[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 102 (Monday, July 12, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5746-S5747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, and Mrs. 
        Feinstein):
  S. 3568. A bill to amend the Trade Act of 1974/ create a Citrus 
Disease Research and Development Trust Fund to support research on 
diseases impacting the citrus industry, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Finance.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, today it is my honor to 
introduce a bill that would create the U.S. Citrus Disease Research and 
Development Trust Fund. I am joined in this effort by my good friends, 
and fellow ``Citrus State Senators''--Sen. John Cornyn of

[[Page S5747]]

Texas and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California.
  By introducing this bill, it is our collective goal to create a 
guaranteed source of funding for scientific research aimed at 
addressing diseases, invasive pests, and other challenges faced by the 
U.S. citrus industry. Most importantly, the scientific research 
supported by my bill would benefit all citrus producers, regardless of 
where the citrus is growing.
  Citrus growers in the U.S. shouldn't have to ask themselves if this 
is the year a disease or a pest will wipe them out. That's why having a 
permanent fund to help combat these threats just makes a lot of sense.
  The most serious of these threats is citrus greening, a disease which 
kills the citrus tree and is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, an 
insect no bigger than my fingernail. Because it attacks the tree and 
because it is so easily spread, this disease has the ability to wipe 
out the entire citrus industry.
  My bill does not require new funding or create any new taxes--it is 
funded by a portion of the existing import duties collected from 
imported citrus products. Specifically, the total amount of the fund 
may not exceed $30 million dollars annually, which is only about half 
of the total duties presently collected on imported citrus products.
  My bill is based on the model established by the Wool Trust Fund and 
adopts oversight and administrative controls for similar programs 
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to see that this bill is 
signed into law.
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