[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 3172. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Burr,
and Mr. Reed) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to
the bill H.R. 2, to provide for the reform and continuation of
agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture
through fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes; which was ordered to
lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title IX, add the following:
SEC. 91__. NATIONAL OILHEAT RESEARCH ALLIANCE.
(a) In General.--Section 713 of the National Oilheat
Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public
Law 106-469) is repealed.
(b) Limitations on Obligations of Funds.--The National
Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note;
Public Law 106-469) is amended by inserting after section 707
the following:
``SEC. 708. LIMITATIONS ON OBLIGATION OF FUNDS.
``(a) In General.--In each fiscal year of the covered
period, the Alliance may not obligate an amount greater than
the sum of--
``(1) 75 percent of the amount of assessments estimated to
be collected under section 707 in that fiscal year;
``(2) 75 percent of the amount of assessments actually
collected under section 707 in the most recent fiscal year
for which an audit report has been submitted under section
706(f)(2)(B) as of the beginning of the fiscal year for which
the amount that may be obligated is being determined, less
the estimate made pursuant to paragraph (1) for that most
recent fiscal year; and
``(3) amounts permitted in preceding fiscal years to be
obligated pursuant to this subsection that have not been
obligated.
``(b) Excess Amounts Deposited in Escrow Account.--
Assessments collected under section 707 in excess of the
amount permitted to be obligated under subsection (a) in a
fiscal year shall be deposited in an escrow account for the
duration of the covered period.
``(c) Treatment of Amounts in Escrow Account.--
``(1) In general.--During the covered period, the Alliance
may not obligate, expend, or borrow against amounts required
under subsection (b) to be deposited in the escrow account.
``(2) Interest.--Any interest earned on amounts described
in paragraph (1) shall be--
``(A) deposited in the escrow account; and
``(B) unavailable for obligation for the duration of the
covered period.
``(d) Release of Amounts in Escrow Account.--After the
expiration of the covered period, the Alliance may withdraw
and obligate in any fiscal year an amount in the escrow
account that does not exceed \1/5\ of the amount in the
escrow account on the last day of the covered period.
``(e) Special Rule for Estimates for Particular Fiscal
Years.--
``(1) Rule.--For purposes of subsection (a)(1), the amount
of assessments estimated to be collected under section 707 in
a fiscal year described in paragraph (2) shall be equal to 62
percent of the amount of assessments actually collected under
that section in the most recent fiscal year for which an
audit report has been submitted under section 706(f)(2)(B) as
of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the amount that
may be obligated is being determined.
``(2) Fiscal years described.--The fiscal years referred to
in paragraph (1) are the 9th and 10th fiscal years that begin
on or after the date of enactment of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018.
``(f) Covered Period Defined.--In this section, the term
`covered period' means the period that begins on the date of
enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and ends
on the last day of the 11th fiscal year that begins on or
after that date of enactment.''.
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