[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12592-S12596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANTORUM:
  S. 1538. A bill to amend the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Act to improve the honey research, promotion, and consumer 
information program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

[[Page S12596]]

THE HONEY RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION ACT AMENDMENTS 
                              ACT OF 1997

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise to offer a measure to revise the 
Honey Research, Promotion and Consumer Information Act, the statute 
under which the National Honey Board is organized.
  Briefly, my bill would impose a penny per pound assessment on 
handlers and importers of honey. This will increase the research budget 
of the Honey Board by approximately $500,000; and enable the industry 
to fund research programs aimed at addressing the serious problems 
caused by viruses, parasitic mites, and Africanized bees.
  The bill also changes the constitution of the National Honey Board to 
improve packer representation on the board to reflect the imposition of 
a new assessment on honey handlers. Under my amendments, packers would 
have a total of four seats versus the current two. Producer and 
importer representation on the board will not change.
  In developing my legislation, I worked the American Beekeeping 
Federation, which represents more than 1,400 honey producers 
nationwide. The amendments have the support of a broad coalition 
including producers, packers, and importers, and I encourage my 
colleagues to join me in this effort by approving this legislation.
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