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<bill bill-stage="Introduced-in-House" dms-id="H95AA275A46E94C9500B5002DB83900DD" public-private="public" bill-type="olc"> 
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<dublinCore>
<dc:title>110 HR 6637 IH: Genetically Engineered Technology Farmer Protection Act</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. House of Representatives</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2008-07-29</dc:date>
<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
<dc:rights>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.</dc:rights>
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<form> 
<distribution-code display="yes">I</distribution-code> 
<congress>110th CONGRESS</congress> <session>2d Session</session> 
<legis-num>H. R. 6637</legis-num> 
<current-chamber>IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES</current-chamber> 
<action> 
<action-date date="20080729">July 29, 2008</action-date> 
<action-desc><sponsor name-id="K000336">Mr. Kucinich</sponsor> (for himself, <cosponsor name-id="S001144">Mr. Shays</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S001145">Ms. Schakowsky</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="G000551">Mr. Grijalva</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="L000551">Ms. Lee</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S001156">Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of California</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="D000191">Mr. DeFazio</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="M000404">Mr. McDermott</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S000810">Mr. Stark</cosponsor>, and <cosponsor name-id="H000627">Mr. Hinchey</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the <committee-name committee-id="HAG00">Committee on Agriculture</committee-name>, and in addition to the Committees on <committee-name committee-id="HIF00">Energy and Commerce</committee-name> and <committee-name committee-id="HJU00">Judiciary</committee-name>, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned</action-desc> 
</action> 
<legis-type>A BILL</legis-type> 
<official-title>To provide additional protections for farmers and ranchers that may be harmed economically by genetically engineered seeds, plants, or animals, to ensure fairness for farmers and ranchers in their dealings with biotech companies that sell genetically engineered seeds, plants, or animals, to assign liability for injury caused by genetically engineered organisms, and for other purposes.</official-title> 
</form> 
<legis-body id="H9B02AD41BC4344DD9F18462239ACD700" style="OLC"> 
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1832A214FF064B8C0099DB6DA05ED8CD" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title; table of contents</header> 
<subsection id="H0872E06E027440CB98D2AE175694B600"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Short title</header><text>This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Genetically Engineered Technology Farmer Protection Act</short-title></quote>.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H2031EA3EDD0341CB984DF1BEC221B9C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for this Act is as follows:</text> 
<toc container-level="legis-body-container" quoted-block="no-quoted-block" lowest-level="section" regeneration="yes-regeneration" lowest-bolded-level="division-lowest-bolded"> 
<toc-entry idref="H1832A214FF064B8C0099DB6DA05ED8CD" level="section">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H6E8872F75B064923A1CEB232CFF95802" level="title">Title I—Genetically engineered crop and animal farmer protection</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="HCCDDBD716AFF448099B6A4C728CA45BF" level="section">Sec. 101. Short title; findings.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H80B21BE596804ABEAA46F7BB9B1B2F8F" level="section">Sec. 102. Definitions.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="HEF9F9B7BD87344D491DD74824F2C8B47" level="section">Sec. 103. Information requirements regarding sale of genetically engineered seeds, plants, and animals.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H723855C0658C48B3B79EA5DDAF9B35A2" level="section">Sec. 104. Contract limitations regarding sale of genetically engineered seeds, plants, and animals.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="HC9A9E8E7172E44E5BFE632198C6918C" level="section">Sec. 105. Prevention of noncompetitive practices involving technology fees.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H5E419B38530348B68CA600A126286CAA" level="section">Sec. 106. Measures to avoid cross pollination involving genetically engineered seeds or plants.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H0F745F281FA04C4097CFDA7400F464F2" level="section">Sec. 107. Resistance of agricultural pests to certain naturally occurring pesticide; amendment to Federal insecticide, fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="HD1F8C45A4AB24AC0859338881E4E1955" level="section">Sec. 108. Prohibition on labeling certain seeds as non-genetically engineered.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H7A2EB22F481A4223978F412D9D2E1351" level="section">Sec. 109. Prohibition on certain non-fertile plant seeds.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H63B4B83105FF42F3879345EF3815CE00" level="section">Sec. 110. Prohibition on loan discrimination.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="HDC3A2AC8044A40B4A61F3BA2BA58634" level="section">Sec. 111. Civil penalties for violation.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="HE99D4240105B4589B9E02B77DA607E" level="section">Sec. 112. Citizen suits.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H11B099806F844CB9BC7000242E07C229" level="title">Title II—Genetically engineered organism liability</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H6889E9509EF741D5875685AE00FF3FCF" level="section">Sec. 201. Short title.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H1A38D1C21EA6405893FE06B815700BF" level="section">Sec. 202. Findings.</toc-entry> 
<toc-entry idref="H0681152FD9B1486CA9E692D333C136BF" level="section">Sec. 203. Liability.</toc-entry> </toc></subsection> </section> 
<title id="H6E8872F75B064923A1CEB232CFF95802"><enum>I</enum><header>Genetically engineered crop and animal farmer protection</header> 
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCCDDBD716AFF448099B6A4C728CA45BF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title; findings</header> 
<subsection id="H07A5839366E94BC38EBFCBF899BD00BC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Short title</header><text>This title may be cited as the <quote>Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer Protection Act</quote>.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HB3112F39E1104876B159FBCDA873BEF2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds the following:</text> 
<paragraph id="HC84481E62391447C8C0666CA01235480"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Agribusiness and biotechnology companies have rapidly consolidated market power at the same time as the average farmer’s profits and viability have significantly declined.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HF464CEB9C4744337A32C97EE72678DBF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Policies promoted by biotech corporations, such as patenting of seeds, depriving farmers the right to save seed, unreasonable seed contracts, and intrusion into everyday farm operations, have systematically acted to remove basic farmer rights enjoyed since the beginning of agriculture and essential for agricultural sustainability and the survival of family farms.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H7BE3951458AC42EEA788F34EB707CC00"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The introduction of genetically engineered crops has also created obstacles for farmers, including the loss of markets and increased liability concerns.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HDC7C20187C4A4FE2A2EFEE000268951F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>To mitigate the abuses upon farmers, a clear set of farmer rights must be established.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> 
<section id="H80B21BE596804ABEAA46F7BB9B1B2F8F"><enum>102.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> 
<paragraph id="HB2F9CFFDAFD04DC392FC5C1B6CCCC4D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Genetically engineered animal</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered animal</term> means an animal that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced with a genetically engineered material. An animal shall be considered to contain a genetically engineered material or to have been produced with a genetically engineered material if the animal has been injected or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material or is the offspring of an animal that has been so injected or treated.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HF80866292F324980910046BA1D74DD43"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Genetically engineered plant</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered plant</term> means a plant that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced from a genetically engineered seed. A plant shall be considered to contain a genetically engineered material if the plant has been injected or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material (except that the use of manure as a fertilizer for the plant may not be construed to mean that the plant is produced with a genetically engineered material).</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H217009C421914956806375F701BFA669"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Genetically engineered seed</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered seed</term> means a seed that contains a genetically engineered material or was produced with a genetically engineered material. A seed shall be considered to contain a genetically engineered material or to have been produced with a genetically engineered material if the seed (or the plant from which the seed is derived) has been injected or otherwise treated with a genetically engineered material (except that the use of manure as a fertilizer for the plant may not be construed to mean that any resulting seeds are produced with a genetically engineered material).</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HE6B723E81B3C42B1BE882E9E08515EF9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Genetically engineered material</header><text>The term <term>genetically engineered material</term> means material that has been altered at the molecular or cellular level by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes (including recombinant DNA and RNA techniques, cell fusion, microencapsulation, macroencapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes), other than a means consisting exclusively of breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, tissue culture, or mutagenesis.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H94C54E5BB48F4DFAADB7DED0F0EE91B9"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Biotech company</header><text>The term <term>biotech company</term> means a person engaged in the business of creating genetically engineered material or obtaining the patent rights to that material for the purposes of commercial exploitation of that material. The term does not include the employees of such person.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H0C2147768B1A4CDDAB4182C2B731ABB5"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph></section> 
<section id="HEF9F9B7BD87344D491DD74824F2C8B47"><enum>103.</enum><header>Information requirements regarding sale of genetically engineered seeds, plants, and animals</header> 
<subsection id="H3317784F6AA147F8BF1F34E6448476EB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Full disclosure of risks of use</header><text>A biotech company that sells any genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed that the biotech company knows, or has reason to believe, will be used by the purchaser in the United States to produce an agricultural commodity shall provide written notice to the purchaser that fully and clearly discloses the possible legal and environmental risks that the use of the genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed may pose to the purchaser.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HB0CEF181F2E047E381BDD5258614C4E4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effect of disclosure</header><text>The provision of written notice under subsection (a) regarding the risks of using a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed does not relieve the biotech company from any liability that may result from the release of genetically engineered material into the environment. The receipt of the written notice by the purchaser shall not be construed to create any liability on the purchaser.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H89523754965E43C695282F71B6B71281"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header><text>The Secretary shall issue such rules as may be necessary to implement and enforce this section.</text></subsection></section> 
<section id="H723855C0658C48B3B79EA5DDAF9B35A2"><enum>104.</enum><header>Contract limitations regarding sale of genetically engineered seeds, plants, and animals</header> 
<subsection id="H697D0E796B2445A59CE19D44EC47035E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certain contract terms and limitations unenforceable</header><text>If a contract for the sale of a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed to a purchaser for use in agricultural production contains a provision described in subsection (b), the provision is hereby declared to be against public policy and therefore void and unenforceable as a matter of law.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H005F086107CB415FA322253CC1EE00BE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibited terms and limitations</header><text>The provisions referred to in subsection (a) are any of the following:</text> 
<paragraph id="HE00A10F26BFA4CE3B8B6C09EDAFC5F68"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In the case of a sale of genetically engineered plants or genetically engineered seeds, a provision that prohibits the purchaser from retaining a portion of the harvested crop for future crop planting by the purchaser or that charges a fee to retain a portion of the harvested crop for future crop planting.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H5A91266EA35648E0AFC8B620584C99CE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A provision that limits the ability of the purchaser to recover damages from the biotech company for a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed that does not perform as advertised.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HBF8E57AD268A40DBBE446FFEDC002324"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A provision that shifts any liability from the biotech company to the purchaser.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H0FE9DF4575C3418CB7DBEC3128094D88"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A provision that requires the purchaser to grant agents of the seller access to the purchaser’s property.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H967A830A1B2D43CE96C576F7EB6604B9"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A provision that mandates arbitration of any disputes between the biotech company and the purchaser.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H5CC0FF48CBBD4B739470951BA5AFFEB"><enum>(6)</enum><text>A provision that mandates any court of jurisdiction for settlement of disputes.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HBFEBB6D67CAC4FCD9139EC291B92D4E7"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A provision that mandates that the purchaser pay liquidated damages of more than a technology fee or similar fee itself, plus interest.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HCCF5518F1E144503A92530E11C6E28C"><enum>(8)</enum><text>A provision that imposes any unfair condition upon the purchaser, as determined by the Secretary or a court.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> 
<section id="HC9A9E8E7172E44E5BFE632198C6918C"><enum>105.</enum><header>Prevention of noncompetitive practices involving technology fees</header> 
<subsection id="HDA322D1EFF1740DF96CF75EB7CC145A3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Disclosure of technology fees</header><text>Any biotech company that sells a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed for use in agricultural production in the United States shall notify the Secretary, at such times and in such manner as the Secretary shall require, of—</text> 
<paragraph id="H00FBF228CC7549DC00DD2355446EB985"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the nature and amount of any technology, nonproduction, royalty, or similar fees collected by the biotech company in each country where that genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed is marketed, and</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H180B7309B4B44585BA178908F81494C0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of genetically engineered plants or genetically engineered seeds, the prices charged by the biotech company for herbicides associated with that genetically engineered seed or plant.</text></paragraph></subsection> 
<subsection id="H6E9F2C6A04D54221A5B2BCDA3D914FC6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition on noncompetitive practices</header><text>A biotech company that sells a genetically engineered animal, genetically engineered plant, or genetically engineered seed for use in agricultural production in the United States may not charge higher technology, nonproduction, royalty, or similar fees for sales of the genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed in the United States than in other countries in which the genetically engineered animal, plant, or seed is sold.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HBBA272E3B73E440CB001302C00F3E114"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Publication of data</header><text>The Secretary shall publish all data received under subsection (a)(1) every six months in an electronic format and in the Federal Register.</text></subsection></section> 
<section id="H5E419B38530348B68CA600A126286CAA"><enum>106.</enum><header>Measures to avoid cross pollination involving genetically engineered seeds or plants</header> 
<subsection id="H19D35230B80141B9959E233700B82104"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designation of predominately outcrossed pollinators</header><text>The Secretary shall determine which plants are predominately outcrossed pollinators and make such information available to persons who sell or purchase such plants or the seeds of such plants for use in agricultural production.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H931830D9B16E467DA41B8D66BCA0CC00"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Minimizing the negative effects of predominately outcrossed pollinators</header><text>The Secretary shall issue rules to require effective mitigation strategies for any crop that is a predominately outcrossed pollinator.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H2681926E497D44108EFC2198432B6512"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Providing instructions To avoid cross pollination</header><text>The seller of any genetically engineered plant or genetically engineered seed that has been identified as a predominately outcrossed pollinator shall provide written instructions to each purchaser of the plants or seeds regarding how to plant and cultivate the plants or seeds so as to avoid cross contamination.</text></subsection></section> 
<section id="H0F745F281FA04C4097CFDA7400F464F2"><enum>107.</enum><header>Resistance of agricultural pests to certain naturally occurring pesticide; amendment to Federal insecticide, fungicide, and Rodenticide Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3(c) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FIFRA">Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/136a">7 U.S.C. 136a(c)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following subsection:</text> 
<quoted-block act-name="Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act" id="H119EAF8A0D574170AED432C630028C26"> 
<paragraph id="H42B3E3CF9DB14CE6BBEAD486763F533"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Bt resistance regarding plant-incorporated pesticides</header> 
<subparagraph id="H1EF37D798497455989109E31EFBC6208"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than six months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator, in consultation with the advisory panel established under subparagraph (D), shall establish the best achievable resistance plan for plant-incorporated pesticides engineered to include toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (which bacterium is referred to in this paragraph as <quote>Bt</quote>).</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="HE3695482BB6E4BA2A76DF8A64B27065E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Once the best achievable resistance plan is established under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall revoke all Bt registrations that are not in compliance with the plan and may not issue new registrations unless the applicant has achieved the plan.</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H5E56A7F6110B4374AD1DE5404CD5B7B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>If pursuant to subparagraph (A) the Administrator determines that plant-incorporated Bt pesticides may have an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment by facilitating the development of Bt-toxin resistance in pests, or that the review has been inconclusive on whether the pesticide facilitates such resistance, the Administrator shall take such actions under this Act as may be necessary to significantly reduce the extent to which such pesticides are used.</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H10D9F17CF03D4861B4C6C1B94F3FA212"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Before establishing the best achievable resistance plan under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall, in accordance with procedures under section 25(d), establish an advisory panel to provide advice to the Administrator on scientific matters involved in the review.</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H6F4C5D88F82146F48800C65536DCEAEC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>For purposes of this paragraph, the term <term>plant-incorporated Bt pesticide</term> means a plant-incorporated pesticide described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> 
<section id="HD1F8C45A4AB24AC0859338881E4E1955"><enum>108.</enum><header>Prohibition on labeling certain seeds as non-genetically engineered</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A seed company or other person may not sell, or offer for sale, seeds for planting that are labeled as non-genetically engineered or otherwise represented as not containing genetically engineered material if the Secretary finds that any sample of the seeds contains genetically engineered material.</text></section> 
<section id="H7A2EB22F481A4223978F412D9D2E1351"><enum>109.</enum><header>Prohibition on certain non-fertile plant seeds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective 45 days after the date of the enactment of this title, a person may not manufacture, distribute, sell, plant, or otherwise use any seed that is genetically engineered to produce a plant whose seeds are not fertile or are rendered infertile by the application of an external chemical inducer.</text></section> 
<section id="H63B4B83105FF42F3879345EF3815CE00"><enum>110.</enum><header>Prohibition on loan discrimination</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A financial institution may not discriminate against an agricultural producer that refuses to use genetically engineered plants or animals or add as condition to a loan the requirement that the producer use genetically engineered plants or animals.</text></section> 
<section id="HDC3A2AC8044A40B4A61F3BA2BA58634"><enum>111.</enum><header>Civil penalties for violation</header> 
<subsection id="H629EEF1AF3014396BEF0E4C85F153DC2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority to assess penalties</header><text>The Secretary may assess, by written order, a civil penalty against a biotech company or other person that violates a provision of this title, including a regulation promulgated or order issued under this title. Each violation, and each day during which a violation continues, shall be a separate offense.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="HF8E77808AEA8443AB84E37D2D974DBD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amount and factors in assessing penalties</header><text>The maximum amount that may be assessed under this section for a violation may not exceed $100,000. In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the Secretary shall take into account—</text> 
<paragraph id="HCC970B719F6D40D48C871CCC565C418"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the gravity of the violation;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HF09D96168FA946D787B9602CB72679B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the degree of culpability;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H55B0DCD89B0E4DC1A5C13138A000ADE2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the size and type of the business; and</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HBEE1C3D3FDCA4DC7A6EE168E8D152787"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any history of prior offenses under this title or other laws administered by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection> 
<subsection id="H4961C60A78B34C9886754C2C87FFEFF8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Notice and opportunity for hearing</header><text>The Secretary shall not assess a civil penalty under this section against a biotech company or other person unless the company is given notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record before the Secretary in accordance with sections <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/554">554</external-xref> and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/556">556</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H196B12EEEBF2441C00A933DCD34EAB14"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Judicial review</header> 
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H276B2405E9244BA8B7F6943784E2B700"><enum>(1)</enum><text>An order assessing a civil penalty against a person under subsection (a) may be reviewed only in accordance with this subsection. The order shall be final and conclusive unless the person—</text> 
<subparagraph id="HF016ACF0F3944D1399AA78E85170021" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 30 days after the effective date of the order, files a petition for judicial review in the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which the person resides or has its principal place of business or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; and</text></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="HC3B4A98A5A2D4482003002255465DC4F" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>simultaneously sends a copy of the petition by certified mail to the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H837383F4F9CA472590CA00C219453DD5" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary shall promptly file in the court a certified copy of the record on which the violation was found and the civil penalty assessed.</text></paragraph></subsection> 
<subsection id="H759C667C5CC447C5B1529521BE87377D"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Collection action for failure To pay assessment</header><text>If a person fails to pay a civil penalty after the order assessing the civil penalty has become final and unappealable, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Attorney General, who shall bring a civil action to recover the amount of the civil penalty in United States district court. In the collection action, the validity and appropriateness of the order of the Secretary imposing the civil penalty shall not be subject to review.</text></subsection></section> 
<section id="HE99D4240105B4589B9E02B77DA607E"><enum>112.</enum><header>Citizen suits</header> 
<subsection id="H22C1F55ED31F49B997F0DA362CC7D6D6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (c), any person may commence a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States against—</text> 
<paragraph id="H6B7105546B564DF193A1D6AFBD758979"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a person who has introduced a genetically engineered organism into the environment without approval under this title;</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H244D4F5D956941F9A9183FB46AAC121"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary, where there is alleged a failure of the Secretary to perform any act or duty under this title that is the responsibility of the Secretary and is not discretionary; or</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HBB5198767C4D4BF0869DD4F4AFE6D02"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the head of another Federal agency, if there is alleged a failure of the agency head to perform any act or duty under this title that is the responsibility of the agency head and is not discretionary.</text></paragraph></subsection> 
<subsection id="HA0D87AE10234402389DF3E9FE400CE20"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>In a civil action under this section, the district court involved may, as the case may be—</text> 
<paragraph id="HB8C3E741F2914DA58216936D4310C239"><enum>(1)</enum><text>enforce the compliance of a person with the applicable provisions referred to in the complaint; or</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HBEB6C9BF022742BF8B3F5DB422FB326C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>order the Secretary or the agency head to perform the act or duty referred to in the complaint.</text></paragraph></subsection> 
<subsection id="H413878CE7EF647F49D8165B2B8309BC9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations</header> 
<paragraph id="HA9CEA4C508394C9F8C8686753737327B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notice to Secretary</header><text>A civil action may not be commenced under subsection (a)(1) prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has provided to the Secretary notice of the violation involved.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HC5A5544D15774EAFAF08C5D0883005E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Relation to actions of Secretary</header><text>A civil action may not be commenced under subsection (a)(1) against the Secretary if the Secretary has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil or criminal action in a district court of the United States to enforce compliance with the applicable provisions referred to in the complaint.</text></paragraph></subsection> 
<subsection id="H0FEFB383AFA745609B58E6BD615759BF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Right of Secretary To intervene</header><text>In any civil action under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary , if not a party, may intervene as a matter of right.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H180AA29DC78D422FAC099E857E7B5C55"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Award of costs; filing of bond</header><text>In a civil action under subsection (a), the district court involved may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to any party whenever the court determines such an award is appropriate. The court may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H4C6E01993A8C446D00E04977F87DB781"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Savings provision</header><text>This section does not restrict any right that a person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement of the provisions of this title, or to seek any other relief (including relief against the Secretary or the head of another Federal agency).</text></subsection></section></title> 
<title id="H11B099806F844CB9BC7000242E07C229"><enum>II</enum><header>Genetically engineered organism liability</header> 
<section section-type="subsequent-section" id="H6889E9509EF741D5875685AE00FF3FCF" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote>Genetically Engineered Organism Liability Act of 2007</quote>.</text></section> 
<section id="H1A38D1C21EA6405893FE06B815700BF"><enum>202.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Congress finds the following:</text> 
<paragraph id="H80DD67FD31584BCAA85C78C81393F242"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The negative consequences of genetically engineered crops may impact farmers who grow these crops, neighbor farmers who do not grow these crops, and consumers.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H67683CEC18AA4538B8F9CC7357F8C8E2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Biotech companies are selling a technology that is being commercialized ahead of the new and unknown science of genetic engineering.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H731C275A417A48B58F00003100F273C3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Farmers may suffer from crop failures, neighbor and nearby farmers may suffer from cross pollination, increased insect resistance, and unwanted volunteer genetically engineered plants, and consumers may suffer from health and environmental impacts.</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H79F00C703B9C4515A0B9D2C72C3DA608"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Therefore, biotech companies should be found liable for the failures of genetically engineered crops when they arise.</text></paragraph></section> 
<section id="H0681152FD9B1486CA9E692D333C136BF"><enum>203.</enum><header>Liability</header> 
<subsection id="H1BAECFB46CAD4CC49BE7D8A4AFE7AEA0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Cause of action</header><text>A biotech company is liable to any party injured by the release of a genetically engineered organism into the environment if that injury results from that genetic engineering. The prevailing plaintiff in an action under this subsection may recover reasonable attorney’s fees and other litigation expenses as a part of the costs.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H1146D4EA395847E5A97114A849169355"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Indemnity</header><text>For the purposes of subsection (a), the term <term>injury</term> includes any liability of a person who uses that organism in accordance with applicable Federal and other law, if that liability arises from that use.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H82DAFC7FDD1E442A985BC5C98728B3BC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Not waivable</header><text>The liability created by subsection (a) may not be waived or otherwise avoided by contract.</text></subsection> 
<subsection id="H22DAFDC254384CF48BB9AEA534782F20"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>As used in this section, the term <term>biotech company</term> means a person—</text> 
<paragraph id="HCD3987EEBCBC423A85C6E48D7EE49068"><enum>(1)</enum><text>engaged in the business of genetically engineering an organism; or</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H192BAA7F8202431091B358D23373A539"><enum>(2)</enum><text>obtaining the patent rights to such an organism for the purposes of commercial exploitation of that organism.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></title> 
</legis-body> 
</bill> 


