I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1135
To improve the Commodity Distribution Programs of the Department of
Agriculture, to Reform and Simplify the Food Stamp Program, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. ROBERTS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To improve the Commodity Distribution Programs of the
Department of Agriculture, to Reform and Simplify the
Food Stamp Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Food Stamp Program
and Commodity Distribution Act’’.
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TITLE I—COMMODITY
DISTRIBUTION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Commodity Distribu-
tion Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 102. AVAILABILITY OF COMMODITIES.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter in this subtitle re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) is authorized during fiscal
years 1996 through 2000 to purchase a variety of nutri-
tious and useful commodities and distribute such commod-
ities to the States for distribution in accordance with this
title.
(b) In addition to the commodities described in sub-
section (a), the Secretary may expend funds made avail-
able to carry out the section 32 of the Act of August 24,
1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), which are not expended or needed
to carry out such sections, to purchase, process, and dis-
tribute commodities of the types customarily purchased
under such section to the States for distribution in accord-
ance to this title.
(c) In addition to the commodities described in sub-
sections (a) and (b), agricultural commodities and the
products thereof made available under clause (2) of the
second sentence of section 32 of the Act of August 24,
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1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), may be made available by the Sec-
retary to the States for distribution in accordance with
this title.
(d) In addition to the commodities described in sub-
sections (a), (b), and (c), commodities acquired by the
Commodity Credit Corporation that the Secretary deter-
mines, in the discretion of the Secretary, are in excess of
quantities need to—
(1) carry out other domestic donation pro-
grams;
(2) meet other domestic obligations;
(3) meet international market development and
food aid commitments, and
(4) carry out the farm price and income sta-
bilization purposes of the Agricultural Adjustment
Act of 1938, the Agricultural Act of 1949, and the
Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act;
shall be made available by the Secretary, without charge
or credit for such commodities, to the States for distribu-
tion in accordance with this title.
(e) During each fiscal year, the types, varieties and
amounts of commodities to be purchased under this title
shall be determined by the Secretary. In purchasing such
commodities, except those commodities purchased pursu-
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ant to section 110, the Secretary shall, to the extent prac-
ticable and appropriate, make purchases based on—
(1) agricultural market conditions; and
(2) the preferences and needs of States and dis-
tributing agencies.
SEC. 103. STATE, LOCAL AND PRIVATE SUPPLEMENTATION
OF COMMODITIES.
(a) The Secretary shall establish procedures under
which State and local agencies, recipient agencies, or any
other entity or person may supplement the commodities
distributed under this subtitle for use by recipient agencies
with nutritious and wholesome commodities that such en-
tities or persons donate for distribution, in all or part of
the State, in addition to the commodities otherwise made
available under this title.
(b) States and eligible recipient agencies may use—
(1) the funds appropriated for administrative
cost under section 109(b);
(2) equipment, structures, vehicles, and all
other facilities involved in the storage, handling, or
distribution of commodities made available under
this title; and
(3) the personnel, both paid or volunteer, in-
volved in such storage, handling, or distribution;
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to store, handle or distribute commodities donated for use
under subsection (a).
(c) States and recipient agencies shall continue, to
the maximum extent practical, to use volunteer workers,
and commodities and other foodstuffs donated by chari-
table and other organizations, in the distribution of com-
modities under this title.
SEC. 104. STATE PLAN.
(a) Each State seeking to receive commodities under
this title shall submit a plan of operation and administra-
tion every four years to the Secretary for approval. The
plan may be amended at any time, with the approval of
the Secretary.
(b) The State plan, at a minimum, shall—
(1) designate the State agency responsible for
distributing the commodities received under this
title;
(2) set forth a plan of operation and adminis-
tration to expeditiously distribute commodities under
this title in quantities requested to eligible recipient
agencies in accordance with sections 106 and 110;
(3) set forth the standards of eligibility for re-
cipient agencies; and