[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S8442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Sessions):
  S. 1323. A bill to extend the period for which chapter 12 of title 
11, United States Code, is reenacted by 6 months; read the first time.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to 
extend Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code until January 1, 2004. This 
measure will provide our family farmers with the necessary bankruptcy 
protections during hard times. However, I remain hopeful that the 
Senate will take up and pass the comprehensive bankruptcy legislation 
that the House passed not long ago. That bill makes Chapter 12 of the 
Bankruptcy Code permanent, so family farms are guaranteed the ability 
to reorganize. The bill also makes significant improvements to Chapter 
12 so that it will be more accessible and helpful to farmers. So while 
I urge quick passage of this temporary Chapter 12 measure, I would like 
to see the comprehensive bankruptcy Reform bill and permanent Chapter 
12 enacted into law as soon as possible. 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. 1323

       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 ``Family Farmer Bankruptcy 
     Relief Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF PERIOD FOR WHICH CHAPTER 12 OF 
                   TITLE 11, UNITED STATES CODE, IS REENACTED.

       (a) Amendments.--Section 149 of title I of division C of 
     Public Law 105-277 (11 U.S.C. 1201 note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``July 1, 2003'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``January 1, 2004''; and
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``December 31, 2002'' and inserting ``June 
     30, 2003''; and
       (B) by striking ``January 1, 2003'' and inserting ``July 1, 
     2003''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on July 1, 2003.
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