[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 75 (Thursday, June 15, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S5241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAMM:
  S. 2732. A bill to ensure that all States participating in the 
National Boll Weevil Eradication Program are treated equitably; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


                 the boll weevil eradication equity act

 Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Boll 
Weevil Eradication Equity Act. Boll weevil infestation has caused more 
than $15 billion worth of damage to the United States cotton crop, and 
the nation's cotton producers lose $300 million annually. Texas is the 
largest cotton producing state in the nation, yet the scope of this 
problem extends beyond Texas. The ability of all states to eradicate 
this pest would stop future migration to boll weevil-free areas and 
prevent reintroduction of the boll weevil into those areas which have 
already completed a successful eradication effort.
  We must continue to build upon the past success of the existing 
program that authorizes the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
of the United States Department of Agriculture to join with individual 
states and provide technical assistance and federal cost-share funds. 
This highly successful partnership has resulted in complete boll weevil 
eradication in California, Florida, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia 
and North Carolina. These states received an average federal cost-share 
of 26.9 percent, with producers and individual states paying the 
remaining cost.
  Since 1994, however, the program has expanded into Texas, 
Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma and New Mexico, 
but the federal appropriation has remained relatively constant. The 
addition of this vast acreage has resulted in dramatically reducing the 
federal cost share to only 4 percent, leaving producers and individual 
states to fund the remaining 96 percent. This is not fair to the states 
now participating in the program because federal matching funds to the 
states enrolled in the early years of the program constituted almost 30 
percent of eradication costs.
  The National Cotton Council estimates that for every $1 spent on 
eradication, cotton farmers will accrue about $12 in benefits. The bill 
I am introducing today will authorize a federal cost share contribution 
of not less than 26.9 percent to the states and producers which still 
must contend with boll weevil infestation. I urge my colleagues to join 
this effort to ensure that these producers receive no less support than 
that which was provided during the earlier stages of the program.
  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. 2732

       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 ``Boll Weevil Eradication 
     Equity Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) as of the date of enactment of this Act, infestation by 
     Anthonomus grandis (commonly known as the ``boll weevil'') 
     has caused more than $15,000,000,000 in damage to cotton 
     crops of the United States and costs cotton producers in the 
     United States approximately $300,000,000 annually;
       (2) through the National Boll Weevil Eradication Program 
     (referred to in this Act as the ``program''), the Animal and 
     Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of 
     Agriculture partners with producers to provide technical 
     assistance and Federal cost share funds to States in an 
     effort to eradicate the boll weevil;
       (3) States that enrolled in the program before 1994 have 
     since been able to complete boll weevil eradication and were 
     provided a Federal cost share that accounted for an average 
     of 26.9 percent of the total cost of eradication;
       (4) States that enrolled in the program in or after 1994 
     account for 65 percent of the national cotton acreage and are 
     now provided an average Federal cost share of only 4 percent, 
     placing a tremendous financial burden on the individual 
     producers;
       (5) the addition of vast acreage into the program has 
     resulted in an increased need for Federal cost share funds;
       (6) a producer that participates in the program today 
     deserves not less than the same level of commitment that was 
     provided to producers that enrolled in the program before 
     1994; and
       (7) the ability of all States to eradicate the boll weevil 
     would prevent further migration of the boll weevil to boll 
     weevil-free areas and reintroduction of the boll weevil in 
     those areas having completed boll weevil eradication.

     SEC. 3. BOLL WEEVIL ERADICATION ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide funds to pay 
     at least 26.9 percent of the total program costs incurred by 
     producers participating in the program.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as are 
     necessary for fiscal years 2001 through 2004.
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