[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1984 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1984

 To establish in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice a 
    position with responsibility for agricultural antitrust matters.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 19, 1999

 Mr. Harkin (for himself and Mr. Lugar) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice a 
    position with responsibility for agricultural antitrust matters.

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

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT.

    (a) In General.--There shall be established within the Antitrust 
Division of the Department of Justice a position the primary 
responsibility of which shall be to provide assistance and advice to 
the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division to further the 
effective enforcement of the antitrust laws with respect to the food 
and agricultural sectors.
    (b) Appointment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall appoint a person to 
the position described in subsection (a).
    (c) Functions.--The responsibilities of the position established 
under subsection (a) shall include all actions appropriate to 
furthering effective enforcement of the antitrust laws with respect to 
the food and agricultural sectors, including--
            (1) assisting and advising with respect to the 
        investigation of possible restraints of trade;
            (2) assisting and advising with respect to the 
        investigation of mergers and acquisitions; and
            (3) ensuring that any investigation described in paragraphs 
        (1) or (2) takes into account the effects of the conduct or 
        transaction under investigation on consumers, agricultural 
        producers and rural communities.

SEC. 2. ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.

    Nothing in this Act shall affect or limit the authority of the 
Attorney General or the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust 
Division to delegate or assign functions relating to the enforcement of 
any provision of law.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE PERIOD.

    This Act shall be effective until the date that is 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act.
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