§1722. Provision of agricultural commodities

(a) Emergency assistance

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may provide agricultural commodities to meet emergency food needs under this subchapter through governments and public or private agencies, including intergovernmental organizations such as the World Food Program and other multilateral organizations, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines appropriate to respond to the emergency.

(b) Nonemergency assistance

(1) In general

The Administrator may provide agricultural commodities for nonemergency assistance under this subchapter through eligible organizations (as described in subsection (d) of this section) that have entered into an agreement with the Administrator to use the commodities in accordance with this subchapter.

(2) Limitation

The Administrator may not deny a request for funds submitted under this subsection because the program for which the funds are requested-

(A) would be carried out by the eligible organization in a foreign country in which the Agency for International Development does not have a mission, office, or other presence; or

(B) is not part of a development plan for the country prepared by the Agency.

(3) Program diversity

The Administrator shall-

(A) encourage eligible organizations to propose and implement program plans to address 1 or more aspects of the program under section 1721 of this title; and

(B) consider proposals that incorporate a variety of program objectives and strategic plans based on the identification by eligible organizations of appropriate activities, consistent with section 1721 of this title, to assist development of foreign countries.

(c) Uses of assistance

Agricultural commodities provided under this subchapter may be made available for direct distribution, sale, barter, or other appropriate disposition.

(d) Eligible organizations

To be eligible to receive assistance under subsection (b) of this section an organization shall be-

(1) a private voluntary organization or cooperative that is, to the extent practicable, registered with the Administrator; or

(2) an intergovernmental organization, such as the World Food Program.

(e) Support for eligible organizations

(1) In general

Of the funds made available in each fiscal year under this subchapter to the Administrator, not less than 5 percent nor more than 10 percent of the funds shall be made available in each fiscal year to eligible organizations described in subsection (d) of this section, to assist the organizations in-

(A) establishing new programs under this subchapter; and

(B) meeting specific administrative, management, personnel and internal transportation and distribution costs for carrying out programs in foreign countries under this subchapter.

(2) Request for funds

To receive funds made available under paragraph (1), an eligible organization described in subsection (d) of this section shall submit a request for the funds that is subject to approval by the Administrator.

(3) Assistance with respect to sale

Upon the request of an eligible organization, the Administrator may provide assistance to the eligible organization with respect to the sale of agricultural commodities made available to it under this subchapter.

(f) Effective use of commodities

To ensure that agricultural commodities made available under this subchapter are used effectively and in the areas of greatest need, organizations or cooperatives through which such commodities are distributed shall-

(1) to the extent feasible, work with indigenous institutions and employ indigenous workers;

(2) assess and take into account nutritional and other needs of beneficiary groups;

(3) help such beneficiary groups design and carry out mutually acceptable projects;

(4) recommend to the Administrator methods of making assistance available that are the most appropriate for each local setting;

(5) supervise the distribution of commodities provided and the implementation of programs carried out under this subchapter; and

(6) periodically evaluate the effectiveness of projects undertaken under this subchapter.

(g) Labeling

Commodities provided under this subchapter shall, to the extent practicable, be clearly identified with appropriate markings on the package or container of such commodity in the language of the locality in which such commodities are distributed, as being furnished by the people of the United States of America.

(h) Streamlined program management

(1) Improvements

Not later than 1 year after May 13, 2002, the Administrator shall-

(A) streamline program procedures and guidelines under this subchapter for agreements with eligible organizations for programs in 1 or more countries; and

(B) effective beginning with fiscal year 2004, to the maximum extent practicable, incorporate the changes into the procedures and guidelines for programs and the guidelines for resource requests.

(2) Streamlined procedures and guidelines

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make improvements in the Office of Food for Peace management systems that include-

(A) expedition of and greater consistency in the program review and approval process under this subchapter;

(B) streamlining of information collection and reporting systems by identifying the critical information that needs to be monitored and reported on by eligible organizations; and

(C) for approved programs, provision of greater flexibility for an eligible organization to make modifications in program activities to achieve program results with streamlined procedures for reporting such modifications.

(3) Consultation

(A) In general

Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be carried out in accordance with section 1725 of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of section 1726a of this title.

(B) Consultation with congressional committees

Not later than 180 days after May 13, 2002, the Administrator shall consult with the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on progress made in carrying out this subsection.

(4) Report

Not later than 270 days after May 13, 2002, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the improvements made and planned upgrades in the information management, procurement, and financial management systems to administer this subchapter.

(July 10, 1954, ch. 469, title II, §202, 68 Stat. 458 ; Pub. L. 86–472, ch. VI, §601 (a)(1), May 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 140 ; Pub. L. 88–205, pt. IV, §403(d), Dec. 16, 1963, 77 Stat. 390 ; Pub. L. 89–808, §2(C), Nov. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 1534 ; Pub. L. 95–88, title II, §§207, 208(a), Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 547 ; Pub. L. 96–53, title I, §121, title II, §202, Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 366 , 368; Pub. L. 99–83, title X, §§1003, 1004(a), 1005, Aug. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 270 , 271; Pub. L. 100–202, §11, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–448 ; Pub. L. 101–508, title I, §1204(b)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–11 ; Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, §1512, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3636 ; Pub. L. 104–127, title II, §207(a), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 953 ; Pub. L. 107–171, title III, §3002, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 280 .)

Amendments

2002-Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 107–171, §3002(1), added par. (3).

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 107–171, §3002(2), substituted "not less than 5 percent nor more than 10 percent of the funds" for "not less than $10,000,000, and not more than $28,000,000,".

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–171, §3002(3), added subsec. (h).

1996-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–127, §207(a)(1), added subsec. (b) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: "The Administrator may provide agricultural commodities for non-emergency assistance under this subchapter through eligible organizations (as described in subsection (d) of this section) that have entered into an agreement with the Administrator to use such commodities in accordance with this subchapter."

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–127, §207(a)(2)(A), substituted "eligible organizations" for "private voluntary organizations and cooperatives" in heading.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 104–127, §207(a)(2)(B), in introductory provisions, substituted "$28,000,000" for "$13,500,000" and "eligible organizations described in subsection (d) of this section, to assist the organizations" for "private voluntary organizations and cooperatives to assist such organizations and cooperatives".

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 104–127, §207(a)(2)(C), added par. (2) and struck out heading and text of former par. (2). Text read as follows: "In order to receive funds made available under paragraph (1), a private voluntary organization or cooperative must submit a request for such funds (which must be approved by the Administrator) when submitting a proposal to the Administrator for an agreement under this subchapter. Such request for funds shall include a specific explanation of-

"(A) the program costs to be offset by such funds;

"(B) the reason why such funds are needed in carrying out the particular assistance program; and

"(C) the degree to which such funds will improve the provision of food assistance to foreign countries (particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa suffering from acute, long-term food shortages)."

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 104–127, §207(a)(2)(D), substituted "an eligible organization, the Administrator may provide assistance to the eligible organization" for "a private voluntary organization or cooperative, the Administrator may provide assistance to that organization or cooperative".

1990-Pub. L. 101–624 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions relating to furnishing commodities through friendly governments, agencies, and organizations, assistance for community and other self-help activities, and multiyear agreements for distribution of commodities through nonprofit voluntary agencies and cooperatives.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 101–508, in introductory provisions, substituted "the Administrator, not less than $10,000,000, and not more than $13,500,000, shall be made available in each fiscal year to private voluntary organizations and cooperatives" for "private voluntary organizations and cooperatives, not less than $10,000,000 and not more than $13,500,000 shall be made available by the Administrator".

1987-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–202 inserted "or cooperatives" after "voluntary agencies".

1985-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–83, §1003, inserted provisions relating to appropriate disposition under section 1721 of this title.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 99–83, §1004(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–83, §1005, added subsec. (c).

1979-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–53, §121, substituted "Agency for International Development" for "Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid", and "Advisory Committee" wherever appearing.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 96–53, §202, substituted provisions relating to encouragement of entities distributing commodities to work with indigenous institutions and to employ indigenous workers, for provisions relating to employment of indigenous workers.

1977-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–88, §§207(1), (2), 208(a), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), struck out requirement that assistance to needy persons, insofar as practicable, be directed toward community and other self-help activities designed to alleviate the causes of the need for such assistance, and inserted provisions authorizing the President to utilize a foreign nonprofit voluntary agency which is registered with and approved by the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid if no United States nonprofit voluntary agency registered with and approved by the Advisory Committee is available.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–88, §207(3), added subsec. (b).

1966-Pub. L. 89–808 substituted provisions for furnishing commodities for prescribed purposes through use of friendly governments, agencies, and organizations, using to extent practicable registered and approved nonprofit voluntary agencies, identification of source of commodities, determination by the President of the manner and terms and conditions of furnishing the commodities and for directions of the assistance toward community and self-help activities for former provisions for transfer of commodities on a grant bases to assist the prescribed programs.

1963-Pub. L. 88–205 substituted "economic and community development" for "economic developments".

1960-Pub. L. 86–472 substituted "In order to facilitate the utilization of surplus agricultural commodities in meeting the requirements of needy peoples, and in order to promote economic development in underdeveloped areas in addition to that which can be accomplished under sections 1701 to 1704 and 1705 to 1709 of this title, the" for "The".

Change of Name

Committee on International Relations of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–624 effective Jan. 1, 1991, see section 1513 of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as a note under section 1691 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective Nov. 29, 1990, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as an Effective Date note under section 940d of this title.

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–83 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 1301 of Pub. L. 99–83, set out as a note under section 2151–1 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–53 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 512(a) of Pub. L. 96–53, set out as a note under section 2151 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–88 effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 215 of Pub. L. 95–88, set out as a note under section 1702 of this title.

Effective Date of 1966 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 89–808 effective Jan. 1, 1967, see section 5 of Pub. L. 89–808, set out as a note under section 1691 of this title.

Registration of Foreign Nonprofit Voluntary Agencies

Section 208(b) of Pub. L. 95–88 provided that: "For purposes of implementing the amendment made by subsection (a) [providing for the utilization by the President of foreign nonprofit voluntary agencies], the President shall issue regulations governing registration with an approval by the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid of foreign nonprofit voluntary agencies."

Continuation of Authority

Section 601(a)(2) of Pub. L. 86–472, which provided that the amendment of this section by section 601(a)(1) shall expire June 30, 1961, was repealed by Pub. L. 87–92, July 20, 1961, 75 Stat. 211 .