Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 02/06/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

Bill Text
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to community-based organizations and local redevelopment agencies operating in low-income communities to promote increased access to and consumption of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and other healthy foods among residents of such communities, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Healthy Foods for Healthy Living Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to community-based organizations and local redevelopment agencies operating in low-income communities to: (1) assist in purchasing appropriate equipment or in hiring and training personnel to expand the inventory of fresh fruits and vegetables or other healthy food alternatives available for residents of a low-income community; and (2) carry out related consumer education and outreach activities. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) and title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to cover additional primary and preventive services relating [...]

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Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1785)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from basing minimum prices for Class I milk on the distance or transportation costs from any location that is not within a marketing area, except under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.

2/8/2007--Introduced.

Federal Milk Marketing Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from using distance or transportation costs from a location not within a marketing area as the basis for pricing Class I (fluid) milk unless such location supplies the recipient marketing area with specified quantities of milk (single base point pricing).

Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1785)

Bill Text
A bill to allow the modified bloc voting by cooperative associations of milk producers in connection with a referendum on Federal Milk Marketing Order reform.

2/8/2007--Introduced.

Democracy for Dairy Producers Act of 2007 - Requires, with respect to a specified referendum on federal milk marketing orders and related reforms, that: (1) if a cooperative association of milk producers elects bloc voting on behalf of its members it shall provide each member with written notice of referendum issues, its intended voting position, and individual producer voting procedures; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture adjust the association vote to reflect individual producer votes.

Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1786)

Bill Text
A bill to prohibit products that contain dry ultra-filtered milk products, milk protein concentrate, or casein from being labeled as domestic natural cheese, and for other purposes.

2/8/2007--Introduced.

Quality Cheese Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration from using federal funds to amend specified regulations to include dry ultra-filtered milk, milk protein concentrate, or casein in the definition of "milk" or "nonfat milk" as specified in the domestic natural standards for cheese and cheese products.

Latest Action: 04/11/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4383)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to assist the neediest of senior citizens by modifying the eligibility criteria for supplemental foods provided under the commodity supplemental food program to take into account the extraordinarily high out-of-pocket medical expenses that senior citizens pay, and for other purposes.

4/11/2007--Introduced.

Senior Nutrition Act of 2007 - Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to make a person who is at least 60 years old eligible for the commodity supplemental food program if such person: (1) is eligible for the food stamp program; or (2) has a household income that is not more than 185% of federal poverty income guidelines. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such program and prohibits using such funds to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities donated to such program.

Latest Action: 05/17/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes.

5/17/2007--Introduced.

Farm, Nutrition, and Community Investment Act of 2007 - Extends and revises various agricultural programs, including programs respecting: (1) milk and dairy; (2) conservation security; (3) conservation reserve; (4) wetlands reserve; (5) environmental quality incentives; (6) farmland protection; (7) cooperative conservation partnership initiative; (8) wildlife habitat; (9) conservation loan guarantees; (10) market access; (11) food stamps; (12) farm and ranch profitability grants; (13) community forest and open space conservation; (14) healthy forests reserve; (15) biomass and renewable energy; (16) specialty crops, farmers' markets, and nutrition; (17) organic agriculture programs; (18) crop insurance; and (18) colony collapse disorder.

Latest Action: 05/22/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to make decisions relating to proposed amendments to milk marketing orders not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary holds a hearing.

5/22/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a decision relating to any proposed milk marketing order amendment for which a hearing is held not later than 90 days after the hearing.

Latest Action: 05/24/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to impose tariff-rate quotas on certain casein and milk protein concentrates.

5/24/2007--Introduced.

Milk Import Tariff Equity Act - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to impose tariff-rate quotas (quantitative import limits) and provide various duty rates on certain casein, caseinates, milk protein concentrate, and other casein derivatives and glues imported into the United States (except imports from Mexico).

Authorizes the President to: (1) enter into a trade agreement with a foreign country to grant new concessions as compensation in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions; and (2) proclaim any necessary modification or continuance of any existing duty, or continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or any quantitative limitation. Sets forth certain limits on the reduction of duties on such products.

Latest Action: 03/30/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Bill Text
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend the Milk Income Loss Contract Program through fiscal year 2012 at the 45 percent payment rate, to establish a minimum price for Class I milk under Federal milk marketing orders, and for other purposes.

3/20/2007--Introduced.

American Dairy Farmer Protection Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend national dairy market loss payments through September 30, 2012. Increases the maximum payment quantity for all producers on a single dairy operation.

Sets the FY2008 minimum price for Class 1 milk under a federal marketing order at $15.58 per hundredweight.

Latest Action: 05/02/2007 - On passage, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 222 - 203, 1 Present (Roll no. 276). (consideration: CR H4315-4326; text of Veto message: CR H4315)

Bill Text
Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes. 4/24/2007--Conference report filed in House.    (There are 3 other summaries) U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 - Title I: Global War on Terror Supplemental Appropriations - Chapter 1 - Makes FY2007 emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, for commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad under Public Law 480 Title II Grants. (Sec. 1101) Makes specified appropriations to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for the release of eligible commodities for emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries under the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act, in order to replenish the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. Chapter 2 - Makes FY2007 emergency supplemental appropriations [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/18/2008 - Vetoed by President. (text of veto message: CR H5535)

Bill Text
To provide for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Introduced. Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 - Provides for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through FY2012.Revises agricultural and related programs, including provisions respecting: (1) commodity programs; (2) conservation; (3) trade; (4) nutrition; (5) credit; (6) rural development; (7) research and related matters; (8) forestry; (9) energy; (10) horticulture and organic agriculture; (11) livestock; (12) crop insurance and disaster assistance; (13) socially disadvantaged and limited resource producers; and (14) miscellaneous programs.Directs the President to establish and maintain an importer declaration program with respect to the importation of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products.Establishes the Bill Emerson National Hunger [...]

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Latest Action: 04/25/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Bill Text
To require studies by the Secretary of Agriculture on the effects of food products from cloned animals entering the food supply.

12/19/2007--Introduced.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct studies on: (1) the economic and trade impact of exports of food products from cloned animals; (2) Department of Agriculture programs to monitor products from cloned animals in the food supply; (3) the health effects and costs attributable to milk from cloned animals in the food supply; and (4) the safety of food products derived from cloned animals.

Latest Action: 11/06/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form for human consumption when the milk or milk product originates in a State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form and is destined for another State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form.

11/5/2007--Introduced.

Authorizes the delivery into interstate traffic of any unpasteurized milk or unpasteurized milk product in final package form for human consumption if such product is: (1) produced in a state that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and/or unpasteurized milk products in final package form; (2) delivered into interstate traffic in that state; and (3) intended for transport to and sale in another state that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and or unpasteurized milk products in final package form.

Latest Action: 11/02/2007 - Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Harkin. With written report No. 110-220. Additional views filed.

Bill Text
An original bill to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

11/2/2007--Introduced.

Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 - Revises agricultural and related programs and provisions respecting: (1) producer income; (2) conservation; (3) trade; (4) nutrition; (5) credit; (6) rural development and investment; (7) research and related matters; (8) forestry; (9) energy; (10) livestock marketing; and (11) agricultural security.

Latest Action: 06/27/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8620-8621)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to promote growth and opportunity for the dairy industry in the United States, and for other purposes. 6/27/2007--Introduced. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to repeal the dairy price support program. Amends the national dairy market loss payment program to: (1) extend the sign-up and contract duration periods; (2) replace the "Class 1 milk" definition with a "Class III milk" definition; (3) revise the payment formula (which shall include a feed adjustment factor); and (4) establish a maximum annual payment of $50,000 per dairy operation. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a national dairy options program; and (2) make nonrecourse loans available to commercial processors of cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out a milk revenue [...]

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Latest Action: 06/27/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8620-8621)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to determine the price of all milk used for manufactured purposes, which shall be classified as Class II milk, by using the national average cost of production, and for other purposes. 6/27/2007--Introduced. Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to base the minimum Class II milk price on the average production cost of producing all milk in the 48 contiguous states. Directs the Secretary to: (1) announce the minimum price for Class II milk by November 1 of each year, with specified price adjustment dates; (2) use the Class II milk price as the basic formula price for all federal and state milk marketing orders and all unregulated milk production areas; and (3) estimate annual milk production and domestic consumption.[...]

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Latest Action: 04/25/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Bill Text
To establish regional dairy marketing areas to stabilize the price of milk and support the income of dairy producers. 6/18/2007--Introduced. National Dairy Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to give producers in a state participating in the national dairy market loss payment program 60 days to decide whether to continue participating in such program or to participate in the program established under this Act. Establishes the following five regional dairy marketing areas: (1) Northeast region - Northeast Dairy Marketing Area (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont); (2) Southern region - Southern Dairy Marketing Area (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia); (3) Midwest [...]

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