[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S3641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FITZGERALD:
  S. 777. A bill to require the Department of Agriculture to establish 
an electronic filing and retrieval system to enable the public to file 
all required paperwork electronically with the Department and to have 
access to public information on farm programs, quarterly trade, 
economic, and production reports, and other similar information; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


                         freedom to e-file act

  Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
to streamline the process our farmers follow when filing paper work 
with the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Currently, when farmers are 
required to fill out USDA paper work, they are required to travel to 
their local USDA county offices, complete the paper work, wait in long 
lines and file these documents in paper form. This process is very 
inefficient and time consuming.
  The bill that I introduce today simply requires USDA to develop a 
system for farmers to access and file this paper work over the 
internet. This legislation entitled the ``Freedom to E-file Act'' 
simply makes good common sense. As our society has become more 
technologically advanced so have our farmers. In fact, a 1998 Novartis 
survey found that over 72 percent of all farmers with 500 acres or more 
had personal computers. Overall, over fifty percent of all farmers 
surveyed had computers.
  Our agriculturalists use computers not only for financial management 
and market information but for sophisticated precision agriculture 
management systems. These sophisticated small business owners could 
easily file necessary farm program paperwork from their homes and 
offices if only this option was available.
  Farmers are often frustrated with the long lines at county USDA 
offices, especially during their most hectic times such as harvest 
season. Our nation's farmers are clearly overburdened by government-
required paperwork. This bill is the first step in the right direction 
toward regulatory reform for our U.S. food producers.
  This legislation is budget neutral and USDA would implement the bill 
using existing funds. I want to recognize and commend my colleague, 
Congressman Ray LaHood, for championing the companion to this bill in 
the House of Representatives. This bill should enjoy bipartisan 
support. I urge my colleagues to join me in co-sponsoring this bill 
important to our nation's farmers.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 777

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom to E-File Act''.

     SEC. 2. ELECTRONIC FILING AND RETRIEVAL.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     establish an electronic filing and retrieval system to enable 
     the public to file all required paperwork electronically with 
     the Department of Agriculture and to have access to public 
     information on farm programs, quarterly trade, economic, and 
     production reports, and other similar information.
       (b) Progress Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to 
     Congress on the progress made toward implementing subsection 
     (a).
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