering a commodity supplemental food program serving elderly persons shall ensure that written information is provided on at least one occasion to each elderly participant in or applicant for the commodity supplemental food program for the elderly concerning-

"(1) food stamps provided under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);

"(2) the supplemental security income benefits provided under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); and

"(3) medical assistance provided under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (including medical assistance provided to a qualified medicare beneficiary (as defined in section 1905(p) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(5)))).

"(j)(1) If the Secretary must pay a significantly higher than expected price for one or more types of commodities purchased under the commodity supplemental food program, the Secretary shall promptly determine whether the price is likely to cause the number of persons that can be served in the program in a fiscal year to decline.

"(2) If the Secretary determines that such a decline would occur, the Secretary shall promptly notify the State agencies charged with operating the program of the decline and shall ensure that a State agency notify all local agencies operating the program in the State of the decline.

"(k)(1) The Secretary or a designee of the Secretary shall have the authority to-

"(A) determine the amount of, settle, and adjust any claim arising under the commodity supplemental food program; and

"(B) waive such a claim if the Secretary determines that to do so will serve the purposes of the program.

"(2) Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the authority of the Attorney General of the United States under section 516 of title 28, United States Code, to conduct litigation on behalf of the United States."

[Amendment by section 922(c) of Pub. L. 102–237 effective and implemented no later than Feb. 1, 1992, see section 1101(d)(1) of Pub. L. 102–237, set out as an Effective Date of 1991 Amendment note under section 1421 of this title.]

[Amendment by sections 1771(c)(2) and 1774(c) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Nov. 28, 1990; amendment by section 1771(d) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Oct. 1, 1990, and amendments by section 1771(e) and (f) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective and implemented the first day of the month beginning 120 days after the publication of implementing regulations which shall be promulgated not later than Oct. 1, 1991, see section 1781(a), (b)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.]

[Section 1335 of Pub. L. 97–98 provided in part that the amendment to section 5 of Pub. L. 93–86 by Pub. L. 97–98 is effective Oct. 1, 1981.]

[Section 1304(b) of Pub. L. 95–113 provided in part that section 5 of Pub. L. 93–86 is effective Oct. 1, 1977.]

Direct Distribution Programs for Diet of Needy Children and Low-Income Persons Suffering From General and Continued Hunger; Additional Funds

Section 6 of Pub. L. 92–32, June 30, 1971, 85 Stat. 86 , authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to use during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, not to exceed $20,000,000 in funds from section 612c of this title, in addition to funds appropriated or otherwise available, to carry out in any area of the United States direct distribution or other programs, without regard to whether such area is under the food stamp program or a system of direct distribution, in order to provide in the vicinity of their residence an adequate diet to needy children and low income persons suffering, through no fault of their own, from general and continued hunger; provided that food made available to needy children was to be in addition to food made available under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; and authorized payment of administrative costs incurred by state or local agencies in carrying out programs for needy children.

Use of Funds for School Lunch Program Under Section 1753 of Title 42

Use of funds appropriated under this section for implementing section 1753 of Title 42 till supplemental appropriation is made and reimbursement of such funds, see section 4(a) of Pub. L. 92–433, set out as a note under section 1753 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Transfer of Funds to Schools in Need of Additional Assistance in School Breakfast Program

Authorization for transfer of funds under this section to assist schools in need of additional funds in school breakfast program, see note set out under section 1773 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Additional Funds for Food Service Programs for Children; Apportionment to States; Special Assistance; Consultation With Child Nutrition Council; Reimbursement From Supplemental Appropriation

Additional funds for food service programs for children from appropriations under this section, apportionment to States, special assistance programs, consultation with National Advisory Council on Child Nutrition, and reimbursement from supplemental appropriation, see note set out under section 1753 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Meal and Flour for Relief

Act Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 671, 69 Stat. 608 , authorized the Secretary of Agriculture upon specific request of the Governor of any State, during the period commencing Aug. 9, 1955 and ending June 30, 1957, to make available, pursuant to clause (2) of this section for distribution by State agencies, other than institutions and schools, directly to families and persons determined by appropriate State or local public welfare agencies to be in need, wheat flour and corn meal in such quantities as the Secretary of Agriculture determines can be effectively distributed and utilized within such period without regard to the requirement contained in this section, that such funds be devoted principally to perishable nonbasic agricultural commodities and their products.

Eligibility of Supplemental Security Income Recipients for Food Stamps During the Period Ending September 30, 1978

Pub. L. 93–233, §8(b)(3), Dec. 31, 1973, 87 Stat. 956 , as amended by Pub. L. 93–335, §1(b), July 8, 1974, 88 Stat. 291 ; Pub. L. 94–44, §3(b), June 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 235 ; Pub. L. 94–365, §2(2), July 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 990 ; Pub. L. 95–59, §3(2), June 30, 1977, 91 Stat. 255 , provided that: "For the period ending September 30, 1978, no individual, who receives supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act [section 1381 et seq. of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare], State supplementary payments described in section 1616 of such Act [section 1382e of Title 42], or payments of the type referred to in section 212(a) of Public Law 93–66 [set out as a note under section 1382 of Title 42], shall be considered to be a member of a household for any purpose of the food distribution program for families under section 32 of Public Law 74–320 [this section], section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 [section 1431 of this title], or any other law, for any month during such period, if, for such month, such individual resides in a State which provides State supplementary payments (A) of the type described in section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act [section 1382e(a) of Title 42], and (B) the level of which has been found by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to have been specifically increased so as to include the bonus value of food stamps."

[Amendment by Pub. L. 93–335 effective July 1, 1974, see section 1(c) of Pub. L. 93–335, set out as an Effective Date of 1974 Amendment note under section 1382 of Title 42. Section 3 of Pub. L. 95–59 provided in part that the amendment of section 8 of Pub. L. 93–233 by section 3(2) of Pub. L. 95–59 is effective July 1, 1977.]

Food Stamp Plan

Acts June 25, 1940, ch. 421, §1, 54 Stat. 563 ; July 1, 1941, ch. 267, §1, 55 Stat. 438 , provided: "That said 25 per centum provision and the like provision in said section 32 [this section], as amended, shall not apply to amounts devoted to a stamp plan for the removal of surplus agricultural commodities from funds made available hereby and by said section 32 [this section], and, notwithstanding expenditures under such stamp plan, the 25 per centum provision shall continue to be calculated on the aggregate amount available hereunder and under said section 32 [this section]."

Distribution of Surplus Commodities to Other United States Areas

Extension of relief programs to areas under United States jurisdiction, see section 1431b of this title.

Fishery Products; Use of Funds

Use of funds made available under this section for distribution of surplus fishery products, and for promotion of free flow of domestically produced fishery products, see sections 713c–2 and 713c–3 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Home Economics Training

Authorization of schools to use surplus foods received under this section to train students in home economics, see note set out under section 1431 of this title.

Cross References

Secretary of Agriculture not precluded from carrying on programs under this section by International Wheat Agreement Act of 1949, see section 1641 of this title.

Supplemental appropriations to encourage exportation and domestic consumption of agricultural products, see section 1855 of this title.

Transfer of funds to Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation to effectuate clause (2) of this section, see section 713c of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Utilization of services and facilities of Commodity Credit Corporation in carrying out program under this section, see section 1424 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 624, 1392, 1421, 1424, 1431b, 1641, 1736m, 1855, 2627, 4004, 5676 of this title; title 12 section 1150a; title 15 sections 713c, 713c–2, 713c–3; title 22 section 1922; title 31 section 1511; title 40 section 474; title 42 sections 1755, 1758, 1761, 1762a, 1777, 1786, 3030a, 3045f, 5180.

1 See References in Text note below.