II 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3538 

To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to suspend 

a prohibition on payments to certain farms with limited base acres 

for the 2008 and 2009 crop years, to extend the signup for direct 

payments and counter-cyclical payments for the 2008 crop year, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 23 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 17), 2008 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. KOHL, Mr. 

CASEY, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. BROWN, Ms. 

STABENOW, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. COLEMAN, Ms. COLLINS, Mrs. CLINTON, 

Mrs. DOLE, and Mr. BAUCUS) introduced the following bill; which was 

read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 

Forestry 

A BILL 

To amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 

to suspend a prohibition on payments to certain farms 

with limited base acres for the 2008 and 2009 crop 

years, to extend the signup for direct payments and 

counter-cyclical payments for the 2008 crop year, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. TREATMENT OF FARMS WITH LIMITED BASE 

2 ACRES. 

3 (a) SUSPENSION OF PROHIBITION.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1101(d) of the 

5 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 

6 U.S.C. 8711(d)) is amended by adding at the end 

7 the following: 

8 ‘‘(4) SUSPENSION OF PROHIBITION.—Para9 graphs (1) through (3) shall not apply during the 

10 2008 and 2009 crop years.’’. 

11 (2) PEANUTS.—Section 1302(d) of the Food, 

12 Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 

13 8752(d)) is amended by adding at the end the fol14 lowing: 

15 ‘‘(4) SUSPENSION OF PROHIBITION.—Para16 graphs (1) through (3) shall not apply during the 

17 2008 and 2009 crop years.’’. 

18 (b) EXTENSION OF 2008 SIGNUP FOR DIRECT PAY19 MENTS AND COUNTER-CYCLICAL PAYMENTS.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1106 of the Food, 

21 Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 

22 8716) is amended by adding at the end the fol23 lowing: 

24 ‘‘(f) EXTENSION OF 2008 SIGNUP.— 

25 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

26 provision of law, the Secretary shall extend the 2008 


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1 crop year deadline for the signup for benefits under 

2 this subtitle by producers on a farm with base acres 

3 of 10 acres or less until December 31, 2008. 

4 ‘‘(2) PENALTIES.—The Secretary shall ensure 

5 that no penalty with respect to benefits under this 

6 subtitle is assessed against producers on a farm de7 scribed in paragraph (1) for failure to submit re8 ports under this section or timely comply with other 

9 program requirements as a result of compliance with 

10 the extended signup deadline under that para11 graph.’’. 

12 (2) PEANUTS.—Section 1305 of the Food, Con13 servation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8755) 

14 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘(f) EXTENSION OF 2008 SIGNUP.— 

16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

17 provision of law, the Secretary shall extend the 2008 

18 crop year deadline for the signup for benefits under 

19 this subtitle by producers on a farm with base acres 

20 of 10 acres or less until December 31, 2008. 

21 ‘‘(2) PENALTIES.—The Secretary shall ensure 

22 that no penalty with respect to benefits under this 

23 subtitle is assessed against producers on a farm de24 scribed in paragraph (1) for failure to submit re25 ports under this section or timely comply with other 


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1 program requirements as a result of compliance with 

2 the extended signup deadline under that para3 graph.’’. 

Æ 


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