[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2843 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2843

 To provide emergency assistance to farmers and ranchers in the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 13, 1999

Mr. Hayes (for himself and Mr. Fletcher) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to 
the Committees on the Budget, and International Relations, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide emergency assistance to farmers and ranchers in the United 
                                States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency 
Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers Act of 1999''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Emergency requirement.
                     TITLE I--CROP LOSS ASSISTANCE

Sec. 101. Crop loss assistance.
                    TITLE II--MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE

Sec. 201. Assistance for producers of contract commodities.
Sec. 202. Assistance for producers of soybeans and other oilseeds.
Sec. 203. Assistance for producers of specialty crops.
Sec. 204. Assistance for producers of peanuts.
Sec. 205. Assistance for producers of tobacco.
 TITLE III--TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF LIMIT ON LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS AND 
                          MARKETING LOAN GAINS

Sec. 301. Removal of limit on authorized amount of marketing loan gains 
                            and loan deficiency payments.
             TITLE IV--UPLAND COTTON PRICE COMPETITIVENESS

Sec. 401. Upland cotton price competitiveness.
         TITLE V--ASSISTANCE FOR LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY PRODUCERS

Sec. 501. Assistance for livestock and dairy producers.
                        TITLE VI--CROP INSURANCE

Sec. 601. Premium schedule for additional coverage.
Sec. 602. Premium schedule for other plans of insurance.
Sec. 603. Adjustment in actual production history to establish 
                            insurable yields.
                      TITLE VII--FREEDOM TO MARKET

Sec. 701. GAO report.
Sec. 702. Prohibition on unilateral agricultural or medical sanctions.
Sec. 703. Annual reports by Secretary of Agriculture.
Sec. 704. Actions by Department of Agriculture.
Sec. 705. Definition.
               TITLE VIII--EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Sec. 801. Funding for emergency conservation program.

SEC. 2. EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT.

    Notwithstanding the last sentence of section 252(e) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, amounts made 
available by this Act are designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 252(e) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: Provided, That such amounts 
shall be available only to the extent that an official budget request 
that includes designation of the entire amount of the request as an 
emergency requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985, is transmitted by the President to 
Congress.

                     TITLE I--CROP LOSS ASSISTANCE

SEC. 101. CROP LOSS ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall administer a 
program under which emergency financial assistance is made available to 
producers on a farm who have incurred losses associated with crops due 
to disasters (as determined by the Secretary).
    (b) Losses Incurred for 1999 Crop.--Subject to section 2, the 
Secretary shall use not more than $1,000,000,000 to make available 
assistance to producers on a farm who have incurred losses in the 1999 
crop due to disasters.
    (c) Qualifying Losses.--Assistance under this section may be made 
for losses associated with crops that are due to, as determined by the 
Secretary--
            (1) quantity losses;
            (2) quality (including, but not limited to, aflatoxin) 
        losses; or
            (3) severe economic losses due to damaging weather or 
        related condition.
    (d) Crops Covered.--Assistance under this section shall be 
applicable to losses for all crops (including losses of trees from 
which a crop is harvested), as determined by the Secretary, due to 
disasters.
    (e) Crop Insurance.--
            (1) Administration.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Secretary shall not discriminate against or penalize producers 
        on a farm who have purchased crop insurance under the Federal 
        Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
            (2) Encouraging future crop insurance participation.--
        Subject to section 2, the Secretary, acting through the Federal 
        Crop Insurance Corporation, may use the funds made available 
        under subsection (b), and only those funds, to provide premium 
        refunds or other assistance to purchasers of crop insurance for 
        their 1999 insured crops, or their preceding (including 1999) 
        insured crops.
            (3) Producers who have not purchased crop insurance for 
        1999 crop.--As a condition of receiving assistance under this 
        section, producers on a farm who have not purchased crop 
        insurance for the 1999 crop under that Act shall agree by 
        contract to purchase crop insurance for the 2000 and 2001 crops 
        produced by the producers.
            (4) Liquidated damages.--
                    (A) In general.--The contract under paragraph (3) 
                shall provide for liquidated damages to be paid by the 
                producers due to the failure of the producers to 
                purchase crop insurance as provided in paragraph (3).
                    (B) Notice of damages.--The amount of the 
                liquidated damages shall be established by the 
                Secretary and specified in the contract agreed to by 
                the producers.
            (5) Funding for crop insurance purchase requirement.--
        Subject to section 2, such sums as may be necessary, to remain 
        available until expended, shall be available to the Federal 
        Crop Insurance Corporation to cover costs incurred by the 
        Corporation as a result of the crop insurance purchase 
        requirement of paragraph (3). Funds made available under 
        subsection (b) may not be used to cover such costs.

                    TITLE II--MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE

SEC. 201. ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS OF CONTRACT COMMODITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use not more 
than $5,544,453,000 for assistance to owners and producers on a farm 
who are eligible for final payments for fiscal year 1999 under a 
production flexibility contract for the farm under the Agricultural 
Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) to partially compensate 
the owners and producers for the loss of markets for the 1999 crop of a 
commodity.
    (b) Amount.--The amount of assistance made available to owners and 
producers on a farm under this section shall be proportional to the 
amount of the contract payment received by the owners and producers for 
fiscal year 1999 under a production flexibility contract for the farm 
under the Agricultural Market Transition Act.
    (c) Time for Payment.--The assistance made available under this 
section for an eligible owner or producer shall be made as soon as 
practicable after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.--Subject to subsection 
(e), the Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and authorities of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section.

SEC. 202. ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS OF SOYBEANS AND OTHER OILSEEDS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall use not less than $475,000,000 of funds 
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make payments to producers of 
the 1999 crop of oilseeds that are eligible to obtain a marketing 
assistance loan under section 131 of the Agricultural Market Transition 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7231).
    (b) Computation.--A payment to producers on a farm under this 
section shall be computed by multiplying--
            (1) a payment rate determined by the Secretary; by
            (2) the quantity of oilseeds that the producers on the farm 
        are eligible to place under loan under section 131 of that Act.
    (c) Limitation.--Payments made under this section shall be 
considered to be contract payments for the purposes of section 1001(1) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(1)).

SEC. 203. ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS OF SPECIALTY CROPS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall use not more than $50,000,000 of 
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide assistance to 
producers of fruits and vegetables in a manner determined by the 
Secretary.

SEC. 204. ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS OF PEANUTS.

    (a) Assistance Available.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use 
such amounts as are necessary to provide payments to producers of quota 
peanuts or additional peanuts to partially compensate the producers for 
continuing low commodity prices, and increasing costs of production, 
for the 1999 crop year.
    (b) Amount.--The amount of a payment made to producers on a farm of 
quota peanuts or additional peanuts under subsection (a) shall be equal 
to the product obtained by multiplying--
            (1) the quantity of quota peanuts or additional peanuts 
        produced or considered produced by the producers under section 
        155 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7271); 
        by
            (2) an amount equal to 5 percent of the loan rate 
        established for quota peanuts or additional peanuts, 
        respectively, under section 155 of that Act.

SEC. 205. ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS OF TOBACCO.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall use $328,000,000 of funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to make distributions to tobacco growers 
in accordance with the formulas established under the National Tobacco 
Grower Settlement Trust.

 TITLE III--TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF LIMIT ON LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS AND 
                          MARKETING LOAN GAINS

SEC. 301. REMOVAL OF LIMIT ON AUTHORIZED AMOUNT OF MARKETING LOAN GAINS 
              AND LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENTS.

    Section 1001(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(2)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``However, 
this limitation shall not apply during the 1999 and 2000 crop years.''.

             TITLE IV--UPLAND COTTON PRICE COMPETITIVENESS

SEC. 401. UPLAND COTTON PRICE COMPETITIVENESS.

    (a) In General.--Section 136(a) of the Agricultural Market 
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7236(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or cash payments'' and 
        inserting ``or cash payments, at the option of the 
        recipient,'';
            (2) by striking ``3 cents per pound'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``1.25 cents per pound'';
            (3) in the first sentence of paragraph (3)(A), by striking 
        ``owned by the Commodity Credit Corporation in such manner, and 
        at such price levels, as the Secretary determines will best 
        effectuate the purposes of cotton user marketing certificates'' 
        and inserting ``owned by the Commodity Credit Corporation or 
        pledged to the Commodity Credit Corporation as collateral for a 
        loan in such manner, and at such price levels, as the Secretary 
        determines will best effectuate the purposes of cotton user 
        marketing certificates, including enhancing the competitiveness 
        and marketability of United States cotton''; and
            (4) by striking paragraph (4).
    (b) Ensuring the Availability of Upland Cotton.--Section 136(b) of 
the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7236(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) Establishment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The President shall carry out an 
                import quota program during the period ending July 31, 
                2003, as provided in this subsection.
                    ``(B) Program requirements.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (C), whenever the Secretary determines and 
                announces that for any consecutive 4-week period, the 
                Friday through Thursday average price quotation for the 
                lowest-priced United States growth, as quoted for 
                Middling (M) 1\3/32\-inch cotton, delivered C.I.F. 
                Northern Europe, adjusted for the value of any 
                certificate issued under subsection (a), exceeds the 
                Northern Europe price by more than 1.25 cents per 
                pound, there shall immediately be in effect a special 
                import quota.
                    ``(C) Tight domestic supply.--During any month for 
                which the Secretary estimates the season-ending United 
                States upland cotton stocks-to-use ratio, as determined 
                under subparagraph (D), to be below 16 percent, the 
                Secretary, in making the determination under 
                subparagraph (B), shall not adjust the Friday through 
                Thursday average price quotation for the lowest-priced 
                United States growth, as quoted for Middling (M) 1\3/
                32\-inch cotton, delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe, for 
                the value of any certificates issued under subsection 
                (a).
                    ``(D) Season-ending united states stocks-to-use 
                ratio.--For the purposes of making estimates under 
                subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall, on a monthly 
                basis, estimate and report the season-ending United 
                States upland cotton stocks-to-use ratio, excluding 
                projected raw cotton imports but including the quantity 
                of raw cotton that has been imported into the United 
                States during the marketing year.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Limitation.--The quantity of cotton entered into the 
        United States during any marketing year under the special 
        import quota established under this subsection may not exceed 
        the equivalent of 5 week's consumption of upland cotton by 
        domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate of the 3 
        months immediately preceding the first special import quota 
        established in any marketing year.''.
    (c) Removal of Suspension of Marketing Certificate Authority.--
Section 171(b)(1) of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 
7301(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (G); and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) through (L) as 
        subparagraphs (G) through (K), respectively.
    (d) Redemption of Marketing Certificates.--Section 115 of the 
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1445k) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), and (c) as 
        subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively;
            (2) by inserting immediately before subsection (b) (as so 
        redesignated) the following new subsection:
    ``(a) In making payments or in-kind payments under any of the 
annual programs for wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, upland cotton, or 
rice, the Secretary shall make such payments available, at the option 
of the producer, in marketing certificates which the Commodity Credit 
Corporation shall redeem for a commodity in accordance with regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary.'';
            (3) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) by striking ``in-kind payments under any of the 
                annual programs for wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, 
                or rice (other than negotiable marketing certificates 
                for upland cotton or rice)'' and inserting ``the 
                payments and in-kind payments as provided in subsection 
                (a)'';
                    (B) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1);
                    (C) by striking ``Corporation.'' at the end of 
                paragraph (2) and inserting in lieu thereof 
                ``Corporation; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) redeem marketing certificates for cash under such 
        terms and conditions as are established by the Secretary.'';
            (4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``negotiable certificates'' and inserting ``marketing 
        certificates'';
            (5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) by striking ``commodity certificate'' and 
                inserting ``marketing certificate''; and
                    (B) by striking ``marketing promotion program'' and 
                inserting ``marketing assistance program''; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(e) The Secretary shall establish procedures for redeeming 
marketing certificates for cash or marketing or exchange of the 
certificates for agricultural commodities owned by the Commodity Credit 
Corporation or pledged to the Commodity Credit Corporation as 
collateral for a marketing assistance loan in such manner, and at such 
price levels, as the Secretary determines will best effectuate the 
purposes of marketing certificates including enhancing the 
competitiveness and marketability of the United States commodities.
    ``(f) Marketing certificates issued in accordance with this section 
may be transferred to other persons in accordance with regulations 
issued by the Secretary.''.

         TITLE V--ASSISTANCE FOR LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY PRODUCERS

SEC. 501. ASSISTANCE FOR LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY PRODUCERS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall use $350,000,000 of funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to provide assistance to livestock and 
dairy producers for losses of pasture and hay crops due to disasters 
(as determined by the Secretary). The funds may not be used to 
compensate the owners and producers for the loss of markets for 
livestock products.

                        TITLE VI--CROP INSURANCE

SEC. 601. PREMIUM SCHEDULE FOR ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.

    (a) Premium Amounts.--Section 508(d)(2) of the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(d)(2)) is amended by striking 
subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) In the case of additional coverage equal to 
                or greater than 50 percent of the recorded or appraised 
                average yield indemnified at not greater than 100 
                percent of the expected market price, or an equivalent 
                coverage, the amount of the premium shall--
                            ``(i) be sufficient to cover anticipated 
                        losses and a reasonable reserve; and
                            ``(ii) include an amount for operating and 
                        administrative expenses, as determined by the 
                        Corporation, on an industry-wide basis as a 
                        percentage of the amount of the premium used to 
                        define loss ratio.''.
    (b) Payment Schedule.--Section 508(e)(2) of the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(e)(2)) is amended by striking 
subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting the following new 
subparagraphs:
                    ``(B) In the case of additional coverage equal to 
                or greater than 50 percent, but less than 55 percent, 
                of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified 
                at not greater than 100 percent of the expected market 
                price, or an equivalent coverage, the amount shall be 
                equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) 67 percent of the amount of the 
                        premium established under subsection 
                        (d)(2)(B)(i) for the coverage level selected; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the amount determined under 
                        subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii) for the coverage level 
selected to cover operating and administrative expenses.
                    ``(C) In the case of additional coverage equal to 
                or greater than 55 percent, but less than 65 percent, 
                of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified 
                at not greater than 100 percent of the expected market 
                price, or an equivalent coverage, the amount shall be 
                equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) 64 percent of the amount of the 
                        premium established under subsection 
                        (d)(2)(B)(i) for the coverage level selected; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the amount determined under 
                        subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii) for the coverage level 
                        selected to cover operating and administrative 
                        expenses.
                    ``(D) In the case of additional coverage equal to 
                or greater than 65 percent, but less than 75 percent, 
                of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified 
                at not greater than 100 percent of the expected market 
                price, or an equivalent coverage, the amount shall be 
                equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) 59 percent of the amount of the 
                        premium established under subsection 
                        (d)(2)(B)(i) for the coverage level selected; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the amount determined under 
                        subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii) for the coverage level 
                        selected to cover operating and administrative 
                        expenses.
                    ``(E) In the case of additional coverage equal to 
                or greater than 75 percent, but less than 80 percent, 
                of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified 
                at not greater than 100 percent of the expected market 
                price, or an equivalent coverage, the amount shall be 
                equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) 54 percent of the amount of the 
                        premium established under subsection 
                        (d)(2)(B)(i) for the coverage level selected; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the amount determined under 
                        subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii) for the coverage level 
                        selected to cover operating and administrative 
                        expenses.
                    ``(F) In the case of additional coverage equal to 
                or greater than 80 percent, but less than 85 percent, 
                of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified 
                at not greater than 100 percent of the expected market 
                price, or an equivalent coverage, the amount shall be 
                equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) 40.6 percent of the amount of the 
                        premium established under subsection 
                        (d)(2)(B)(i) for the coverage level selected; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the amount determined under 
                        subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii) for the coverage level 
                        selected to cover operating and administrative 
                        expenses.
                    ``(G) Subject to subsection (c)(4), in the case of 
                additional coverage equal to or greater than 85 percent 
                of the recorded or appraised average yield indemnified 
                at not greater than 100 percent of the expected market 
                price, or an equivalent coverage, the amount shall be 
                equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) 30.6 percent of the amount of the 
                        premium established under subsection 
                        (d)(2)(B)(i) for the coverage level selected; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the amount determined under 
                        subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii) for the coverage level 
                        selected to cover operating and administrative 
                        expenses.''.
    (c) Premium Payment Disclosure.--Section 508(e) of the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(e)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Premium payment disclosure.--Each policy or plan of 
        insurance under this title shall prominently indicate the 
        dollar amount of the portion of the premium paid by the 
        Corporation under this subsection or subsection (h)(2).''.

SEC. 602. PREMIUM SCHEDULE FOR OTHER PLANS OF INSURANCE.

    Section 508(h)(2) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(h)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``A policy'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) Preparation.--A policy'';
            (2) by striking the second sentence; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) Premium schedule.--In the case of a policy 
                offered under this subsection (except paragraph (10)) 
                or subsection (m)(4), the Corporation shall pay a 
                portion of the premium of the policy that shall be 
                equal to--
                            ``(i) the percentage, specified in 
                        subsection (e) for a similar level of coverage, 
                        of the total amount of the premium used to 
                        define loss ratio; and
                            ``(ii) the dollar amount of the 
                        administrative and operating expenses that 
                        would be paid by the Corporation under 
                        subsection (e) for a similar level of 
                        coverage.''.

SEC. 603. ADJUSTMENT IN ACTUAL PRODUCTION HISTORY TO ESTABLISH 
              INSURABLE YIELDS.

    Section 508(g) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(g)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Adjustment in actual production history to establish 
        insurable yields.--
                    ``(A) Application.--This paragraph shall apply 
                whenever the Corporation uses the actual production 
                history of the producer to establish insurable yields 
                for an agricultural commodity for the 2000 and 
                subsequent crop years.
                    ``(B) Election to use percentage of transitional 
                yield.--If, for one or more of the crop years used to 
                establish the producer's actual production history of 
                an agricultural commodity, the producer's recorded or 
                appraised yield of the commodity was less than 60 
                percent of the applicable transitional yield, as 
                determined by the Corporation, the Corporation shall, 
                at the election of the producer--
                            ``(i) exclude any of such recorded or 
                        appraised yield; and
                            ``(ii) replace each excluded yield with a 
                        yield equal to 60 percent of the applicable 
                        transitional yield.''.

                      TITLE VII--FREEDOM TO MARKET

SEC. 701. GAO REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Comptroller General shall--
            (1) conduct--
                    (A) a detailed examination of all economic 
                sanctions affecting United States businesses, 
                differentiating between unilateral and multilateral 
                economic sanctions;
                    (B) an assessment of comparable measures undertaken 
                by other countries in each instance;
                    (C) an evaluation of the effectiveness of both 
                unilateral and multilateral economic sanctions in 
                meeting stated policy goals;
                    (D) an assessment on humanitarian conditions within 
                sanctioned countries, evaluating how sanctions have 
                affected particular states;
                    (E) an assessment of the relationship with United 
                States allies as a consequence of unilateral economic 
                sanctions;
                    (F) an examination of the economic impact of 
                sanctions on United States producers and exporters; and
                    (G) an assessment of potential countries that may 
                be sanctioned under existing United States law or 
                executive authority, but which are not now subject to 
                sanctions (whether because of presidentially exercised 
                waivers, or statutes or executive orders not being 
                applied); and
            (2) submit to the Committee on International Relations and 
        the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
        and to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on 
        the matters described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 702. PROHIBITION ON UNILATERAL AGRICULTURAL OR MEDICAL SANCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
President shall not restrict or otherwise prohibit any exports 
(including restricted commercial or Federal financing) of food, other 
agricultural products (including fertilizer), medicines, or medical 
supplies or equipment as part of any policy of existing or future 
unilateral economic sanctions imposed against a foreign government. For 
the purposes of this section, discrimination against a foreign 
government in eligibility for, or award of, credits or incentives of 
any kind under any other Federal program relating to exports shall be 
deemed a restriction of exports.
    (b) National Security Waiver.--The President may waive, for periods 
of not more than 1 year each, the applicability of any sanction under 
subsection (a) with respect to a foreign country or entity if the 
President, with respect to each such waiver--
            (1) determines that the national security so requires; and
            (2) transmits to the Congress that determination, together 
        with a detailed description of the reasons therefor, including 
        an explanation of how the sanction will further the national 
        security.

SEC. 703. ANNUAL REPORTS BY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Congress, by not 
later than May 1 of each year, a report containing the following:
            (1) The Secretary's assessment of all markets where United 
        States exports of agricultural commodities are limited because 
        of multilateral or unilateral economic sanctions, including 
        specific commodities affected.
            (2) The economic impact on producers of the commodities 
        specified under paragraph (1).
            (3) An assessment of the extent to which displaced United 
        States commodities are being supplied by foreign competitors.
            (4) The expected longer-term consequences of interrupting 
        United States exports.
            (5) Any assistance provided by the Foreign Agricultural 
        Service to offset lost markets due to such sanctions.

SEC. 704. ACTIONS BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall expand agricultural export 
assistance under United States market development, food assistance, or 
export promotion programs to offset all projected losses of 
agricultural commodity markets from unilateral or multilateral 
sanctions identified under section 703, to the maximum extent permitted 
by law and by the obligations of the United States under the Agreement 
on Agriculture referred to in section 101(d)(2) of the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(2)).

SEC. 705. DEFINITION.

    As used in this title, the term ``unilateral economic sanction'' 
means any restriction or condition on economic activity with respect to 
a foreign country or foreign entity that is imposed by the United 
States for reasons of foreign policy or national security, except in a 
case in which the United States imposes the measure pursuant to a 
multilateral regime and the other members of that regime have agreed to 
impose substantially equivalent measures.

               TITLE VIII--EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM

SEC. 801. FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall use $28,000,000 of funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the emergency conservation 
program under title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2201 et seq.).
                                 <all>