Sec. 12609. COMMISSION ON FARM TRANSITIONS—NEEDS FOR 2050
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## SEC. 12609 COMMISSION ON FARM TRANSITIONS—NEEDS FOR 2050 ###
(a)Establishment There is established a commission to be known as the Commission on Farm Transitions-Needs for 2050 (referred to in this section as the “Commission”). ###
(b)Study The Commission shall conduct a study on issues impacting the transition of agricultural operations from established farmers and ranchers to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, including— ####
(1)access to, and availability of— #####
(A)quality land and necessary infrastructure; #####
(B)affordable credit; #####
(C)adequate risk management tools; and #####
(D)apprenticeship and mentorship programs; ####
(2)agricultural asset transfer strategies in use as of the date of the enactment of this Act and improvements to such strategies; ####
(3)incentives that may facilitate agricultural asset transfers to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, including an assessment of, and recommendations for, how existing and new Federal tax policies— #####
(A)facilitate lifetime and estate transfers; and #####
(B)impact individuals seeking to farm who do not have family farm lineage or access to farmland; ####
(4)the causes of the failures of such transitions, if any; and ####
(5)the effectiveness of programs and incentives providing assistance with respect to such transitions in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and opportunities for the revision or improvement of such programs. ###
(c)Membership ####
(1)Composition The Commission shall be composed of 10 members, as follows: #####
(A)3 members appointed by the Secretary. #####
(B)3 members appointed by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. #####
(C)3 members appointed by the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives. #####
(D)The Chief Economist of the Department of Agriculture. ####
(2)Federal government employment In addition to the Chief Economist of the Department of Agriculture, the membership of the Commission may include 1 or more employees of the Department of Agriculture or other Federal agencies. ####
(3)Date of appointments The appointment of all members of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. ####
(4)Term; vacancies #####
(A)Term A member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. #####
(B)Vacancies A vacancy on the Commission— ######
(i)shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and ######
(ii)shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. ####
(5)Initial meeting Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission. ###
(d)Quorum A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. ###
(e)Chairperson The Secretary shall appoint 1 of the members of the Commission to serve as Chairperson of the Commission. ###
(f)Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report containing the results of the study required by subsection (b), including such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate. ###
(g)Hearings The Commission may hold such hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this section. ###
(h)Information From Federal Agencies The Commission may secure directly from a Federal agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this section. On request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of the agency shall provide the information to the Commission. ###
(i)Postal Services The Commission may use the United States mail in the same manner and under the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Government. ###
(j)Assistance From Secretary The Secretary may provide to the Commission appropriate office space and such reasonable administrative and support services as the Commission may request. ###
(k)Compensation of Members ####
(1)Non-federal employees A member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. ####
(2)Federal employees A member of the Commission who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. ####
(3)Travel expenses A member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Commission. ###
(l)Federal Advisory Committee Act Sections 9 and 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission or any proceeding of the Commission. ###
(m)Termination The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 2023.