[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 127 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H9863-H9865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FAMINE PREVENTION AND FREEDOM FROM HUNGER ACT OF 2000

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from 
the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4002) to amend the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 to revise and improve provisions relating to 
famine prevention and freedom from hunger, with a Senate amendment 
thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendment, as follows:
       Senate amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Famine Prevention and 
     Freedom From Hunger Improvement Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

       (a) Declarations of Policy.--(1) The first sentence of 
     section 296(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2220a(a)) is amended to read as follows: ``The 
     Congress declares that, in order to achieve the mutual goals 
     among nations of ensuring food security, human health, 
     agricultural growth, trade expansion, and the wise and 
     sustainable use of natural resources, the United States 
     should mobilize the capacities of the United States land-
     grant universities, other eligible universities, and public 
     and private partners of universities in the United States and 
     other countries, consistent with sections 103 and 103A of 
     this Act, for: (1) global research on problems affecting 
     food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; (2) improved 
     human capacity and institutional resource development for the 
     global application of agricultural and related environmental 
     sciences; (3) agricultural development and trade research and 
     extension services in the United States and other countries 
     to support the entry of rural industries into world markets; 
     and (4) providing for the application of agricultural 
     sciences to solving food, health, nutrition, rural income, 
     and environmental problems, especially such problems in low-
     income, food deficit countries.''.
       (2) The second sentence of section 296(a) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a(a)) is amended--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as 
     subparagraphs (A) through (G), respectively;
       (B) in subparagraph (A) (as redesignated), by striking ``in 
     this country'' and inserting ``with and through the private 
     sector in this country and to understanding processes of 
     economic development'';
       (C) in subparagraph (B) (as redesignated), to read as 
     follows:
       ``(B) that land-grant and other universities in the United 
     States have demonstrated over many years their ability to 
     cooperate with international agencies, educational and 
     research institutions in other countries, the private sector, 
     and nongovernmental organizations worldwide, in expanding 
     global agricultural production, processing, business and 
     trade, to the benefit of aid recipient countries and of the 
     United States;'';
       (D) in subparagraph (C) (as redesignated), to read as 
     follows:
       ``(C) that, in a world of growing populations with rising 
     expectations, increased food production and improved 
     distribution, storage, and marketing in the developing 
     countries is necessary not only to prevent hunger and ensure 
     human health and child survival, but to build the basis for 
     economic growth and trade, and the social security in which 
     democracy and a market economy can thrive, and moreover, that 
     the greatest potential for increasing world food supplies and 
     incomes to purchase food is in the developing countries where 
     the gap between food need and food supply is the greatest and 
     current incomes are lowest;'';
       (E) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (G) (as 
     redesignated);
       (F) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (F) (as 
     redesignated);
       (G) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); 
     and
       (H) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
       ``(E) that, with expanding global markets and increasing 
     imports into many countries, including the United States, 
     food safety and quality, as well as secure supply, have 
     emerged as mutual concerns of all countries;
       ``(F) that research, teaching, and extension activities, 
     and appropriate institutional and policy development 
     therefore are prime factors in improving agricultural 
     production, food distribution, processing, storage, and 
     marketing abroad (as well as in the United States);'';
       (I) in subparagraph (G) (as redesignated), by striking ``in 
     the United States'' and inserting ``and the broader economy 
     of the United States''; and
       (J) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(H) that there is a need to responsibly manage the 
     world's agricultural and natural resources for sustained 
     productivity, health and resilience to climate variability; 
     and
       ``(I) that universities and public and private partners of 
     universities need a dependable source of funding in order to 
     increase the impact of their own investments and those of 
     their State governments and constituencies, in order to 
     continue and expand their efforts to advance agricultural 
     development in cooperating countries, to translate 
     development into economic growth and trade for the United 
     States and cooperating countries, and to prepare future 
     teachers, researchers, extension specialists, entrepreneurs, 
     managers, and decisionmakers for the world economy.''.
       (b) Additional Declarations of Policy.--Section 296(b) of 
     the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a(b)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Accordingly, the Congress declares that, in order to 
     prevent famine and establish freedom from hunger, the 
     following components must be brought together in a 
     coordinated program to

[[Page H9864]]

     increase world food and fiber production, agricultural trade, 
     and responsible management of natural resources, including--
       ``(1) continued efforts by the international agricultural 
     research centers and other international research entities to 
     provide a global network, including United States 
     universities, for international scientific collaboration on 
     crops, livestock, forests, fisheries, farming resources, and 
     food systems of worldwide importance;
       ``(2) contract research and the implementation of 
     collaborative research support programs and other research 
     collaboration led by United States universities, and 
     involving research systems in other countries focused on 
     crops, livestock, forests, fisheries, farming resources, and 
     food systems, with benefits to the United States and partner 
     countries;
       ``(3) broadly disseminating the benefits of global 
     agricultural research and development including increased 
     benefits for United States agriculturally related industries 
     through establishment of development and trade information 
     and service centers, for rural as well as urban communities, 
     through extension, cooperatively with, and supportive of, 
     existing public and private trade and development related 
     organizations;
       ``(4) facilitation of participation by universities and 
     public and private partners of universities in programs of 
     multilateral banks and agencies which receive United States 
     funds;
       ``(5) expanding learning opportunities about global 
     agriculture for students, teachers, community leaders, 
     entrepreneurs, and the general public through international 
     internships and exchanges, graduate assistantships, faculty 
     positions, and other means of education and extension through 
     long-term recurring Federal funds matched by State funds; and
       ``(6) competitive grants through universities to United 
     States agriculturalists and public and private partners of 
     universities from other countries for research, institution 
     and policy development, extension, training, and other 
     programs for global agricultural development, trade, and 
     responsible management of natural resources.''.
       (c) Sense of the Congress.--Section 296(c) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``each component'' and 
     inserting ``each of the program components described in 
     paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (b)'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by inserting ``and public and private partners of 
     universities'' after ``for the universities''; and
       (B) by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (3) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by inserting ``and public and private partners of 
     universities'' after ``such universities'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``, and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking the comma at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon;
       (D) by striking the matter following subparagraph (B); and
       (E) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) multilateral banks and agencies receiving United 
     States funds;
       ``(D) development agencies of other countries; and
       ``(E) United States Government foreign assistance and 
     economic cooperation programs;''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) generally engage the United States university 
     community more extensively in the agricultural research, 
     trade, and development initiatives undertaken outside the 
     United States, with the objectives of strengthening its 
     capacity to carry out research, teaching, and extension 
     activities for solving problems in food production, 
     processing, marketing, and consumption in agriculturally 
     developing nations, and for transforming progress in global 
     agricultural research and development into economic growth, 
     trade, and trade benefits for aid recipient countries and 
     United States communities and industries, and for the wise 
     use of natural resources; and
       ``(5) ensure that all federally funded support to 
     universities and public and private partners of universities 
     relating to the goals of this title is periodically reviewed 
     for its performance.''.
       (d) Definition of Universities.--Section 296(d) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a(d)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting after ``sea-grant colleges;'' the 
     following: ``Native American land-grant colleges as 
     authorized under the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status 
     Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note);''; and
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``extension'' and 
     inserting ``extension (including outreach)''.
       (e) Definition of Administrator.--Section 296(e) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a(e)) is 
     amended by inserting ``United States'' before ``Agency''.
       (f) Definition of Public and Private Partners of 
     Universities.--Section 296 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
     1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(f) As used in this title, the term `public and private 
     partners of universities' includes entities that have 
     cooperative or contractual agreements with universities, 
     which may include formal or informal associations of 
     universities, other education institutions, United States 
     Government and State agencies, private voluntary 
     organizations, nongovernmental organizations, firms operated 
     for profit, nonprofit organizations, multinational banks, 
     and, as designated by the Administrator, any organization, 
     institution, or agency incorporated in other countries.''.
       (g) Definition of Agriculture.--Section 296 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(g) As used in this title, the term `agriculture' 
     includes the science and practice of activity related to 
     food, feed, and fiber production, processing, marketing, 
     distribution, utilization, and trade, and also includes 
     family and consumer sciences, nutrition, food science and 
     engineering, agricultural economics and other social 
     sciences, forestry, wildlife, fisheries, aquaculture, 
     floraculture, veterinary medicine, and other environmental 
     and natural resources sciences.''.
       (h) Definition of Agriculturists.--Section 296 of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220a) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) As used in this title, the term `agriculturists' 
     includes farmers, herders, and livestock producers, 
     individuals who fish and others employed in cultivating and 
     harvesting food resources from salt and fresh waters, 
     individuals who cultivate trees and shrubs and harvest 
     nontimber forest products, as well as the processors, 
     managers, teachers, extension specialists, researchers, 
     policymakers, and others who are engaged in the food, feed, 
     and fiber system and its relationships to natural 
     resources.''.

     SEC. 3. GENERAL AUTHORITY.

       (a) Authorization of Assistance.--Section 297(a) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220b(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), to read as follows:
       ``(1) to implement program components through United States 
     universities as authorized by paragraphs (2) through (5) of 
     this subsection;'';
       (2) in paragraph (3), to read as follows:
       ``(3) to provide long-term program support for United 
     States university global agricultural and related 
     environmental collaborative research and learning 
     opportunities for students, teachers, extension specialists, 
     researchers, and the general public;''; and
       (3) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by inserting ``United States'' before ``universities'';
       (B) by inserting ``agricultural'' before ``research 
     centers''; and
       (C) by striking ``and the institutions of agriculturally 
     developing nations'' and inserting ``multilateral banks, the 
     institutions of agriculturally developing nations, and United 
     States and foreign nongovernmental organizations supporting 
     extension and other productivity-enhancing programs''.
       (b) Requirements.--Section 297(b) of the Foreign Assistance 
     Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220b(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``universities'' and inserting ``United States universities 
     with public and private partners of universities''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (C)--
       (i) by inserting ``, environment,'' before ``and related''; 
     and
       (ii) by striking ``farmers and farm families'' and 
     inserting ``agriculturalists'';
       (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, including resources 
     of the private sector,'' after ``Federal or State 
     resources''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and the United States 
     Department of Agriculture'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``, the Department of Agriculture, State 
     agricultural agencies, the Department of Commerce, the 
     Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection 
     Agency, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, 
     the Food and Drug Administration, other appropriate Federal 
     agencies, and appropriate nongovernmental and business 
     organizations.''.
       (c) Further Requirements.--Section 297(c) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220b(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), to read as follows:
       ``(2) focus primarily on the needs of agricultural 
     producers, rural families, processors, traders, consumers, 
     and natural resources managers;''; and
       (2) in paragraph (4), to read as follows:
       ``(4) be carried out within the developing countries and 
     transition countries comprising newly emerging democracies 
     and newly liberalized economies; and''.
       (d) Special Programs.--Section 297 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220b) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) The Administrator shall establish and carry out 
     special programs under this title as part of ongoing programs 
     for child survival, democratization, development of free 
     enterprise, environmental and natural resource management, 
     and other related programs.''.

     SEC. 4. BOARD FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL 
                   DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Establishment.--Section 298(a) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220c(a)) is amended in the 
     third sentence, by inserting at the end before the period the 
     following: ``on a case-by-case basis''.
       (b) General Areas of Responsibility of the Board.--Section 
     298(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2220c(b)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) The Board's general areas of responsibility shall 
     include participating in the planning, development, and 
     implementation of, initiating recommendations for, and 
     monitoring, the activities described in section 297 of this 
     title.''.
       (c) Duties of the Board.--Section 298(c) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220c(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``increase food 
     production'' and all that follows and inserting the 
     following: ``improve agricultural production, trade, and 
     natural resource management in developing countries, and with 
     private organizations seeking to increase agricultural 
     production and trade, natural resources management, and 
     household food security in developing and transition 
     countries;''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before ``sciences'' 
     the following: ``, environmental, and related social'';

[[Page H9865]]

       (2) in paragraph (4), after ``Administrator and 
     universities'' insert ``and their partners'';
       (3) in paragraph (5), after ``universities'' insert ``and 
     public and private partners of universities'';
       (4) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (5) in paragraph (7), by striking ``in the developing 
     nations.'' and inserting ``and natural resource issues in the 
     developing nations, assuring efficiency in use of Federal 
     resources, including in accordance with the Governmental 
     Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-62; 107 
     Stat. 285), and the amendments made by that Act;''; and
       (6) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(8) developing information exchanges and consulting 
     regularly with nongovernmental organizations, consumer 
     groups, producers, agribusinesses and associations, 
     agricultural cooperatives and commodity groups, State 
     departments of agriculture, State agricultural research and 
     extension agencies, and academic institutions;
       ``(9) investigating and resolving issues concerning 
     implementation of this title as requested by universities; 
     and
       ``(10) advising the Administrator on any and all issues as 
     requested.''.
       (d) Subordinate Units.--Section 298(d) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2220c(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``Research'' and insert ``Policy'';
       (B) by striking ``administration'' and inserting 
     ``design''; and
       (C) by striking ``section 297(a)(3) of this title'' and 
     inserting ``section 297''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``Joint Committee on Country Programs'' and 
     inserting ``Joint Operations Committee''; and
       (B) by striking ``which shall assist'' and all that follows 
     and inserting ``which shall assist in and advise on the 
     mechanisms and processes for implementation of activities 
     described in section 297.''.

     SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT.

       Section 300 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2220e) is amended by striking ``April 1'' and 
     inserting ``September 1''.

  Mr. BRADY of Texas (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Senate amendment be considered as read and printed in 
the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 4002, the 
Famine Prevention and Freedom From Hunger Act of 2000, this Member 
certainly wants to commend the distinguished gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Brady] for taking the lead on this important issue and introducing this 
bill which updates the context of agricultural development in Title 12 
of the Foreign Assistance Act and expands the role of America's land-
grant universities in these efforts. Indeed, it was a pleasure to work 
with him on this effort.
  H.R. 4002 was first passed by the House under suspension of the rules 
on July 24, 2000. On October 4, 2000, the other body passed a slightly 
amended version of H.R. 4002 by unanimous consent. This Member supports 
the expeditious final passage of H.R. 4002 in the House so that it can 
be enrolled and sent to the President to be signed into law.
  Since the Foreign Assistance Act was enacted in 1961, the scope of 
U.S. food aid and agricultural assistance has expanded to include: 
forestry, fisheries, family and consumer sciences, horticulture, 
agribusiness, agricultural processing, marketing, distribution, trade, 
food safety, nutrition, agricultural policy, environmental protection, 
food science and engineering, veterinary medicine, agricultural 
economics and other social sciences, and other science and practice 
related to food, feed and fiber. Indeed, H.R. 4002 updates current law 
and U.S. foreign assistance policy to reflect these changes.
  This bill also ensures the transformation of development abroad into 
benefits to the U.S. University research and extension services, 
especially those associated with America's land-grant colleges, along 
with their public and private partners are supported to help transform 
agricultural progress abroad into benefits to U.S. communities and 
businesses through trade. The pending legislation expands the 
definition of eligible universities to include those institutions 
engaged in agricultural teaching, research and ``outreach'' as well as 
``extension.'' This certainly is an effective and responsible approach 
which utilizes America's land-grant university expertise to help famine 
prevention and freedom from hunger abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, the Famine Prevention and Freedom from Hunger Prevention 
Act of 2000 would, for the first time, create a direct link between 
development abroad and the interests of U.S. rural communities. 
Clearly, it deserves our strong support and this Member urges its 
adoption. Again, this Member commends Mr. Brady for his leadership on 
this issue.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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