The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S771-S773 on Jan. 30, 2019.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
SA 81. Mr. BLUMENTHAL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
In section 203(2), strike ``crisis.'' and insert the following: ``crisis; and
(3) the United States must recommit to resettling a robust number of refugees to meet its share of the global need to alleviate instability in countries like Jordan, which have absorbed a disproportionate number of displaced people fleeing the crisis in Syria, and reaffirm the responsibility of the United States to resettle refugees as a key tenet of foreign policy.
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SA 82. Mr. PERDUE (for himself and Mr. Isakson) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end, add the following:
TITLE V--ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF,
2019
The following sums in this title are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, namely:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Processing, Research and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
For an additional amount for the ``Office of the Secretary'', $3,005,442,000, which shall remain available until December 31, 2020, for necessary expenses related to losses of crops (including milk and harvested adulterated wine grapes), trees, bushes, and vines, as a consequence of Hurricanes Michael or Florence, other hurricanes, typhoons, volcanic activity, or wildfires occurring in calendar year 2018 under such terms and conditions as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this title as the
``Secretary''): Provided, That the Secretary may provide assistance for such losses in the form of block grants to eligible states and territories and such assistance may include compensation to producers, as determined by the Secretary, for past or future crop insurance premiums, forest restoration, and poultry and livestock losses: Provided further, That of the amounts provided under this heading, tree assistance payments may be made under section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)) to eligible orchardists or nursery tree growers (as defined in such section) of pecan trees with a tree mortality rate that exceeds 7.5 percent (adjusted for normal mortality) and is less than 15 percent (adjusted for normal mortality), to be available until expended, for losses incurred during the period beginning January 1, 2018, and ending December 31, 2018: Provided further, That in the case of producers impacted by volcanic activity that resulted in the loss of crop land, or access to crop land, the Secretary shall consider all measures available, as appropriate, to bring replacement land into production: Provided further, That the total amount of payments received under this heading and applicable policies of crop insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) shall not exceed 90 percent of the loss as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That the total amount of payments received under this heading for producers who did not obtain a policy or plan of insurance for an insurable commodity for the applicable crop year under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) for the crop incurring the losses or did not file the required paperwork and pay the service fee by the applicable State filing deadline for a noninsurable commodity for the applicable crop year under NAP for the crop incurring the losses shall not exceed 70 percent of the loss as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That producers receiving payments under this heading, as determined by the Secretary, shall be required to purchase crop insurance where crop insurance is available for the next two available crop years, excluding tree insurance policies, and producers receiving payments under this heading shall be required to purchase coverage under NAP where crop insurance is not available in the next two available crop years, as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That, not later than 120 days after the end of fiscal year 2019, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress specifying the type, amount, and method of such assistance by state and territory: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Farm Service Agency
emergency forest restoration program
For an additional amount for the ``Emergency Forest Restoration Program'', for necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Michael and Florence and wildfires occurring in calendar year 2018, and other natural disasters,
$480,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
watershed and flood prevention operations
For an additional amount for ``Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations'', for necessary expenses for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program related to the consequences of Hurricanes Michael and Florence and wildfires occurring in calendar year 2018, and other natural disasters,
$125,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Rural Development
rural community facilities program account
For an additional amount for the cost of grants for rural community facilities programs as authorized by section 306 and described in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, for necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Michael and Florence and wildfires occurring in calendar year 2018, and other natural disasters, $150,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to the funds made available under this heading: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE
Sec. 501. In addition to amounts otherwise made available, out of the funds made available under section 18 of Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, $25,200,000 shall be available for the Secretary to provide a grant to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for disaster nutrition assistance in response to the Presidentially declared major disasters and emergencies: Provided, That funds made available to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under this section shall remain available for obligation by the Commonwealth until September 30, 2020: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Sec. 502. For purposes of administering title I of subdivision 1 of division B of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-123), losses to agricultural producers resulting from hurricanes shall also include losses incurred from Tropical Storm Cindy and losses of peach and blueberry crops in calendar year 2017 due to extreme cold: Provided, That the amounts provided by this section are designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided further, That amounts repurposed under this heading that were previously designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Sec. 503. (a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person or legal entity is not eligible to receive a payment under the Market Facilitation Program established pursuant to the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.) if the average adjusted gross income of such person or legal entity is greater than $900,000.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a person or legal entity if at least 75 percent of the adjusted gross income of such person or legal entity is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities.
(b) A person or legal entity may not receive a payment under the Market Facilitation Program described in subsection
(a)(1), directly or indirectly, of more than $125,000.
(c) In this section, the term ``average adjusted gross income'' has the meaning given the term defined in section 760.1502 of title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect July 18, 2018).
(d) The amount provided by this section is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
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SA 83. Mr. SASSE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title III, add the following:
SEC. 336. REPORT ON IMPACT OF INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION AND
RISK TO UNITED STATES CITIZENS IN EVENT OF
WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM
SYRIA.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report detailing the anticipated loss of intelligence caused by the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Syria and the risks, including the possibility of increased terrorist attacks, posed to United States citizens in the region, in Europe, and in the continental United States.
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SA 84. Mr. SASSE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end, add the following:
TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 501. REPORT ON RUSSIAN INTERESTS IN VENEZUELA.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report detailing Russian assets and personnel in Venezuela and assessing the probability that Russian security forces or private military contractors of Russian origin take an active role in supporting Nicolas Maduro's efforts to retain power.
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SA 85. Mr. SASSE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. ANNUAL REPORT ON CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY INFLUENCE
AND PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES IN UNITED STATES.
(a) Annual Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Director of National Intelligence shall, acting through the Director of the National Counterintelligence Security Center, submit to Congress a report on influence and propaganda activities of the Chinese Communist Party, the Government of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army carried out in the United States.
(b) Form of Reports.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
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SA 86. Mr. SASSE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE REPORT ON BELT
AND ROAD INITIATIVE OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a report on the security implications of the Belt and Road Initiative of the People's Republic of China.
(b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the objectives of the Belt and Road Initiative and the ability of China to meet those objectives.
(2) An evaluation of the security implications of the Belt and Road Initiative, including specific military applications in both peacetime and during conflict.
(3) An assessment of the current and future effects of the initiative on regional economic, political, and security interests of the United States and allies and partners of the United States.
(c) Form of Report.--The report submitted under subsection
(a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
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SA 87. Mr. SASSE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end, add the following:
TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 501. ASSESSMENT OF COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA RELATING TO SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL
COOPERATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report assessing collaborative initiatives of the United States and the People's Republic of China relating to scientific and technical cooperation.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A description of the nature of collaborative initiatives described in subsection (a), including how such initiatives are funded, who participates in such initiatives, and the outcomes of such initiatives.
(2) A description of the licensing and regulatory regime under which such initiatives occur.
(3) An assessment of whether the intellectual property rights of United States researchers and entities participating in such initiatives are being adequately protected.
(4) An assessment of whether entities owned or controlled by the government or the military of the People's Republic of China are benefitting from research funded by United States taxpayers.
(5) An assessment of whether any Chinese researchers participating in such initiatives have ties to the government or the military of the People's Republic of China.
(6) An assessment of whether any institutions of higher education, laboratories, or other entities in the United States participating in such initiatives have been subject to cyber penetration originating in the People's Republic of China.
(7) An evaluation the benefits of such initiatives for the United States.
(8) An assessment of any redundancies among such initiatives.
(9) Recommendations for improving such initiatives.
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SA 88. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 65 proposed by Mr. McConnell (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Burr, Mr. Romney, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sasse, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Young, and Mr. Boozman) to the bill S. 1, to make improvements to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end, add the following:
SEC. ___. AUTHORIZATION.
The President is hereby authorized to undertake military assistance and use of armed forces, if the President determines it necessary and appropriate, to defend the Kurds in Syria against armed aggression from any country or terrorist organization.
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