Public Law 114-54. Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015

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An Act To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to extend the livestock mandatory price reporting requirements, and for other purposes.Sept. 30, 2015[[H.R. 2051](/us/bill/114/hr/2051)] * Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015. ## SECTION 1 SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS ###

(a)Short Title [7 USC 71 note](/us/usc/t7/s71). This Act may be cited as the “Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015”. ###

(b)Table of Contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I— MANDATORY PRICE REPORTING Sec. 101. Extension of livestock mandatory reporting. Sec. 102. Swine reporting. Sec. 103. Lamb reporting. Sec. 104. Study on livestock mandatory reporting. TITLE II— NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION Sec. 201. National Forest Foundation Act reauthorization. TITLE III— UNITED STATES GRAIN STANDARDS ACT REAUTHORIZATION Sec. 301. Reauthorization of United States Grain Standards Act. Sec. 302. Report on disruption in Federal inspection of grain exports. Sec. 303. Report on policy barriers to grain producers. # TITLE I MANDATORY PRICE REPORTING ## SEC. 101 EXTENSION OF LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING ###

(a)Extension of Authority Section 260 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ([7 U.S.C. 1636i](/us/usc/t7/s1636i)) is amended by striking “September 30, 2015” and inserting “September 30, 2020”. ###

(b)Conforming Amendment Section 942 of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 ([7 U.S.C. 1635 note](/us/usc/t7/s1635); [Public Law 106–78](/us/pl/106/78)) is amended by striking “September 30, 2015” and inserting “September 30, 2020”. ## SEC. 102 SWINE REPORTING ###

(a)Definitions Section 231 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ([7 U.S.C. 1635i](/us/usc/t7/s1635i)) is amended— ####

(1)by redesignating paragraphs

(9)through

(22)as paragraphs

(10)through (23), respectively; ####

(2)by inserting after paragraph

(8)the following: 129 STAT. 514 > > #### “(9) Negotiated formula purchase > > The term ‘**negotiated formula purchase**’ means a swine or pork market formula purchase under which— > > > ##### “(A) > > the formula is determined by negotiation on a lot-by-lot basis; and > > > ##### “(B) > > the swine are scheduled for delivery to the packer not later than 14 days after the date on which the formula is negotiated and swine are committed to the packer.” > ; ####

(3)in paragraph (12)(A) (as so redesignated), by inserting “negotiated formula purchase,” after “pork market formula purchase,”; and ####

(4)in paragraph

(23)(as so redesignated)— #####

(A)in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end; #####

(B)by redesignating subparagraph

(D)as subparagraph (E); and #####

(C)by inserting after subparagraph

(C)the following: > > ##### “(D) > > a negotiated formula purchase; and” > . ###

(b)Daily Reporting Section 232(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ([7 U.S.C. 1635j(c)](/us/usc/t7/s1635j/c)) is amended— ####

(1)in paragraph (1)(D), by striking clause

(ii)and inserting the following: > > ###### “(ii) Price distributions > > The information published by the Secretary under clause

(i)shall include— > > > ###### “(I) > > a distribution of net prices in the range between and including the lowest net price and the highest net price reported; > > > ###### “(II) > > a delineation of the number of barrows and gilts at each reported price level or, at the option of the Secretary, the number of barrows and gilts within each of a series of reasonable price bands within the range of prices; and > > > ###### “(III) > > the total number and weighted average price of barrows and gilts purchased through negotiated purchases and negotiated formula purchases.” > ; and ####

(2)in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(C) Late in the day report information > > The Secretary shall include in the morning report and the afternoon report for the following day any information required to be reported under subparagraph

(A)that is obtained after the time of the reporting day specified in that subparagraph.” > . ## SEC. 103 LAMB REPORTING [7 USC 1635m note](/us/usc/t7/s1635m). Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall revise [section 59.300 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations](/us/cfr/t7/s59.300), so that— ####

(1)Definition. the definition of the term “**importer**”— #####

(A)includes only those importers that imported an average of 1,000 metric tons of lamb meat products per year during the immediately preceding 4 calendar years; and #####

(B)may include any person that does not meet the requirement referred to in subparagraph (A), if the Secretary determines that the person should be considered an importer based on their volume of lamb imports; and ####

(2)the definition of the term “**packer**”—129 STAT. 515 #####

(A)Applicability. applies to any entity with 50 percent or more ownership in a facility; #####

(B)Time period. includes a federally inspected lamb processing plant which slaughtered or processed the equivalent of an average of 35,000 head of lambs per year during the immediately preceding 5 calendar years; and #####

(C)may include any other lamb processing plant that does not meet the requirement referred to in subparagraph (B), if the Determination.Secretary determines that the processing plant should be considered a packer after considering the capacity of the processing plant. ## SEC. 104 STUDY ON LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING ###

(a)Study Required ####

(1)In general Consultation. The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Agricultural Marketing Service in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Economist and in consultation with cattle, swine, and lamb producers, packers, and other market participants, shall conduct a study on the program of information regarding the marketing of cattle, swine, lambs, and products of such livestock under subtitle B of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ([7 U.S.C. 1635 et seq.](/us/usc/t7/s1635/etseq)). ####

(2)Requirements The study shall— #####

(A)analyze current marketing practices in the cattle, swine, and lamb markets; #####

(B)identify legislative or regulatory recommendations made by cattle, swine, and lamb producers, packers, and other market participants to ensure that information provided under the program— ######

(i)can be readily understood by producers, packers, and other market participants; ######

(ii)reflects current marketing practices; and ######

(iii)is relevant and useful to producers, packers, and other market participants; #####

(C)analyze the price and supply information reporting services of the Department of Agriculture related to cattle, swine, and lamb; and #####

(D)address any other issues that the Secretary considers appropriate. ###

(b)Report Not later than March 1, 2018, the Secretary of Agriculture 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 containing the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a). # TITLE II NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION ## SEC. 201 NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION ###

(a)Extension of Authority To Provide Matching Funds for Administrative and Project Expenses Section 405(b) of the National Forest Foundation Act ([16 U.S.C. 583j–3(b)](/us/usc/t16/s583j–3/b)) is amended by striking “for a period of five years beginning October 1, 1992” and inserting “during fiscal years 2016 through 2018”. ###

(b)Authorization of Appropriations Section 410(b) of the National Forest Foundation Act ([16 U.S.C. 583j–8(b)](/us/usc/t16/s583j–8/b)) is amended 129 STAT. 516 by striking “during the five-year period” and all that follows through “$1,000,000 annually” and inserting “there are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018”. ###

(c)Technical Corrections ####

(1)Agent Section 404 of the National Forest Foundation Act ([16 U.S.C. 583j–2](/us/usc/t16/s583j–2)) is amended— #####

(A)in subsection (a)(4), by inserting “notice or” after “authorized to accept”; and #####

(B)in subsection (b), by striking “under this paragraph” and inserting “by subsection (a)(4)”. ####

(2)Annual report Section 407(b) of the National Forest Foundation Act ([16 U.S.C. 583j–5(b)](/us/usc/t16/s583j–5/b)) is amended by striking the comma after “The Foundation shall”. # TITLE III UNITED STATES GRAIN STANDARDS ACT REAUTHORIZATION ## SEC. 301 REAUTHORIZATION OF UNITED STATES GRAIN STANDARDS ACT ###

(a)Official Inspection and Weighing Requirements ####

(1)Discretionary waiver authority Section 5(a)(1) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 77(a)(1)](/us/usc/t7/s77/a/1)) is amended in the first proviso by striking “may waive the foregoing requirement in emergency or other circumstances which would not impair the objectives of this Act” and inserting “shall waive the foregoing requirement in emergency or other circumstances that would not impair the objectives of this Act whenever the parties to a contract for such shipment mutually agree to the waiver and documentation of such agreement is provided to the Secretary prior to shipment”. ####

(2)Weighing requirements at export elevators Section 5(a)(2) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 77(a)(2)](/us/usc/t7/s77/a/2)) is amended in the proviso by striking “intracompany shipments of grain into an export elevator by any mode of transportation, grain transferred into an export elevator by transportation modes other than barge,” and inserting “shipments of grain into an export elevator by any mode of transportation”. ####

(3)Disruption in grain inspection or weighing Section 5 of the United States Grain Standards Act ( 7 U.S.C. 77 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: > > ### “(d) Disruption in Grain Inspection or Weighing > > In the case of a disruption in official grain inspections or weighings, including if the Secretary waives the requirement for official inspection due to an emergency under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall— > > > #### “(1) > > immediately take such actions as are necessary to address the disruption and resume inspections or weighings; > > > #### “(2) > > Deadline.Reports. > > not later than 24 hours after the start of the disruption in inspection or weighing, submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes— > > > ##### “(A) > > the disruption; and129 STAT. 517 > > > ##### “(B) > > any actions necessary to address the concerns of the Secretary relating to the disruption so that inspections or weighings may resume; and > > > #### “(3) > > Updates. > > once the initial report in paragraph

(2)has been made, provide daily updates until official inspection or weighing services at the site of disruption have resumed.” > . ###

(b)Official Inspection Authority and Funding ####

(1)Delegation of official inspection authority Section 7(e)(2) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 79(e)(2)](/us/usc/t7/s79/e/2)) is amended— #####

(A)by striking “

(2)If the Secretary ” and inserting the following: > > #### “(2) Delegation of authority to state agencies > > > ##### “(A) In general > > If the Secretary” > ; #####

(B)in the first sentence— ######

(i)by striking “and (A)” and inserting “and (i)”; ######

(ii)by striking “or (B)(i)” and inserting “or (ii)(I)”; ######

(iii)by striking “(ii)” and inserting “(II)”; and ######

(iv)by striking “(iii)” and inserting “(III)”; and #####

(C)by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(B) Certification > > Time periods.Deadlines. > > > ###### “(i) In general > > Every 5 years, the Secretary shall certify that each State agency with a delegation of authority is meeting the criteria described in subsection (f)(1)(A). > > > ###### “(ii) Process > > Federal Register, publication.Notice. > > Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Reauthorizations Act of 2015, the Secretary shall establish a process for certification under which the Secretary shall— > > > ###### “(I) > > Comment period. > > publish in the Federal Register notice of intent to certify a State agency and provide a 30-day period for public comment; > > > ###### “(II) > > evaluate the public comments received and, in accordance with paragraph (3), conduct an investigation to determine whether the State agency is qualified; > > > ###### “(III) > > make findings based on the public comments received and investigation conducted; and > > > ###### “(IV) > > publish in the Federal Register a notice announcing whether the certification has been granted and describing the basis on which the Secretary made the decision. > > > ##### “(C) State agency requirements > > > ###### “(i) In general > > Notification. > > If a State agency that has been delegated authority under this paragraph intends to temporarily discontinue official inspection or weighing services for any reason, except in the case of a major disaster, the State agency shall notify the Secretary in writing of the intention of the State agency to do so at least 72 hours in advance of the discontinuation date. > > > ###### “(ii) Secretarial consideration > > The Secretary shall consider receipt of a notice described in clause

(i)as a factor in administering the delegation of authority under this paragraph.” > . ####

(2)Consultation Section 7(f)(1) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 79(f)(1)](/us/usc/t7/s79/f/1)) is amended—129 STAT. 518 #####

(A)in subparagraph (A)(xi), by striking “and” at the end; #####

(B)in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and #####

(C)by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(C) > > the Secretary— > > > ###### “(i) > > periodically conducts a consultation with the customers of the applicant, in a manner that provides opportunity for protection of the identity of the customer if desired by the customer, to review the performance of the applicant with regard to the provision of official inspection services and other requirements of this Act; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > works with the applicant to address any concerns identified during the consultation process.” > . ####

(3)Geographic boundaries for official agencies #####

(A)Official inspection authority Section 7(f)(2) of the United States Grain Standards Act ( 7 U.S.C. 79(f)(2) ) is amended by striking “ the Secretary may ” and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting the following: > > ##### “(A) > > the current designated official agency for that geographic area is unable to provide inspection services in a timely manner; > > > ##### “(B) > > a person requesting inspection services in that geographic area requests a probe inspection on a barge-lot basis; or > > > ##### “(C) > > the current official agency for that geographic area agrees in writing with the adjacent official agency to waive the current geographic area restriction at the request of the applicant for service.” > . #####

(B)Weighing authority Section 7A(i)(2) of the United States Grain Standards Act ( 7 U.S.C. 79a(i)(2) ) is amended by striking “ the Secretary may ” and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting the following: > > ##### “(A) > > the current designated official agency for that geographic area is unable to provide weighing services in a timely manner; or > > > ##### “(B) > > the current official agency for that geographic area agrees in writing with the adjacent official agency to waive the current geographic area restriction at the request of the applicant for service.” > . ####

(4)Duration of designation authority Section 7(g)(1) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 79(g)(1)](/us/usc/t7/s79/g/1)) is amended by striking “triennially” and inserting “every 5 years”. ####

(5)Fees Section 7(j) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 79(j)(1)](/us/usc/t7/s79/j/1)) is amended— #####

(A)by striking “ (j)(1) The Secretary ” and inserting the following: > > ### “(j) Fees > > > #### “(1) Inspection fees > > 129 STAT. 519 > > > ##### “(A) In general > > The Secretary” > ; #####

(B)in paragraph (1)— ######

(i)the second sentence, by striking “ The fees ” and inserting the following: > > ##### “(B) Amount of fees > > The fees” > ; ######

(ii)in the third sentence, by striking “ Such fees ” and inserting the following: > > ##### “(C) Use of fees > > Fees described in this paragraph” > ; and ######

(iii)by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(D) Export tonnage fees > > For an official inspection at an export facility performed by the Secretary, the portion of the fees based on export tonnage shall be based on the rolling 5-year average of export tonnage volumes.” > ; #####

(C)by redesignating paragraph

(4)as paragraph (5); #####

(D)by inserting after paragraph

(3)the following: > > #### “(4) Adjustment of fees > > Deadline. > > In order to maintain an operating reserve of not less than 3 and not more than 6 months, the Secretary shall adjust the fees described in paragraphs

(1)and

(2)not less frequently than annually.” > ; and #####

(E)in paragraph

(5)(as redesignated by subparagraph (C)), in the first sentence, by striking “2015” and inserting “2020”. ###

(c)Weighing Authority Section 7A of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 79a](/us/usc/t7/s79a)) is amended— ####

(1)in subsection (c)(2), in the last sentence, by striking “subsection

(g)of section 7” and inserting “subsections

(e)and

(g)of section 7”; and ####

(2)in subsection (*l*)— #####

(A)by striking “ (l)(1) The Secretary ” and inserting the following: > > ### “(l) Fees > > > #### “(1) Weighing fees > > > ##### “(A) In general > > The Secretary” > ; #####

(B)in paragraph (1)— ######

(i)the second sentence, by striking “ The fees ” and inserting the following: > > ##### “(B) Amount of fees > > The fees” > ; ######

(ii)in the third sentence, by striking “ Such fees ” and inserting the following: > > ##### “(C) Use of fees > > Fees described in this paragraph” > ; and ######

(iii)by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(D) Export tonnage fees > > For an official weighing at an export facility performed by the Secretary, the portion of the fees based on export tonnage shall be based on the rolling 5-year average of export tonnage volumes.” > ; #####

(C)by redesignating paragraph

(3)as paragraph (4); #####

(D)by inserting after paragraph

(2)the following: > > #### “(3) Adjustment of fees > > Deadline. > > In order to maintain an operating reserve of not less than 3 and not more than 6 months, the Secretary shall adjust the fees described in paragraphs

(1)and

(2)not less frequently than annually.” > ; and #####

(E)in paragraph

(4)(as redesignated by subparagraph (C)), in the first sentence, by striking “2015” and inserting “2020”.129 STAT. 520 ###

(d)Limitation and Administrative and Supervisory Costs Section 7D of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 79d](/us/usc/t7/s79d)) is amended by striking “2015” and inserting “2020”. ###

(e)Issuance of Authorization Section 8(b) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 84(b)](/us/usc/t7/s84/b)) is amended by striking “triennially” and inserting “every 5 years”. ###

(f)Appropriations Section 19 of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 87h](/us/usc/t7/s87h)) is amended by striking “2015” and inserting “2020”. ###

(g)Advisory Committee Expiration date. Section 21(e) of the United States Grain Standards Act ([7 U.S.C. 87j(e)](/us/usc/t7/s87j/e)) is amended by striking “2015” and inserting “2020”. ## SEC. 302 REPORT ON DISRUPTION IN FEDERAL INSPECTION OF GRAIN EXPORTS Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that describes— ####

(1)the specific factors that led to disruption in Federal inspection of grain exports at the Port of Vancouver in the summer of 2014; ####

(2)any factors that contributed to the disruption referred to in paragraph

(1)that were unique to the Port of Vancouver, including a description of the port facility, security needs and available resources for that purpose, and any other significant factors as determined by the Secretary; and ####

(3)any changes in policy that the Secretary has implemented to ensure that a similar disruption in Federal inspection of grain exports at the Port of Vancouver or any other location does not occur in the future. ## SEC. 303 REPORT ON POLICY BARRIERS TO GRAIN PRODUCERS Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that describes— ####

(1)the policy barriers to United States grain producers in countries the grain of which receives official grading in the United States but which do not offer official grading for United States grain or provide only the lowest designation for United States grain, including an analysis of possible inconsistencies with trade obligations; and ####

(2)any actions the Executive Branch is taking to remedy the policy barriers so as to put United States grain producers 129 STAT. 521 on equal footing with grain producers in countries imposing the barriers. Approved September 30, 2015.

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