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”.[7 U.S.C. 1691 note]

findings and declaration of policy Sec. 1218. (a) Congress finds that— (1) the economic well-being of the Nation's agricultural industry is directly related to its ability to compete in international 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 commodities 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 practices 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 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 (b)(2) of this section. The chairmen and ranking minority members may designate 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 (b)(2) of this section. (f) The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairman or a majority of the Commission.

conduct of study Sec. 1220. The Commission shall study the agriculture-related 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 considered, 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 appropriate 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; (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 resolved; 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 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 recommendations 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 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 additional 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 government 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 chairman, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule 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 carrying out its duties and functions. (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 Committee Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall maintain such financial 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 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.

public support Sec. 1223. (a) Following the appointment or designation of the members of the Commission, notwithstanding the provisions of section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of Agriculture 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 carrying 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 insufficient for payment of Commission salaries, travel expenses, per diem, and 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. (c) The Secretary of Agriculture shall keep, and shall make 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 Commission under this section that remains unobligated upon termination of the Commission shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

termination Sec. 1224. The Commission shall terminate sixty days after the transmission of its final report to the President and Congress.