Agricultural Trade and Export Policy Commission Act
PL 98-412 (H.J.Res.600), enacted 08/30/1984

98 STAT. 1576 
PUBLIC LAW 98-412—AUG. 30, 1984 
Public Law 98-412 
98th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Aug. 30, 1984 
[H.J. Res. 600] 
Agricultural 
Trade and 
Export Policy 
Commission Act. 
7 u s e 1691 note. 
7 u s e 1691 note. 
National 
Commission on 
Agricultural 
Trade and 
Export Policy, 
establishment. 
7 u s e 1291 note. 
President of U.S. 
To amend the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to provide for the establishment of a 
commission to study and make recommendations concerning agriculture-related 
trade and export policies, programs, and practices of the United States. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That title XII of 
the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 is amended by inserting after 
subtitle B a new subtitle C as follows: 
"SUBTITLE C—AGRICULTURAL TRADE AND EXPORT POLICY 
COMMISSION ACT 
"SHORT TITLE 
"SEC. 1217. This subtitle may be cited as the 'Agricultural Trade 
and Export Policy Commission Act', 
"FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POUCY 
"SEC. 1218. (a) Congress finds that— 
"(1) the economic well-being of the Nation's agricultural in-
dustry is directly related to its ability to compete in interna-
tional markets; and 
"(2) a thorough examination of agriculture-related trade and 
export policies, programs, and practices of the United States is 
needed to ensure that such policies, programs, and practices 
increase the competitiveness of United States agricultural com-
modities and products in international markets. 
"(b) It is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to expand 
international trade in United States agricultural commodities and 
products and to develop, maintain, and expand markets for United 
States agricultural exports. 
"ESTABLISHMENT 
"SEC. 1219. (a) There is established a National Commission on 
Agricultural Trade and Export Policy to conduct a study of the 
agriculture-related trade and export policies, programs, and prac-
tices of the United States. 
"(b) In addition to the ex officio congressional members specified 
in subsection (c) of this section, the Commission shall be composed of 
twenty-three members appointed or designated by the President and 
selected as follows: 
"(1) The President shall select three members from among 
officers or employees of the Executive branch who shall serve in 
an ex officio capacity without voting rights; and 
"(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives shall each select ten members 
from among private citizens of the United States to represent 
industries that are directly affected by agriculture-related trade 
PUBLIC LAW 98-412—AUG. 30, 1984 
98 STAT. 1577 
and export policies, programs, and practices of the United 
States, including, but not limited to, the following: 
"(A) producers of major agricultural commodities in the 
United States; 
"(B) processors or refiners of United States agricultural 
commodities; 
"(C) exporters, transporters, or shippers of United States 
agricultural commodities and products to foreign countries; 
"(D) suppliers of production equipment or materials to 
United States farmers; 
"(E) providers of financing or credit for domestic and 
' 
export agricultural purposes; and 
"(F) organizations representing general farm and rural 
interests in the United States. 
"(c) The chairmen and ranking minority members of the House 
Committee on Agriculture, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the House Committee 
on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Finance shall 
serve as ex officio members of the Commission and shall have the 
same voting rights as the members of the Commission selected and 
appointed under the provisions of subsection (bX2) of this section. 
The chairmen and ranking minority members may desigpnate other 
members of their respective committees to serve in their stead as 
members of the Commission. 
"(d) A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in 
which the original appointment was made. 
"(e) The Commission shall elect a chairman from among the 
members of the Commission who are selected and appointed under 
the provisions of subsection (bX2) of this section. 
"(f) The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairman or a 
majority of the Commission. 
"CONDUCT OP STUDY 
"SEC. 1220. The Commission shall study the agriculture-related 7 use 1691 note. 
trade and export policies, programs, and practices of the United 
States and the international and domestic factors affecting such 
policies, programs, and practices, including the intergovernmental 
activities of the United States that affect the formulation of policies. 
In conducting the study, the Commission shall consider, among 
other things, the following: 
"(1) the effectiveness of existing agricultural export assistance 
programs, and the manner in which they can be improved; 
"(2) new export assistance programs that should be consid-
ered, and the conditions under which they can be implemented; 
"(3) practices of foreign countries that impede the export of 
United States agricultural commodities and products, and ap-
propriate responses for the United States; 
"(4) the effectiveness of the trade agreements program of the 
United States with respect to agriculture-related trade and 
exports, and the manner in which it can be improved; 
"(5) international economic trends that affect agricultural 
exports, and the manner in which the United States can best 
adjust its policies, programs, and practices to meet changing 
economic conditions; 
98 STAT. 1578 
PUBLIC LAW 98-412—AUG. 30, 1984 
"(6) potential areas of conflict and compatibility between 
international agricultural trade and foreign food assistance 
programs, and the manner in which any conflict can be re-
solved; and 
"(7) the relationship between international agricultural trade 
and foreign economic development and food programs, and the 
manner in which they can be made more compatible. 
"RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS 
7 use 1691 note. 
"SEC. 1221. (a) On the basis of its study, the Commission shall 
make findings and develop recommendations for consideration by 
the President and Congress with respect to the agriculture-related 
trade and export policies, programs, and practices of the United 
States, and the manner in which such policies, programs, and 
practices can be improved to better develop, maintain, and expand 
markets for United States agricultural exports. 
"(b) The Commission shall submit to the President and Congress— 
"(1) a report containing its initial findings and recommenda-
tions by March 31,1985, 
"(2) such additional interim reports on its work as may be 
requested by the chairman of any of the Committees set forth in 
section 1219(c) of this subtitle, and 
"(3) a report containing the final results of its study and its 
recommendations therefrom by July 1,1986. 
"ADMINISTRATION 
7 use 1691 note. 
"SEC. 1222. (a) The heads of Executive agencies, the General 
Accounting Office, the International Trade Commission, and the 
Congressional Budget Office shall, to the extent permitted by law, 
provide the Commission such information as it may require in 
carrying out its duties and functions. 
"(b) Members of the Commission shall serve without any addi-
tional compensation for work on the Commission. However, members 
appointed from among private citizens of the United States may be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as 
authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the govern-
ment service under sections 5701 through 5707 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
"(c) To the extent there are sufficient funds available to the 
Commission in advance under section 1223 of this subtitle, and 
subject to such rules as may be adopted by the Commission, the 
5 use 5101 et 
chairman, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
seq., 5331. 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service and with-
out regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Sched-
ule pay rates, shall have the power to— 
"(1) appoint and fix the compensation of a director; and 
"(2) appoint and fix the compensation of such additional staff 
personnel as the Commission determines necessary to carry out 
its duties and functions. 
"(d) Upon request of the Commission, the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall furnish the Commission with such personnel and support 
services as are necessary to assist the Commission in canying out its 
duties and functions. 
PUBLIC LAW 98-412—AUG. 30, 1984 
98 STAT. 1579 
"(e) Upon request of the Commission, the heads of other Executive 
agencies and the General Accounting Office are each authorized to 
furnish the Commission with such personnel and support services as 
the head of the agency or office and the chairman of the Commission 
agree are necessary to assist the Commission in carrying out its 
duties and functions. 
"(f) The Commission shall not be required to pay or reimburse any 
agency or office for personnel and support services provided under 
this section. 
"(g) In accordance with section 12 of the Federal Advisory Com- 5 use app. 
mittee Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall maintain such finan-
cial records as will fully disclose the disposition of any funds that 
may be at the disposal of the Commission and the nature and extent 
of its activities, and the Comptroller General of the United States, or 
any of the Comptroller General's authorized representatives, shall 
have access to such records for the purpose of audit and 
examination. 
"(h) The Commission shall be exempt from section 7(d), section 5 use app. 
10(e), section 10(f), and section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act. 
"(i) The Commission shall be exempt from the requirements of 
sections 4301 through 4305 of title 5, United States Code. 
"PUBUC SUPPORT 
"SEC. 1223. (a) Following the appointment or designation of the 7 use 1691 note. 
members of the Commission, notwithstanding the provisions of 
section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of Agricul-
ture may receive, from persons, corporations, foundations, and all 
other groups and entities within the United States, contributions of 
money and services to assist the Commission in carrsdng out its 
duties and functions. Any money contributed under this section 
shall be available to the Commission for the payment of salaries, 
travel expenses, per diem, and other expenses incurred by the 
Commission under this subtitle. In no event may the contributions 
from any one person, corporation, foundation, or other group or 
entity exceed 5 per centum of the Commission's total budget. 
"(b) If the contributions provided under subsection (a) are insuffi-
cient for pajrment of Commission salaries, travel expenses, per diem, 
£ind other expenses incurred by the Commission under this subtitle, 
the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to use the funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation for such purposes in an amount not 
to exceed a total of $1,000,000. 
98 STAT. 1580 
PUBLIC LAW 98-412—AUG. 30, 1984 
Public 
"(c) The Secretary of Agriculture shall keep, and shall make 
availability. 
available for public inspection during normal business hours, 
records that fully disclose a complete list of every person, group, and 
entity making a contribution under this section, the address of the 
contributor, the amount and type of each such contribution, and the 
date the contribution was made. 
"(d) Any amount of money available to the Ck)mmission under this 
section that remains unobligated upon termination of the Commis-
sion shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. 
"TERMINATION 
7 use 1691 note. 
"SEC. 1224. The Commission shall terminate sixty days after the 
transmission of its final report to the President and Congress.". 
Approved August 30, 1984. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 600 (H. Con. Res. 349): 
HOUSE REPORT No. 98-956, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Agriculture). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 130 (1984): 
Aug. 6, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 10, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 20, No. 35 (1984): 
Aug. 30, Presidential statement.