United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2088
Sponsor: Rep. Conaway, K. Michael [R-TX-11]
Introduced: 2015-04-29 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural trade
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Government studies and investigations
Grain
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-29
text: 

United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 

 
This bill reauthorizes and amends provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act. The Act authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish official marketing standards for grains, and to provide procedures for grain inspection and weighing. The bill reauthorizes several expiring provisions through FY2020, provides a safeguard mechanism in the event of an interruption of inspection services, revises the process for delegating inspections to state agencies, and revises fees for inspection and weighing services. 
 
The bill revises USDA's discretionary authority to waive weighing and inspection requirements in emergency circumstances to require a waiver in an emergency. Transfers of grain into an export elevator by any mode of transportation are not required to be officially weighed. 
 
The bill ends the permanent delegation to state agencies to carry out export inspection and weighing services. USDA must review current delegations, provide public notice and a comment period, establish an application process, and require states to reapply for delegated status after five years. 
 
Official inspection services must be provided in an uninterrupted manner except in the case of a major disaster. In the event of a disruption, the bill sets forth procedures and requirements for resuming official inspection and weighing services. 
 
The bill changes the fee calculation for inspection and weighing services and extends the authority to collect fees through FY2020. 
 
The duration of licenses for inspectors is extended from three to five years, and the qualifications for inspectors are revised. 
 
The bill extends the limitation on total administrative and supervisory costs, the authorization of appropriations, and the authorization of the advisory committee through FY2020. 

action_date: 2015-05-29
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 

 
This bill reauthorizes and amends provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act. The Act authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish official marketing standards for grains, and to provide procedures for grain inspection and weighing. The bill reauthorizes several expiring provisions through FY2020, provides a safeguard mechanism in the event of an interruption of inspection services, revises the process for delegating inspections to state agencies, and revises fees for inspection and weighing services. 
 
(Sec. 2) The bill amends the purposes of the Act to include: promoting the marketing of high quality grain responsive to the purchase specifications of domestic and foreign buyers; and providing an accurate, reliable, consistently available, and cost-effective official grain inspection and weighing system. 
 
The bill revises USDA's discretionary authority to waive weighing and inspection requirements in emergency circumstances to require a waiver in an emergency. Transfers of grain into an export elevator by any mode of transportation are not required to be officially weighed. 
 
The bill ends the permanent delegation to state agencies to carry out export inspection and weighing services. USDA must review current delegations, provide public notice and a comment period, establish an application process, and require states to reapply for delegated status after five years. 
 
Official inspection services must be provided in an uninterrupted manner except in the case of a major disaster. In the event of a disruption, the bill sets forth procedures and requirements for resuming official inspection and weighing services. 
 
USDA may waive the geographic boundaries for designated agencies if adjacent agencies have agreed to waive the boundaries. 
 
The bill changes the fee calculation for inspection and weighing services and extends the authority to collect fees through FY2020. 
 
The duration of licenses for inspectors is extended from three to five years, and the qualifications for inspectors are revised. 
 
The bill extends the limitation on total administrative and supervisory costs, the authorization of appropriations, and the authorization of the advisory committee through FY2020. 

action_date: 2015-06-09
text: 

United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 

 
This bill reauthorizes and amends provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act. The Act authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish official marketing standards for grains, and to provide procedures for grain inspection and weighing. The bill reauthorizes several expiring provisions through FY2020, provides a safeguard mechanism in the event of an interruption of inspection services, revises the process for delegating inspections to state agencies, and revises fees for inspection and weighing services. 
 
(Sec. 2) The bill amends the purposes of the Act to include: promoting the marketing of high quality grain responsive to the purchase specifications of domestic and foreign buyers; and providing an accurate, reliable, consistently available, and cost-effective official grain inspection and weighing system. 
 
The bill revises USDA's discretionary authority to waive weighing and inspection requirements in emergency circumstances to require a waiver in an emergency or major disaster. Transfers of grain into an export elevator by any mode of transportation are not required to be officially weighed. 
 
The bill ends the permanent delegation to state agencies to carry out export inspection and weighing services. USDA must review current delegations, provide public notice and a comment period, establish an application process, and require states to reapply for delegated status after five years. 
 
Official inspection services must be provided in an uninterrupted manner except in the case of a major disaster. In the event of a disruption, the bill sets forth procedures and requirements for resuming official inspection and weighing services. 
 
USDA may waive the geographic boundaries for designated agencies if adjacent agencies have agreed to waive the boundaries. 
 
The bill changes the fee calculation for inspection and weighing services and extends the authority to collect fees through FY2020. 
 
The duration of licenses for inspectors is extended from three to five years, and the qualifications for inspectors are revised. 
 
The bill extends the limitation on total administrative and supervisory costs, the authorization of appropriations, and the authorization of the advisory committee through FY2020. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3926-3928)
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3926-3928)
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2088.
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3926-3929)
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Mr. Conaway moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2015-05-29
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 96.
action_date: 2015-05-29
text: Reported by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 114-133.
action_date: 2015-05-29
text: Reported by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 114-133.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-04-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2015-04-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-29
text: Introduced in House