[House Report 112-122]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                  Union Calendar No. 72

112th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Report 112-122


 
                            FIRST SEMIANNUAL
                         REPORT ON ACTIVITIES
                       DURING THE 112TH CONGRESS

                   (JANUARY 5, 2011 TO JUNE 24, 2011)

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES




 June 24, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

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                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

                   FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma, Chairman
BOB GOODLATTE, Virginia,             COLLIN C. PETERSON, Minnesota, 
    Vice Chairman                        Ranking Minority Member
TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON, Illinois         TIM HOLDEN, Pennsylvania
STEVE KING, Iowa                     MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina
RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas              LEONARD L. BOSWELL, Iowa
K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas            JOE BACA, California
JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska           DENNIS A. CARDOZA, California
JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio                   DAVID SCOTT, Georgia
GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania         HENRY CUELLAR, Texas
THOMAS J. ROONEY, Florida            JIM COSTA, California
MARLIN A. STUTZMAN, Indiana          TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota
BOB GIBBS, Ohio                      KURT SCHRADER, Oregon
AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia                LARRY KISSELL, North Carolina
SCOTT R. TIPTON, Colorado            WILLIAM L. OWENS, New York
STEVE SOUTHERLAND II, Florida        CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine
ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD, Arkansas  JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut
MARTHA ROBY, Alabama                 PETER WELCH, Vermont
TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas                MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio
SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee          GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, 
RENEE L. ELLMERS, North Carolina         Northern Mariana Islands
CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON, New York      TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama
RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois             JAMES P. McGOVERN, Massachusetts
VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri
ROBERT T. SCHILLING, Illinois
REID J. RIBBLE, Wisconsin
KRISTI L. NOEM, South Dakota
                                 ------                                

                           Professional Staff

                      Nicole Scott, Staff Director
                     Kevin J. Kramp, Chief Counsel
                 Tamara Hinton, Communications Director
                Robert L. Larew, Minority Staff Director


                          LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                          House of Representatives,
                                  Committee on Agriculture,
                                   Washington, D.C., June 24, 2011.

    Hon. Karen L. Hass,
    Clerk of the House of Representatives,
    Washington, D.C.

    Dear Ms. Hass: Pursuant to rule XI, clause 1(d), of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, I herewith submit to the 
House a report of the activities of the Committee on 
Agriculture during the first quarter of the 112th Congress.
    With best wishes, I am
            Sincerely,
                               Hon. Frank D. Lucas,
                                                  Chairman.


                             C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
I. Summary of Organization, Jurisdiction, and Oversight Plan of 
  the Committee on Agriculture...................................     1
    A. Organization..............................................     1
    B. Committee Jurisdiction....................................     4
    C. Oversight Plan............................................     8
II. Committee Activities During the 111th Congress...............    16
    A. Main Legislative Activities...............................    16
    B. Statistical Summary of Activities.........................    20
    C. Digest of Bills Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee 
      on Which Action Has Been Taken.............................    20
        1. Bills Enacted into Law................................    20
        2. Bills Acted on by the House But Not the Senate........    22
        3. House Resolutions Considered in the House.............    30
        4. Bills Reported........................................    30
    D. Oversight.................................................    33
    E. Meetings Not Printed......................................    39
    F. Committee Prints..........................................    39
III. Appendix....................................................    39
    A. Executive Communications..................................    39
    B. Statutory and Special Reports.............................    50


                                                  Union Calendar No. 72
112th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    112-122

======================================================================




 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE ON ACTIVITIES DURING THE 112TH 
                                CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

 June 24, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Lucas, from the Committee on Agriculture, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

    In accordance with rule XI, clause 1(d), of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture 
reports herewith on its activities during the 112th Congress.

  I. Summary of Organization, Jurisdiction, and Oversight Plan of the 
                        Committee on Agriculture


                            a. organization

    The House of Representatives established the total 
authorized membership of the Committee on Agriculture for the 
112th Congress at 46, with a party division of 26 Republicans 
and 20 Democrats. Among the committee members were 16 
Representatives who were serving their first terms (Gibbs, 
Austin Scott, Fincher, Tipton, Southerland, Crawford, Roby, 
Huelskamp, DesJarlais, Ellmers, Gibson, Hultgren, Hartzler, 
Schilling, Ribble, Sewell, and Noem).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Resigned from Committee May 11, 2011.
    Appointed to Committee and Subcommittee June 14, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

    (Ratio includes ex officio Members.)
    (Frank D. Lucas, Chairman, and Collin C. Peterson, Ranking 
Minority Member, are ex officio Members of all Subcommittees.)
    The Committee organized on January 25, 2011, into six 
subcommittees, five of which were assigned jurisdiction over 
major agricultural commodities and one that dealt with various 
related agricultural operations. The six subcommittees were 
constituted as follows:

           Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
                        (Ratio 12-10 (Total 22))

  GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania, 
             Chairman
TIM HOLDEN, Pennsylvania, Ranking Minority MemberE, Virginia
KURT SCHRADER, Oregon                MARLIN A. STUTZMAN, Indiana
WILLIAM L. OWENS, New York           BOB GIBBS, Ohio
MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina        STEPHEN LEE FINCHER, Tennessee
JIM COSTA, California                SCOTT R. TIPTON, Colorado
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota           STEVE SOUTHERLAND II, Florida
CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine               MARTHA ROBY, Alabama
MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio                TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, Northern Mariana Islandsinois
                                     REID J. RIBBLE, Wisconsin
                                     KRISTI L. NOEM, South Dakota

    Jurisdiction: Soil, water, and resource conservation, small 
watershed program, energy and bio-based energy production, 
rural electrification, forestry in general and forest reserves 
other than those created from the public domain.

                                 ------                                

      Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit
                         (Ratio 6-4 (Total 10))

   JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska, 
             Chairman
MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio, Ranking Minority Member. JOHNSON, Illinois
JAMES P. McGOVERN, Massachusetts     STEVE KING, Iowa
JOE BACA, California                 ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD, 
                                     Arkansas
                                     STEPHEN LEE FINCHER, Tennessee
                                     KRISTI L. NOEM, South Dakota

    Jurisdiction: Agency oversight, review and analysis, 
special investigations, and agricultural credit.

                                 ------                                

               Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture
                         (Ratio 6-4 (Total 10))

  JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio, Chairwoman
JOE BACA, California, Ranking Minority MemberNG, Iowa
CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine               THOMAS J. ROONEY, Florida
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN, Northern Mariana IslandsI, Florida
                                     ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD, 
                                     Arkansas

    Jurisdiction: Food stamps, nutrition and consumer programs, 
fruits and vegetables, honey and bees, marketing and promotion 
orders, plant pesticides, quarantine, adulteration of seeds and 
insect pests, and organic agriculture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Resigned from Committee May 11, 2011.
    Appointed to Committee and Subcommittee June 14, 2011.

                                 ------                                

      Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
                        (Ratio 15-11 (Total 26))

    K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas, 
             Chairman
LEONARD L. BOSWELL, Iowa, Ranking Minority MemberIowa
MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina        RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota           JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio
LARRY KISSELL, North Carolina        BOB GIBBS, Ohio
JAMES P. McGOVERN, Massachusetts     AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia
DENNIS A. CARDOZA, California        ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD, 
DAVID SCOTT, Georgia                 Arkansas
JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut            MARTHA ROBY, Alabama
PETER WELCH, Vermont                 TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas
TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama             RENEE L. ELLMERS, North Carolina
                                     CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON, New York
                                     RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois
                                     VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri
                                     ROBERT T. SCHILLING, Illinois

    Jurisdiction: Program and markets related to cotton, 
cottonseed, wheat, feed grains, soybeans, oilseeds, rice, dry 
beans, peas, lentils, the Commodity Credit Corporation, risk 
management, including crop insurance, commodity exchanges, and 
specialty crops.

                                 ------                                

             Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
                        (Ratio 11-9 (Total 20))

    THOMAS J. ROONEY, Florida, 
             Chairman
DENNIS A. CARDOZA, California,  Ranking Minority Memberginia
DAVID SCOTT, Georgia                 STEVE KING, Iowa
JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut            RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas
TIM HOLDEN, Pennsylvania             K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, Texas
LEONARD L. BOSWELL, Iowa             STEPHEN LEE FINCHER, Tennessee
JOE BACA, California                 TIM HUELSKAMP, Kansas
KURT SCHRADER, Oregon                SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee
WILLIAM L. OWENS, New York           CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON, New York
                                     REID J. RIBBLE, Wisconsin
                                     KRISTI L. NOEM, South Dakota

    Jurisdiction: Livestock, dairy, poultry, meat, seafood and 
seafood products, inspection, marketing, and promotion of such 
commodities, aquaculture, animal welfare, and grazing.

                                 ------                                

Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign 
                              Agriculture
                         (Ratio 8-6 (Total 14))

  TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON, Illinois, 
             Chairman
JIM COSTA, California, Ranking Minority MemberMPSON, Pennsylvania
HENRY CUELLAR, Texas                 MARLIN A. STUTZMAN, Indiana
PETER WELCH, Vermont                 AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia
TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama             RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois
LARRY KISSELL, North Carolina        VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri
                                     ROBERT T. SCHILLING, Illinois

    Jurisdiction: Rural Development, farm security and family 
farming matters; research, education, extension and extension, 
biotechnology, foreign agriculture assistance, and trade 
promotion programs, generally.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Resigned from Committee May 11, 2011.
    Appointed to Committee and Subcommittee June 14, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       b. committee jurisdiction

    Under Rules adopted by the House of Representatives for the 
111th Congress, the Committee on Agriculture's (hereinafter 
also referred to as Committee) jurisdiction (See Rule X, clause 
1 of the Rules of the House of Representatives) extended to--

    (1) Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of 
        birds and animals in forest reserves.

    (2) Agriculture generally.

    (3) Agricultural and industrial chemistry.

    (4) Agricultural colleges and experiment stations.

    (5) Agricultural economics and research.

    (6) Agricultural education extension services.

    (7) Agricultural production and marketing and stabilization 
        of prices of agricultural products, and commodities 
        (not including distribution outside of the United 
        States).

    (8) Animal industry and diseases of animals.

    (9) Commodity exchanges.

    (10) Crop insurance and soil conservation.

    (11) Dairy industry.

    (12) Entomology and plant quarantine.

    (13) Extension of farm credit and farm security.

    (14) Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and 
        seafood and seafood products.

    (15) Forestry in general, and forest reserves other than 
        those created from the public domain.

    (16) Human nutrition and home economics.

    (17) Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering.

    (18) Rural electrification.

    (19) Rural development.

    (20) Water conservation related to activities of the 
        Department of Agriculture.

    The revised edition of the Rules and Manual of the House of 
Representatives for the 107th Congress (House Document No. 106-
320) provides the following concerning the Committee on 
Agriculture:\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\References are to the volume and section of Hinds' (volumes I-V, 
e.g., IV, 500) and Cannon's (volumes VI-VIII, e.g., VI, 400) Precedents 
of the House of Representatives, and to the Congressional Record by 
date and page (e.g., January 3, 1953, p. 500).

          ``This Committee was established in 1820 (IV, 4149). 
        In 1880 the subject of forestry was added to its 
        jurisdiction, and the Committee was conferred authority 
        to receive estimates of and to report appropriations 
        (IV, 4149). However, on July 1, 1920, authority to 
        report appropriations for the U.S. Department of 
        Agriculture was transferred to the Committee on 
        Appropriations (VII, 1860).
          The basic form of the present jurisdictional 
        statement was made effective January 2, 1947, as a part 
        of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 
        812). Subparagraph (7) was altered by the 93d Congress, 
        effective January 3, 1975, to include jurisdiction over 
        agricultural commodities (including the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation) while transferring jurisdiction 
        over foreign distribution and non-domestic production 
        of commodities to the Committee on International 
        Relations (H. Res. 988, 93d Cong., Oct 8, 1974, p. 
        34470). Nevertheless, the Committee has retained a 
        limited jurisdiction over measures to release CCC 
        stocks for such foreign distribution (Sept. 14, 1989, 
        p. 20428). Previously unstated jurisdictions over 
        commodities exchanges and rural development were 
        codified effective January 3, 1975.
          The 104th Congress consolidated the Committee's 
        jurisdiction over inspection of livestock and meat 
        products to include inspection of poultry, seafood, and 
        seafood products, and added subparagraph (20) relating 
        to water conservation (sec. 202(a), H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 
        1995, p.464). Clerical and stylistic changes were 
        effected when the House recodified its rules in the 
        106th Congress (H. Res. 5. Jan. 6, 1999, p. 47).
          The Committee has had jurisdiction of bills for 
        establishing and regulating the Department of 
        Agriculture (IV, 4150), for inspection of livestock and 
        meat products, regulation of animal industry, diseases 
        of animals (IV, 4154; VII, 1862), adulteration of 
        seeds, insect pests, protection of birds and animals in 
        forest reserves (IV, 4157; VII, 1870), the improvement 
        of the breed of horses, even with the cavalry service 
        in view (IV, 4158; VII, 1865), and in addition to the 
        Committee on Energy and Commerce, amending Horse 
        Protection Act to prevent the shipping, transporting, 
        moving, delivering, or receiving of horses to be 
        slaughtered for human consumption (July 13, 2006, p. 
        5270).
          The Committee, having charge of the general subject 
        of forestry, has reported bills relating to timber, and 
        forest reserves other than those created from the 
        public domain (IV, 4160). The Committee on Natural 
        Resources, and not this committee, has jurisdiction 
        over a bill to convey land that is part of a National 
        Forest created from the public domain (March 23, 2004, 
        p. 1344). It has also exercised jurisdiction of bills 
        relating to agricultural colleges and experiment 
        stations (IV, 4152), incorporation of agricultural 
        societies (IV, 4159), and establishment of a highway 
        commission (IV, 4153), to discourage fictitious and 
        gambling transactions in farm products (IV, 4161; VII, 
        1861), to regulate the transportation, sale and 
        handling of dogs and cats intended for use in research 
        and the licensing of animal research facilities (July 
        29, 1965, p. 18691); and to designate an agricultural 
        research center (May 14, 1995, p. 11070). The Committee 
        shares with the Committee on the Judiciary jurisdiction 
        over a bill comprehensively amending the Immigration 
        and Nationality Act and including food stamp 
        eligibility requirements for aliens (Sept. 19, 1995, p. 
        25533).
          The House referred the President's message dealing 
        with the refinancing of farm-mortgage indebtedness to 
        the Committee, thus conferring jurisdiction (April 4, 
        1933, p. 1209).
          The Committee has jurisdiction over a bill relating 
        solely to executive level position in the Department of 
        Agriculture (Mar. 2, 1976, p. 4958) and has 
        jurisdiction over bills to develop land and water 
        conservation programs on private and non-Federal lands 
        (June 7, 1976, p. 16768).''

    Some of the specific areas in which the Committee on 
Agriculture exercises its jurisdiction or that have been 
created for the Committee by historical reference include:

     (1) Public Law 480, Eighty-third Congress, the 
        restoration, expansion, and development of foreign 
        markets for United States agricultural products; and 
        the effect of the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
        Trade (and the North American Free Trade Agreement), 
        bilateral free trade agreements, the European 
        Community, and other regional economic agreements and 
        commodity marketing and pricing systems on United 
        States agriculture.

    (2) All matters relating to the establishment and 
        development of an effective Foreign Agricultural 
        Service.

    (3) Matters relating to rural development, including rural 
        telephone companies, farm credit banks, farm rural 
        housing loans, rural water supply, rural flood control 
        and water pollution control programs, and loans for 
        rural firehouses, community facilities, and businesses.

    (4) Production and use of energy from agricultural and 
        forestry resources.

    (5) Matters relating to the development, use, and 
        administration of the National Forests, including, but 
        not limited to, development of a sound program for 
        general public use of the National Forests consistent 
        with watershed protection and sustained-yield timber 
        management, study of the forest fire prevention and 
        control policies and activities of the Forest Service 
        and their relation to coordinated activities of other 
        Federal, State, and private agencies; Forest Service 
        land exchanges; and wilderness and similar use 
        designations applied to National Forest land.

    (6) Price spreads of agricultural commodities between 
        producers and consumers.

    (7) The formulation and development of improved programs 
        for agricultural commodities; matters relating to the 
        inspection, grading, and marketing of such commodities, 
        including seafood; and food safety generally.

    (8) Matters relating to trading in futures contracts for 
        all commodities and similar instruments, including 
        commodity options and commodity leverage contracts.

    (9) The administration and operation of agricultural 
        programs through State and county committees and the 
        administrative policies and procedures relating to the 
        selection, election, and operation of such committees.

    (10) The administration and development of small watershed 
        programs under Public Law 566, Eighty-third Congress, 
        as amended, and the development of resource 
        conservation and development programs for rural areas.

    (11) Programs of food assistance or distribution supported 
        in whole or in part by funds of the Department of 
        Agriculture, including but not limited to the food 
        stamp program and the commodity distribution program.

    (12) Aquaculture programs of the Department of Agriculture.

    (13) Sugar legislation, including import control programs 
        that stabilize domestic prices.

    (14) All matters relating to pesticides, the Federal 
        Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as 
        amended, the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control 
        Act of 1972, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
        Rodenticide Act Amendments of 1988, and the Food 
        Quality Protection Act of 1996, including, but not 
        limited to, the registration, marketing, and safe use 
        of pesticides, groundwater contamination, and the 
        coordination of the pesticide program under FIFRA with 
        food safety programs.

    (15) Agricultural research programs, including, but not 
        limited to, the authorization of specific research 
        projects and agricultural biotechnology development 
        efforts.

    (16) All matters relating to the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation Charter Act.

    (17) Legislation relating to the control of the entry into 
        the United States of temporary, nonresident aliens for 
        employment in agricultural production.

    (18) Legislation relating to the general operations and the 
        Organic Act of the Department of Agriculture, the 
        Commodity Credit Corporation, Federal Crop Insurance 
        Corporation, Farm Credit Administration, Farm Credit 
        System, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, and 
        Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

    (19) Producer-funded research, promotion, and consumer and 
        industry information programs for agricultural 
        commodities.

    (20) Legislation regarding reclamation water projects where 
        the pricing of water delivered by such projects is 
        affected by whether the water will be used in the 
        production of a crop for which an acreage reduction 
        program is in effect.

    (21) Legislation regarding reclamation water projects for 
        which the Secretary of Agriculture is required to make 
        a determination regarding commodity availability prior 
        to the determination of the price to be charged for the 
        delivery of such project water.

    (22) Legislation establishing the level of fees charged by 
        the Federal Government for the grazing of livestock on 
        Federal lands.

    (23) Legislation governing the Federal regulation of 
        transactions involving swaps contracts, hybrid 
        financial instruments, and derivative securities and 
        financial products.

    (24) Legislation regarding the Federal Reserve Board with 
        respect to its authority to regulate the establishment 
        of appropriate levels of margin on stock index futures 
        contracts.

    The Committee also reviews and studies, on a continuing 
basis, the current and prospective application, administration, 
execution, and effectiveness of those laws, or parts of laws, 
the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of the 
Committee, and the organization and operation of the Federal 
agencies and entities having responsibilities in or for the 
administration and execution thereof. In addition, the 
Committee, along with other standing Committees of the House, 
has the function of reviewing and studying on a continuing 
basis the effect or probable effect of tax and other fiscal and 
monetary policies affecting subjects within their jurisdiction.

                           c. oversight plan

    The Committee on Agriculture met on February 10, 2011 to 
also fulfill the General Oversight Responsibility reporting 
requirements of Rule X 2(d)(1) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.
    The following outline was prepared in consultation with the 
Ranking Minority Member and approved by the Full Committee 
which was forwarded to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform and the Committee on House Administration on 
February 10, 2011:

      Oversight Plan House Committee on Agriculture 112th Congress

    The committee expects to exercise appropriate oversight 
activity with regard to the following issues:

2008 Farm Bill and Current Agricultural Conditions:

   Review the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
        implementation of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
        Act of 2008 (FCEA);

   Conduct an audit or inventory of every farm bill 
        program under the committee's jurisdiction;

   Review programs that may be inefficient, 
        duplicative, outdated or more appropriately 
        administered by State or local governments for possible 
        cuts or elimination;

   Review programs for waste, fraud and abuse;

   Review the current state of health of the U.S. farm 
        economy;

   Review USDA's initial and subsequent implementation 
        of FCEA payment limit and adjusted gross income 
        provisions;

   Review USDA's use of Ad Hoc Disaster Assistance;

   Review the state of credit conditions and 
        availability in rural America;

   Review the impact of weather conditions on crop 
        production;

   Review USDA's activities regarding implementation of 
        the U.S. Warehouse Act;

   Review of market situation, including impact of crop 
        reports and projections;

   Review colony collapse disorder and other long term 
        threats to pollinator health;

   Review USDA's implementation of the U.S. Grain 
        Standards Act;

   Review USDA's implementation of the Fair and 
        Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004;

   Review the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) management 
        controls for Finality Rule and equitable relief 
        decisions;

   Review how Administrative Pay-Go is affecting 
        Department actions; and

   Review discretionary actions by USDA that are not 
        directly authorized by legislation.

Energy

   Assess implementation of energy programs authorized 
        by FCEA;

   Review administration of the Biomass Crop Assistance 
        Program (BCAP);

   Review activities funded by the Biomass Research and 
        Development Act (BRDA) and input from the external BRDA 
        Advisory Board;

   Review availability of agriculture and forestry 
        feedstocks for renewable energy production;

   Review current status of research on energy crops 
        and feedstocks;

   Review RUS electric loan program;

   Review electricity reliability in rural America;

   Review current provisions in existing law that 
        support agriculture-based energy production and use;

   Review the implementation of the Renewable Fuels 
        Standard (RFA);

   Review programs that may be inefficient, 
        duplicative, outdated or more appropriately 
        administered by State or local governments for possible 
        cuts or elimination;

   Review renewable fuel programs and their impact on 
        agriculture; and

   Review USDA's energy infrastructure initiative.

Conservation and the Environment:

   Review the impact of regulatory activities by the 
        EPA and its effect on agriculture productivity;

   Review the impact of regulatory activities carried 
        out pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or 
        any proposed legislative changes to such Act, on 
        agricultural producers;

   Review the impact of the Administration's regulatory 
        activity relative to methyl bromide on production of 
        agriculture in the U.S.;

   Review of EPA's resource needs as they pertain to 
        the collection of pesticide user fees;

   Review any proposed legislation to implement the 
        Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 
        the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the 
        Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, 
        and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed 
        Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and 
        Pesticides in International Trade;

   Review the International Treaty on Plant Genetic 
        Resources for Food and Agriculture;

   Review budget and program activities of the NRCS;

   Review implementation of all of USDA's conservation 
        programs;

   Review conservation streamlining initiatives to 
        eliminate duplicative and overlapping programs;

   Review programs that may be inefficient, 
        duplicative, outdated or more appropriately 
        administered by State or local governments for possible 
        cuts or elimination;

   Review EPA's jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act 
        (CWA) and its impact to U.S. agriculture;

   Review of potential impacts of EPA's Clean Air Act 
        (CAA) regulatory program on U.S. agriculture;

   Review ongoing discussions and potential 
        consequences for American agriculture under the United 
        Nations Climate Change Conference;

   Review EPA's implementation of the Food Quality 
        Protection Act (FQPA), FIFRA and Pesticide Registration 
        Improvement Renewal Act (PRIA II);

   Review the impact of litigation and rulemaking 
        concerning FIFRA, ESA, CAA, CWA, the Comprehensive 
        Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 
        (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right 
        to Know Act (EPCRA) and for impacts agricultural 
        operations;

   Review the EPA's regulatory actions in regard to 
        pesticide evaluations;

   Review of EPA's regulation of Animal Feeding 
        Operations;

   Review of the non-emergency haying and grazing 
        provisions of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP);

   Review of the operation of the Resource, 
        Conservation and Development Program; and

   Review of Total Maximum Daily Load strategies and 
        impacts on production agriculture.

Federal Crop Insurance and Risk Management:

   Review USDA's implementation of crop insurance 
        provisions of the FCEA;

   Review the effectiveness of the Supplemental Revenue 
        Assistance Payments Program (SURE);

   Review the role and effectiveness of the Federal 
        Crop Insurance Program;

   Review USDA's and the Risk Management Agency's (RMA) 
        administration and oversight of the Federal Crop 
        Insurance Program;

   Review the availability of crop insurance as a risk 
        management tool;

   Review programs that may be inefficient, 
        duplicative, outdated or more appropriately 
        administered by State or local governments for possible 
        cuts or elimination;

   Review USDA's activities designed to find and reduce 
        crop insurance program waste, fraud, and abuse;

   Review USDA's handling of the SRA process;

   Review RMA's combination of revenue protection crop 
        insurance programs;

   Review the operations of the Commodity Futures 
        Trading Commission (CFTC);

   Review the growing consolidation and 
        internationalization of futures exchange trading;

   Review market machinations for exchange traded 
        energy and agricultural future products;

   Review enforcement and oversight capabilities of the 
        CFTC both domestically and internationally; and

   Review the role of the CFTC in light of potential 
        climate change legislation.

Implementation of Title VII of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
        Consumer Protection Act

   Review the process by which the CFTC engages in 
        rulemaking as directed by Title VII of the Dodd-Frank 
        Act to ensure--

      (1) it is a transparent process;

      (2) the sequence, timing and comment deadlines of rule 
            proposals allow for meaningful public comment;

      (3) cost benefit analysis is adequately performed and 
            reflected in rule proposals;

      (4) the CFTC is well coordinated with other federal 
            financial regulators responsible for implementing 
            Title VII;

      (5) regulations do not impose undue or excessive burdens 
            on financial markets and the economy;

      (6) regulations are consistent with the intent and 
            statutory language of the Dodd-Frank Act.

   Examine the CFTC, SEC and Federal Reserve rules as 
        they relate to the exemption for commercial end-users, 
        including the application of margin and capital to end-
        user OTC transactions;

   Examine the feasibility of timetables established by 
        Dodd-Frank in building the data, technology and 
        connectivity necessary to meet regulatory objectives;

   Review the impact of Title VII on market structure;

   Review the impact of proposed transparency 
        mechanisms on trade pricing and liquidity;

   Review the impact of Title VII on the global 
        competitiveness of U.S. firms.

Agriculture Trade and International Food Aid:

   Review ongoing multilateral, regional, and bilateral 
        trade negotiations (including WTO accession agreements) 
        to assess their potential impact on U.S. agriculture;

   Review implementation of existing trade agreements 
        and commitments as well as proposed new trade 
        agreements and commitments to determine--

      (1) whether they are consistent with current U.S. law;

      (2) whether they will promote economic development in 
            rural areas of the U.S.;

      (3) their impact or potential impact on current 
            production of import sensitive agricultural 
            commodities, and on exports of U.S. agricultural 
            products; and

      (4) their impact or potential impact on the overall 
            competitiveness of the U.S. agricultural sector, 
            including the production, processing and 
            distribution of agricultural products.

   Monitor existing trade agreements to ensure trading 
        partners are meeting obligations and enforcing trade 
        commitments;

   Review farm export programs to determine how well 
        they are promoting the interests of U.S. agriculture 
        and examine proposals to improve, modify or expand such 
        programs;

   Assess U.S. food aid programs to determine their 
        impact or potential impact on the reduction of world 
        hunger. In particular, the committee will examine the 
        potential impact of multilateral trade negotiations on 
        the effectiveness of U.S. food aid programs; and

   Address sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers 
        and other technical barriers to U.S. agricultural 
        exports and examine USDA efforts to eliminate such 
        barriers.

Agricultural Research and Promotion:

   Review implementation of biosecurity protocols at 
        USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratories;

   Review USDA's implementation of research, education 
        and extension programs authorized in FCEA;

   Review the administration of the ARS research 
        stations and worksites;

   Review USDA's continuing ability to conduct foreign 
        animal disease research, training and diagnostic 
        programs at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility 
        following the transfer of the center to the Department 
        of Homeland Security;

   Assess federal efforts to facilitate research and 
        development of aquacultural enterprises, specifically 
        focusing on the activities of the Joint Committee on 
        Aquaculture;

   Review implementation of USDA's regulation on 
        organic standards;

   Review implementation of USDA's collection of 
        organic production and market data;

   Review implementation of National Institute of Food 
        and Agriculture (NIFA);

   Review coordination between ARS, Economic Research 
        Service (ERS), NIFA and action agencies in USDA--such 
        as NRCS and FSA--in order to prevent duplicative 
        research;

   Review operation of the National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
        Board;

   Review USDA's efforts to expand research and 
        development of pathogen reduction technologies;

   Evaluate the current mix of research funding 
        mechanisms to ensure maximum benefits from these 
        investments to producers, processors and consumers;

   Review administration of USDA's agricultural 
        marketing and promotion programs;

   Review of coordination between USDA and DOE on 
        energy research programs;

   Review of congressional appropriation process and 
        implications on research funding under ARS, ERS, NASS 
        and NIFA;

   Review of ARS, ERS, NASS and NIFA national program 
        priorities;

   Oversight of research grant process to coordinate 
        and prevent overlapping research; and

   Review the potential for research and technology 
        transfer to address the needs of both the biofuels and 
        livestock industries.

Biotechnology:

   Review current regulations and research regarding 
        animal and plant biotechnology;

   Review the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 
        findings regarding cloned animal products and 
        regulation of genetically engineered animals;

   Assess USDA's efforts to develop and promote 
        benefits of biotechnology for increasing agricultural 
        productivity and combating hunger globally; and

   Review USDA's management and controls over 
        biotechnology-derived material.

U.S. Forest Service Administration:

   Review U.S. Forest Service (USFS) budget, with 
        special attention to land acquisition and easement 
        programs;

   Continue to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency 
        of the Forest Service fire management program, 
        including the impact of hazardous fuels management, 
        forest health efforts and fire preparedness;

   Review the impact of fire expenses on other USFS 
        program delivery;

   Assess the USFS strategy for timber harvesting on 
        federal lands; and

   Review USFS efforts to promote utilization of 
        federal forests for renewable energy purposes.

Dairy:

   Review options to improve the efficiency and 
        effectiveness of dairy programs; and

   Review efficiency of federal market order system.

Outreach and Civil Rights

   Review implementation of Section 14012 of the FCEA;

   Review the implementation of the Office of Advocacy 
        and Outreach;

   Monitor USDA's outreach efforts to small and 
        minority farmers/ranchers;

   Review of the operations of the office of the 
        Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights;

   Review USDA process for evaluating discrimination 
        claims under the Pigford settlement;

   Review of the delivery of USDA services and outreach 
        efforts on Indian reservations and tribal lands;

   Review current status of Agricultural Census and 
        efforts to reach undercounted farmers and ranchers; and

   Review participation of minority farmers in FSA 
        County/Local Committees as well as outreach to increase 
        participation in County Committee elections.

USDA General Administration:

   Review confidentiality of information provided to 
        USDA by agricultural producers;

   Review USDA's field office structure for the purpose 
        of delivering commodity, conservation, energy and rural 
        development programs;

   Review USDA's plan to modernize its Information 
        Technology (IT) systems; and

   Review the administrative structure of USDA for 
        effectiveness and additional efficiencies.

Farm Credit, Rural Development, and the Rural Economy:

   Review Farm Credit Administration's (FCA) regulatory 
        program and activities regarding the Farm Credit System 
        (FCS) to assure the its safety and soundness;

   Review of Farmer Mac activities and programs;

   Review of FSA's direct and guaranteed loan programs 
        and graduation efforts;

   Review of the Rural Electrification Act (REA);

   Review of the farm economy and access to credit;

   Review implementation of rural development policies 
        and authorities contained in FCEA and the Consolidated 
        Farm and Rural Development Act;

   Review programs that may be inefficient, 
        duplicative, outdated or more appropriately 
        administered by State or local governments for possible 
        cuts or elimination;

   Conduct oversight of the USDA's Rural Broadband 
        Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program;

   Conduct oversight of new Rural Microentrepreneur 
        Assistance Program;

   Conduct oversight of the implementation of the 
        USDA's Telecommunications Programs;

   Review the status of the Rural Telephone Bank;

   Assess state of rural water systems and 
        effectiveness of federal funding to build and upgrade 
        those systems;

   Assess rural infrastructure and business needs and 
        effectiveness of USDA programs targeted to those needs;

   Review of agriculture lending practices;

   Review of definition of ``rural'' under rural 
        development programs; and

   Review of rural development loan programs and 
        default rates.

USDA Food and Nutrition Programs:

   Review food and nutrition programs including the 
        Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), fruit 
        and vegetable initiatives, the Emergency Food 
        Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Food Distribution on 
        Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and other commodity 
        distribution programs;

   Assess the level of participation by states in SNAP 
        and examine state options for expanding SNAP 
        participation;

   Review buying patterns of SNAP recipients and 
        methods for encouraging balanced lifestyles;

   Review programs that may be inefficient, 
        duplicative, outdated or more appropriately 
        administered by State or local governments for possible 
        cuts or elimination;

   Review efforts by state SNAP administrators to 
        modernize and streamline their programs;

   Review the Community Food Project Program to ensure 
        cooperative grants are working;

   Review of the SNAP retailer approval process; and

   Review of the implementation of changes made to the 
        SNAP Nutrition Education Program.

Food Safety:

   Review implementation of the FDA Food Safety 
        Modernization Act;

   Review implementation of the recent FDA Egg Safety 
        Rule;

   Review USDA's administration of meat and poultry 
        inspection laws and the FDA's food inspection 
        activities to ensure the development of scientifically 
        sound systems for food safety assurance;

   Review USDA's implementation of the catfish 
        inspection program;

   Review USDA's efforts to educate consumers regarding 
        safe food handling practices and streamline the 
        assessment and approval of food safety technologies;

   Review implementation of new protocols for meat, 
        poultry, eggs, or seafood safety inspection; and

   Review USDA's enforcement of the Humane Methods of 
        Slaughter Act and humane handling regulations.

Plant and Animal Health:

   Review enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act;

   Assess federal efforts to reduce threats to human, 
        animal, and plant health due to predatory and invasive 
        species;

   Assess USDA's Animal Disease Traceability Plan; and

   Review implementation of Sec. 10201--Plant pest and 
        disease management and disaster prevention.

Livestock Marketing:

   Assess the effectiveness of the Grain Inspection, 
        Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) in 
        determining market manipulation in the livestock 
        industry;

   Review structural changes in agribusiness and the 
        potential cost and benefits for agricultural producers; 
        and

   Review the USDA's mandatory livestock price 
        reporting system.

Homeland and Agricultural Security:

   Oversight of USDA's preparedness against terrorist 
        threats to agriculture production; and

   Review of agriculture inspection activities under 
        the Department of Homeland Security.

Miscellaneous:

   Review the implementation and impact of The American 
        Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on USDA 
        programs;

   Review implementation of the Specialty Crop 
        Competitiveness Act;

   Review of the impact of transportation 
        infrastructure issues on agriculture and forestry;

   Review USDA's implementation and enforcement of the 
        country of origin labeling rule; and

   Assess operation of the Fruit and Vegetable (FAV) 
        planting prohibition pilot program.

Consultation With Other Committees To Reduce Duplication:

   With Natural Resources Committee on forestry issues, 
        ESA issues and other public land issues;

   With Science Committee on Research;

   With Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce 
        on nutrition programs;

   With Ways and Means on trade issues;

   With Homeland Security on importation of animal and 
        plant material and on research related to 
        agroterrorism;

   With Judiciary on immigrant agricultural labor;

   With Energy and Commerce on food safety and biomass 
        energy programs both existing and new;

   With Transportation and Infrastructure on CWA 
        compliance issues;

   With Financial Services Committee on Dodd-Frank Act 
        issues; and

   With any other committee as appropriate.

           II. Committee Activities During the 111th Congress


                     a. main legislative activities

    The Committee on Agriculture reported or otherwise 
considered a variety of bills in the 112th Congress covering 
many of the diverse areas within its jurisdictional interests.
    Some of the major activities of the committee during the 
112th Congress included the following:

Agenda for the House Agriculture Committee

   The Agriculture Committee approached its business in 
        an open, transparent manner and maintained the strong 
        bipartisan tradition of the Committee. One of the main 
        priorities of the Committee during this Congress was to 
        provide oversight to the various federal agencies 
        through the hearing process.

   The Agriculture Committee held 7 full committee 
        hearings and 6 business meetings during the 112th 
        Congress. Various subcommittees held 15 hearings during 
        the 112th Congress

   The Committee heard testimony from Administration 
        officials on 15 occasions, including 8 testimonies from 
        U.S. Department of Agriculture representatives, and 5 
        from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 
        Additional testimony heard by the Committee was offered 
        by university researchers, nonprofit organizations, 
        trade groups, and farmers and ranchers from across the 
        United States and totaled 86 testimonies all together.

Biotechnology

   In January 2011, the Committee held a public forum 
        to review the biotechnology product regulatory approval 
        process. The public forum was held to explore the issue 
        in advance of that decision.

Trade

   On April 7, 2011, Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, Chairman 
        of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, 
        Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture, held a public 
        hearing to review market promotion programs and their 
        effectiveness on expanding exports of U.S. agricultural 
        products.

Oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Commodity 
        Futures Trading Commission

   On February 17, 2011, the House Agriculture 
        Committee held a public hearing to review the state of 
        the farm economy. Members of the committee heard 
        testimony from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary 
        Tom Vilsack and questioned him on a variety of topics 
        including the many regulatory burdens affecting the 
        livelihoods of farmers and ranchers. The committee also 
        discussed economic trends in prices, input costs, and 
        farm output.

   March 31, 2011, the House Agriculture Committee held 
        a public hearing to review the definitions of key terms 
        included in Title VII of the Wall Street Reform and 
        Consumer Protection Act, such as ``swap,'' ``Swap 
        Dealer,'' and ``Major Swap Participant.'' Additionally, 
        Members examined how end-users will be impacted by 
        these definitions and regulatory designations. The Act 
        does not define an end-user explicitly. In order to 
        qualify for the end-user exemption, a company must not 
        be designated a Swap Dealer, Major Swap Participant, or 
        a financial entity.

   On April 13, 2011, Rep. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman 
        of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and 
        Risk Management held a public hearing to further review 
        the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) 
        rulemaking process for implementing title VII of the 
        Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
        Act.

   On May 4, 2011, the House Agriculture Committee 
        approved H.R. 1573, to facilitate implementation of 
        title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, 
        promote regulatory coordination, and avoid market 
        disruption. This legislation gives regulators 
        additional time to write and vet the rules governing 
        derivatives, and brings the U.S. into alignment with 
        our G20 partners on financial reform.

   On April 15, 2011, U.S. Representatives Frank D. 
        Lucas, Spencer Bachus, K. Michael Conaway, and Scott 
        Garrett introduced H.R. 1573, which would extend the 
        deadline by 18 months for implementing Title VII of the 
        Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
        Act. The bill gives the regulatory agencies more time 
        to effectively meet the objectives of the derivatives 
        title, to prioritize deliberation over speed, to 
        consider the costs and benefits, and to understand the 
        cumulative impact of the rules that will be applied to 
        the marketplace. Additionally, the bill realigns the 
        U.S. with the G20 agreement to implement reform by 
        December 2012.

Oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development 
        Programs

   On February 15, 2011, Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, 
        Chairman of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, 
        Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture held a 
        public hearing to review the various definitions of 
        rural applied under programs operated by the U.S. 
        Department of Agriculture (USDA).

   On April 14, 2011, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Chairman 
        of the Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
        Oversight, and Credit held a public hearing to review 
        credit conditions in rural America. A number of 
        institutions provide credit to our nation's farmers, 
        ranchers, and rural constituents. It is important to 
        ensure credit is readily available through institutions 
        that are fundamentally sound.

Livestock

   April 6, 2011, Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, Chairman of 
        the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held 
        a public hearing to review the state of the beef 
        industry. Members of the Subcommittee heard testimony 
        from a cow-calf producer, an owner of a feeding 
        business, and a beef packer. In addition to educating 
        Members about the structure and economic conditions of 
        the beef sector, witnesses also highlighted a range of 
        issues impacting the beef industry such as 
        environmental policies, feed availability, input 
        prices, trade, and the proposed Grain Inspection, 
        Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule.

   April 13, 2011, Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, Chairman of 
        the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held 
        a public hearing to review the state of the poultry 
        industry. Members of the Subcommittee heard testimony 
        from a chicken grower, a chicken integrator, and a 
        turkey grower who is also the chairman of a poultry 
        processing cooperative. In addition to educating 
        Members about the structure and economic conditions of 
        the poultry sector, witnesses also highlighted a range 
        of issues impacting the poultry industry, such as 
        environmental policies, feed availability, input 
        prices, trade, and the proposed Grain Inspection, 
        Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule.

   On May 4, 2011, Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, Chairman of 
        the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, held 
        a public hearing to review the state of America's pork 
        industry. Members of the Subcommittee heard statements 
        from witnesses that represented a cross-section of the 
        pork industry, including a small farrow-to-finish 
        producer, an owner of a large family-owned pork farming 
        network, and a packer. The witnesses discussed the 
        economic and policy issues currently affecting the pork 
        industry, including international trade, feed 
        availability, animal health and welfare, environmental 
        policies, and the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers 
        and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule adding new 
        regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

Environmental Protection Agency

   On February 16, 2011, Rep. Jean Schmidt, Chairman of 
        the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture and Rep. 
        Bob Gibbs, Chairman of the House Transportation and 
        Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Water 
        Resources and Environment held a joint public hearing 
        to consider reducing the regulatory burdens posed by 
        the case National Cotton Council v. EPA (6th Cir. 2009) 
        and to review related draft legislation.

   On March 2, 2011, Reps. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Jean 
        Schmidt (R-OH), and Joe Baca (D-CA) introduced H.R. 
        872, a bipartisan bill to reduce the regulatory burdens 
        posed by the case National Cotton Council v. EPA (6th 
        Cir. 2009).

   On March 9, 2011, the House Agriculture Committee 
        approved H.R. 872, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act 
        of 2011. It was a bipartisan bill that would amend the 
        Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 
        and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to clarify Congressional 
        intent and eliminate the requirement of a National 
        Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit 
        for pesticides approved for use under FIFRA. The 
        legislation was cosponsored by 39 of the 46 Agriculture 
        Committee members.

   On March 31, 2011, the U.S. House of Representatives 
        passed H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 
        2011 in a bipartisan vote, 292-130.

   Rep. Glenn ``G.T.'' Thompson, Chairman of the 
        Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry held 
        a public hearing on March 16, 2011 to further review 
        the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), 
        agricultural practices, and their implications on 
        national watersheds. Members of the subcommittee 
        highlighted the importance of conservation programs and 
        their impact on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, as 
        well as the voluntary steps farmers have taken to 
        preserve and protect this watershed.

   On March 10, 2011, the Committee held a public 
        hearing to review the impact of Environmental 
        Protection Agency regulations on agriculture.

                  b. statistical summary of activities

    (1) Statistics on bills referred to the Committee on 
        Agriculture

    Number of bills referred:





House bills................................................         67
Senate bills...............................................          0
House joint resolutions....................................          0
House concurrent resolutions...............................          0
Senate joint resolutions...................................          0
Senate concurrent resolutions..............................          0
House resolutions..........................................          3
                                                            ------------
  Total....................................................         70



    (2) Disposition of Bills Containing Items Under the 
        Jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture





Bills enacted into law.....................................          0
Bills acted on by the Committee included in other bills              0
 that became law...........................................
Bills vetoed...............................................          0
Bills acted on by both Houses, but not enacted.............          0
Bills acted on by the House but not the Senate.............          1
Concurrent Resolutions approved............................          0
Bills reported to the House but not considered.............          1
Bills ordered reported, but not reported...................          0
Bills defeated in the House................................          0



    (3) Statistics on hearings and markups:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Open business    Washington
                                                     meetings     hearings/forum  Field hearings       Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Committee..................................               6               7               0              13

Subcommittees:

  General Farm Commodities and Risk Management..               0               4               0               4
  Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.................               0               3               0               3
  Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology,                  0               3               0               3
   and Foreign Agriculture......................
  Conservation, Energy and Forestry.............               0               2               0               2
  Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit..               0               2               0               2
  Nutrition and Horticulture....................               0               1               0               1
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................               6              22               0              28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 c. digest of bills within the jurisdiction of the committee on which 
                         action has been taken


1. Bills Enacted into Law

    Other Bills: Several bills acted on by other committees, 
but not acted on by the Committee on Agriculture contain 
provisions relating to matters with the Committee's 
jurisdiction. The following are abbreviated summaries of these 
bill, including some the relevant provisions.

Appropriations

            P.L. 112-4, (H.J. Res. 44)
    Further Continuing Appropriations Amendments
    H.J. Res. 44 was introduced on February 28, 2011 by 
Representative Harold Rogers and referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations and in addition to the Committee on the Budget. 
On March 1, 2011 the resolution passed the House by a recorded 
vote of 335 yeas to 91 nays. On March 2, 2011 the resolution 
passed the Senate by a recorded vote of 91 yeas to 9 nays, 
clearing the measure for the President. On that same date the 
resolution was presented to the President and signed into 
Public Law 112-4.
    The Act amends the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011 
(P.L. 111-242) to extend through March 18, 2011, specified 
continuing appropriations for FY 2011.
    The measure also makes certain provisions under the 
Agriculture, Rural Development, food and Drug Administration, 
and Related Appropriations Act, 2010 relating to ``Rural 
Development Programs--Rural Utilities Service--Distance 
Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program'' for the 
principal amount of broadband telecommunication loans and for 
the cost of certain broadband loans inapplicable to funds 
appropriated by the Continuing Appropriation Act of 2011.
            P.L. 112-6 (H.J. Res. 48)
    Additional Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2011
    H.J. Res. 48 was introduced on March 11, 2011 by 
Representative Harold Rogers and referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations. On March 15, 2011 the resolution passed the 
House by a recorded vote of 271 yes to 158 nays. On March 17, 
2011 the resolution passed the Senate by a recorded vote of 87 
yeas to 13 nays clearing the measure for the President. On 
March 18, 2011 the resolution was signed by President into 
Public Law 112-6.
    The Additional Continuing Appropriations Act amends the 
Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011 (P.L. 111-242) to extend 
through April 8, 2011, specified continuing appropriations for 
FY 2011.
    The Act provides funding at a specified rate of operations 
for certain agricultural, conservation, and rural development 
programs. Eliminates specified funding for: (1) the 
Agricultural Research Service; (2) the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; (3) the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration; (4) the Federal Payment to the 
Office of the Chief Financial Officer for the District of 
Columbia; (5) the International Fund for Ireland; (6) the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Brownfields 
Redevelopment; and (7) the Federal Railroad Administration.
    The Act also eliminated specified funds made available in 
the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 
for: (1) a certain grant to the National Center for Natural 
Products Research; (2) an agricultural pest facility in Hawaii; 
(3) the Congressional Hunger Fellows Program; (4) grants to the 
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer 
Protection, to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Foods, and 
Markets, and to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade 
and Consumer Protection; (5) development of a prototype for a 
national carbon inventory and accounting system for forestry 
and agriculture; (6) the International Food Protection Training 
Institute; and (7) the Center for Foodborne Illness Research 
and Prevention.
            P.L. 112-8 (H.R. 1363)
    Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 
2011
    H.R. 1363 was introduced on April 4, 2011 by 
Representatives Harold Rogers and referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations and in addition to the Committee on the Budget. 
On April 7, 2011 the bill passed the House by a recorded vote 
of 247 yeas to 181 nays. On April 8, 2011 the Senate passed the 
bill, amended, by a voice vote. On April 9, 2011 the House 
agreed to the Senate amendment by a recorded vote of 348 yeas 
to 70 nays. On that same date the bill was presented to the 
President and signed into Public Law 112-8.
    The Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 
amends the Continuing Appropriations, 2011 to extend from 
December 3, 2010, to April 15, 2011, the date by which 
appropriations and funds made available authority granted 
pursuant to such Act shall be available.
            P.L. 112-10, Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing 
                    Appropriations Act, 2011
    H.R. 1473 was introduced on April 11, 2011 by 
Representatives Harold Rogers and referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations and in addition to the Committee on the Budget 
and Ways and Means. On April 14, 2011 the bill passed the House 
by a recorded vote of 260 yeas to 167 nays. On that same day 
the bill passed the Senate by a recorded vote of 81 yeas to 19 
nays. On April 15, 2011 the bill was presented to the President 
and signed into Public Law 112-10.
    Division B of the Act makes continuing appropriations for 
FY 2011 by appropriating FY 2011 amounts at FY 2010 level for 
such operating, projects or activities as were conducted in FY 
2010 and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority 
were made available in: (1) the Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2010; (2) the Energy and Water Development 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010; (3) the 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010; (4) 
the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010; (5) the Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Act, 2010; (6) the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2010; and (7) chapter 1 of title I of the Supplemental 
Appropriations Act, 2010, addressing guaranteed loans in the 
rural housing insurance fund. (Note: See also the discussion of 
H.R. 1 under ``2. Bills Acted on by the House But Not the 
Senate.'')

2. Bills Acted on by the House But Not the Senate

            H.R. 872, Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011
    H.R. 872 was introduced on March 2, 2011 by Representative 
Bob Gibbs, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture. 
On March 9, 2011, the Committee on Agriculture ordered reported 
the bill, amended, by a voice vote. On March 16, 2011, the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure ordered reported 
the bill, amended, by a recorded vote of 46 yeas to 8 nays. The 
measure was reported to the House on March 29, 2011, by both 
committees of jurisdiction, H. Rept. part 1 and II. On March 
30, 2011, the bill was considered in the House under suspension 
of the rules with the vote postponed until the following day. 
The bill then passed the House, amended, by a recorded vote of 
292 yeas to 130 nays on March 31, 2011. On April 4, 2011, the 
measure was received in the Senate and referred to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
    The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, H.R. 872, 
amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify 
Congressional intent regarding the regulation of application of 
pesticides or residue of pesticides in or near navigable 
waters.
            The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
    The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
(``FIFRA'') is a regulatory statute that governs the sale and 
use of pesticides in the United States through the registration 
and labeling of such products. Its objective is to protect 
human health and the environment from unreasonable adverse 
effects of pesticides, taking into account the costs and 
benefits of various product uses. Pesticides regulated under 
FIFRA include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, 
rodenticides, and other designated substances. The 
Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') reviews scientific 
data submitted by chemical manufacturers on toxicity and 
behavior in the environment to evaluate risks and exposure 
associated with a product's use.
    FIFRA prohibits the sale of any pesticide unless it is 
registered and labeled indicating approved uses and 
restrictions. It is a violation of Federal law to use such a 
chemical in a manner that is inconsistent with the label 
instructions. If a registration is granted, EPA makes a finding 
that the chemical ``when used in accordance with widespread and 
commonly recognized practice it will not generally cause 
unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.'' (7 
U.S.C.136a(c)(5)(D).) EPA then specifies the approved uses and 
conditions of use of the pesticide, and this is required to be 
explained on the product label.
            The Clean Water Act
    The objective of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(commonly known as the ``Clean Water Act'' or the ``CWA'') is 
to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological 
integrity of the nation's waters. The primary mechanism for 
achieving this objective is the CWA's prohibition on the 
discharge of any pollutant without a National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination System (``NPDES'') permit. EPA has the 
authority to regulate the discharge of pollutants either 
through general permits or through individual permits. NPDES 
permits specify limits on what pollutants may be discharged 
from point sources and in what amounts. Under the CWA, 47 
states and territories have been authorized to implement NPDES 
permits and enforce permits. EPA manages the Clean Water Act 
program in the remaining states and territories.
    NPDES permits are the basic regulatory tool of the CWA. EPA 
or an authorized state may issue compliance orders, or file 
civil suits against those who violate the terms of a permit. In 
addition, in the absence of Federal or state action, 
individuals may bring a citizen suit in United States district 
court against those who violate the terms of an NPDES permit, 
or against those who discharge without a valid permit.
            Litigation
    In over 30 years of administering the CWA, EPA had never 
required an NPDES permit for the application of a pesticide, 
when the pesticide is applied in a manner consistent with FIFRA 
and its regulations. While the CWA contains a provision 
granting citizen suits against those who violate permit 
conditions or those who discharge without an NPDES permit, 
FIFRA has no citizen suit provision. As a result, beginning in 
the late 1990s, a series of citizen lawsuits were filed by 
parties, contending that an NPDES permit is necessary when 
applying a FIFRA-regulated product over, into, or near 
waterbodies. These cases generated several Court of Appeals 
decisions that created confusion and concern among pesticide 
users regarding the applicability of the CWA with regard to 
pesticide use.
    As the litigation continued, concern and confusion grew 
among farmers, forest landowners, and public health officials, 
prompting EPA to issue interim, and later final, interpretive 
guidance in August 2003 and January 2005, and then to undertake 
a rulemaking to clarify and formalize the Agency's 
interpretation of the CWA as it applied to pesticide use. The 
EPA rule was finalized in November 2006 (71 Fed. Reg. 68483 
(Nov. 27, 2006)), and was the culmination of a three year 
participatory rulemaking process that began with the interim 
interpretive statement in 2003 and involved two rounds of 
public comment.
    The 2006 EPA rule codified EPA's long-standing 
interpretation that the application of chemical and biological 
pesticides for their intended purpose and in compliance with 
pesticide label restrictions is not a discharge of a 
``pollutant'' under the CWA, and therefore, that an NPDES 
permit is not required. The rule clearly defined specific 
circumstances in which the use of pesticides in accordance with 
all relevant requirements under FIFRA is not a CWA ``discharge 
of a pollutant,'' explaining in detail the rationale for the 
Agency's interpretation.
    When the rule was finalized, environmental groups, as well 
as farm and pesticide industry groups, filed petitions for 
review of the rule in several Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal. 
The petitions were consolidated in the Sixth Circuit. The Sixth 
Circuit ultimately vacated the rule on January 7, 2009 in 
National Cotton Council v. EPA (553 F.3d 927; hereinafter, 
National Cotton Council), concluding that the final rule was 
not a reasonable interpretation of the CWA's permitting 
requirements. The court rejected EPA's contention that, when 
pesticides are applied over, into, or near waterbodies to 
control pests, they are not considered pollutants as long as 
they comply with FIFRA, and held that NPDES permits are 
required for all pesticide applications that may leave a 
residue in water.
    EPA estimated that the ruling would affect approximately 
365,000 pesticide applicators that perform some 5.6 million 
pesticide applications annually. The court's decision, which 
would apply nationally, was to be effective seven days after 
the deadline for rehearing expires or seven days after a denial 
of any petition for rehearing. Parties had until April 9, 2009 
to seek rehearing.
    On April 9, 2009, the government chose not to seek 
rehearing in the National Cotton Council case. The government 
instead filed a motion to stay issuance of the court's mandate 
for two years to provide EPA time to develop an entirely new 
NPDES permitting process to cover pesticide use. As part of 
this, EPA needed to propose and issue a final NPDES general 
permit for pesticide applications, for states to develop 
permits, and for EPA to provide outreach and education to the 
regulated community. Industry groups filed a petition seeking 
en banc review, asking the full Sixth Circuit to reconsider the 
decision from the three-judge panel.
    On June 8, 2009, the Sixth Circuit granted EPA a two-year 
stay of the court's mandate, in response to their earlier 
request. The Sixth Circuit denied the industry groups' petition 
for rehearing in August 2009. The court-ordered deadline for 
EPA to promulgate a new permitting process for pesticides under 
the Clean Water Act is April 9, 2011. On March 3, 2011, EPA 
filed another request for an extension with the court. The new 
deadline or effective date is October 31, 2011.
    Two petitions were filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in 
December 2009 by representatives of the agriculture community 
and the pesticide industry, requesting that the U.S. Supreme 
Court review the National Cotton Council case. A number of 
parties, including numerous Members of Congress, filed amicus 
briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court, in support of or opposition 
to the petitions. On February 22, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court 
denied the petitioners' request without comment.
            EPA Development of a New Permitting Process to Cover 
                    Pesticide Use
    With a two-year stay of the Sixth Circuit's mandate in 
place, EPA moved ahead with developing a new NPDES permitting 
process to cover pesticide use by the court-ordered deadline of 
April 9, 2011. The permit covers four pesticide uses: (1) 
mosquito and other flying insect pest control; (2) aquatic weed 
and algae control; (3) aquatic nuisance animal control; and (4) 
forest canopy pest control. It does not cover terrestrial 
applications to control pests on agricultural crops or forest 
floors, and does not cover activities exempt from permitting 
under the CWA (irrigation return flow, agricultural stormwater 
runoff) and discharges that will require coverage under an 
individual permit, such as discharges of pesticides to 
waterbodies that are considered impaired under CWA 303(d) for 
that discharged pesticide.
            Implications
    The Committee has received testimony and other information 
on the implications of the Sixth Circuit's holding in the 
National Cotton Council case, and the new permitting process 
that EPA has to develop under the CWA as a result of that 
holding, on state and local agencies, mosquito control 
districts, water districts, pesticide applicators, agriculture, 
forest managers, and other stakeholders. On February 16, 2011, 
the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the 
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a 
joint hearing with the Nutrition and Horticulture Subcommittee 
of the House Committee on Agriculture to consider means for 
reducing the regulatory burdens posed by the case, National 
Cotton Council v. EPA (6th Cir. 2009), and to consider related 
draft legislation.
    Despite being limited to four categories of pesticide uses, 
EPA's new general permit for covered pesticides stands to be 
the single greatest expansion of the permitting process in the 
history of the NPDES program. EPA has estimated that it can 
expect approximately 5.6 million covered pesticide applications 
per year by approximately 365,000 applicators--virtually 
doubling the number of entities currently subject to NPDES 
permitting. (U.S. EPA, Fact Sheet for 2010 Public Notice of: 
Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 
Pesticides General Permit (PGP) for Discharges from the 
Application of Pesticides to or over, including near Waters of 
the U.S., at 14, available at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/
proposed_pgp_fs.pdf.)
    With this unprecedented expansion comes real and tangible 
burdens for EPA and the states that will have to issue the 
permits, those whose livelihoods depend on the use of 
pesticides, and even everyday citizens going about their daily 
lives.
    EPA has said that it will be able to conform its current 
process to meet the Sixth Circuit's mandate. Even so, much of 
the responsibility of developing and issuing general permits 
falls on the states. Forty-five states (and the Virgin Islands) 
will face increased financial and administrative burdens in 
order to comply with the new permitting process. In a time when 
too many states are being forced to make difficult budgetary 
cuts, the nation cannot afford to impose more financial 
burdens.
    The expanded permitting process also imposes enormous 
burdens on pesticide users who encompass a wide range of 
individuals from state agencies, city and county 
municipalities, mosquito control districts, water districts, 
pesticide applicators, farmers, ranchers, forest managers, 
scientists and others. The new and duplicative permitting 
process will increase both the administrative difficulty and 
costs for pesticide applicators to come into compliance with 
the law. Compliance will no longer mean simply following 
instructions on a pesticide label. Instead, applicators will 
have to navigate a complex process of identifying the relevant 
permit, filing with the regulatory authority a valid notice of 
intent to comply with the permit and having a familiarity with 
all of the permit's conditions and restrictions. Along with 
increased administrative burdens comes an increased monetary 
burden. Estimates are that the cost associated with the EPA 
permit scheme to small businesses could be as high as $50,000 
annually.
    In addition to the costs of coming into compliance, 
pesticide users will be subject to an increased risk of 
litigation and exorbitant fines. Applicators not in compliance 
face fines of up to $37,500 per day per violation, not 
including attorney's fees. Given the fact that a large number 
of applicators have never been subject to NPDES and its 
permitting process, even a good faith effort to be in 
compliance could fall short. Moreover, the CWA allows for 
private actions against individuals who may or may not have 
committed a violation. Thus, while EPA may exercise its 
judgment and refrain from prosecuting certain applicators, they 
remain vulnerable to citizen suits. Unless Congress acts, 
hundreds of thousands of farmers, foresters, and public health 
pesticide users will go into the next season under threat of 
lawsuits once the Sixth Circuit's April 9, 2011 deadline 
passes.
    It is not only pesticide regulators and applicators who 
will be affected by new permitting requirements. Rather, the 
Sixth Circuit's decision will affect everyday citizens, who 
rely on the benefits provided by pesticides and their 
responsible application. Pesticide use is an essential part of 
agriculture. Imposing a burdensome and duplicative permitting 
process on our nation's farmers threatens their ability to 
continue to provide the country with a safe and reliable food 
supply. Many family farmers and small applicators lack the 
resources to ensure compliance with a cumbersome and detailed 
permit scheme. Moreover, for those farmers who are able to 
comply, delays that are inherent in permitting schemes are ill-
suited for prompt pest control actions necessary in 
agriculture. Failure to apply a pesticide soon after a pest is 
first detected could result in recurring and greater pest 
damage in subsequent years if a prolific insect were to become 
established in plant hosts. The Secretary of Agriculture, Hon. 
Thomas J. Vilsack, has said that a permitting system under the 
CWA for pesticide use ``is ill-suited to the demands of 
agricultural production.'' (Letter, Hon. Thomas J. Vilsack, 
Secretary of Agriculture, to Hon. Lisa P. Jackson, 
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Subject: 
The National Cotton Council of America, et al., v. United 
States Environmental Protection Agency (Mar. 6, 2009)).
    Forest landowners also will suffer under the new permit 
scheme. EPA's permit scheme will result in a reduction in the 
use of forest pest control as a forest management tool, 
resulting in the acceleration of tree mortality and general 
decline in overall forest health. It will also erect barriers 
for the control of pests, such as Gypsy Moth and Forest Tent 
Caterpillar. This may result in a higher incidence of 
preventable tree kills and defoliated landscapes.
    Finally, the Sixth Circuit's holding could have significant 
implications for public health. The National Centers for 
Disease Control officially recognizes the following as a 
partial list of mosquito-borne diseases--Eastern Equine 
Encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis, La Crosse Encephalitis, 
St. Louis Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, Western Equine 
Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Malaria, Rift Valley Fever, and 
Yellow Fever. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/list_mosquitoborne.htm.) 
EPA's permit program poses the possibility of critical delays 
in emergency responses to insect and disease outbreaks and will 
divert resources from controlling environmental pests to 
litigation and administrative burdens.
            Development of Legislation in Response to the Sixth Circuit 
                    Decision
    As a result of concerns raised by Federal, state, local, 
and private stakeholders regarding the interrelationship 
between FIFRA and the CWA and the concerns posed by the new and 
duplicative permitting process under the CWA, the House 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and House 
Committee on Agriculture sought technical assistance from EPA 
to draft very narrow legislation targeted only at addressing 
the Sixth Circuit's holding in National Cotton Council and 
return the state of pesticide regulation to the status quo--
before the courts got involved. H.R. 872 is based on the 
technical assistance that EPA provided to the Committees, and 
is intended to be consistent with EPA's final rule from 
November 2006. The bill amends FIFRA and the CWA to eliminate 
the requirement of an NPDES permit for applications of 
pesticides authorized for sale, distribution, or use under 
FIFRA. (Note: See also the discussion of H. Res. 72 under ``3. 
House Resolutions Considered in the House'' and the discussion 
under ``D. Oversight'')
    Other Bills: Several bills acted on by other committees, 
but not acted on by the Committee on Agriculture contain 
provisions relating to matters with the Committee's 
jurisdiction. The following are abbreviated summaries of these 
bill, including some the relevant provisions.
            Legislative Matters
            H.R. 910, to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the 
                    Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
                    Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, 
                    taking action relating to, or taking into 
                    consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to 
                    address climate change, and for other purposes
    H.R. 910 was introduced by Representative Fred Upton on 
March 3, 2011 and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce. On April 1, 2011 the bill was reported to the House, 
amended, H. Rept. 112-50. The bill passed the House, amended, 
by a recorded vote on April 7, 2011 and was then referred to 
the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on April 
8, 2011.
    The Act prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) from promulgating any regulation 
concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into 
consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas (GHG) to address 
climate change under the Clean Air Act. The bill would also 
repeal a number of EPA rules and actions and allow the term 
``air pollutant'' to include a GHG for the purpose of 
addressing other concerns.
    The Act also exempts from such prohibition: (1) 
implementation and enforcement of the rule, ``Light-Duty 
Vehicle Greenhouse Emission Standards and Corporate Average 
Fuel Economy Standards'' and finalization implementation, 
enforcement, and revision of the proposed rule, ``Greenhouse 
Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for 
Medium and Heavy Duty Engines and Vehicles''; (2) 
implementation of the renewable fuel program, statutorily 
authorized federal research, development, and demonstration 
programs and voluntary programs addressing climate change; (3) 
implementation and enforcement of stratospheric ozone 
protection to the extent that such implementation or 
enforcement only involves class I or II substances; and (4) 
implementation and enforcement of requirements for monitoring 
and reporting of carbon dioxide emission.
    The measure prohibits the Administrator from waiving, and 
invalidates waivers given by the Administrator, the ban on 
states from adopting or enforcing standards relating to the 
control of emissions from new motor vehicles or engines with 
respect to GHG emissions for model year 2017 or any subsequent 
model year.
    The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) there is 
established scientific concern over warming of the climate 
system based upon evidence from observations of increases in 
global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting 
of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level; (2) 
addressing climate change is an international issue, involving 
complex scientific and economic consideration; (3) the United 
States has a role to play in resolving global climate change 
matters on an international basis; and (4) Congress should 
fulfill that role by developing policies that do not adversely 
affect the American economy, energy supplies, and employment. 
(Note: See also the discussion of H. Res. 72 under ``3. House 
Resolutions Considered in the House.'')
            Appropriations
            H.R. 1, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
    H.R. 1 was introduced on February 11, 2011 by 
Representative Harold Rogers and referred to the Committee on 
Appropriations and in addition to the Committee on the Budget. 
On February 19, 2011 the bill passed the House by a recorded 
vote of 235 yeas to 189 nays. On February 28, 2011, the bill 
was received in the Senate and placed on the Legislative 
Calendar. On March 9, 2011 the bill not having achieved 60 
votes in the affirmative, failed passage by a vote of 44 yeas 
to 56 nays.
    The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 makes FY 
2011 appropriations for the Department of Defense, with some 
specified items at levels reduced from FY 2010 levels. The bill 
makes FY 2011 appropriations for other federal departments and 
agencies, with many specified programs at levels reduced from 
FY 2010 levels and funding for certain programs eliminated 
entirely.
    Specifically division B of the Act appropriates FY 2011 
amounts at the FY 2010 level for such continuing operations, 
projects, or activities as were conducted in FY 2010 and for 
which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made 
available in: (1) the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
2010 (P.L. 111-80); (2) the Energy and Water Development and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-85); (3) 
the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 
(P.L. 111-83); (4) the Department of the Interior, Environment, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (division A of 
P.L. 111-88); (5) the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 
2010 (division A of P.L. 111-68); (6) the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117); (7) chapter 1 of title 
I of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-212), 
addressing guaranteed loans in the rural housing insurance 
fund; and (8) the United States Patent and Trademark Office 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-224) for the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office. (Note: See also the 
discussion of P.L. 112-10 under ``1. Bills Enacted into Law.'')
            H.R. 2112, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
                    Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations
    H.R. 2112 was introduced on June 3, 2011 by Representative 
Jack Kingston and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. 
On that same day the Committee on Appropriations reported an 
original measure, H. Rept. 112-101. On June 16, 2011 the bill 
passed the House by a recorded vote of 217 yeas to 203 nays.
    The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 
makes FY 2012 appropriations for the: (1) Department of 
Agriculture (USDA); (2) Food and Drug Administration (FDA); (3) 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and (4) the Farm 
Credit Administration.

3. House Resolutions Considered in the House

            H. Res. 72, Directing certain standing committees to 
                    inventory and review existing, pending, and 
                    proposed regulations and orders from agencies of 
                    the Federal Government, particularly with respect 
                    to their effect on jobs and economic growth.
    H. Res. 72 was introduced on February 8, 2011 by 
Representative Pete Sessions and referred to the Committee on 
Rules. On February 8, 2011 the Committee on Rules reported an 
original measure, H. Rept. 112-6. On February 11, 2011, the 
resolution passed the House by a recorded vote of 391 yeas to 
28 nays.
    H. Res. 72 requires Committees, including the Committee on 
Agriculture to inventory and review existing, pending, and 
proposed regulations, orders, and other administrative actions 
or procedures by federal agencies within its jurisdiction. The 
resolution also requires each committee, upon completion of its 
inventory and review to: (1) consider specified matters; (2) 
conduct any hearings and other oversight activities necessary 
in support of the inventory and review, and (3) identify in a 
report on the first session of the 112th Congress any oversight 
or legislative activity conducted in support of, or as a result 
of, such inventory and review. (Note: See the discussion of 
H.R. 872 under ``2 Bills Acted on by the House But Not the 
Senate'', H.R. 1573 under ``4. Bills Ordered Reported, and D. 
Oversight.'')

4. Bills Reported

            H.R. 1573, To facilitate implementation of title VII of the 
                    Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
                    Protection Act, promote regulatory coordination, 
                    and avoid market disruption.
    H.R. 1573 was introduced on April 15, 2011 by Chairman 
Lucas and referred to the Committee on Financial Services and 
in addition to the Committee on Agriculture. On May 4, 2011, 
the Committee on Agriculture held a business meeting and 
ordered reported, H.R. 1573, amended, by a voice vote. On May 
24, 2011, the Committee on Financial Services held a business 
meeting and ordered reported, H.R. 1573, amended, by a recorded 
vote of 30 yeas to 24 nays. On June 11, 2011 both the Committee 
on Financial Services and the Committee on Agriculture filed a 
report, H. Rept. 112-109 pt. 1 and 2.
    The bill as ordered reported extends the statutory deadline 
for the implementation of most provisions of Title VII of the 
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 111-203) 
by 18 months. The bill does not extend the deadline for the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue final rules further 
defining key terms in Section 712(d)(1) of swap, security based 
swap, swap dealer, security-based swap dealer, major swap 
participant, major security-based swap participant and eligible 
contract participant. The bill also does not extend the 
deadline for the reporting requirements in Sections 2(h)(5) and 
4r of the Commodity Exchange Act and Sections 3C(e) and 13A(a) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. To facilitate the 
reporting of swaps data, the bill gives the CFTC and the SEC 
interim authority to designate swap data repositories that meet 
certain criteria. In addition, the bill requires the CFTC and 
SEC, prior to prescribing any final rules required under Title 
VII, to hold additional roundtables and public hearings to 
receive public testimony and factor it into the rule proposals. 
Lastly, H.R. 1573 gives the CFTC and SEC authority to exempt 
certain persons from registration or related regulatory 
requirements if they are subject to comparable regulation by a 
U.S. or foreign regulatory authority.
    Beginning in February, the Committee held 4 hearings, two 
Full Committee and two General Farm Commodities and Risk 
Management Subcommittee hearings to examine the implementation 
of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Committee took 
testimony from witnesses that represented a broad spectrum of 
participants in the derivatives markets. The Committee heard 
from a broad array of end-users, including agricultural 
cooperatives, manufacturers, commercial energy firms and 
electric utilities. The Committee also heard from large 
financial market participants, such as a global exchange and 
clearinghouse, electronic trading platforms, swap dealers, 
hedge funds and mutual funds. Witnesses also included pension 
funds, community banks and farm credit banks. Across the 
spectrum of expertise, an overwhelming majority of witnesses 
expressed concerns that the compressed statutory deadlines and 
sheer volume of regulations were having a negative impact on 
the implementation process, particularly at the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). In short, a common concern 
was that the statutory deadlines forced the regulatory agencies 
to prioritize speed over deliberation, making it difficult for 
stakeholders to comment, and undermining the economic analysis 
associated with each proposed rule. Witnesses also expressed 
concerns that many of the CFTC's rule proposals exceed or 
conflict with congressional intent, are inconsistent with 
proposals from other regulatory agencies, and may be 
detrimental for U.S. businesses, for our markets, and for our 
economy. The Committee also heard testimony from multiple 
witnesses about the role of speculation in the commodities 
markets, including the impact on the price of food and fuel. 
When he testified before the Committee, Chairman Gensler cited 
the need for transparency and confidence in commodity trading 
that Dodd-Frank will provide for users of energy and food and 
that is ``critical for our economy.''
    In addition, there are efforts around the world to 
implement financial regulatory reform in the wake of the global 
financial crisis. In September of 2009, the leaders of the G20 
Nations agreed to implement certain OTC derivatives reforms by 
the end of December of 2012. Many of the witnesses, along with 
a broad cross section of industry and academics, have cited 
concerns about the U.S. moving on a much faster timetable than 
the European Union (EU) or Asian regulators, creating the 
potential for regulatory arbitrage and negative consequences to 
the competitiveness of U.S. businesses. The extreme pace of 
rulemaking diminishes the opportunity for regulators to 
coordinate and harmonize international regulatory regimes, 
creates opportunities for regulatory arbitrage, and gives 
foreign countries a ``learn from our mistakes'' advantage. 
While it would not be possible or wise to tie the timing of our 
regulatory reforms to unpredictable deadlines of the EU and 
other jurisdictions, slowing the process down would enhance the 
opportunity for coordination and greater consistency among 
regulatory regimes.
    Last, the CFTC Inspector General (IG) recently issued an 
investigative report of the CFTC's cost-benefit analysis 
performed in connection with Dodd-Frank rulemakings. In 
general, the report found that the CFTC takes a minimalist 
approach to considering the costs and benefits of proposed 
regulations and focuses more on meeting the legal obligation 
under the Commodity Exchange Act than performing a legitimate 
economic analysis. Put simply, the CFTC IG concluded the report 
by saying ``We are mindful of the adage, `just because 
something is legal, doesn't make it right.' And we 
wholeheartedly agree that, `[in] the end, economic analysis is 
more than about satisfying procedural requirements for 
regulatory rulemaking.''' In addition, the report found that 
the irrational sequence of rule proposals that many witnesses 
cited as an impediment to their ability to provide meaningful 
comment was created by the compressed timeframes. Specifically 
the report stated ``Staff and management were aware that market 
participants might refrain from comment on conduct regulations 
in the mistaken belief that they would not fall within the 
definitions. However, at this stage in the process, staff 
indicated the overriding concern was meeting the rule-making 
deadline under Dodd-Frank.''
    H.R. 1573 gives the regulatory agencies an additional 18 
months to promulgate most rules required by Title VII. A common 
concern, particularly among end-users, was that the sequence of 
rule proposals made it difficult for them to comment 
meaningfully. For example, one of the last rules proposed by 
the CFTC in the initial proposing phase was the definition of 
``swap.'' Stakeholders were asked to comment on each rule 
prescribing a regulatory regime without clarification regarding 
the scope of products impacted. For certain industries, such as 
the electric power industry, the definition of swap was a 
significant factor in understanding which regulations they may 
be subject to. In addition, rules were proposed to govern Major 
Swap Participants and Swap Dealers before a rule had been 
proposed to define Major Swap Participant and Swap Dealer. To 
provide for a more rational sequence of rule proposals, H.R. 
1573 does not extend the deadline for the definitions required 
under Section 712 (d)(1). This will provide clarity to market 
participants about their regulatory status, and to facilitate 
productive comment on the succeeding rules prescribing the 
relevant regulatory requirements.
    H.R. 1573 also does not extend the deadline for the 
regulatory reporting requirements applicable to swaps in 
Sections 723 and 729 and the similar provisions applicable to 
security-based swaps. This provision will ensure transparency 
and reporting of all swap transactions are not delayed, both to 
give the regulatory agencies access to market data to monitor 
for systemic risk, and to further instruct the rulemaking 
process by providing swap market data that the agencies 
currently do not have. To facilitate the reporting of swaps 
data and encourage further development of swap data 
repositories, H.R. 1573 gives the regulatory agencies interim 
authority to designate swap data repositories during the period 
in which the regulations governing swap data repositories are 
being finalized.
    The bill also requires the CFTC and the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (SEC) to hold additional public roundtables 
and hearings to take testimony from affected market 
participants prior to the finalization of any rules. Providing 
stakeholders additional time to offer input will help to 
mitigate unintended consequences of poorly vetted proposals, 
and permit comment once all rules have been proposed and can be 
considered in light of their interdependence and cumulative 
impact on the markets. During consideration of H.R. 1573, 
Representative Joe Courtney offered an amendment to exempt the 
establishment of position limits from the bill in order to 
reduce speculation on food and energy commodities. While the 
amendment was ultimately defeated by one vote, the amendment 
received bipartisan support and highlighted the need for strong 
oversight by the CFTC over the influence of speculation on 
commodity markets. (Note: See also the discussion of H. Res. 72 
under ``3. House Resolutions Considered in the House'' and the 
discussion of ``D. Oversight.'')

                              d. oversight

    The Committee on Agriculture and its Subcommittees were 
active in their oversight functions, holding a number of 
oversight hearings and activities during the first quarter of 
the 112th Congress. The hearings related to the application, 
administration, and effectiveness of laws that lie within the 
Committee's jurisdiction as well as the organization and 
operation of the Department of Agriculture and other federal 
agencies having responsibility for the administration of such 
laws. The hearings often result in recommendations for 
improvements in the administration of the laws, regulations and 
policies in effect in the Executive Branch as they relate to 
the Committee's jurisdiction. Information gathered at these 
hearings was useful in preparing legislation for consideration 
in the House of Representatives.
    As part of its hearings, the Committee and its 
Subcommittees reviewed the way the particular federal agency or 
department (usually the Department of Agriculture) administered 
existing laws related to the subject matter of the legislation 
before, or to be considered by, the Committee. In some cases, 
legislation favorably reported to the House carries a 
termination date (a ``sunset'') to ensure that in the future 
Congress will again review the effectiveness and the methods 
with which the Executive Branch of Government has carried out 
the letter and the spirit of that statute.
    In keeping with the objective of the Oversight Plan as 
submitted to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
and House Administration and H.J. Res. 72, the Committee and 
its subcommittees conducted the following chronological 
oversight hearings during the first quarter of the 112th 
Congress (Note: To see a copy of the Oversight Plan as 
submitted, see ``I. Summary of Organization, Jurisdiction, and 
Oversight Plan of the Committee on Agriculture'' and to see the 
description of H.J. Res. 72, see ``3. House Resolutions 
Considered in the House''.):
    January 20, 2011: Public Forum To Review the Biotechnology 
Product Regulatory Approval Process. Full Committee. Committee 
Print No. 112-1.
    The purpose of this forum was to review the biotechnology 
product regulatory approval process. The forum was held prior 
to an expected announcement by the USDA regarding genetically 
engineered alfalfa. The USDA has proposed an option that would 
be a departure from existing policy and would partially 
deregulate the product and impose geographic restrictions and 
isolation distances. Testimony was heard from two witnesses on 
two panels, including Thomas Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture. (Note: See also the discussion of 
H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House Resolutions Considered in the 
House.'')
    February 10, 2011: Hearing To Review Implementation of 
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act, Part I. Full Committee. Hearing Serial No. 112-
1.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review implementations 
of title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act. Many expressed concerns that the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission is issuing too many rules too 
quickly to the detriment of adequate cost benefit analysis, 
deliberation and meaningful public comment. The subcommittee 
heard testimony from six witnesses on two panels, including 
Chairman Gary Gensler of the Commodity Futures trading 
Commission, as well as buyers and sellers of derivatives, and 
providers of clearing and execution platforms. (Note: See also 
the discussion of H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House Resolutions 
Considered in the House'' and the discussion of H.R. 1573 under 
``4. Bills Reported.'')
    February 15, 2011: Hearing To Review the Various 
Definitions of Rural Applied Under Programs Operated by the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Subcommittee on Rural 
Development, Research, Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture. 
Hearing Serial No. 112-2.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the various 
definitions of rural applied under programs operated by the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture. The definition of rural plays a 
key role in targeting scarce federal dollars to communities in 
need. The 2008 Farm Bill made several changes to these 
definitions to ensure that funds are not used in and around 
urban areas. The 2008 Farm Bill also directed the Secretary of 
Agriculture to submit a report on the various definitions of 
rural as used by the USDA within two years of passage of the 
bill. Concern was expressed because the report has not been 
completed. There were five witnesses on two panels, including 
Ms. Cheryl Cook, Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Note: See also the discussion 
of H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House Resolutions Considered in the 
House'' and the discussion of H.R. 1573 under ``4. Bills 
Reported.'')
    February 15, 2011: Hearing To Review Implementation of 
Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act, Part II. Subcommittee on General Farm 
Commodities and Risk Management. Hearing Serial No. 112-1.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the 
implementation of title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This was part two of last 
weeks hearing to further review the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission's effort to write rules that will implement a new 
regulatory regime for the derivatives market. Topics discussed 
were the potential impact of the more than thirty new 
regulatory proposals the Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
has issued since September. Testimony was heard from six 
witnesses on a single panel. (Note: See also the discussion of 
H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House Resolutions Considered in the 
House'' and the discussion of H.R. 1573 under ``4. Bills 
Reported.'')
    February 16, 2011: Joint Hearing To Consider Reducing the 
Regulatory Burdens Posed by the Case, National Cotton Council 
v. EPA (6th Cir. 2009) and To Review Related Draft Legislation. 
Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture of the Committee on 
Agriculture and Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment 
of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Hearing 
Serial No. 112-3.
    The purpose of this hearing was to consider reducing the 
regulatory burdens posed by the case National Cotton Council v. 
EPA (6th Cir. 2009) and to review related draft legislation. 
Members of the subcommittee considered draft legislation 
targeted at addressing the 6th Circuit Court ruling under 
which, pesticide users would have to obtain a duplicate permit 
under the Clean Water Act for the use of pesticides. Pesticides 
are used by farmers, ranchers, forest managers, mosquito 
control districts, water districts, and others and pesticide 
applications are highly regulated under the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act. Testimony was heard 
from five witnesses on two panels. (Note: See also the 
discussion of H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House Resolutions 
Considered in the House'' and the discussion of the H.R. 872 
under ``2. Bills Acted on by the House But Not the Senate.'')
    February 17, 2011: Hearing To Review the State of the Farm 
Economy. Full Committee. Hearing Serial No. 112-4.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the state of the 
farm economy. Topics discussed include the many regulatory 
burdens affecting the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers, 
economic trends in prices, input costs, and farm output. The 
committee heard testimony from the Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
    March 10, 2011: Hearing To Review the Impact of EPA 
Regulation on Agriculture. Full Committee. Hearing Serial No. 
112-5.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the impact of EPA 
regulations on agriculture. The committee discussed the 
aggressive regulatory agenda the agency is pursing at the 
expense of the livelihoods of America's farmers and ranchers. 
Testimony was heard from Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency. (Note: See also the discussion 
of H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House Resolutions Considered in the 
House.'')
    March 16, 2011: Hearing To Review the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, 
Agricultural Conservation Practices, and Their Implications on 
National Watersheds. Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and 
Forestry. Hearing Serial No. 112-6.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the Chesapeake 
Bay TMDL, agriculture conservation practices, and their 
implications on national watersheds. Topics discussed were the 
importance of conservation programs and their impacts on the 
health of the Chesapeake Bay, as well as the steps farmers have 
taken to preserve and protect the watershed. Many expressed 
concerns that the EPA is not recognizing the contributions 
producers have made to ensuring a healthy bay, that the EPA is 
not considering the economic consequences of its Chesapeake Bay 
cleanup program on the agricultural community, and that the EPA 
could use the process from this effort and eventually apply it 
to other watersheds across the country which would subject 
farmers there to heavy regulations. The subcommittee heard 
testimony from seven witnesses on two panels. (Note: See also 
the discussion of H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House Resolutions 
Considered in the House.'')
    March 31, 2011: Defining the Market: Entity and Product 
Classifications Under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Full Committee. Hearing 
Serial No. 112-7.
    The purpose of this hearing, titled ``Define the Market: 
Entity and Product Classifications under Title VII of the Dodd-
Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,'' was to 
review the definitions of key terms included in Dodd-Frank, 
such as ``swap,'' ``swap dealer,'' and ``major swap 
participant.'' Members of the committee considered how end-
users will be impacted by these definitions and regulatory 
designations. There were six witnesses on two panels, including 
the Honorable Gary Gensler, Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission. (Note: See also the discussion of H.J. Res. 72 
under ``3. House Resolutions Considered in the House'' and the 
discussion of H.R. 1573 under ``4. Bills Reported.'')
    April 6, 2011: Hearing To Review the State of the Beef 
Industry. Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. 
Hearing Serial No. 112-8.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the state of the 
beef industry. Topics discussed included the structure and 
economic conditions of the beef sector and a range of issues 
impacting the beef industry such as environmental policies, 
feed availability, input process, trade, and the proposed Grain 
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule. 
The subcommittee heard testimony from three witnesses on one 
panel.
    April 7, 2011: Hearing To Review Market Promotion Programs 
and Their Effectiveness on Expanding Exports of U.S. 
Agricultural Products. Subcommittee on Rural Development, 
Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture. Hearing 
Serial No. 112-9.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review market promotion 
programs and their effectiveness on expanding exports of U.S. 
agricultural products. Topics discussed included the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service which 
operates five market promotion programs. These programs are all 
designed to facilitate exports and include the Market Access 
Program, Foreign Market Development Program, Emerging Markets 
Program, Quality Samples Program, and the Technical Assistance 
for Specialty Crops program. Testimony was heard from six 
witnesses on two panels, including John Brewer, Administrator, 
Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
    April 13, 2011: Implementing Dodd-Frank: A Review of the 
CFTC's Rulemaking Process. Subcommittee on General Farm 
Commodities and Risk Management. Hearing Serial No. 112-10.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review CFTC's Rulemaking 
Process for implementing title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This was the third 
hearing in a series of hearings to review the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Testimony was heard 
from six witnesses on two panels.
    April 13, 2011: Hearing To Review the State of the Poultry 
Industry. Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. 
Hearing Serial No. 112-11.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the state of the 
poultry industry. The subcommittee heard testimony from a 
chicken grower, a chicken integrator, and a turkey grower on 
the structure and economic conditions of the poultry sector. 
Testimony from three witnesses was heard on a single panel. 
(Note: See also the discussion of H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House 
Resolutions Considered in the House'' and the discussion of 
H.R. 1573 under ``4. Bills Reported.'')
    April 14, 2011: Hearing To Review Credit Conditions in 
Rural America. Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Oversight, and Credit. Hearing Serial No. 112-12.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review credit conditions 
in rural America. Many expressed concern over credit being 
readily available through institutions that are fundamentally 
sound, since a number of institutions provide credit to our 
nations farmers, ranchers, and rural constituents. The 
subcommittee heard testimony from seven witnesses from two 
panels. Witnesses included representatives from the FSA, FCA, 
Farmer Mac, the Federal Reserve Bank, local banks, and the 
agricultural community.
    May 3, 2011: Joint hearing At Risk: American Jobs, 
Agriculture, Health and Species--the Costs of Federal 
Regulatory Dysfunction. Committee on Agriculture and the 
Committee on Natural Resources. Hearing Serial No. 112-13.
    The purpose of this hearing was to bring together the 
Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees to focus on 
pesticide registration consultations under section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) carried out between the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and either the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the Department of Commerce, 
or the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the 
Interior (FWS).
    Committee members encouraged federal agencies to include a 
transparent analysis of the economic impacts to production 
agriculture and forestry in the scope of work of the recently 
requested review by the National Academies of Science (NAS) and 
to commit to re-initiating consultation on the first several 
biological opinions following completion of the review by the 
NAS of the scientific models and economic impacts used by the 
federal agencies. The Committees heard from ten witnesses on 
two panels including USDA Chief Economist Dr. Joseph Glauber. 
(Note: See also the discussion of H.J. Res. 72 under ``3. House 
Resolutions Considered in the House.'')
    May 4, 2011: Hearing To Review the State of the Pork 
Industry. Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. 
Hearing Serial No. 112-14.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the state of the 
pork industry. The subcommittee discussed the economic and 
policy issues currently affecting the pork industry. These 
included international trade, feed availability, animal health 
and welfare, environmental policies, and the proposed Grain 
Inspection. The subcommittee heard testimony from three 
witnesses, including a small farrow-to-finish producer, a 
packer, and an owner of a large family-owned pork farming 
network.
    May 5, 2011: Hearing To Review the U.S. Forest Service's 
Proposed Forest Planning Rule. Subcommittee on Conservation, 
Energy, and Forestry. Hearing Serial No. 112-15.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review U.S. Forest 
Service's proposed Forest Planning Rule. The proposed planning 
rule was issued on February 14, 2011 and has a public comment 
period open until May 16, 2011. The rule revises the Forest 
Service's current planning process for its 155 national 
forests, 20 grasslands, and 1 prairie. Many expressed concerns 
that the rule is too complex, does nothing to reduce the 
regulatory burden on those working in the forest products 
industry, and does not adequately promote forestry job growth. 
The subcommittee heard testimony from five witnesses on two 
panels.
    May 12, 2011: Hearing To Review Pending Free Trade 
Agreements. Full Committee. Hearing Serial No. 112-16.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review pending free 
trade agreements. The Committee examined pending free trade 
agreements between the U.S. and Colombia, Panama, and South 
Korea. Witnesses discussed the potential benefits of reducing 
tariffs under the three pending agreements and the U.S. 
experience with past trade agreements. The Committee heard 
testimony from two panels with eight witnesses, including Hon. 
Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture 
and Hon. Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative.
    May 25, 2011: Harmonizing Global Derivatives Reform: Impact 
on U.S. Competitiveness and Market Stability. Subcommittee on 
General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. Hearing Serial 
No. 112-17
    The purpose of this hearing was to explore the need to 
harmonize reforms with other G20 nations, perform cost-benefit 
analysis, and avoid opportunities for regulatory arbitrage. The 
subcommittee heard testimony from eight witnesses on two panels 
including two commissioners from the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission.
    June 2, 2011: Hearing To Review Recent Investigations and 
Audits Conducted by the USDA Inspector General. Subcommittee on 
Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit. Hearing Serial 
No. 112-18.
    The purpose of this hearing was to review the work of the 
USDA Office of the Inspector General. Members of the 
subcommittee discussed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program misuse, the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
audit, minority programs investigations, Biomass Crop 
Assistance Program implementation oversight, and USDA 
information technology improvement progress. Members heard 
testimony from a single panel of one witness, The Honorable 
Phyllis K. Fong, who was accompanied by three other OIG staff 
members. (Note: See also the discussion of H.J. Res. 72 under 
``3. House Resolutions Considered in the House.'')
    June 23, 2011: Hearing To Review Opportunities and Benefits 
of Agricultural Biotechnology. Subcommittee on Rural 
Development, Research, Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture. 
Hearing Serial No. 112-19
    June 24, 2011: Agricultural Program Audit: Examination of 
Crop Insurance Programs. Subcommittee on General Farm 
Commodities and Risk Management. Hearing Serial No. 112-20

                        e. meetings not printed

    January 25, 2011--Full Committee open business meeting. 
Organizational meeting for the 112th Congress. Approval by 
voice vote of the Committee rules.
    February 10, 2011--Full Committee open business meeting. 
Approval by voice vote of the Oversight Plan for the 112th 
Congress.
    March 9, 2011--Full Committee open business meeting. 
Approval by voice vote of H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory 
Burdens Act of 2011.
    March 15, 2011--Full Committee open business meeting. 
Approval by voice vote of the Budget Views and Estimates Letter 
for FY 2012, offering budget recommendations of the Committee 
on Agriculture for the agencies and programs under its 
jurisdiction.
    May 4, 2011--Full Committee open business meeting. Approval 
by voice vote H.R. 1573, to facilitate implementation of title 
VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act, promote regulatory coordination, and avoid 
market disruption.
    June 23, 2011--Full Committee open business meeting. 
Approval by voice vote of the Activity Report of the Committee 
on Agriculture for the 1st Quarter of the 112th Congress as 
required by House Rule XI, clause d(1).

                          f. committee prints

    Public Forum To Review the Biotechnology Product Regulatory 
Approval Process. January 20, 2011. Print No. 112-1.
    Committee on Agriculture Rules. Print. No. 112-2.
    Ceremony Unveiling the Portrait of the Honorable Collin C. 
Peterson. April 5, 2011. Print No. 112-3.

                             III. Appendix


                      a. executive communications

    E.C. 25--Jan. 6, 2011: A letter from the Office of Research 
and Analysis, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP): Clarifications and Corrections to Recipient 
Claim Establishment and Collection Standards [FNS-2008-0034] 
(RIN: 0584-AD25) received January 4, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 44--Jan. 7, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Review Group, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Tobacco Transition 
Payment Program; Tobacco Transition Assessments (RIN: 0560-
AH30) received January 4, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 119--Jan. 19, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Review Group, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Tobacco Transition 
Payment Program; Tobacco Transition Assessments (RIN: 0560-
AH30) received January 6, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 172--Jan. 24, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Emerald Ash Borer; Quarantined Areas; 
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin [Docket No.: APHIS-2008-
0072] received January 11, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 173--Jan. 24, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Pine Shoot Beetle; Additions to 
Quarantined Areas [Docket No.: APHIS-2008-0111] received 
January 11, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 174--Jan. 24, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Asian Longhorned Beetle; Additions to 
Quarantined Areas in Massachusetts and New York [Docket No.: 
APHIS-2009-0014] received January 11, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 193--Jan. 25, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's ``Major'' final rule--Subpart B--
Advanced Biofuel Payment Program (RIN: 0570-AA75) received 
January 21, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 194--Jan. 25, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's ``Major'' final rule--Biorefinery 
Assistance Guaranteed Loans (RIN: 0570-AA73) received January 
21, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 257--Feb. 8, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--2-Propenoic Acid, 
Methyl Ester, Polymer with Ethenyl Acetate, Hydrolyzed, Sodium 
Salts; Tolerance Exemption [EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0603 FRL-8114-9] 
received January 13, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 335--Feb. 9, 2011: A letter from the Secretary, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting a report entitled 
``Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act 
Pilot Project''; jointly to the Committees on Natural Resources 
and Agriculture.
    E.C. 336--Feb. 10, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Fluazinam; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0032; FRL-8859-3] 
received January 14, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 416--Feb. 14, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Black Stem Rust; Additions of Rust-
Resistant Varieties [Docket No.: APHIS-2010-0088] received 
January 21, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 478--Feb. 14, 2011: A letter from the Management 
Analyst, Directives and Regulations Branch, Forest Service, 
transmitting the Service's final rule--Prohibitions in Areas 
Designated by Order Closure of National Forest System Lands to 
Protect Privacy of Tribal Activities (RIN: 0596-AC93) received 
January 21, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); jointly to 
the Committees on Natural Resources and Agriculture.
    E.C. 508--Feb. 16, 2011: A letter from the Acting 
Congressional Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Emerald Ash Borer; 
Addition of Quarantined Areas in Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, 
New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin [Docket 
No.: APHIS-2009-0098] received February 4, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 509--Feb. 16, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Review Group, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Prevention of 
Payments to Deceased Persons (RIN: 0560-AH91) received January 
19, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 510--Feb. 16, 2011: A letter from the Chief Planning 
and Regulatory Affairs Branch, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program, Regulation Restructuring: 
Issuance Regulation Update and Reorganization To Reflect the 
End of Coupon Issuance Systems (RIN: 0584-AD48) received 
January 21, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 511--Feb. 16, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza 
[Docket No.: APHIS-2006-0074] (RIN: 0579-AC36) received January 
25, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 512--Feb. 16, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Review Group, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Loan Servicing; Farm 
Loan Programs (RIN: 0560-AI05) received February 4, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 538--Feb. 17, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's ``Major'' final rule--Subpart A--
Repowering Assistance Payments to Eligible Biorefineries (RIN: 
0570-AA74) received January 24, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 539--Feb. 17, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Fluazifop-P-
butyl; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0980; FRL-8861-1] 
received January 25, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 540--Feb. 17, 2011:A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Sulfentrazone; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0125; FRL-8860-1] 
received January 25, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 558--Feb. 18, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Sodium and 
Potassium salts of N-alkyl (C8-C18)-beta-iminodipropionic acid; 
Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-
0098; FRL-8861-9] received January 31, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 559--Feb. 18, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Fludioxonil; 
Pesticide Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions [EPA-Q-OPP-2010-
0982; FRL-8859-6] received January 31, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 560--Feb. 18, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--n-Octyl alcohol 
and n-Decyl alcohol; Exemption from the Requirement of a 
Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0181; FRL-8860-7] received January 
31, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 561--Feb. 18, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--(S,S)-
Ethylenediamine Disuccinic Acid Trisodium Salt; Exemption from 
the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0733; FRL-8860-
6] received January 31, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 562--Feb. 18, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Cyprodinil; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0385; FRL-8860-3] 
received January 31, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 563--Feb. 18, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Isobutane; 
Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-
0676; FRL-8860-4] received January 31, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 564--Feb. 18, 2011:A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Bispyribac-
sodium; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0796; FRL-8860-2] 
received January 31, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 597--Mar. 1, 2011: A letter from the Regulatory 
Officer, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Adjustment of Appendices to the Dairy 
Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Regulation for the 2010 
Tariff-Rate Quota Year received January 19, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 598--Mar. 1, 2011:A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Mefenoxam; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0713; FRL-8855-1] 
received January 28, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 717--Mar. 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Polymerized Fatty 
Acid Esters with Aminoalcohol Alkoxylates; Exemption from the 
Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0275; FRL-8860-8] 
received February 11, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 718--Mar. 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Clothianidin; 
Time-Limited Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0217; FRL-
8858-3] received February 11, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 719--Mar. 3, 2011:A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--1,4-
Benzenedicarboxylic Acid, Dimethyl Ester, Polymer with 1,4-
Butanediol, Adipic Acid, and Hexamethylene Diisocyanate; 
Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-
0838; FRL-8863-9] received February 11, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 762--Mar. 8, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Difenoconazole; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0823; FRL-8864-9] 
received February 28, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 763--Mar. 8, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Potassium 
hypochlorite; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance 
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0996; FRL-8859-5] received February 28, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 802--Mar. 10, 2011: A letter from the Director, Policy 
Issuances Division, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Nutrition Labeling of Single-
Ingredient Products and Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry 
Products [Docket No.: FSIS-2005-0018] (RIN: 0583-AC60) received 
February 18, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 803--Mar. 10, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Citrus Seed Imports; Citrus Greening 
and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis [Docket No.: APHIS-2008-0052] 
(RIN: 0579-AD07) received February 16, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 842--Mar. 14, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Review Group, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Asparagus Revenue 
Market Loss Assistant Payment Program (RIN: 0560-AI02) received 
February 18, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 881--Mar. 15, 2011: A letter from the Commissioner, 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, transmitting a letter 
regarding the current budget deliberations for the Commodity 
Futures Trading Commission; jointly to the Committees on 
Agriculture and Appropriations.
    E.C. 903--Mar. 17, 2011: A letter from the Secretary, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's report 
entitled, ``2010 Packers and Stockyards Program Annual 
Report'', pursuant to the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, 
as amended.
    E.C. 1002--Apr. 4, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Potassium 
benzoate; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-
HQ-OPP-2011-0117; FRL-8863-2] received March 3, 2011, pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1003--Apr. 4, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Peroxyacetic 
Acid; Amendment to an Exemption from the Requirement of a 
Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0021; FRL-8865-3] received March 3, 
2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1004--Apr. 4, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Fomesafen; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0122; FRL-8858-5] 
received March 3, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1065--Apr. 6, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Bacillus 
thuringiensis eCry3.1Ab Protein in Corn; Temporary Exemption 
from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0609; FRL-
8866-5] received March 10, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1148--Apr. 8, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Changes in Disease Status of the 
Brazilian State of Santa Catarina With Regard to Certain 
Ruminant and Swine Diseases; Technical Amendment [Docket No.: 
APHIS-2009-0034] (RIN: 0579-AD12) received March 23, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1149--Apr. 8, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--National Poultry Improvement Plan and 
Auxiliary Provisions [Docket No.: APHIS-2009-0031] (RIN: 0579-
AD21) received March 24, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1188--Apr. 11, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Sodium Ferric 
Ethylenediaminetetraacetate; Exemption from the Requirement of 
a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0097; FRL-8867-7] received March 
29, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1189--Apr. 11, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Mancozeb; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0307; FRL-8864-1] 
received March 29, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1190--Apr. 11, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, 
transmitting the Agency's final rule--Indaziflam; Pesticide 
Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0636; FRL-8864-3] received March 
29, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1218--Apr. 12, 2011: A letter from the Acting 
Congressional Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Importation of Horses 
From Contagious Equine Metritis-Affected Countries [Docket No.: 
APHIS-2008-0112] (RIN: 0579-AD31) received March 29, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1285--Apr. 15, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--U.S. Honey Producer Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Order; Termination of Referendum Procedures [Docket 
No.: AMS-FV-07-0091; FV-07-706-FR] (RIN: 0581-AC78) received 
March 23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1286--Apr. 15, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--National Organic Program; Amendment to the National List 
of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (Livestock) [Document No.: 
AMS-NOP-10-0051; NOP-10-04FR] (RIN: 0581-AD04) received March 
23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1287--Apr. 15, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Walnuts Grown in California; Decreased Assessment Rate 
[Docket No.: AMS-FV-10-0060; FV-10-984-1FIR] received March 23, 
2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1288--Apr. 15, 2011: A letter from the Assistant 
Administrator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Marketing Order Regulating the 
Handling of Spearmint Oil Produced in the Far West; Revision of 
the Salable Quantity and Allotment Percentage for Class 3 
(Native) Spearmint Oil for the 2010-2011 Marketing Year [Docket 
Nos.: AMS-FV-09-0082; FV-10-985-1A IR] received March 23, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1289--Apr. 15, 2011:A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Country of Origin Labeling of Packed Honey [Document No.: 
AMS-FV-08-0075] (RIN: 0581-AC89) received March 23, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1290--Apr. 15, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; 
Section 610 Review [Docket Number: AMS-FV-10-0006] received 
March 23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1291--Apr. 15, 2011:A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Avocados Grown in South Florida; Increased Assessment 
Rate [Docket No.: AMS-FV-10-0067; FV-10915-1FIR] received March 
23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1292--Apr. 15, 2011:A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, et al.; 
Final Free and Restricted Percentages for the 2010-2011 Crop 
Year for Tart Cherries [Docket No.: AMS-FV-10-930-4FR] received 
March 23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1306--May 2, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Kiwifruit Grown in California; Order Amending Marketing 
Order No. 920; Correction [Doc. No.: AO-FV-08-0174; AMS-FV-08-
0085; FV-08-920-3 C] received April 19, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1363--May 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Flubendiamide; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0099; FRL-8863-8] 
received March 22, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1364--May 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Aspergillus 
flavus AF36; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance 
[EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0101; FRL-8868-7] received March 22, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1365--May 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Hexythiazox; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0325; FRL-8868-6] 
received April 4, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1366--May 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Ethiprole; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0493; FRL-8863-1] 
received April 4, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1424--May 5, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Minimum Quality and Handling Standards for Domestic and 
Imported Peanuts Marketed in the United States; Section 610 
Review [Doc. No.: AMS-FV-10-0030; FV10-996-610 Review] received 
March 23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1425--May 5, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Olives Grown in California; Decreased Assessment Rate 
[Doc. No.: AMS-FV-10-0115; FV11-932-1 IR] received March 23, 
2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1426--May 5, 2011: A letter from the Administrator, 
Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final 
rule--Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Amendment To Allow 
Additional Exemptions [Doc. No.: AMS-FV-10-0072; FV10-927-1 IR] 
received March 23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1427--May 5, 2011: A letter from the Director, Program 
Development and Regulatory Analysis, Rural Development 
Utilities Programs, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan 
Guarantees (RIN: 0572-AC06) received April 6, 2011, pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1480--May 10, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Etoxazole; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0063; FRL-8867-5] 
received April 8, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1481--May 10, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Escherichia coli 
O157:H7 Specific Bacteriophages; Temporary Exemption From the 
Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0274; FRL-8868-4] 
received April 8, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1482--May 10, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, 
transmitting the Agency's final rule--Glyphosate (N-
(phosphonomethyl)glycine; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-
2009-0988; FRL-8866-8] received April 8, 2011, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1552--May 12, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Gypsy Moth Generally Infested Areas; 
Additions in Indiana, Maine, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and 
Wisconsin [Docket No.: APHIS-2010-0075] received April 20, 
2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1553--May 12, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Citrus Canker, Citrus Greening, and 
Asian Citrus Psyllid; Interstate Movement of Regulated Nursery 
Stock [Docket No.: APHIS-2010-0048] (RIN: 0579-AD29) received 
May 2, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1598--May 23, 2011: A letter from the Chairman and 
Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration, 
transmitting the Administration's final rule--General 
Provisions; Operating and Strategic Business Planning (RIN: 
3052-AC66) received May 3, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1635--May 24, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Metiram; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-0308; FRL-8869-1] 
received April 26, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1636--May 24, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Mefenpyr-diethyl; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0267; FRL-8870-9] 
received April 26, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1637--May 24, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Pyrasulfotole; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0266; FRL-8869-5] 
received April 26, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1706--May 27, 2011: A letter from the Chief, Planning 
& Regulatory Affairs Branch, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Food Distribution 
Program on Indian Reservations: Amendments Related to the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 [FNS-2009-0006] (RIN: 
0584-AD95) received May 2, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1707--May 27, 2011: A letter from the Director of 
Legislative Affairs, NRCS, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Wetland Conservation 
[Docket No.: NRCS-2011-0010] (RIN: 0578-AA58) received May 2, 
2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1713--May 31, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Aluminum 
tris(Oethylphosphonate), Butylate, Chlorethoxyfos, Clethodim, 
et al.; Tolerance Actions [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0490; FRL-8869-6] 
received April 12, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1714--May 31, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Carbon Dioxide; 
Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-
1077; FRL-0873-1] received May 2, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1715--May 31, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Clothianidin; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0771; FRL-8873-3] 
received May 26, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1716--May 31, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Metarhizium 
anisopliae strain F52; Exemption from the Requirement of a 
Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0194; FRL-8872-3] received May 2, 
2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1717--May 31, 2011: A letter from the Chairman and 
CEO, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the 
Administration's final rule--Federal Agricultural Mortgage 
Corporation Governance and Federal Agricultural Mortgage 
Corporation Funding and Fiscal Affairs; Risk-Based Capital 
Requirements (RIN: 3052-AC51) received May 3, 2011, pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1745--Jun. 1, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Glyphosate; 
Pesticide Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0938; FRL-8872-6] received 
May 6, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1746--Jun. 1, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Propiconazole; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-1009; FRL-8873-2] 
received May 6, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1747--Jun. 1, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Saflufenacil; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0755; FRL-8872-7] 
received May 6, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1748--Jun. 1, 2011: A letter from the Chairman and 
Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration, 
transmitting the Administration's 2011 compensation program 
adjustments, including the Agency's current salary range 
structure and the performance-based merit pay matrix, in 
accordance with section 1206 of the Financial Institutions, 
Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989.
    E.C. 1812--Jun. 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Triflusulfuron-
methyl; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0102; FRL-8871-4] 
received April 19, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1813--Jun. 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Data Requirements 
for Antimicrobial Pesticides; notification to the Secretaries 
of Agriculture and Health and Human Services [EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-
0110; FRL-8861-7] (RIN: 2010-AD30) received April 19, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1814--Jun. 3, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Fluopicolide; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0481; FRL-8859-9] 
received April 19, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1872--Jun. 9, 2011: A letter from the Director, 
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection 
Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule--Spirotetramat; 
Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0263; FRL-8865-8] 
received May 12, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1903--Jun. 14, 2011: A letter from the Chief, Planning 
and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Agriculture, transmitting 
the Department's final rule--Geographic Preference Option for 
the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in Child 
Nutrition Programs (RIN: 0584-AE03) received May 24, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1904--Jun. 14, 2011: A letter from the Regulatory 
Contact, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Export Inspection and Weighing Waiver 
for High Quality Specialty Grains Transported in Containers 
[Docket No.: GIPSA-2010-FGIS-0002] (RIN: 0580-AB18) received 
May 5, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1962--Jun. 14, 2011: A letter from the Fiscal 
Assistant Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting 
the annual reports that appear on pages 120-147 of the March 
2011 ``Treasury Bulletin'', pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 9602(a); 
jointly to the Committees on Ways and Means, Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Education and 
the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce.
    E.C. 1963--Jun. 15, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Importation of Swine Hides and Skins, 
Bird Trophies, and Ruminant Hides and Skins; Technical 
Amendment [Docket No.: APHIS-2006-0113] (RIN: 0579-AC11) 
received May 23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 1964--Jun. 15, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Brucellosis in Swine; Add Texas to 
List of Validated Brucellosis-Free States [Docket No.: APHIS-
2011-0005] received May 23, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 2024--Jun. 16, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Plum Pox Virus; Update of Quarantined 
Areas [Docket No.: APHIS-2010-0089] received May 13, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 2025--Jun. 16, 2011: A letter from the Chairman and 
CEO, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the 
Administration's final rule--Loan Policies and Operations; Loan 
Purchases from FDIC (RIN: 3052-AC62) received May 31, 2011, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 2067--Jun. 20, 2011: A letter from the Congressional 
Review Coordinator, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the 
Department's final rule--Importation of Plants for Planting; 
Establishing a Category of Plants for Planting Not Authorized 
for Importation Pending Pest Risk Analysis [Docket No.: APHIS-
2006-0011] (RIN: 0579-AC03) received May 31, 2011, pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 2068--Jun. 20, 2011: A letter from the Chief Planning 
and Regulatory Affairs Branch, Department of Agriculture, 
transmitting the Department's final rule--Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program: Civil Rights Protections for SNAP 
Households (RIN: 0584-AD89) received May 31, 2011, pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    E.C. 2069--Jun. 20, 2011: A letter from the Chairman and 
CEO, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the 
Administration's final rule--Loan Policies and Operations; 
Lending and Leasing Limits and Risk Management (RIN: 3052-AC60) 
received May 31, 2011, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

                    b. statutory and special reports

    USDA: Report on the plans developed by the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for funding provided under 
Section 10201 of the Act for Plant Pest and Disease Management 
and Disaster Prevention as requested by the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008. Submitted by USDA, January 11, 2011.
    USDA: List of statutory reporting requirements that USDA 
would like to prioritize or eliminate in order to reduce their 
administrative burden. Submitted by USDA, January 21, 2011.
    USDA: Record of Decision on Glyphosate--Tolerant Alfalfa 
Events J101 and J163: Request for Nonregulated Status (APHIS 
decision to fully deregulate Roundup Ready alfalfa). Submitted 
by USDA, January 28, 2011.
    USDA: Annual report describing the activities of the 
Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and 
Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products as required by 
Section 3205(h) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy act of 
2008. Submitted by USDA, January 28, 2011.
    USDA: Report titled as the ``Equitable Relief Report'' as 
required by Section 1613 of the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002. Submitted by USDA, February 2, 2011.
    USDA: Report on implementation of concluded appeals to the 
National Appeals Division (NAD) fro the Farm Service Agency as 
required by Section 14009 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008. Submitted by USDA January 27, 2011, January 27, 
2011.
    FCA: Farm Credit Administration's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 
Budget and Performance Budget. Submitted by FCA, February 14, 
2011.
    USDA: Termination notice of Marketing Order 924 (order) 
regulating the handling of fresh prunes grown in designated 
counties in Washington and in Umatilla County, Oregon, pursuant 
to section 8c(16)(A) of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement 
Act of 1937. Submitted by USDA, February 2, 2011.
    USDC: Quarterly Report to Congress on activities undertaken 
by the Department of Commerce pursuant to Section 906(b) of the 
Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000. 
Submitted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, February 7, 2011.
    USDA: Charter for the Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory 
Committee in compliance with P.L. 92-463, the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. Submitted by USDA, February 15, 2011.
    USDA: Charter for the Forest Research Advisory Committee in 
compliance with P.L. 92-463, the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act. Submitted by USDA, February 16, 2011.
    GAO: Report on a major rule promulgated by the USDA, Rural 
Business Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service, 
entitled ``Advanced Biofuel Payment Program'', pursuant to 
section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, U.S.C. Submitted by GAO, 
February 28, 2011.
    EPA: Report titled ``FY2011-2015 EPA Strategic Plan'', as 
required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. 
Submitted by EPA, March 1, 2011.
    USDA: Report titled ``Rural Development Housing and 
community Facilities Programs for July through December, 2010'' 
as required by Section 14009 of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act. Submitted by USDA, February 23, 2011.
    USDA: The ``2010 Packers and Stockyards Program Annual 
Report''. Submitted by USDA, March 1, 2011.
    GAO: Report on a major rule promulgated by the USDA, Rural 
Business Cooperative and Rural Utilities Service, ``Biorefinery 
Assistance Guaranteed Loans'', pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) 
of title 5, U.S.C. Submitted by GAO, March 1, 2011.
    USDA: Charter for the U.S. Forest Service's Recreation 
Resources Advisory Committee and Forest Resource Coordinating 
Committee, in compliance with P.L. 92-463, the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. Submitted by USDA, March 2, 2011.
    USDA: Charter for the National Wildlife Services Advisory 
Committee, in compliance with P.L. 92-463, the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. Submitted by USDA, March 2, 2011.
    USDA: The ``Annual Crops and the Federal Crop Insurance 
Program'' report as required by section 12030 of the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Submitted by USDA, March 
3, 2011.
    EPA: Draft copy of a proposed rule entitled ``Pesticides 
Data Requirements for Plant-Incorporated Protectants (PIPs) and 
Certain Exemptions for PIPS'' as required by section 25(a)(3) 
of the FIFRA Act. Submitted by EPA, March 4, 2011.
    USDA: Report on the ``Global Effort to Reduce Child Hunger 
and Increase School Attendance'' as directed by Section 3107 of 
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Submitted 
by USDA, March 16, 2011.
    USDA: Fiscal Year 2010 Report to Congress on State Payment 
Statistics Related to Enrollments in Selected Conservation 
Programs as Required by Section 1241(h) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985. Submitted by USDA, March 17, 2011.
    USDA: Report on the activities of the Agricultural Research 
Service as required by section 7409 of the 2008 Farm Bill (P.L. 
110-246). Submitted by USDA, March 18, 2011.
    USDA: Letter to Chairman Lucas from Secretary Thomas J. 
Vilsack concerning the Department's of Agriculture's final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the petition to grant 
nonregulated status for Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa. Submitted 
by USDA, March 17, 2011.
    USDA: Letter approving the proposed McChesney and Steed 
land purchase referred to as Submission No. 011/03-11. In 
accordance with requirements in Section 17(b) of the National 
Forest Management Act of 1976, P.L. 94-588 (90 Stat. 2949). 
Submitted by USDA, March 18, 2011.
    USDI: Two reports: ``A National Cohesive Wildland Fire 
Management Strategy'' and ``The Federal Land Assistance, 
Management and Enhancement Act of 2009--Report to Congress'' as 
required by Title V, section 503, of the 2010 Department of the 
Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 
Submitted by the U.S. Department of the Interior, March 25, 
2011.
    EPA: Draft copy of proposed rule that will provide several 
changes and corrections to the Microbial Pesticides data 
requirements at 40 CFR part 158, subpart V. Section 25(a)(3) of 
the FIFRA Act. Submitted by EPA, March 11, 2011.
    USDA: Letter approving the proposed John Hoskins land 
exchange referred to as Submission No. 011/3-11. In accordance 
with the requirements in Section 17(b) of the National Forest 
Management Act of 1976, P.L. 94-588 (90 Stat. 2949). Submitted 
by USDA, March 18, 2011.
    USDA: Letter approving the proposed South Appalachian 
Highlands Conservancy land purchase referred to as Submission 
No. 07/02-11. In accordance with the requirements in Section 
17(b) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976, P.L. 94-
588 (90 Stat. 2949). Submitted by USDA, March 22, 2011.
    USDA: Letter to Chairman Lucas from Secretary Thomas J. 
Vilsack advising that the Department of Agriculture's Office of 
the Chief Economist will close its one-person weather office in 
Stoneville, Mississippi. Submitted by USDA, March 24, 2011.
    FCSIC: Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation 2011 annual 
report demonstrating FCSIC's commitment to equal employment 
opportunity while fulfilling its mission to insure the timely 
payment of principal and interest on System-wide and 
consolidated bonds and obligations as required under the 
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and 
Retaliation Act of 2002. Submitted by FCSIC, March 28, 2011.
    FCA: Fiscal year 2011 annual report describing the Farm 
Credit Administration's many advancements in incorporating 
equal employment opportunity in the performance of its mission 
to serve U.S. agriculture and rural America as required by the 
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and 
Retaliation Act of 2002. Submitted by FCA, March 28, 2011.
    USDA: Appraisal of the status and trends of natural 
resources on nonfederal lands pursuant to the Soil and Water 
Resources Conservation Act of 1977. Submitted by USDA, March 
30, 2011.
    CBO: Review of CBO's activities in 2010 under the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act. Submitted by CBO, March 2011.
    CFTC: Report transmitting the fiscal year 2010 Federal 
Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 for the 
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Submitted by CFTC, 
March 30, 2011.
    USDA: Letter approving the proposed Sumter National Forest 
Tripartite Exchange, using timber receipts for a land purchase 
referred to as Submission No. 04/01-11. Pursuant under the 
authority of the Act of March 1, 1911 (P.L. 61-435; 90 Stat. 
2756, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 516); Act of August 20, 1988 (P.L. 
100-409; 102 Stat. 1086; 43 U.S.C. 1716, 43 U.S.C. 751.) in 
accordance with the requirements in Section 17(b) of the 
National Forest Management Act of 1976, P.L. 94-588 (90 Stat. 
2949). Submitted by USDA, March 31, 2011.
    EPA: Draft final rule entitled ``Data Requirements for 
Antimicrobial Pesticides'' identified in the Regulatory Agenda 
under RIN 2070-AD30 as required by Section 25(a)(4) of the 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Submitted 
by EPA, April 7, 2011.
    GAO: Report on a major rule promulgated by the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service, entailed 
``Rural Broadband Access Loans and Loan Guarantees'' pursuant 
to section 801 (a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code. 
Submitted by GAO, April 7, 2011.
    FCA: Letter notifying that the Farm Credit Administration 
is currently working with several agencies to issue a proposed 
joint regulation for which they are unable to provide an 
advance copy of, as required by the Farm Credit Act of 1971. 
Submitted by FCA, April 7, 2011.
    USDA: A report which describes the expenditures for each 
State under the National Organic Certification Cost-Share 
Program as required by Section 10301 of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246). Submitted by USDA, April 
8, 2011.
    CFTC: Joint Study on the Feasibility of Mandating 
Algorithmic Descriptions for Derivatives pursuant to the 
requirements of section 719 (b)(4) of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Submitted by CFTC, 
April 8, 2011.
    USDA: Annual report for Fiscal Year 2010 required by the 
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and 
Retaliation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-174). Submitted by 
USDA, April 12, 2011.
    USHR: Letter from Representatives Frank D. Lucas, Fred 
Upton, and Sam Graves to the FDA regarding potential regulatory 
action by the Food and Drug Administration that are of 
significant concern to the nation's producers, veterinarians 
and consumers. Submitted by United State House of 
Representatives, April 12, 2011.
    USDA: Letter to Congressmen Kurt Schrader and Tim Holden 
thanking them and responding to one which they sent that was 
cosigned on February 16, 2011, supporting the use of 
domestically grown and produced wood products across the United 
States. Submitted by USDA, April 20, 2011.
    USDC: Report to the Congress the export licensing actions 
taken by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and 
Security relating to exports of agricultural commodities to 
Cuba during January through March 2011 required by Section 
906(b) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act 
of 2000 (TSRA) (Title IX of Pub. L. 106-387). Submitted by 
USDC, April 21, 2011.
    FCA: Final rule adopted by the Farm Credit Administration 
Board under the provisions of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, 
amending Title 12, Chapter VI of the Code of Federal 
Regulations. Submitted by FCA, April 21, 2011.
    FCA: Proposed amendments to title 12, chapter VI of the 
Code of Federal Regulations as promulgated by the Farm Credit 
Administration. Submitted by FCA, April 21, 2011.
    USDA: Report pursuant to Section 154 of the Farmland 
Protection Policy Act, 7 U.S.C. 4207. Submitted by USDA, April 
27, 2011.
    SEC: Letter to Chairman Lucas from U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission concerning the implementation of Title VII 
of the Dodd-Frank Act. Submitted by USSEC, April 26, 2011.
    CFTC: Most recent charter of the Commission's Agricultural 
Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 9(c) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, 9(c). Submitted by 
CFTC, April 27, 2011.
    USHR: Letter to Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack concerning 
improving the nutritional profiles of meals severed in schools 
and maintaining participation rates. Submitted by the United 
States House of Representatives, May 5, 2011.
    USHR: Letter to Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack concerning 
improving the nutritional profiles of meals severed in schools 
and maintaining participation rates. Submitted by the United 
States House of Representatives, May 5, 2011.
    USAID: Report titled ``Fiscal Year 2010 Report on U.S. 
Humanitarian Assistance to North Korea'' pursuant to Section 
201 of the North Korean Human Rights Act Reauthorization Act of 
2008 (P.L. 110-346). Submitted by USAID, May 12, 2011.
    Embassy of Mauritius: Letter from Ambassador Somduth 
Soburun to Chairman Frank D. Lucas informing him of the pivotal 
economic role the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, has 
on sub Saharan Africa, including Mauritius. In particular, the 
Ambassador wishes to inform the Chairman of the impending 
expiration of the Third Country Fabric Provision in September 
2012. Submitted on May 11, 2011.
    USDC: Copy of the Department of Commerce's Performance and 
Accountability Report for fiscal year 2010. It highlights the 
Department's efforts to maximize U.S. competitiveness and 
foster science leadership. Submitted on May 16, 2011.
    FCA: Copy of a final rule adopted by the Farm Credit 
Administration Board under the provisions of the Farm Credit 
Act of 1971. The rule amends Title 12, Chapter VI of the Code 
of Federal Regulations, which now allows Farm Credit 
institutions to directly purchase loans to Farmers and other 
agriculturists from the FDIC. Submitted on May 19, 2011. (056)
    FCA: Copy of a final rule adopted by the Farm Credit 
Administration Board under the provisions of the Farm Credit 
Act of 1971. The rule amends Title 12, Chapter VI of the Code 
of Federal Regulations, which now permits a lower minimum 
lending limit on extensions of credit from a Federal Credit 
System Institution. Submitted on May 19, 2011.
    EPA: Draft copy of a proposed rule entitled ''Synchronizing 
the Expiration Dates of EPA Pesticide Applicator Certificates 
with the Underlying State or Tribal Applicator Certificate'' 
identified with Regulatory Agenda under RIN 2070-AJ77 Section 
25(a)(3). Submitted on May 25, 2011.
    USDOT: Letter informing Chairman Frank D. Lucas of the 
activities of the Department under a one year licensing 
agreement set forth under the Trade Sanctions reform and Export 
Enhancement Act of 2000. The enclosed report details 
Exportation activities to Iran and the Sudan from the period 
between April 1 and June 30, 2010. Submitted on June 1, 2011.
    USDA: Report informing Chairman Lucas of the most recent 
Semi Annual Report to Congress published by the Office of the 
Inspector General at the Department of Agriculture. The report 
spans the Department's accomplishments from October 1, 2010, 
through March 31, 2011. Submitted on June 14, 2011.
    USDA: The report contains the appeals to the National 
Appeals Division from the Risk Management Agency, as is 
required by Section 14009(b) of the Food, Energy, and 
Conservation Act of 2008. Submitted on June 14, 2011.

                                  
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