1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Specialty Crops Competition Act of
2006
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I—MARKETING
Sec. 101. Implementation of food safety programs under
marketing orders.
Sec. 102. Increase in maximum amount of assistance authorized
under tree assistance program.
Sec. 103. Fruit and vegetable market news
allocation.
TITLE II—SPECIALTY CROP GRANTS AND LOANS
Sec. 201. Grants to States to enhance competitiveness of
specialty crops.
Sec. 202. Operating loans.
Sec. 203. Increased purchases of fruits, vegetables, and
specialty crops.
TITLE III—INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Sec. 301. Foreign market access study and strategy
plan.
Sec. 302. Technical assistance for specialty crops.
Sec. 303. Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service.
Sec. 304. Protection of intellectual property rights in plants
and plant-derived material.
Sec. 305. Plant patents.
TITLE IV—SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH AND GRANTS
Sec. 401. Transfer of administration and funding of Office of
Pest Management Policy.
Sec. 402. National specialty crops development initiative grant
program.
Sec. 403. Mechanized harvesting for production and processing
methods.
TITLE V—INVASIVE PEST RESEARCH AND DISEASE RESPONSE
Sec. 501. Foreign invasive pests and diseases.
Sec. 502. Emergency response Fund.
Sec. 503. Independent scientific advice for Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
Sec. 504. Food safety initiatives.
Sec. 505. Clean plant network.
TITLE VI—CONSERVATION
Sec. 601. Elimination of limitation on adjusted gross income
from eligibility requirements for environmental quality incentives
program.
Sec. 602. Sustainability practices.
2.
(a)Congress
finds that—
(1)a secure domestic
food supply is a national security imperative for the United States;
(2)a competitive
specialty crop industry in the United States is necessary for the production of
an abundant, affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and
other specialty crops (including nursery crops, floriculture, and low-growing
dense perennial turfgrass sod), which are vital to the health and well-being of
all Americans;
(3)increased
consumption of specialty crops will provide tremendous health and economic
benefits to both consumers and specialty crop growers;
(4)specialty crop
growers believe that there are numerous areas of Federal agriculture policy
that could be improved to promote increased consumption of specialty crops and
increase the competitiveness of producers in the efficient production of
affordable specialty crops in the United States;
(5)as the
globalization of markets continues, it is becoming increasingly difficult for
United States producers to compete against heavily subsidized foreign producers
in both the domestic and foreign markets; and
(6)United States
specialty crop producers continue to face serious tariff and non-tariff trade
barriers in many export markets.
(b)It
is the purpose of this Act to make necessary changes in and additions to
Federal agricultural policy to accomplish the goals of increasing specialty
crop consumption and improving the competitiveness of United States specialty
crop producers.
3.In this Act:
(1)The
term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2)
(A)The term specialty crop means each
agricultural crop produced in the United States.
(B)The
term specialty crop does not include wheat, feed grains, oilseeds,
cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and tobacco.
(3)The
term State means—
(A)each of the
several States of the United States;
(B)the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico;
(C)Guam;
(D)American Samoa;
and
(E)the United States
Virgin Islands.
(4)State
department of agricultureThe term State department of
agriculture means the agency, commission, or department of a State
government responsible for protecting and promoting agriculture in the
State.
<enum>I</enum><header>MARKETING</header>
<section id="ID11084E71A1624CD9A18B14316A5C0026"><enum>101.</enum><header>Implementation
of food safety programs under marketing orders</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8c(7) of the Agricultural Adjustment
Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(7)), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDA120371F0CAB4B36A2D1A0C5FA00AF3F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraph (D) and (E), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9321516855D5482B8617F655E05C4472"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph (C):</text>
<quoted-block id="IDA36ACADABB10485D8EF5B75F4E396BC5" style="OLC">
<subclause id="IDB1E886E0334A4201BFD86C7B3EB00BFB" indent="up4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>In the case of an order relating to a
specialty crop (as defined in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness
Act of 2004), authorizing the implementation of food safety programs, such as
good agricultural and manufacturing practices, ISO 9000 standards, and Hazard
Analysis of Critical Control Points programs, designed to enhance the safety of
the specialty crop and products derived from specialty
crops.</text>
</subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID6A1E44BD55854443B42C374262C6AD5F"><enum>102.</enum><header>Increase in
maximum amount of assistance authorized under tree assistance
program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10204(a) of
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8204(a)) is
amended by striking <quote>$75,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$150,000
annually</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID37A64B4EF0FD4F0DB11561CA1E08DD29"><enum>103.</enum><header>Fruit and
vegetable market news allocation</header>
<subsection id="id647DBEE4F6464599A88CB120A717417A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, acting
through the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall use
$9,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation during fiscal year 2007
to carry out market news activities to provide timely price information of
United States fruits and vegetables in the United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idDC0F075C253A4D259372F1D8D0FC90E7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Future
funding</header><text>Subsequent to fiscal year 2007, funding for the
activities described in subsection (a) shall be annually indexed for
inflation.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>SPECIALTY CROP
GRANTS AND LOANS</header>
<section id="IDF4B39AD1C7464717A5DEF185E03305D8"><enum>201.</enum><header>Grants to
States to enhance competitiveness of specialty crops</header>
<subsection id="ID5B6A6F40B6E64D82BA3DDA47A123C2B8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Availability
and Purpose of Grants</header>
<paragraph id="IDCD0A185853A343DA87E14EC734723AA2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009, the Secretary
shall make a grant under this section to each State that submits an application
for a grant for that fiscal year in accordance with the terms and conditions
established under paragraph (4).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF5F12731E2554518BC83178BA00FEBFE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of grant
funds</header><text>The grant funds shall be used by the State department of
agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of United States specialty
crops.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2A0F9B881A164B52A0D973504D703CDF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Maintenance of
effort</header><text>The State shall provide assurances to the Secretary that
funds provided to the State under this section will be used only to supplement,
not to supplant, the amount of Federal, State, and local funds otherwise
expended in support of specialty crops and specialty crop producers in the
State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID44D91DFB11D44AAC89F5FE9C39970883"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Terms and
conditions</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act for fiscal year 2006 and before commencement of each of fiscal years
2007 through 2009, the Secretary shall establish terms and conditions for the
submission of grant applications for that fiscal year.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDBB781C964B314B6AB2D20BC3EFDCE425"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amount</header>
<paragraph id="ID3C468258250E4D63B886AD060D532B94"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the amount of the
grant for a fiscal year to a State under this section shall bear the same ratio
to the total amount made available under subsection (e) for that fiscal year
as—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID3374E34BBACE476E98ED421B45CB59D2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the value of
specialty crop production in the State during the preceding calendar year;
bears to</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID982F5B07A7D54654A02DC8600C3F483B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the value of
specialty crop production during that calendar year in all those States
submitting applications for a grant for that fiscal year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID9541944CA8B144849AA5B2E211F506E2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Minimum grant
amount</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (3), at a minimum, each
eligible State shall receive $3,000,000 per fiscal year as a grant under this
section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB7546958942944E5BFFCB69DAA776076"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>No
State shall receive more than $15,000,000 of the combined amount from paragraph
(1) and paragraph (2) for any fiscal year in which this Act applies.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF6AF01FCD3C64C5BA1EAFFEE293CDC97"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Availability of
funds</header>
<subparagraph id="ID00438248a3fc4ba48355064154986b96"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any funds remaining after allocations are made under
paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be available on a competitive basis to any State
department of agriculture that submits an application to the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id423EAB04889D415DA748063A1C432387"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>The
Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="idB6D68B3A37154DBFA601FE3018034C6D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish
criteria for review of applications submitted under subparagraph (A);
and</text>
</clause><clause id="id92C25B2674E74B989FA4CF44ED35A27F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>award funds to
applicants that best fulfill the criteria.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDBEB5E887A630430D81EFC1CD9D6C549A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Grant
Expenditure Priorities</header>
<paragraph id="ID0849F6E7F06343749663B6A22F088B9D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>It is the intent of Congress that specialty crop
producers, organizations, and commissions should primarily benefit from the
disposition of grant funds under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0C84B15AD2884F3D9C7774686EB58807"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>To
be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State department of
agriculture shall conduct at least 1 public hearing, or provide some other
method for public comment, to obtain the advice and opinion of specialty crop
producers, organizations, and commissions in the State regarding the use of
grant funds.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD279CFEC642446F59245D2FD4866A5FC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>The
Secretary shall ensure that a State department of agriculture considers the
advice and opinions received under paragraph (2) when making decisions about
the use of grant funds.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID280861E0F7B542B3B016E83ECC1EC288"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of
Commodity Credit Corporation</header><text>The Secretary shall use $200,000,000
of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation during each of fiscal years 2007
through 2009 to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDA4CFE39A29134FF2A17C2EEC4D5D2B76"><enum>202.</enum><header>Operating
loans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 313(a)(1) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="CFRDA">Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act</act-name> (7 U.S.C. 1943(a)(1)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID91936AE5679B470E876B647E576C235F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(or, if the borrower is a producer of a specialty crop (as defined in
section 3 of the <short-title>Specialty Crops Competition
Act of 2006</short-title>), $500,000)</quote> after <quote>$200,000</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID60EF0D409A144C79B4EA6EBA397EBC08"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(or, if the borrower is a producer of a specialty crop (as so defined),
$1,500,000)</quote> after <quote>$700,000</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID41C1FCC0970248ECBF48D07FCB234888"><enum>203.</enum><header>Increased
purchases of fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10603(a) of the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c–4(a)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID1E25713A22D143E4BCFD10B60446C95C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Of the funds</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDCBBE1C478F014F43BE69EFA0D52B0EA1" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID758AFF3A199F4BE9B0C766BDFCCEF29E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Of the
funds</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8FB96AA113FD4C7CB38A99E66B488880"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)
(as designated by paragraph (1)), by striking <quote>shall use not</quote> and
inserting <quote>shall use, in addition to an amount equal to the amount used
for fiscal year 2001, not</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4C1473B61BF8416D9B3AB8EF39601895"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDEB7B898D5E244D48B91549DBA76353A4" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID221B8B54D3144492BCFC24B9EE316019"><enum>(2)</enum><header>No effect on
other purchases</header><text>The purchase of additional fruits, vegetables,
and other specialty food crops under paragraph (1) shall not decrease,
displace, or otherwise affect any purchase by the Secretary or any agency or
entity of fruits, vegetables, or other
commodities.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>INTERNATIONAL
TRADE</header>
<section id="ID85AF20C6BCFC4C1BB3E48BA5F6C5A44D"><enum>301.</enum><header>Foreign market
access study and strategy plan</header>
<subsection id="IDBC245E73841A4E128853F4A98DAF80F9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
Uruguay Round Agreements</header><text>In this section, the term <term>Uruguay
Round Agreements</term> includes any agreement described in section 101(d) of
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID60FCD916F06A45EE92FCEC72653E49A7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The
Comptroller General of the United States shall study—</text>
<paragraph id="ID9372C5FF0C104CD39CBA1D58BC1ADAF3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the extent to
which United States specialty crops have or have not benefitted from any
reductions of foreign trade barriers, as provided for in the Uruguay Round
Agreements; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1AEADBA09E5F4639BEBE6CA9A286D40B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the reasons why
United States specialty crops have or have not benefitted from such
trade-barrier reductions.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID81A1F90DC5314C948CD2148112B6F888"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Strategy
Plan</header><text>The Secretary shall prepare a foreign market access strategy
plan based on the study in subsection (b), to increase exports of specialty
crops, including an assessment of the foreign trade barriers that are
incompatible with the Uruguay Round Agreements and a strategy for removing
those barriers.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDE86B84FF6F094A4B86B80B8E58955B49"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act—</text>
<paragraph id="ID52996522659C4B5888F972C9C97CF986"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Comptroller
General shall submit to Congress a report that contains the results of the
study; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID243C4672BB144949BD94BAF267E0B49D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary
shall submit to Congress the strategy plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID322868DB9A5145D688C0D1848808DC86"><enum>302.</enum><header>Technical
assistance for specialty crops</header>
<subsection id="idBC304E2AD07F42DF874F9528FC1F34FC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3205 of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 5680) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idE5A28087A76D41CBA6D9C7F92615AD07"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(d)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID4ACD8522A38B43A9B2B5A78CDB5FE3A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>(d) <header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Funding</header-in-text>.—For</quote> and all that follows through
<quote>$2,000,000</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4438C729CA2F446FA5649BF6E8426D27" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idFC12664E8E184F4C88A2218BE9DB638C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<paragraph id="idD597F4C88D514D28942AC9A87840D006"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009, the Secretary
shall make available $10,000,000</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID81C6DC15FFE94D9384D90D201281CD29"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id45C3A9F4609340E6A639D9369AB28643" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id59BFCC67787E47B3B172147764287023"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Carryover of
unobligated funds</header><text>In a case in which the total amount of funds or
commodities made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year is not
obligated in that fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available in the
subsequent fiscal year an amount equal to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id379E4889AE08438D86D401D0E8FC9E66"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount made
available for the fiscal year under paragraph (1); plus</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22C8FB0F5B564624A4BFBBD00C13A068"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the amount not
obligated in the previous fiscal year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1FC68BD8D0B24BAA97631057FDDC0A89"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
after subsection (c) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id30E8998C13444E66850F79102181CFD9" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id873EE70E56834A8296E9216DE943DDFA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Petition</header><text>A
participant in the program may petition the Secretary for an extension of a
project that exceeds, or will exceed, applicable time
restrictions.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID02E1F1D77FE7498C930B3EB8ACC37BBE"><enum>303.</enum><header>Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service</header>
<subsection id="IDE80088BF49524AB689AC438801F72971"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Secretary shall establish in the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture, the Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Export Petition Division for the sole purpose of processing
petitions that are submitted to that Service for reducing sanitary and
phytosanitary trade barriers in export markets.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID471C507DDE3943479EC981A6D03D85F6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Staff and
Support</header><text>The Division shall be adequately staffed and supported by
resources necessary to manage the work associated with petitions described in
subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID808E6664835A4BF5A1A2EDC5BAF1E044"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Elimination of
Backlog</header><text>Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall eliminate the backlog of the petitions in
existence on the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID8D781BAE82734058B45AD3D93410AEE9"><enum>304.</enum><header>Protection of
intellectual property rights in plants and plant-derived material</header>
<subsection id="ID888859ACDB6C49D8A8EF66B9F247B2F9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary shall establish an office in the Department of Agriculture for the
sole purpose of encouraging the development and protection of intellectual
property rights in plants and material derived from plants.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID4E325DC3DE5546D19A0DB6384FA45DAF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
office shall be an advocate for the interests of United States producers of
specialty crops—</text>
<paragraph id="ID86E5E30E5D394F9DBA095C64C65DFDC6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>before the Office
of Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights of the Department of Commerce and other
Federal agencies; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2EB7BE245E7746C6ADE786025B3BC625"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in international
governmental and nongovernmental organizations dealing with intellectual
property rights.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDEFC0111EF86C424FB1C1F49F80304C68"><enum>305.</enum><header>Plant
patents</header>
<subsection id="ID2C02798F99794EE4AC2885537EE260F9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Essentially
Derived Plant</header><text>Section 100 of title 35, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDA4649D6224DC46CBA0F1641D5389E88A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDC3439C2CD3AF40CDA53DA9F98C336CE8"><enum>(f)</enum><text>The term
<term>essentially derived plant</term> means a plant that—</text>
<paragraph id="IDADFA17DD6E3047549F61ACF7D3357719"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is predominantly
derived from another plant (referred to in this paragraph as the <quote>initial
plant</quote>) or from a plant that is predominantly derived from the initial
plant, while retaining the expression of the essential characteristics that
result from the genotype of the initial plant;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID923E2B509DF04CBAB11DFE152452E162"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is clearly
distinguishable from the initial plant; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF0286F4CC46944878DE1B30B9410DFF0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>except for
differences that result from the act of derivation, conforms to the initial
plant in the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the
genotype of the initial
plant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="ID1223A0F89F9E48639D1DCF1F1E7BC508"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Novelty</header><text>Section
162 of title 35, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID7AE7BA6EFAD94858B524A3875FBC959C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the
section heading and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID274E61BB15644549837C43ADBACDCFD8" style="USC">
<section id="ID6C9BF4E338C546FA8924EB439DC2EA36"><header><enum-in-header>162.
Description, claim,
novelty</enum-in-header></header>
</section><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID620316E4220A4EB0B1D3203322B5A19D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the first
undesignated paragraph, by striking <quote>No plant</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID984654C54E7541AF8531D57B29300AB5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDFDC083383E914DC992086BDBD1D32895"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Description</header><text>No
plant</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8DEEC634692B4D149AF07FFEAA73B3CD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in the second
undesignated paragraph, by striking <quote>The claim</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID681E6A99DD184A70B9066424B49E2993" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID28218FF6AE0547518E172E559B49255C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Claim</header><text>The
claim</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF5D94453892C4F48B2978980894492AC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID52ACAE98018643678E46DABDCB2C8A5A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDB5C824EBF0D94920902BF65AA1333E0A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Novelty</header>
<paragraph id="ID58EB82982D07476187D02D703B174B29"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), no plant patent
application shall be denied, nor shall any issued plant patent be invalidated,
on the grounds that the invention was sold or otherwise disposed of.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID02C2E3A605214AA69F7F88F3A3164D51"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>Paragraph
(1) shall not apply if—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID1C9E2CD67F7B48DDBAA77EB7214F080E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>more than 1 year
prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States, the
invention was sold or otherwise disposed of to other persons in the United
States, by or with the consent of the inventor or discoverer, or the successor
in interest of the inventor or discoverer, for purposes of exploitation of the
invention;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID772B15864973467FBC62FE77066E1B7E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>more than 4 years
prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States, the
invention was sold or otherwise disposed of to other persons in a foreign
country, by or with the consent of the inventor or discoverer, or the successor
in interest of the inventor or discoverer, for purposes of exploitation of the
invention; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDA30B7B752B1C4580B995569D28E4F022"><enum>(C)</enum><text>more than 6 years
prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States, in the
case of a tree or vine, the invention was sold or otherwise disposed of to
other persons in a foreign country, by or with the consent of the inventor or
discoverer, or the successor in interest of the inventor or discoverer, for
purposes of exploitation of the
invention.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID1D53503BD9374D14ADF1846F553AEE5B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Plant Patent
Grant</header><text>Section 163 of title 35, United States Code, is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID2AEFE14DB312407E88897E3B0317F80D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>In the case</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDD41788218B7348D6A57B6AE42F2F9561" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDEDCAD002FCEA4705B074B429F853BD72"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>In the case</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8B8DE8B689D64F03A8B1A3E232A575A7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDCD9BF7A3CD4247D38E2D84F1E06DED83" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID01753343AAC744A08778B6DF8CBA7A32"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application</header><text>Subsection
(a) applies equally to—</text>
<paragraph id="IDAFC881036FCE46AD8AE09921C317F98F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any plant that is
essentially derived from a protected plant, unless the protected plant is an
essentially derived plant; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID435C573AF648451FA609B1B2EF4CB145"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any plant that is
not clearly distinguishable from a protected
plant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDA342F001183F4EBE9DDBD5A699075A19"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming
Amendment</header><text>The chapter analysis for chapter 15 of title 35, United
States Code is amended by striking the item relating to section 162 and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDF3CD68ABB1BB4171BEC8E575F015D91B" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">162. Description, claim,
novelty.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="ID674F0DAF4430439497AB94DE0049805A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Application</header><text>The
amendments made by this section apply to—</text>
<paragraph id="ID357B407575D64916A694E8DB39784BE2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>all applications
for plant patents filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act, or
pending on that date; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2C1E9B30530D4F1A9B0A98AA4797F199"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of
the amendments made by subsection (b), all plant patents in force on the date
of enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>SPECIALTY CROP
RESEARCH AND GRANTS</header>
<section id="ID782C5128F7184C3890BEDAE0323289F7"><enum>401.</enum><header>Transfer of
administration and funding of Office of Pest Management Policy</header>
<subsection id="ID6F8BBD822DD647D29A015F8722B78F5F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Transfer</header><text>The
Secretary shall transfer the Office of Pest Management Policy of the Department
of Agriculture from the Agricultural Research Service to the Office of the
Secretary for administrative and funding purposes.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID773557F7FF4A49DB862CB3B1044F1B0B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization
of Appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary for the activities of the Office of Pest Management Policy $5,000,000
for each fiscal year.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID3860FFE7CF2B4F719DC9F9B72A8F00C7"><enum>402.</enum><header>National
specialty crops development initiative grant program</header>
<subsection id="IDD260CCE9D88149B5B3C3976A2DFEBA8D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Secretary, acting through integrated competitive
grant programs administered by the Cooperative Research, Education, and
Extension Service, shall use $30,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit
Corporation for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to support the National
Specialty Crop Development Initiative, a long-term program to improve
efficiency and competitiveness of specialty crop producers in the world
marketplace.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDE3948028227044F499EFD3D31E15E661"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of
Funds</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Agricultural Research
Service and the Cooperative Research, Education, and Extension Service, working
jointly with industry, shall use an appropriate amount of funds described in
subsection (a) to organize workshops to develop a comprehensive strategic plan
to address short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term needs in production
technology, marketing, product development, and food safety issues essential to
maintain a competitive specialty crop industry.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id96C17E850D8A4798A740DB0EB69D7E8F"><enum>403.</enum><header>Mechanized
harvesting for production and processing methods</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary shall authorize the
Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service and the Administrator of the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service to conduct
research in the areas of mechanized harvesting and new production and
processing methods for specialty crops.</text>
</section><enum>V</enum><header>INVASIVE PEST
RESEARCH AND DISEASE RESPONSE</header>
<section id="ID000D571FA0C84DB78720663025B21872"><enum>501.</enum><header>Foreign
invasive pests and diseases</header>
<subsection id="ID5EB3728F12C547A9A0461B03156BB787"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Secretary may conduct specific research—</text>
<paragraph id="ID53B79ACAEB6E4DF5800BADA402153E4C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to identify and
prioritize the harmful economic and health impact of foreign invasive pests and
diseases threatening the United States; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4E683E97D6C6467DA9E3F55E8155042E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to develop
corresponding eradication and control programs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDA616C563E001424C8BEDD89EA27BF79C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization
of Appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $1,000,000.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDEE95603998AE4708B0194171811BC73F"><enum>502.</enum><header>Emergency
response Fund</header>
<subsection id="ID70C7AB2DC67D44A2B281253EA2D1C47D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There
is established in the Treasury of the United States a revolving fund, to be
known as the <quote>Invasive Pest and Disease Response Fund</quote> (referred
to in this section as the <quote>Fund</quote>), consisting of—</text>
<paragraph id="ID1FDE6AE068F24899929D72A1662566DF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>such amounts as
may be appropriated to the Fund; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID98F5F94056814CA292FE52F9E1A08BAC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any proceeds
received by the Secretary as reimbursement for services provided by the
Secretary using amounts in the Fund.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID10EA7E51EBD84E819AD02586098B630C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability</header><text>Amounts
in the Fund shall remain available until expended.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDAC0978DDBE7B416FBD06E82867E29A5E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of
Fund</header><text>On request by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury
shall transfer from the Fund to the Secretary of Agriculture such amounts as
the Secretary determines are necessary to support emergency eradication and
research activities of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in
response to economic and health threats posed by invasive pests and disease to
agricultural commodities.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDA9D48895BCA140679D3B4B11671A8DC6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization
of Appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Fund such funds as may be necessary to achieve a balance in the Fund of
$75,000,000 on October 1 of each fiscal year.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID58FA2D4F8B834F0080487FC2837728D5"><enum>503.</enum><header>Independent
scientific advice for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service</header>
<subsection id="IDF2F8BBEA0B8744078C91269B12A06167"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Finding</header><text>Congress
finds that the decision process at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service with respect to requests to import specialty crops into the United
States, or export specialty crops from the United States, would have greater
credibility if the scientific analysis underlying the requests was subject to
independent scientific peer review.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID83CAF9E5B30E45B99933AA189B776270"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Peer Review
Process</header>
<paragraph id="ID3322B71907084B4BB1D90E801FD70301"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, shall establish a process to obtain
independent advice and peer review on the scientific and technical aspects of
requests to import specialty crops into the United States or export specialty
crops from the United States, including the preparation of risk assessments and
the design of mitigation measures.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2C800AC01CD84DFE9D3DE1A3FAEE64F2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Initiation</header><text>The
independent review process shall be initiated at the request of the
Administrator.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID8BB9CB4AB1D64C9290D0686E6EB1DD55"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><text>Each
person who participates in an independent scientific review panel under this
section shall be qualified by education, training, and experience to evaluate
scientific and technical information on matters subject to review.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID5E999528578847098D0DC8EA88D2109F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Review
Required</header><text>The Administrator shall request an independent review of
the scientific and technical work product data that are used in connection with
policy guidance on, or in support of, a decision on—</text>
<paragraph id="ID110F44F59E2B45A8933E734A7C2649C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any situation in
which there has been a request to export a specialty crop grown in the United
States to another country;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID65150641E64C4769812DBB5EB47A9C02"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establishment of
the appropriate level of protection or level of negligible risk that will be
applicable to the consideration of a request for approval to import a specialty
crop from another country;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7E6585EFB64D4C0AA28EA2130F8FD67E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>consideration of
the type (qualitative or quantitative) of risk assessment to conduct with
respect to a request for approval for the importation of a specialty crop into
the United States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDE2C0BA338C14553A0D2EB2E6A2378A4"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="IDF824CBE2BEA24F1EA42A4CC7E412129E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the sufficiency, type,
and quality of data that should be submitted to the Administrator in
conjunction with a request to import a specialty crop into the United States
and to merit preparation of a risk assessment; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDFF74383EA74045B5A80054AE918BA916" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>following preparation of a risk
assessment, a review of—</text>
<clause id="IDA1D045D05270482D90E3854B2D89B5A2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the risk assessment, including the
assumptions and interpretation of the data used; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID959152499AF443EFBC648FB928DDB26E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the mitigation measures designed
to address the plant pest and disease issues relevant to the request; or</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID6DAFF16375C64845A8440FCBD6AC99F3"><enum>(5)</enum><text>situations in
which the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is considering permitting
an import from a country where—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID19BBB4C3F9134DAE9693EC60E40B7187"><enum>(A)</enum><text>multiple plant
pests are present in the growing regions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB9F32AD0582D4842AAB45751C651C4F8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>both plant pests
and plant diseases are present in the growing regions; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID17F5B15874054F778CF8ACF9EFD5AC1A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>new information
or developments have become known which cast doubt on the scientific basis of
previous decisions.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID44CF8F4134EA45CA9CB740435BAAAF02"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Review
Process</header>
<paragraph id="ID28AA42C381614D3897BD917145AB7B2D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>To facilitate review under this section, the
Administrator shall make available to the review panel all of the scientific
and technical information in the possession of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service that is relevant to the matter to be reviewed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDC6D75E2149FF451098F6920D3B25010A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Advice and
comments</header><text>Not later than a date specified by the Administrator,
the panel shall make available to the Administrator—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID47948D0E8E794730AB420BF6FD47FB8E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>advice and
comments on the adequacy of the scientific and technical basis of the proposed
action; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID06B08FF5E6DB4D50A1D9804BA341FCF1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any pertinent
information in the possession of the panel.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID38FBFE1934A14328A52D9A7227B72903"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Use of
Technical and Scientific Capabilities of Federal Agencies</header><text>In
preparing advice and comments under subsection (e)(2)(A), a review panel may
make use of the technical and scientific capabilities of any Federal agency
having relevant expertise.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID95CC211D7A024D909814ADAF8C8152B1"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Committees and
Investigative Panels</header><text>The Administrator may establish such
committees and panels as are necessary to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID8F90C75D3B1748ECBA5CD367CA90FA5F"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authorization
of Appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such
funds as are necessary to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID1E951885BDA147E7ADD7501498DDDE0B"><enum>504.</enum><header>Food safety
initiatives</header>
<subsection id="ID48E2E8EC341C4F86A31A1CF16FF2E2EF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Initiative
Authorized</header><text>The Secretary may carry out a food safety education
program to educate the public and persons in the fresh produce industry
about—</text>
<paragraph id="IDAEF99F1EAD30490E85FADED78D990162"><enum>(1)</enum><text>scientifically
proven practices for reducing microbial pathogens on fresh produce; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDCADDF48E5F54724BF4479C1FEE0BB3B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>methods of
reducing the threat of cross-contamination of fresh produce through unsanitary
handling practices.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID195612E0B079444AB39AC8FD3AF4CC0A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>The
Secretary may carry out the education program in cooperation with public and
private partners.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDB76C9C28CC414A1581B7F94EB789218C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization
of Appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id5E80767426684F678BBF8D4FE6732F9A"><enum>505.</enum><header>Clean plant
network</header>
<subsection id="IDb91ddda8d2af41fa9d71917f2c3ce588"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a program to be known as
the <quote>National Clean Plant Network</quote> (referred to in this section as
the <quote>Program</quote>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDe514fbc5b4cc474b8b0755915fee064f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Under
the Program, the Secretary shall establish a network of clean plant centers for
diagnostic and pathogen elimination services to—</text>
<paragraph id="id2A3C602E38C24966BA08D63FC9A4103E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>produce clean
propagative plant material; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5E0C67FCE3E9426EB91707B43E797545"><enum>(2)</enum><text>maintain blocks
of pathogen-tested plant material in sites located throughout the United
States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8BA4F234EC774819BE561562404FC88D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Availability of
clean plant source material</header><text>Clean plant source material may be
made available to—</text>
<paragraph id="id3117BCF5B0CF4A3688C1500BD7210FE9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a State for a
certified plant program of the State; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id276A6C2ACEAC4008B1D4B1828CBEBBCE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>private nurseries
and growers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDdb9dc3d8e48c478dbe988d3a47b1485f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consultation
and collaboration</header><text>In carrying out the Program, the Secretary
shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id04BA38C116B246C68C2651A5D7ECBF23"><enum>(1)</enum><text>consult with
State departments of agriculture and land grant universities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id9105A04FA8294AE0A86618B83A979024"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to the extent
practicable and with input from the appropriate State officials and industry
representatives, use existing Federal or State facilities to serve as clean
plant centers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID95a85906375347f68f81ad5ceb5637be"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>The
Secretary shall use $5,000,000 each year of funds of the Commodity Credit
Corporation to carry out the Program.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>CONSERVATION</header>
<section id="ID08032847B2A94234B4CC5990E9399957"><enum>601.</enum><header>Elimination of
limitation on adjusted gross income from eligibility requirements for
environmental quality incentives program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1001D(b)(2)(C) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)(2)(C)) is amended by inserting <quote>(other
than the program under chapter 4 of subtitle D of that title)</quote> after
<quote>of this Act</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID8E99E64044924BD29D33E2DCFAD9DA9A"><enum>602.</enum><header>Sustainability
practices</header>
<subsection id="ID4A74F57BD0064881815E2E0BB492317A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Encouragement
of Voluntary Sustainability Practices Guidelines</header><text>In administering
this Act and the amendments made by this Act, the Secretary shall encourage the
development of voluntary sustainable practices guidelines for producers and
processors of specialty crops, including provisions that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID4D3DA15BE909454DA55663312F10807C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>enhance
producer-to-producer and processor-to-processor education about—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8B80AAC224904973993526082311A09D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the importance of
sustainable practices; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9A7447C8160245D2B232BFA109E8705A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how
self-governance will enhance the economic viability and future of the specialty
crop community; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID4951530382BC4D06895A3917A99A968D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>demonstrate that
working closely with neighbors, communities, and other stakeholders to maintain
an open dialogue can address concerns, enhance mutual respect, and accelerate
results.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFADB37577B094035B3556FF3873F2DA5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Priority in
Eligibility for Conservation Programs</header><text>In establishing eligibility
for participation in conservation programs administered by the Secretary, the
Secretary may give priority to specialty crop producers that follow the
sustainability guidelines.</text>
</subsection></section>