zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Heroin and Opioid Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require manufacturers, producers, and importers of active opioids to pay an excise tax of one cent per milligram of opioid.

The bill also amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to states for: (1) research on opioids (including heroin), and (2) opioid abuse prevention and treatment.

The Department of the Treasury must transfer an amount equal to the revenue collected from the tax to HHS to carry out this bill. The bill makes the funds available without further appropriation and designates the funding as an emergency requirement under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO).

Date: 2016-12-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Taxation
Help Our Neediest Families Act of 2016

This bill amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to prohibit a state to which a TANF grant is made from using any part of such grant for drug testing of TANF applicants or recipients.

If the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determines that a state has violated such prohibition, it shall reduce the family assistance grant amount payable to the state for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by not more than 1%.

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prohibit drug testing of aid recipients under the housing choice voucher program.

Date: 2016-12-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Social welfare
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to broaden the scope of persons subject to criminal prosecution for manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance in schedule I or II, a precursor chemical, or flunitrazepam for unlawful import into the United States. The Controlled Substances Act classifies drugs, substances, and chemicals used to make drugs into one of five schedules based on the drug's medical use, potential for abuse, and risk of dependence.

Current law prohibits such manufacture or distribution by a person who knows or intends that the substance or chemical will be unlawfully imported. This bill broadens the scope to also prohibit such manufacture or distribution by a person who reasonably believes that the substance or chemical will be unlawfully imported.

In addition, this bill prohibits the manufacture or distribution of a precursor chemical by a person who: (1) knows or intends that the chemical will be used to manufacture a controlled substance; and (2) knows, intends, or reasonably believes that the controlled substance will be unlawfully imported into the United States.

(Sec. 3) The legislation amends the federal criminal code to replace statutory references to prohibited trafficking in a "counterfeit drug" with references to prohibited trafficking in a "drug that uses a counterfeit mark on or in connection with the drug."

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Protecting Our Youth from Dangerous Synthetic Drugs Act of 2015

Amends the Controlled Substances Act to include in the definition of a "controlled substance analogue" a substance designated as such by the Controlled Substance Analogue Committee (established by this Act).

Directs the Attorney General to establish such Committee as an interagency committee headed by the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and comprised of scientific experts in the fields of chemistry and pharmacology from DEA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and any other federal agency determined by the Attorney General to be appropriate.

 Requires the Committee to designate, and establish and maintain a list of, controlled substance analogues determined to be similar to a schedule I or II controlled substance in either chemical structure or predictive effect on the body in such a manner as to make it likely that the substance will, or can be reasonably expected to, have a potential for abuse. Directs the Administrator to publish a description of each designation made by the Committee.

Amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to prohibit the importation of any controlled substance analogue except pursuant to such notification or declaration as the Attorney General may prescribe.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that they provide adequate penalties for any offense involving the unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, or trafficking of controlled substance analogues and similar offenses.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015

 Amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of "marihuana." Defines "industrial hemp" to mean the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-nine tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. Deems Cannabis sativa L. to meet that concentration limit if a person grows or processes it for purposes of making industrial hemp in accordance with state law, unless the Attorney General determines that the state law is not reasonably calculated to comply with such definition.

Date: 2015-01-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act of 2015 or the FAIR Act 

This bill modifies general rules governing civil forfeiture proceedings to: (1) ensure that a person contesting a civil forfeiture has legal representation without regard to whether the property subject to forfeiture is being used by such person as a primary residence; (2) increase the federal government's burden of proof in civil forfeiture proceedings to clear and convincing evidence; (3) require the government, in addition to showing a substantial connection between the seized property and an offense, to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the owner of any interest in the seized property used the property with intent to facilitate the offense or knowingly consented or was willfully blind to the use of the property by another in connection with the offense; and (4) expand the proportionality criteria used by a court to determine whether a civil forfeiture was constitutionally excessive.

To remove incentives for carrying out civil forfeitures, the bill requires proceeds from the disposition of seized property to be deposited into the General Fund of the Treasury, rather than to Department of Justice accounts for law enforcement activities.

The bill adds a scienter requirement (i.e., a knowing violation) to the prohibition against structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements.

The bill requires: (1) a court to conduct a probable cause hearing to determine if there is a violation of the prohibition against structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements involving a monetary instrument and to return such instrument if probable cause is not established, and (2) the Attorney General to specify in reports to Congress and the public on forfeitures the amounts received from criminal and civil forfeitures.

Date: 2015-01-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Protecting Lands Against Narcotics Trafficking Act of 2015 or the PLANT Act

 Amends the Controlled Substances Act to: (1) impose an additional term of up to ten years' imprisonment for cultivating or manufacturing controlled substances on federal property; and (2) apply the prohibition against assembling, maintaining, or placing a booby trap on federal property where a controlled substance is being manufactured to federal property where a controlled substance is being cultivated.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend and review the Federal Sentencing Guidelines to provide for a penalty enhancement of not less than one offense level for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance or a counterfeit substance while on federal property or while intentionally trespassing on the property of another if such offense: (1) creates a hazard to humans, wildlife, or domestic animals; (2) degrades or harms the environment or natural resources; (3) pollutes an aquifer, spring, stream, river, or body of water; (4) involves the diversion, redirection, obstruction, or draining of an aquifer, spring, stream, river, or body of water or the clear cut of timber while cultivating or manufacturing a controlled substance; or (5) involves the possession of a firearm while cultivating or manufacturing controlled substances.

Prohibits, and sets penalties of up to $500,000 for an individual or $1 million for other than an individual for, diverting, redirecting, obstructing, or draining an aquifer, spring, stream, river, or body of water or clear cutting timber while cultivating or manufacturing a controlled substance on federal property or while cultivating or manufacturing a controlled substance while intentionally trespassing on the property of another. Requires such fines to be transferred to the Department of the Interior for use in addressing the environmental damage caused by the offense.

Date: 2015-02-03
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Stop Drugs at the Border Act of 2015

Directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy to ensure that the first update of the National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy published after enactment of this Act specifically addresses any increased heroin and methamphetamine trafficking occurring along the international border between the United States and Mexico.

Requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to report on any new resources needed by CBP and its law enforcement partners to respond to such increased trafficking, including any technology, equipment, personnel, or funding needed.

Date: 2015-02-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on February 11, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to define phrases related to the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA's) authority to register manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers of controlled substances.

Currently, the DEA registers a controlled substances manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser if it is in the public interest after considering certain factors, including factors relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety. This bill defines "factors as may be relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety" to mean factors relevant to and consistent with the specified purposes of the Controlled Substances Act.

Additionally, current law allows the DEA to immediately suspend a registration to prevent imminent danger to the public health and safety. This bill defines "imminent danger to the public health and safety" to mean an immediate threat of death, serious bodily harm, or abuse of a controlled substance due to a registrant's failure to maintain effective controls against diversion.

The bill revises and expands the required elements of an order to show cause issued by the DEA before it denies, revokes, or suspends a registration for a Controlled Substances Act violation. An order to show cause must specifically state the legal basis for the action and notify the registrant of the opportunity to submit a corrective action plan.

(Sec. 3) The Food and Drug Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Agency for Research and Quality, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in coordination with the DEA, must report to Congress on:

 obstacles to legitimate patient access to controlled substances; diversion of controlled substances; how collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the pharmaceutical industry can benefit patients and prevent diversion and abuse of controlled substances; the availability of and gaps in medical education, training opportunities, and comprehensive clinical guidance for pain management and opioid prescribing; enhancements to prescription drug monitoring programs; and improvements to prescription opioid reporting requirements.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Protecting Kids from Candy-Flavored Drugs Act of 2015

 Amends the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit any person from: (1) manufacturing, creating, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to distribute a schedule I or II controlled substance that is combined with a candy or beverage product, marketed or packaged to appear similar to a candy or beverage product, or modified by flavoring or coloring to appear similar to a candy or beverage product; or (2) manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance will be distributed, dispensed, or sold to a person under 18 years of age. Imposes enhanced criminal penalties for violations.

 Exempts any controlled substance that: (1) has been approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the drug approval process if the contents, marketing, and packaging of the controlled substance have not been altered from the form approved by the Secretary; or (2) has been altered at the direction of a practitioner who is acting for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice.

Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend and review its guidelines and policy statements to ensure that the guidelines provide for a penalty enhancement of not less than two offense levels for a violation of this Act.

Date: 2015-03-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Reclassification to Ensure Smarter and Equal Treatment Act of 2015 or the RESET Act

 Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to reduce penalties (to not greater than a one-year term of imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine) for simple possession of a controlled substance by a person who has one or more prior convictions for a controlled substance offense.

Repeals a provision providing for up to three years' imprisonment for the possession of flunitrazepam. Revises penalties for possession of drugs classified as date rape drugs after a prior drug-related conviction.

Reduces the maximum term of imprisonment (to one year) for the sale, use of the mails to transport, or importation or exportation of drug paraphernalia.

Eliminates provisions of the CSA and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act that apply the same penalties applicable to offenses involving a specified amount of a substance containing cocaine to offenses involving a lesser amount of a substance containing cocaine base.

Amends the CSA to provide that in determining the weight of a controlled substance or mixture of controlled substances that is in a compound with a food product for purposes of provisions concerning controlled substance offenses, the weight of the food product shall not be included.

Makes this Act applicable to any offense committed before its enactment, if a sentence for the offense has not been imposed as of such enactment date. Provides for the reduction of the term of imprisonment of a defendant who was convicted and sentenced before such date for an offense for which the penalty is amended by this Act.

Directs the Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to any person convicted of an offense affected by this Act.

Establishes within the Department of Justice the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund, which (subject to specified limitations) shall be disbursed as follows by August 15 of each fiscal year beginning in 2016:

 15% to the Department of Education to administer a grant program to public agencies aimed at improving outcomes for public school pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12 by reducing truancy and supporting students who are at risk of dropping out or are victims of crime; 10% to the Federal Crime Victim Assistance Fund to make grants to trauma recovery centers to provide services to victims of crime; 25% to Federal Reentry/Drug Court programs to administer a grant program to public agencies aimed at supporting mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and diversion programs for people in the criminal justice system; and 50% to the General Treasury in order to pay down the national debt.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Synthetic Abuse and Labeling of Toxic Substances Act of 2015 or the SALTS Act

Amends the Controlled Substances Act to authorize evidence related to the following factors to be considered in determining whether a controlled substance analogue was intended for human consumption:

 the marketing, advertising, and labeling of the substance; the known efficacy or usefulness of the substance for the marketed, advertised, or labeled purpose; the difference between the price at which the substance is sold and the price at which the substance it is purported to be or advertised as is normally sold; the diversion of the substance from legitimate channels and the clandestine importation, manufacture, or distribution of the substance; and whether the defendant knew or should have known that the substance was intended to be consumed by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other immediate means. Declares that the existence of evidence that a substance was not marketed, advertised, or labeled for human consumption shall not preclude the government from establishing, based on all the evidence, that the substance was intended for human consumption.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2015

 Amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich plants: (1) from the definition of "marihuana," and (2) from treatment as a controlled substance under such Act.

Defines: (1) "cannabidiol-rich plant" to mean the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant with a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis; (2) "cannabidiol" to mean the substance cannabidiol, as derived from a cannabidiol-rich plant; and (3) "tetrahydrocannabinol concentration" to mean the percent of the delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol content per dry weight of any part of the plant Cannabis sativa L. or per volume of weight of marihuana product, or the combined percent of the delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in any part of the plant Cannabis sativa L., regardless of moisture content.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict any activities related to the use, production, or distribution of marihuana in a state in which such activities are legal under state law.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Stop Trafficking in Fentanyl Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to modify the drug quantity thresholds that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for a defendant who manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Specifically, the bill reduces from 400 to 20 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 100 to 5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a 10-year or 20-year mandatory minimum prison term for high-level first-time or repeat offenders. It also reduces from 40 to 2 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 10 to 0.5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a 5-year or 10-year mandatory minimum prison term for low-level first-time or repeat offenders.

Date: 2015-09-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to remove marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols from the list of Schedule I (highabuse potential, no accepted medical use, and severe safety concerns)controlled substances.However, the bill prohibits shipping or transporting marijuana interstate or from any foreign country into a U.S. jurisdiction in which its possession, use, or sale is prohibited.

Additionally, the bill amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to eliminate marijuana as a controlled substance under such Act.

Date: 2015-11-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Meth Exposure to the Home Disclosure Act or the METH Disclosure Act

This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and any other federal agency with knowledge of methamphetamine-based hazards, to promulgate regulations meeting certain criteria for the disclosure of methamphetamine-based hazards in housing (other than newly constructed or never occupied housing) offered for sale or lease.

"Methamphetamine-based hazard" means any condition that causes exposure to any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine that would result in adverse human health effects.

HUD may carry out necessary investigations, and any U.S. district court within the jurisdiction of which one is carried out may issue orders for compliance with it.

The bill prescribes civil money penalties for violations of this Act.

Date: 2015-12-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Housing and community development
Reducing Unused Medications Act of 2016

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow a pharmacist to partially fill a prescription for a schedule II controlled substance (such as a prescription opioid painkiller) at the request of a prescribing practitioner or patient.

A pharmacist must record the partial filling in the same manner as a full filling, update the record with each partially filled prescription, and notify the prescribing practitioner. The total quantity dispensed in partial fillings must not exceed the total quantity prescribed.

The remaining portion of a partially filled prescription may be filled and must be exhausted prior to, or on the same date that such prescription, if fully filled, would have been exhausted.

Date: 2016-02-24
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (which currently is simply authorized) to disclose information about a veteran or dependent to a state controlled substance monitoring program to the extent necessary to prevent misuse and diversion of prescription medicines.

Date: 2016-02-25
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill makes certain Department of Defense funds for state drug interdiction and counter-drug activities available for obligation or expenditure for at least three fiscal years.

Date: 2016-04-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Kingpin Designation Improvement Act of 2016

This bill amends the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act to allow classified information to be submitted to a reviewing court ex parte or in camera in a judicial review of a determination by the President that a foreign person is subject to sanctions as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker.

Date: 2016-05-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to direct the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to register an emergency medical services (EMS) agency as an entity authorized to dispense controlled substances, instead of registering the individual practitioners or medical directors of the agency.

A registered EMS agency must be overseen by one or more medical directors.

The bill specifies that an EMS practitioner who is employed by a registered EMS agency may administer controlled substances under a standing order issued by a medical director. The standing order does not have to be specific to an individual patient. An EMS agency must keep the standing order on file and make it available to the DEA upon request.

Date: 2016-05-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Health
Marijuana Effective Drug Studies Act of 2016 or the MEDS Act

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to:

 establish, with respect to marijuana research, a new federal registration process that is separate from the process for research involving other schedule I drugs; establish a process for registering persons to manufacture or distribute marijuana for purposes of either research or the commercial production of certain approved drugs containing or derived from marijuana; and modify other requirements related to marijuana research and production.

Date: 2016-06-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Expanded Access to Treatment and Recovery Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into cooperative agreements with states to: (1) expand opioid use disorder treatment capacity, (2) make such services more affordable to those who cannot afford them, and (3) help individuals receive treatment and sustain recovery. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.)

Funding is allocated to a state based on the severity of the opioid epidemic in the state and the strength of the state's response strategy.

The bill provides funds for these cooperative agreements for FY2017 and FY2018.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Health
Dangerous Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2016

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to add certain synthetic opioids, hallucinogens, and cannabinoids to schedule I. (A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that: has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.)

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Opioid Quota Openness, Transparency, and Awareness Act of 2016 or the Opioid QuOTA Act

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to require the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to publish on its website certain information with respect to a registered manufacturer’s opioid procurement quota.

It defines the term "opioid procurement quota" as a quota established by the DEA for the quantity of opioid analgesics that a registered manufacturer may procure.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act

This bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the definition of "major illicit drug producing country" a country that is a significant source of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, or fentanyl precursor chemicals. (Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid analgesic typically used to relieve pain.)

 The bill requires the international narcotics control strategy report to:

 identify countries that are the most significant exporters of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and fentanyl precursor chemicals; identify countries that are the most significant sources of the diversion of such chemical for illicit uses; and describe the extent to which an identified country has cooperated with the United States to prevent the export of such chemical to the United States. The bill requires the withholding of bilateral and multilateral assistance from an identified country.

The Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 is amended to require the President, as part of the report identifying major drug transit countries, to designate each country that:

 does not utilize specified emergency scheduling procedures for new illicit drugs and other synthetics that are comparable to the procedures used for controlled substances schedules, is incapable of prosecuting criminals for the manufacture or distribution of controlled substance analogues in the same manner that applies to controlled substances, and does not require specified registration of tableting or encapsulating machines.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: International affairs
Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act

This bill requires the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services to each evaluate whether cannabidiol, the nonpsychoactive substance derived from marijuana or the synthetic formulation, should be a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. After taking into consideration the evaluations, the DEA must initiate proceedings for classifying cannabidiol as a controlled substance if control is warranted.

The bill expands the authority for: (1) conducting medical research on cannabidiol, and (2) possessing or transporting cannabidiol or any other nonpsychoactive component of marijuana for certain medicinal purposes.

Physicians who are licensed under state law may discuss the potential harms and benefits of cannabidiol or those components of marijuana as a treatment with their patients or the legal guardians of underage patients.

The bill terminates four years after enactment.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice to make grants to state law enforcement agencies to investigate illicit activities, including activities related to: (1) heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil distribution or unlawful prescription opioid distribution; and (2) methamphetamine manufacture or distribution.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Illegal Drugs)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Directs the Secretary of Energy to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to: (1) develop recommendations for evaluation measures and criteria for programs under this Act; and (2) evaluate the feasibility of prize and best practices award programs as tools to promote self-powered farms. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an award program for up to 30 state agricultural research programs for self-powered farm demonstrations; (2) provide low-cost revolving loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities for the commercial application of energy or other technologies that will contribute to establishing self-powered farms, with highest preference given to applicants who propose to meet their energy needs from biobased feedstocks or other renewable energy sources produced on that farm; and (3) enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for a review of the programs under this Act.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Energy
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use up to a specified amount of Federal Crop Insurance Act funds in FY2007 for program integrity purposes, including the data mining project.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use up to a specified amount of Federal Crop Insurance Act funds in each of FY2007 and FY2008 for program integrity purposes, including the data mining project.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to the senior farmers' market nutrition program to: (1) increase program funding for FY2007 and extend funding through FY2012; (2) expand the program to include locally produced farm products as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) permit up to 10% of program funds to be used for administrative costs; and (4) permit carryover of unused funds.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Livestock Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) payments through the 2002 livestock compensation program for qualifying livestock disaster losses due to blizzard and drought in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma; and (2) livestock indemnity payments to producers who have incurred livestock disaster losses in 2006 or 2007, or both, including blizzard and drought losses.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to the senior farmers' market nutrition program to: (1) increase program funding for FY2007 and extend funding through FY2012; (2) expand the program to include locally produced farm products as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) permit up to 10% of program funds to be used for administrative costs; and (4) permit carryover of unused funds.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Natural Disaster Relief Act - Defines "hurricane-affected county" as: (1) a county covered by a natural disaster declaration related to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma, or related condition; and (2) a contiguous county. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency financial assistance to eligible agricultural producers (other than sugar cane and sugar beet producers) who have incurred qualifying 2005-2007 crop losses due to weather or related conditions (including crop disease, insects, and delayed harvest) with respect to which a natural disaster declaration has been made. Requires a producer who suffered qualifying losses to elect assistance for only one of such years. Directs the Secretary to provide: (1) payments through the 2002 livestock compensation program for livestock disaster losses during calendar years 2005-2007 for losses that occurred prior to of enactment of this Act (including wildfire disaster losses in Texas and other states, and blizzard losses in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma); and (2) livestock indemnity payments to producers who have incurred 2005-2007 livestock disaster losses prior to enactment of this Act (including wildfire disaster losses in Texas and other states, and blizzard losses in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma), including losses due to hurricanes, floods, wildfires, blizzards, and anthrax. Requires a livestock producer who suffered qualifying losses to elect assistance for only one of such years. Directs the Secretary to hire additional county Farm Service Agency personnel to assist in agricultural disaster and economic assistance programs.

Date: 2007-01-11
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
African-American Farmers Benefits Relief Act of 2007 - Provides de novo review for qualifying claims filed under the consolidated class action action lawsuits of Pigford v. Veneman and Brewington v. Veneman.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Spinach Research and Recovery Act of 2007 - Authorizes additional FY2008 appropriations for conducting and supporting applied research to enhance the safety of perishable agricultural commodities for consumers for: (1) the Agricultural Research Service: (2) the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; and (3) the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make payments (not to exceed 75% of the value of the unmarketed spinach crop) to growers and first handlers of fresh spinach that were unable to market spinach crops as a result of the Food and Drug Administration Public Health Advisory issued on September 14, 2006.

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Emergency Farm Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to provide assistance: (1) to producers of specialty crops in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2005 or 2006; (2) to citrus producers in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2007; (3) to producers of other specialty crops in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2007; (4) to dairy producers in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2006; and (5) for livestock indemnity payments to producers in disaster counties that incurred losses in 2006 or 2007, or both. Directs the Secretary to make grants to California for an expedited disaster assistance program to qualified small businesses that suffered losses during the 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop year as a result of weather-related agricultural losses to the California specialty crop or livestock production sectors. Directs the Secretary to provide assistance to tree or fruit and tree nut producers in disaster counties that suffered losses in 2005, 2006, or 2007, or any combination of such years. Defines "tree" to include: (1) a tree (including a Christmas tree, ornamental tree, nursery tree, and potted tree); (2) a bush (including a shrub, nursery shrub, nursery bush, ornamental bush, ornamental shrub, potted bush, and potted shrub); and (3) a vine (including a nursery vine and ornamental vine). Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide unemployment assistance and temporary mortgage rental assistance to California agricultural workers (including low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers) who are unemployed due to disasters in 2007. Directs the Secretary to provide: (1) food coupons and surplus commodities to such workers; and (2) emergency grants for California low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers who are unemployed due to disasters in 2007. Appropriates additional funds to the Secretary of Commerce for emergency disaster assistance to fishing communities, Indian tribes, and small businesses adversely affected by harvesting restrictions on Klamath River Fall chinook salmon.

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Open Space and Farmland Preservation Act - Amends the Farm Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to reserve at least 15% of farmland protection program funds for grants to support cooperative efforts by an eligible state agency, county, or other eligible entity to purchase conservation easements and other interests in eligible land, whose title shall be held by an eligible entity rather than the United States. Provides with respect to cost sharing that: (1) the federal share of the purchase price of a conservation easement or other interest in eligible land shall not exceed 25%; and (2) the state agency, county, and other eligible entities involved in the purchase shall each contribute 25% of the purchase price.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farming Flexibility Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, with respect to direct and counter-cyclical payments, to: (1) permit a producer to reduce a covered commodity base acreage by electing to plant such acres with fruits or vegetables for processing; (2) require such election to be made annually; and (3) provide that if a farm's base acreage is recalculated, such fruit or vegetable production shall be considered the same as the planning, prevented planting, or production of the covered commodity.

Date: 2007-03-07
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
American Dairy Farmer Protection Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend national dairy market loss payments through September 30, 2012. Increases the maximum payment quantity for all producers on a single dairy operation. Sets the FY2008 minimum price for Class 1 milk under a federal marketing order at $15.58 per hundredweight.

Date: 2007-03-20
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize appropriations through FY2012 for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Specifies Commodity Credit Corporation fund amounts to be used for the Program in each of FY2008-FY2012. Makes the Secretary of Agriculture responsible for specified program administration provisions currently delegated to the President.

Date: 2007-03-21
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Agricultural Business Security Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a retailer of agricultural products and chemicals or a manufacturer, formulator, distributor, or transporter of certain pesticides a business tax credit for 30 percent of costs for or related to the protection of such chemicals or pesticides, including employee security training and background checks, installation of security equipment, and computer network safeguards. Sets a $2 million annual limit on such credit and a per facility limitation of $100,000 (reduced by credits received for the five prior taxable years). Terminates such credit after 2010.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require offering farmers supplemental crop insurance based on an area yield and loss plan of insurance.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Farm Risk Management Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt farm risk management accounts to allow taxpayers engaged in the business of farming or ranching to use distributions from such accounts to offset operational losses in lieu of receiving, after a specified transitional period, federal subsidies to purchase crop insurance; (2) allow a tax deduction for cash contributions to such accounts; (3) specify minimum levels of contributions to, and maximum levels of distributions from, such accounts; (4) require the Secretary of Agriculture to make matching contributions to such accounts; and (5) set forth tax rules relating to account distributions, excess contributions, and prohibited transactions.

Date: 2007-04-17
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the issuance of tax-exempt small issue bonds to finance the purchase of property or land used primarily for the processing of agricultural products.

Date: 2007-05-02
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Taxation
Captive Supply Reform Act - Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 respecting livestock producer-packer forward contracts to: (1) require the inclusion of fixed dollar amount base pricing and public bidding; (2) prohibit formula pricing; (3) limit individual contract size; and (4) exclude from the definition of "formula price" futures-based prices and base adjustments resulting from factors outside packer control.

Date: 2007-05-08
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to make beginning farmer and rancher development grants available for energy conservation and organic and value-added alternative production. Caps annual grant amounts and permits consecutive grants to the same recipient. Sets forth grant evaluation criteria. Extends grant authority. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the new farmer individual development accounts pilot program under which: (1) an eligible participant shall deposit an agreed upon amount into an account which will be matched at 300% by the program ($9,000 annual cap); and (2) expenditures shall be used for specified farming purposes, including purchases of farmland, equipment and other assets, breeding stock, and timber, nut, or fruit trees. Revises: (1) the down payment loan program; and (2) the beginning farmer or rancher contract land sales program. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for inventory sales preferences on real property acquired by the Secretary through security servicing. Increases direct and operating agricultural loan limits. Requires the Secretary to establish a plan to transition agricultural loan borrowers to private credit sources. Increases fiscal year aggregate loan and specified set-aside levels. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for certain loan set-asides, and extends such set-aside authority. Includes among soil and water conservation grant priority recipients: (1) beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and (2) owners or tenants who use the loans to convert to sustainable or organic agricultural production systems. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the conservation reserve program to permit the Secretary to modify a contract to facilitate land transition from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher in order to return some or all of the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods. Sets forth transition options for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for cost sharing under the conservation security program and the environmental quality incentives program. Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to include among "high priority research" areas of concern to beginning farmers or ranchers. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to include farm transfer options for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers among priority grant areas. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to provide emphasis on risk management education for beginning, immigrant, retiring, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

Date: 2007-05-16
Topic: Agriculture (Subsidies to Farmers)
Subject: Agriculture and food