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Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004

Introduced: October 2, 2003 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 25 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 21, 2004
Became Public Law No: 108-465.
Dec 21, 2004
Signed by President.
Dec 10, 2004
Presented to President.
Dec 7, 2004
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S11879)
Dec 7, 2004
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11879)
Dec 7, 2004
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 7, 2004
Mr. Ose moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 7, 2004
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Oct 7, 2004
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 7, 2004
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8377-8379)
Oct 7, 2004
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8377-8379)
Oct 7, 2004
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3242.
Oct 7, 2004
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8377-8382)
Oct 6, 2004
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 467.
Oct 6, 2004
Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
Oct 6, 2004
House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Oct. 6, 2004.
Oct 6, 2004
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 108-750, Part I.
Sep 30, 2004
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Sep 30, 2004
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 30, 2004
Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture Discharged.
Oct 15, 2003
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Oct 15, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture.
Oct 12, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Oct 2, 2003
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 2, 2003
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on October 7, 2004. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 - (Sec. 3) Defines "specialty crop" as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

Title I: State Assistance for Specialty Crops - (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make FY 2005 through 2009 State grants to enhance specialty crop competitiveness. Bases grant amounts on specialty crop production value. Sets minimum State grants at $100,000 per fiscal year. Authorizes FY 2005 through 2009 appropriations.

Title II: Specialty Crop Advancement - (Sec. 201) Authorizes FY 2005 through 2009 appropriations for specialty crop technical assistance under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

(Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary to: (1) reduce the number of backlog permit applications for the export of agricultural commodities without diluting or diminishing existing personnel resources that are currently managing sanitary and phytosanitary issues; and (2) report annually respecting such backlog, including the number of applications and backlog applications processed to completion.

(Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to report on the significant sanitary and phytosanitary issues affecting specialty crop exports.

Title III: Specialty Crop Research - (Sec. 301) Directs the Secretary to elevate the priority of methyl bromide alternative research and extension activities and reexamine the risks and benefits of extending the phase-out deadline. Authorizes FY 2005 through 2009 appropriations.

(Sec. 302) Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include specialty crop research among high priority research and extension activities.

(Sec. 303) Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to direct the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board to establish a permanent specialty crops committee to study the scope of research, extension, and economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry.

Title IV: Pest and Disease Response Fund - (Sec. 401) Establishes in the Treasury the Pest and Disease Response Fund. Authorizes FY 2005 through 2009 appropriations.

(Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Plant Board for peer review of the procedures and standards of import and export requests under the Plant Protection Act, which shall address: (1) the preparation of risk assessments; and (2) the sufficiency, type, and quality of data that should be submitted to the Secretary.

(Sec. 403) Authorizes FY 2005 through 2009 appropriations for maintenance of the Agricultural Marketing Service inspection training center in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

What's happening now December 21, 2004

Became Public Law No: 108-465.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 18
All 18 Democratic 15 Republican 3