109 HR 3809 IH: Emergency Food and Farm Disaster Assistance Act of 2005
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-09-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Emergency Food and Farm Disaster Assistance Act of 2005
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents
Title I—Emergency Food Assistance
Sec. 101. Food Stamp Act assistance in response to Hurricane Katrina
Sec. 102. Emergency food assistance program
Title II—Emergency Farm Assistance
Sec. 201. Crop disaster assistance
Sec. 202. Livestock assistance
Sec. 203. Domestic aquaculture assistance
Sec. 204. Sugarcane disaster assistance
Sec. 205. Conservation programs
Sec. 206. Hurricane relief grants for certain States
Sec. 207. Extension of marketing loans
Sec. 208. Temporary suspension of accrual of interest on farm loan for borrower in county for which a disaster declaration is in effect as a result of a hurricane in 2005
Sec. 209. Extension of application period for emergency loans in counties for which a disaster declaration is in effect as a result of a hurricane in 2005
Sec. 210. Additional debt forgiveness allowed as a result of losses sustained as a result of a hurricane in 2005 in a county for which a disaster declaration is in effect as a result of a such a hurricane
Sec. 211. Temporary extension of administrative prohibition on using administrative offset in certain cases
Title III—Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 301. Administrative funds
Sec. 302. Sense of Congress regarding need for permanent agricultural disaster relief authority
Sec. 303. Sense of Congress regarding need for additional assistance in response to Hurricane Katrina
Sec. 304. Regulations
Sec. 305. Emergency designation
<enum>I</enum><header>Emergency Food Assistance</header>
<section section-type="subsequent-section" id="HF5559229263C46DBB68E6EAF6E1077DD" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <enum>101.</enum> <header>Food Stamp Act assistance in response to Hurricane Katrina</header>
<subsection id="H49BC7DC813694A6DA2E613008048D1C8"> <enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance during disaster recovery period</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5(h) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FSA77">Food Stamp Act of 1977</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block act-name="Food" id="H71090A6B19CD42948C97004FDF7D953">
<paragraph indent="subsection" id="HA00300D442D4422B93E60CC92D27F2B"> <enum>(4)</enum> <header>Response to Hurricane Katrina</header>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="H2E3CBC1898F84CA3AD9F8D8509D48472"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>During the disaster recovery period—</text>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H9D7EEFBEA3AB401782FD4BED7E20E2D5"> <enum>(i)</enum> <text>the Secretary shall pay each State agency an amount equal to 90 per centum of administrative costs allowable under section 16(a) related to serving affected households in lieu of the payments section 16(a) would otherwise require for such costs;</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H8445278F268F43D6A329FBE1277503DA"> <enum>(ii)</enum> <text>subsection (g)(2)(B)(iv) and sections 6(d)(4) and 6(o) shall not apply to affected households;</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H2B46D1D3D52140A8834010BDB1EBD75"> <enum>(iii)</enum> <text>an affected household shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subsection (c)(2) if its income, as calculated under such subsection, does not exceed the level permitted under subsection (c)(1) by more than 50 per centum;</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="HB6FE1CA5A2994FBD97F4D1DEB45100F4"> <enum>(iv)</enum> <text>except in the case of a household to which subparagraph (B)(ii) applies, the State agency shall calculate the income of an affected household using a standard deduction of $323 in lieu of the deduction provided under subsection (e)(1); and</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H3B553C25A1994B8E84914DC24BB636A8"> <enum>(v)</enum> <text>any funds designated for rebuilding or relocation, including payments from Federal, State, or local governments, charitable organizations, employers, or insurance companies, shall be excluded from consideration under subsection (g) in determining the eligibility of an affected household.</text> </clause> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="H4D8346ED078C4976A0B0E0B569FA22D3"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>During the immediate disaster recovery period—</text>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="HE19F49D0F7234C84B2EADDAB6BBB60AF"> <enum>(i)</enum> <text>subsection (g)(2)(B)(v) and section 8(c)(1) shall not apply to affected households;</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="HF39AD8F3E2034B118535304D97ECD3E8"> <enum>(ii)</enum> <text>at the option of the State agency, the State agency shall increase the value to the household of the thrifty food plan determined under section 3(o) by six per centum when calculating the value of the allotment for an affected household under section 8(a), in lieu of making the adjustment otherwise required by subparagraph (A)(iv); and</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H6D487CB71CAC4839A892AA5D33BF29BF"> <enum>(iii)</enum> <text>the application of an affected household shall be processed under procedures established under section 11(e)(9).</text> </clause> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="H1A0D1F70BCD94ABE85A00F24636A700"> <enum>(C)</enum> <text>The Secretary shall take such action as are prudent and reasonable under the circumstances to identify affected households that are participating in more than one State and to terminate the duplicate participation of such households. Except in the case of deliberate falsehoods, no action shall be taken against any affected household relating to any duplicate participation during the disaster recovery period that takes place prior to such termination.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="HA3F15857A3B14C7F984E006189965476"> <enum>(D)</enum> <text>Except in the case of intentional program violations as determined under section 6(b), no claim shall be established under section 13(b) relating to benefits issued under this subsection.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="H65176DF6DC914100A622C902676CB861"> <enum>(E)</enum> <text>For purposes of determining the payment error rate of a State agency under section 16(c), the Secretary shall disregard any errors resulting from the application of this paragraph to an affected household during the disaster recovery period.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="HF70A13660266489A8983AB8E2CC87E2B"> <enum>(F)</enum> <text>During the disaster recovery period, an affected household shall not be considered to customarily purchase food and prepare meals together with other individuals if such household did not customarily purchase food and prepare meals for home consumption with such individuals prior to August 29, 2005.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="HB7FB1781BFDD4B6300BB5B2C8F410022"> <enum>(G)</enum> <text>For purposes of this paragraph—</text>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H660D919AF57B419FB54380250089799C"> <enum>(i)</enum> <text>the term <term>disaster recovery period</term> means the period beginning on August 29, 2005, and ending on October 1, 2006, or on such earlier date as the Secretary determines that the States can fully meet the needs of affected households under the other provisions of this Act;</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H7C62CC4F653247AAACF99EFE11B0029D"> <enum>(ii)</enum> <text>the term <term>immediate disaster recovery period</term> means the period beginning on August 29, 2005, and ending on December 1, 2005; and</text> </clause>
<clause indent="subparagraph" id="H2212395D4CD64619B0CDFA23D0F8E788"> <enum>(iii)</enum> <text>the term <term>affected household</term> includes a household—</text>
<subclause indent="clause" id="H1207B5CA735B434BA645FCFDDBF1B763"> <enum>(I)</enum> <text>that resides in an area of a State that the Secretary determines was affected by Hurricane Katrina or a related condition;</text> </subclause>
<subclause indent="clause" id="HCE0C0B61B9EE41D08CA2F64B00A33C01"> <enum>(II)</enum> <text>in which a member worked in an area of a State that the Secretary determines was affected by Hurricane Katrina, or a related condition, immediately prior to August 29, 2005, and lost that employment;</text> </subclause>
<subclause indent="clause" id="H9EEE7BE87859423CBF49C59CED4A152"> <enum>(III)</enum> <text>containing one or more individuals that were displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina or a related condition; or</text> </subclause>
<subclause indent="clause" id="HD5796934DBBB493591666C441978199C"> <enum>(IV)</enum> <text>that the Secretary determines should receive relief under this paragraph as a result of Hurricane Katrina or a related condition.</text> </subclause> </clause> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="paragraph" id="HB88AFB3B665C450C999177491EFA324C"> <enum>(H)</enum> <text>Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1605">8 U.S.C. 1605 et seq.</external-xref>) shall not apply with respect to an affected household.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph> <after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block> </quoted-block> </subsection>
<subsection id="H643EBA7D835E41AB8212EA85A9D479D"> <enum>(b)</enum> <header>Resources</header> <text>Section 5(g)(5) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FSA77">Food Stamp Act of 1977</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(g)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the third sentence <quote>A resource also shall be so identified if it is currently inaccessible to the household because of a disaster or if it has been inaccessible because of a disaster during the preceding three months.</quote>.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H53A292AF0ECD48C4B7452C7F6760C9D1"> <enum>(c)</enum> <header>Program information activities</header> <text>From funds otherwise appropriated for the food stamp program, the Secretary may expend not more than $5,000,000 for contracts with not-for-profit organizations to provide affected households (as defined in section 5(h)(4)(G)(iii) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FSA77">Food Stamp Act of 1977</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(h)(4)(G)(iii)</external-xref>) with information about and assistance completing the application process for any food assistance programs to which the Secretary provides funds or commodities. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to provide public notice of the availability of these funds or to accept competitive bids for contracts under this subsection.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H977F41D2AF224830BB97FBE7D3241984"> <enum>(d)</enum> <header>Effect of more generous disaster plans</header> <text>Paragraph (4) of section 5(h) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FSA77">Food Stamp Act of 1977</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a), shall not supersede any provision of a plan approved under section 5(h)(1) of such Act that—</text>
<paragraph id="H7BE3F3E761B841DBB91E5B4D984E4E37"> <enum>(1)</enum> <text>provides more complete or expeditious relief to affected households (as defined in section 5(h) of such Act); or</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE075DC8DA30D47CFB071B3AC5BB9EF4C"> <enum>(2)</enum> <text>provides assistance to more individuals.</text> </paragraph> </subsection> </section>
<section id="H611552537EA0415CAC20D6AEF91317B3" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"> <enum>102.</enum> <header>Emergency food assistance program</header>
<subsection id="H7DF413C24459414F955D34C7A0AF478F"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Definition of eligible recipient</header> <text>In this section, the term <term>eligible recipient</term> means an individual or household that, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security—</text>
<paragraph id="HDE882B7268B24724BFB03B6733B1E0CF"> <enum>(1)</enum> <text>is a victim of Hurricane Katrina or a related condition;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE8D1FF6A7E9A491F9CE3D1ECB7600A7"> <enum>(2)</enum> <text>has been displaced by Hurricane Katrina or a related condition; or</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9C4E686087DC42C4A059BD24DC59E65D"> <enum>(3)</enum> <text>is temporarily housing 1 or more individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina or a related condition.</text> </paragraph> </subsection>
<subsection id="H5D547BCB59454051A0ABD3D3BCD57B34"> <enum>(b)</enum> <header>Assistance</header>
<paragraph id="H38AB0939B8334D6CAB016D005428AFFE"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>In general</header> <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in addition to funds otherwise made available for fiscal year 2005 or 2006 to carry out the emergency food assistance program established under the <act-name parsable-cite="EFAA83">Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7501">7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.</external-xref>), out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture $200,000,000 to remain available until expended to provide a variety of food to eligible recipient agencies for providing food assistance to eligible recipients, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9982738436004D15ACE765ED3C20CED1"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>special supplemental foods for pregnant women and infants or for other individuals with special needs;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA5893D9B5A974E0B92C21C006C03F1D2"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>infant formula;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4C248993A17E4EF3A364976E799F27AF"> <enum>(C)</enum> <text>bottled water; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFFD40948AB05432DADB0BFDF00D46800"> <enum>(D)</enum> <text>fruit juices.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2C7F27DF03724B73820012CDE2CDFDA"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>Use of funds</header> <text>Funds made available under paragraph (1) may be used to provide commodities in accordance with—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA087CDCAC3AC4CC3A435F7FCB2B4FF19"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>section 27 of the <act-name parsable-cite="FSA77">Food Stamp Act of 1977</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2036">7 U.S.C. 2036</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1B047A77107B42D0B71917C03EB21DE"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>section 203A of the <act-name parsable-cite="EFAA83">Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7504">7 U.S.C. 7504</external-xref>); and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0A557EDA9D204DFB958D7828B518F0A5"> <enum>(C)</enum> <text>section 204 of the <act-name parsable-cite="EFAA83">Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7508">7 U.S.C. 7508</external-xref>).</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H89A480DCF998419A84E844C0AEDF054B"> <enum>(3)</enum> <header>Receipt and acceptance</header> <text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this section the funds transferred under paragraph (1), without further appropriation.</text> </paragraph> </subsection> </section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Emergency Farm Assistance</header>
<section id="HF81914C2C22D4E798E26977BB02CD9D"><enum>201.</enum><header>Crop disaster assistance</header>
<subsection id="HEA826A41034445678446F5D953BC36CD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make emergency financial assistance authorized under this section available to producers on a farm that have incurred qualifying losses described in subsection (c).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H49539B0AFD734651BA8476FA54C28A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administration</header>
<paragraph id="H3627458056934F6DBE8F9ECBB385CDC3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Agriculture shall make assistance available under this section in the same manner as provided under section 815 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/106/387">Public Law 106–387</external-xref>; 114 Stat. 1549A–55), including using the same loss thresholds for quantity and economic losses as were used in administering that section.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFCD2FF86D15B4F02AF118578BAC57B00"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Loss thresholds for quality losses</header><text>In the case of a payment for quality loss for a crop under subsection (c)(2), the loss thresholds for quality loss for the crop shall be determined under subsection (d).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2F928CC0A852460CB75D26702E788CE5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Qualifying losses</header>
<paragraph id="H6AB01DEA67DD400FBE1CA4D855E0C2D2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>2005 crops</header><text>Assistance under this section may be made available for losses due to damaging weather or any related condition (including losses due to crop diseases and insects and delayed harvest) associated with crops that are (as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture) any combination of (as determined by the producers on a farm)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2B7F8D699F5F482690D7F69E7C07D692"><enum>(A)</enum><text>quantity losses for the 2005 crop;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCED3F435A7DB4EC1A5BA6C843BB284E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>quality losses for the 2005 crop; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6399A405EFC447F0AA80CC5E41A52916"><enum>(C)</enum><text>severe economic losses for the 2005 crop.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H77EE949AB502428FA7DF6303C1A5B935"><enum>(2)</enum><header>2006 crops</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of counties and parishes declared to be disaster areas by the President due to a hurricane occurring in 2005, assistance under this section also may be made available for losses due to the hurricane or any related condition (including losses due to crop diseases and insects and delayed harvest) associated with crops that are (as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture) any combination of (as determined by the producers on a farm)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD804A5368D2144EAB000CF8C034EF59B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>quantity losses for the 2006 crop;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3EF11DD30B2E4394AF96BEE73C78F60"><enum>(B)</enum><text>quality losses for the 2006 crop; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0E2F4B9DF47B4F7A91908DBD9100F5A7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>severe economic losses for the 2006 crop.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> </subsection>
<subsection id="H56CBDA5D4FA3472BB64C6D552C46BEA3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Quality losses</header>
<paragraph id="HA394912FC183481696119B48033E688C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of a payment made to producers on a farm for a quality loss for a crop under paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(B) of subsection (c) shall be equal to the amount obtained by multiplying—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0D646AA17E2149DF94F2701B706D1365"><enum>(A)</enum><text>65 percent of the payment quantity determined under paragraph (2); by</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H11FEEB8908CA4E26831212708758434E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>65 percent of the payment rate determined under paragraph (3).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0372DB35094C481EA59EE79B00935994"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Payment quantity</header><text>For the purpose of paragraph (1)(A), the payment quantity for quality losses for a crop of a commodity on a farm shall equal the lesser of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC531CD3AD951441C89DAE52BE6FCADD9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the actual production of the crop of the commodity on the farm; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA2E3CE7E2F7440D49498C2A9A7A2A43E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the quantity of expected production of the crop of the commodity on the farm, using the formula used by the Secretary of Agriculture to determine quantity losses for the crop of the commodity under paragraph (1)(A) and (2)(A) of subsection (c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2F0E542243DC45628B00F0A96BC8318F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Payment rate</header><text>For the purpose of paragraph (1)(B) and in accordance with paragraphs (5) and (6), the payment rate for quality losses for a crop of a commodity on a farm shall be equal to the difference between—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA41AAB0E0D744FE08521A8FC80E2395B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the per unit market value that the units of the crop affected by the quality loss would have had if the crop had not suffered a quality loss; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC3C7C445727040AAA7C95C9FF7AEDE2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the per unit market value of the units of the crop affected by the quality loss.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4AF674C7EE23473594E331D1698546CB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For producers on a farm to be eligible to obtain a payment for a quality loss for a crop under paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(B) of subsection (c), the amount obtained by multiplying the per unit loss determined under paragraph (1) by the number of units affected by the quality loss shall be at least 20 percent of the value that all affected production of the crop would have had if the crop had not suffered a quality loss.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEC610C2E33034194854C5D9F7311BDFF"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Marketing contracts</header><text>In the case of any production of a commodity that is sold pursuant to one or more marketing contracts (regardless of whether the contract is entered into by the producers on the farm before or after harvest) and for which appropriate documentation exists, the quantity designated in the contracts shall be eligible for quality loss assistance based on the one or more prices specified in the contracts.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA8DE26D4EBB242E6A81B37AAE87B1820"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Other production</header><text>For any additional production of a commodity for which a marketing contract does not exist or for which production continues to be owned and produced by the producers on a farm, quality losses shall be based on the average local market discounts for reduced quality, as determined by the appropriate State committee of the Farm Service Agency.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0691E23FC13941EC008B9513F793BDE8"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Quality adjustments and discounts</header><text>The appropriate State committee of the Farm Service Agency shall identify the appropriate quality adjustment and discount factors to be considered in carrying out this subsection, including the average local discount or loans made by the Farm Service Agency or crop insurance coverage under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1501">7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4F9D8821DD95495D8441A22850AC2DD4"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Eligible production</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out this subsection in a fair and equitable manner for all eligible production, including the production of fruits and vegetables, other specialty crops, and field crops.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7A2A57BAF3F445A986771163716B9792"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Eligibility for assistance</header>
<paragraph id="HC9D7D2370D8944E4AD19B85678389EA2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the producers on a farm shall not be eligible for assistance under this section with respect to losses to an insurable commodity or noninsurable commodity if the producers on the farm—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBA9AEBA67BCF427DA06DA4F890ECBCE6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of an insurable commodity, did not obtain a policy or plan of insurance for the insurable commodity under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1501">7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.</external-xref>) for the crop incurring the losses;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9CB8CEA380D1424AA93D7CDB8F26FDA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a noninsurable commodity, did not file the required paperwork, and pay the administrative fee by the applicable State filing deadline, for the noninsurable commodity under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7333">7 U.S.C. 7333</external-xref>) for the crop incurring the losses;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4B6CABF8AD94423CB5528204EF582F06"><enum>(C)</enum><text>had average adjusted gross income (as defined by section 1001D(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(a)), of greater than $2,500,000 in 2004; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF0AE37DF73E84CDA8CAF2E5218B5773F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>were not in compliance with highly erodible land conservation and wetland conservation provisions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE71BE93A966445529545FDBB9607FDB7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contract waiver</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture may waive paragraph (1) with respect to the producers on a farm if the producers enter into a contract with the Secretary under which the producers agree—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA9B37949E54E411596DF8EB7CAD3831E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of an insurable commodity, to obtain a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1501">7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.</external-xref>) providing additional coverage for the insurable commodity for each of the next two crops, at a coverage level this provides—</text>
<clause id="HF5D336866B354C4AB0F35D2783B6BD00"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not less than 65 percent of the actual production history for the crop produced on the farm; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H25D9C94A60464CF2962C4066544F8379"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>100 percent of the expected market price or a comparable coverage (as determined by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation); and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCC63C5B0A8974743ADA3C59DAE934E5B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a noninsurable commodity, to file the required paperwork and pay the administrative fee by the applicable State filing deadline, for the noninsurable commodity for each of the next two crops under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7333">7 U.S.C. 7333</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H407415AAB49042789349F0E87942FAD"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effect of violation</header><text>In the event of the violation of a contract under paragraph (2) by a producer, the producer shall reimburse the Secretary of Agriculture for the full amount of the assistance provided to the producer under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HFA163FB0C2F3435E8CCE587200358503"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Payment limitations</header>
<paragraph id="HE5E21E7E1E29497FB230C2039B73AA9F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limit on amount of assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assistance provided under this section to a producer for losses to a crop, together with the amounts specified in paragraph (2) applicable to the same crop, may not exceed 100 percent of what the value of the crop would have been in the absence of the losses, as estimated by the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H54E330A0D76B4D7A8882ACD9003948AE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other payments</header><text>In applying the limitation in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall include the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H8AFEDEF81A524655BDA352BF98A858FD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Any crop insurance payment made under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1501">7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.</external-xref>) or payment under section 196 of the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7333">7 U.S.C. 7333</external-xref>) that the producer receives for losses to the same crop.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF97D60B0264644239D2DEC923FD08FC0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The value of the crop that was not lost (if any), as estimated by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HB071CAEF219F454BA360298B9146324B"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H8F12441735FE47ABB96CE647A1023521"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Additional coverage</header><text>The term <term>additional coverage</term> has the meaning given the term in section 502(b)(1) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1502">7 U.S.C. 1502(b)(1)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6F5D25F2B2B44C4CB151D8A775AF5055"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Insurable commodity</header><text>The term <term>insurable commodity</term> means an agricultural commodity (excluding livestock) for which the producers on a farm are eligible to obtain a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1501">7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCC24A4CD9229451EA26B6F299F9578F8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Noninsurable commodity</header><text>The term <term>noninsurable commodity</term> means a crop for which the producers on a farm are eligible to obtain assistance under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7333">7 U.S.C. 7333</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection> </section>
<section id="H696F856474AF4A1681ED3107D00156B7"><enum>202.</enum><header>Livestock assistance</header>
<subsection id="HB445C236BFEF41DCBDA42392A3AC2CE3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Livestock compensation program</header>
<paragraph id="HA3DD28860CDE4E2D9B9048A541D1B5C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out a Livestock Compensation Program to make payments for 2005 livestock-related losses in counties and parishes that have received an emergency designation by the President or the Secretary during calendar year 2005. An amount determined by the Secretary shall be made available for the American Indian Livestock Feed Program under section 806 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/106/387">Public Law 106–387</external-xref>; 114 Stat. 1549A–51).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCC3F6FADB55A49929185E2F59197FC85"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out the Livestock Compensation Program under this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use the criteria established under the program referred to in section 203(a) of the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 (title II of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/7">Public Law 108–7</external-xref>; 117 Stat. 539), except that the term <quote>livestock</quote> includes swine, beefalo (when maintained on the same basis as beef cattle), elk, reindeer, bison, equine animals used for food or used directly in the production of food, or other livestock as determined by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H566CA3FBA54B4270A27F36C7FA64FFC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Livestock indemnity program</header>
<paragraph id="H97EDDFFF61694208BEB822ECA3288BCA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program required</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out a Livestock Indemnity Program to make payments to producers on farms that have incurred livestock losses during calendar year 2005, as determined by the Secretary, including losses due to hurricanes, floods, and anthrax.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF2FBC1BBD86E4658ACD5B1FC132554AD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>To carry out the Livestock Indemnity Program under this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use the criteria established under the program referred to under the heading <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">livestock indemnity program</header-in-text></quote> in chapter 1 of title I of the 1999 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/106/31">Public Law 106–31</external-xref>; 113 Stat. 59).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H811047F6F86E488C84657C62B8E5EF00"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Program for contract livestock producers</header>
<paragraph id="H80ED79ED89DA4A1A83E7AD61DBB172D7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program required</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make payments to persons who raise livestock owned by other persons for income losses sustained with respect to livestock during 2005 if the Secretary finds that the losses are the result of a natural disaster.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HAEC2DA975A3145A0AFC7BD04554C8438"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out the program under this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use the criteria established under the program referred to under the heading <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">livestock program</header-in-text></quote> in H.R. 3425 of the 106th Congress, as enacted into law by section 1000(a)(5) of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/106/113">Public Law 106–113</external-xref> (Appendix E; 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–290).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HAF1C7E70CB3249739924326184F250C9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Dairy production and spoilage losses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make payments to dairy producers in counties and parishes declared to be disaster areas by the President in 2005 due to a hurricane for dairy production losses, including losses due to sustained animal health problems as a result of the disaster, and dairy spoilage losses.</text></subsection> </section>
<section id="H0925FAC2469A4446A7C6D8CAE8042776"><enum>203.</enum><header>Domestic aquaculture assistance</header>
<subsection id="H599D0026F44244B984B8D7CA6D7DEB09"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out a program to make payments for the loss of catfish (as defined by section 10806(a)(1) of the Food Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/321d">21 U.S.C. 321d</external-xref>)) in counties and parishes declared to be disaster areas by the President in 2005 due to a hurricane.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HFD35BCEB3E3A4617873804ED125EC36F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out the program under this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use the criteria established for catfish under the program referred to in section 203(a) of the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 (title II of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/7">Public Law 108–7</external-xref>; 117 Stat. 539).</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H0A903E5F4ACD4A50911EAE009BB6C169" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"> <enum>204.</enum> <header>Sugarcane disaster assistance</header>
<subsection id="H998BF117013F4961AC3C98F8996CF400"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Compensation for losses</header> <text>The Secretary of Agriculture shall make available to first processors of sugarcane that operate in parishes in the State of Louisiana declared to be disaster areas by the President due to Hurricane Katrina and related conditions and that are eligible to obtain a loan under section 156(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7272">7 U.S.C. 7272(a)</external-xref>) assistance in the form of payments, or commodities in the inventory of the Commodity Credit Corporation derived from carrying out that section, to partially compensate producers and first processors for crop and other losses related to the disaster declaration.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="H535084AB0C7D4627974C90F13D49F938"> <enum>(b)</enum> <header>Administration</header> <text>Assistance under subsection (a) shall be—</text>
<paragraph id="HF2FC03D21A27445781C20502FCFD00D6"> <enum>(1)</enum> <text>shared by an affected first processor with affected producers that provide commodities to the processor in a manner that reflects contracts entered into between the processor and the producers; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4E4F1B797EF740F5A556233565734619"> <enum>(2)</enum> <text>made available under such terms and conditions as the Secretary of Agriculture determines are necessary to carry out subsection (a).</text> </paragraph> </subsection>
<subsection id="HA6CD8D6EB0094158AD50A7F75F57C710"> <enum>(c)</enum> <header>Amount of assistance</header> <text>To carry out subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H4368E249D8774C97964877654854D4E"> <enum>(1)</enum> <text>use 336,697 tons of commodities in the inventory of the commodity Credit Corporation under section 156(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272 (a));</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCFFCF0365BD4434F80D4B089AC3D03D2"> <enum>(2)</enum> <text>make payments in an aggregate amount equal to the market value of the quantity of commodities specified in paragraph (1); or</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB915694938EA4D65B01577D8529FFA4"> <enum>(3)</enum> <text>take any combination of actions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) using commodities or payments with a total value equal to the market value of the quantity of commodities specified in paragraph (1).</text> </paragraph> </subsection> </section>
<section id="H5D4047AD7DCB426C99F05B47951FCBEE"><enum>205.</enum><header>Conservation programs</header>
<subsection id="H1EE2AA8C76A94DADA276DFE6EF37D00"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Removal of dead livestock</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture may use funds made available for the emergency watershed protection program established under section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2203">16 U.S.C. 2203</external-xref>) and the emergency conservation program established under title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2201">16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.</external-xref>) to cover the costs of the removal and disposal of dead livestock in counties and parishes declared to be disaster areas by the President in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina, regardless of whether the costs are incurred by the owner of the livestock or other persons.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H8D58E8E3F68F44F7B7E17E6033BF992"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Swampbuster waiver</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle C of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3821">16 U.S.C. 3821 et seq.</external-xref>) shall not apply to the provision of assistance under the emergency watershed protection program or the emergency conservation program in counties and parishes declared to be disaster areas by the President in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HF0C765F3834445E200F193739005B1A5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Forestry assistance program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide assistance to private forest landowners owning not more than 5,000 acres of forest crop in counties and parishes declared to be disaster areas by the President in 2005 due to a hurricane for the purposes of debris removal, replanting of timber, and other such purposes.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H59E3DCE05AA2459AB74BFF43BB6C88D8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Release from tree replanting requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of land enrolled in the conservation reserve under section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3831">16 U.S.C. 3831</external-xref>) and devoted to trees under the conservation reserve contract, if the trees were destroyed or damaged due to a hurricane occurring in 2005, the failure of the owner or operator of the farm subject to the contract to replant the land to tree cover—</text>
<paragraph id="H6675EBF1A43A41BFB6C7FF5D6F3B3A2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall not be considered to be a violation of the contract; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC0BE577A79964B72AA089EE0DED03BA4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall not affect the eligibility of the owner or operator for rental payments under the contract.</text></paragraph></subsection> </section>
<section id="HD95DC1250F2240BB96E1358FEFD231D5"><enum>206.</enum><header>Hurricane relief grants for certain States</header>
<subsection id="HF808DB3B215241CDA123003C9037566D" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as are necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make a grant, in such amount as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, to—</text>
<paragraph id="H667AD184CB324D1B9CFA00AF1023E6BD" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H454CFB6A2DAC4F768D459572BB64C6A9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>other States that are is housing evacuees or suffering damage from Hurricane Katrina or a related condition.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H8B4020FB37DC4987B622888EED908F3F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>A State may use funds from a grant awarded under this section—</text>
<paragraph id="H0D362B16BBC549D4A04FD426D4DE00FA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to supplement State food bank programs or other nutrition assistance programs;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H455E67DD9B774BBDBDC8FBBF32F7A691"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to promote the purchase, sale, or consumption of agricultural products;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD8A1DD53C6FA4BC5B14F285193E5348B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to provide economic assistance to agricultural producers, giving a priority to the support of specialty crops; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6CC43676AE024F478769ADA6322EB04F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>for such other purposes as the Secretary of Agriculture may authorize.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAB0413C629E343E89882D21888B0DE12"><enum>207.</enum><header>Extension of marketing loans</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA34668463550424E00CCE07B3618C8A0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding section 1203(b) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7933">7 U.S.C. 7933(b)</external-xref>), the Secretary of Agriculture shall extend the date of settlement of any marketing assistance loan made available under subtitle B of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7931">7 U.S.C. 7931 et seq.</external-xref>) for a period of not less than 90 days after the date on which the loan reaches maturity.</text></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4741290C2DF74BC0B78900F9B03FEB10"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Storage payments</header><text>During the period of an extension under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall make storage payments for any commodity affected by the marketing assistance loan for which the extension was granted.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H12F0D15807094561B6B5DDE3C3128498" section-type="subsequent-section" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>208.</enum><header>Temporary suspension of accrual of interest on farm loan for borrower in county for which a disaster declaration is in effect as a result of a hurricane in 2005</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">During the period that begins on the date of the enactment of this Act and ends with January 1, 2007, interest shall not accrue on any loan made under subtitle A or B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act with respect to a farm or ranch located in a county or parish that is in an area for which a major disaster has been declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Releief and Emergency Assistance Act as a result of a hurricane that occurs in calendar year 2005.</text></section>
<section id="HAA69DE15B77F452BB49C39C3AD8EA63B"><enum>209.</enum><header>Extension of application period for emergency loans in counties for which a disaster declaration is in effect as a result of a hurricane in 2005</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture shall accept applications for assistance under subtitle C of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act from persons with farming, ranching, or aquaculture operation affected by a major disaster or emergency designated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Releief and Emergency Assistance Act as a result of a hurricane that occurs in calendar year 2005, at any time during the 12-month period beginning on the date the President makes the major disaster or emergency designation with respect to the natural disaster for the county in which the operation is located.</text></section>
<section id="H09013552704F40439E20B6E800FA32AF"><enum>210.</enum><header>Additional debt forgiveness allowed as a result of losses sustained as a result of a hurricane in 2005 in a county for which a disaster declaration is in effect as a result of a such a hurricane</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 343(a)(12)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1991">7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(12)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H22E2031189694AD6938BF22680BFD9B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end of clause (i);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1257580E1F55407989913948179F5900"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9F351841973E406796B3EF8E6C75A686"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF532668EEF0C4DA39EE331D400A713BA" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<clause id="HEA7388CE75504792ABBDD5D7FCE1FE6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any write-down provided to a borrower whose losses are the result of the effects of a hurricane and whose operation was located in a county or parish for which there was in effect a presidential disaster declaration in 2004 or any subsequent calendar year.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section>
<section id="H223DBCD72729447DA2E904560095A241"><enum>211.</enum><header>Temporary extension of administrative prohibition on using administrative offset in certain cases</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture shall suspend until January 1, 2007, any activity under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 or any amendment made by such Act in regard to payments made to any producer by the Farm Service Agency if the producer or an operation of the producer is located in a county or parish that is in an area for which a major disaster has been declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as a result of a hurricane occurring in calendar year 2005. </text></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Miscellaneous Provisions</header>
<section id="H40AE4EF4C1FB4798BECB5F459C7287B4"><enum>301.</enum><header>Administrative funds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture may transfer to appropriation accounts supporting the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service such amounts from the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation as the Secretary determines are necessary to cover administrative costs incurred by such agencies to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.</text></section>
<section id="H24A60A27ED2E46EDB739A75B76D5AD98"><enum>302.</enum><header>Sense of Congress regarding need for permanent agricultural disaster relief authority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that, in light of the yearly necessity for Congress to enact emergency legislation in response to natural disasters, permanent agricultural disaster relief authority should be enacted to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance by the Federal Government to agricultural producers and persons dependent on food assistance programs to alleviate the suffering and damage that result from such disasters.</text></section>
<section id="H1F5C9D9BC1FE4FEDA779D61812001118"><enum>303.</enum><header>Sense of Congress regarding need for additional assistance in response to Hurricane Katrina</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that this Act represents only an initial response to the agricultural losses in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina and there exists a certain need for additional legislation as the magnitude of the agricultural losses becomes more fully understood and documented.</text></section>
<section id="HC21B680AE63A401B82E928CF54867200"><enum>304.</enum><header>Regulations</header>
<subsection id="H9FB93034D6454ED28432360391B033B0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture may promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement this Act and the amendments made by this Act.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H744A1CD28F404EE3895D007E99ACB2BD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Procedure</header><text>The promulgation of the regulations and administration of this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall be made without regard to—</text>
<paragraph id="H42DAE0E9A6F1466DA58DD9249FA16C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the notice and comment provisions of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/553">section 553</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HABF202E405514F8BB6D2E4004CB0477"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture effective July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 13804), relating to notices of proposed rulemaking and public participation in rulemaking; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4D07A36D96F4436683D5F3A49C8F71D0"><enum>(3)</enum><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Paperwork Reduction Act</quote>).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD58BCF5E1FA0465DB38D01136FCF997F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Congressional review of agency rulemaking</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use the authority provided under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/808">section 808</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HBC0DAC9212074312988774B0C907904B"><enum>305.</enum><header>Emergency designation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The amounts provided under this Act are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 95 (109th Congress).</text> </section>