[Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Final Edition Final Edition]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
S. PRT. 110-56
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COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
UNITED STATES SENATE
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LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
CONVENED JANUARY 4, 2007
FIRST SESSION
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ADJOURNED DECEMBER 19, 2007
CONVENED JANUARY 3, 2008
SECOND SESSION
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ADJOURNED DECEMBER 10, 2008
TOM HARKIN, Chairman
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] CONGRESS.#06
FINAL EDITION
March 22, 2010
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52-843
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 2009
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
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TOM HARKIN, Iowa, Chairman
PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia
KENT CONRAD, North Dakota RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana
MAX BAUCUS, Montana THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan PAT ROBERTS, Kansas
E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska LINDSEY GRAHAM, South
KEN SALAZAR, Colorado Carolina \4\
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio \1\ NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota
ROBERT CASEY, JR., Pennsylvania \2\ MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota \3\ JOHN THUNE, South Dakota \5\
CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa
\1\ Elected to Committee, January 2, 2007
\2\ Elected to Committee, January 2, 2007
\3\ Elected to Committee, January 2, 2007
\4\ Elected to Committee, January 2, 2007
\5\ Elected to Committee, January 2, 2007
Mark Halverson, Majority Staff Director
Jessica L. Williams, Chief Clerk
Martha Scott Poindexter, Minority Staff Director
Vernie Hubert, Minority General Counsel
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE COMMITTEE STAFF
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Todd Batta, Professional Staff Member
Richard Bender, Minority Professional
Staff Member
Eldon Boes, Senior Professional Staff
Member
Cameron Bruett, Majority Professional
Staff Member, Resigned
Philip Buchan, Minority Counsel
Jacob Chaney, Director of Information
Technology
Dan Christensen, Professional Staff Member
Carlisle Clarke, Staff Assistant/
Legislative Correspondent
Cory Claussen, Staff Assistant/Legislative
Correspondent
Katherine Coler, Minority Senior Policy
Director
Matt Coley, Minority Professional Staff
Elizabeth Croker, Minority Senior
Professional Staff
Katherine Cyrul, Communications Director
Katharine Ferguson, Professional Staff
Member
John Ferrell, Professional Staff Member
Mark Halverson, Staff Director/Chief
Counsel
Erin Hamm, Minority Communications
Director
Jane Anna Harris, Minority Professional
Staff Member
Anne Hazlett, Minority General Counsel
Vernie Hubert, Minority Chief Counsel
Kerri Johannsen, Professional Staff
Member, Resigned
Susan Keith, Senior Counsel
Peter Kelley, Legislative Correspondent
Amy Lowenthal, Counsel
Tina May, Professional Staff Member
Stephanie Mercier, Chief Economist
Hayden Milberg, Minority Senior Economist
Derek Miller, Professional Staff Member
Andrew S. Morton, Majority Chief
Economist, Resigned
Martha Scott Poindexter, Minority Staff
Director
Adela Ramos, Professional Staff Member
Christy Seyfert, Senior Professional Staff
Member
Justin Spickard, Staff Assistant, Resigned
Eric Steiner, Professional Staff Member,
Resigned
Dawn Stump, Majority Senior Professional
Staff Member, Resigned
Robert Sturm, Chief Clerk, Resigned
Jonathan Urban, Legislative Correspondent,
Resigned
Jessica L. Williams, Chief Clerk
Micah B. Wortham, GPO Printer/Editor
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Meeting days: First and third Wednesday of
each month
SUBCOMMITTEES
Messrs. Chambliss and Harkin are ex officio members of all
subcommittees of which they are not regular members.
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NUTRITION AND FOOD ASSISTANCE, SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE, AND
GENERAL LEGISLATION
PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont, Chairman
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota MICHEAL D. CRAPO, Idaho
ENERGY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
KENT CONRAD, North Dakota, Chairman
E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
KEN SALAZAR, Colorado RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio LINDSEY GRAHAM, South
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania Carolina
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota
CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MARKETING, INSPECTION, AND PLANT
AND ANIMAL HEALTH
MAX BAUCUS, Montana, Chairman
KENT CONRAD, North Dakota LINDSEY GRAHAM, South
DEBBIE A. STABENOW, Michigan Carolina
E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky
KEN SALAZAR, Colorado PAT ROBERTS, Kansas
ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania MICHEAL D. CRAPO, Idaho
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
PRODUCTION, INCOME PROTECTION AND PRICE SUPPORT
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas, Chairman
PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont PAT ROBERTS, Kansas
KENT CONRAD, North Dakota THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi
MAX BAUCUS, Montana NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa
RURAL REVITALIZATION, CONSERVATION, FORESTRY AND CREDIT
DEBBIE A. STABENOW, Michigan, Chairman
PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont MICHEAL D. CRAPO, Idaho
MAX BAUCUS, Montana RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi
E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky
KEN SALAZAR, Colorado LINDSEY GRAHAM, South
Carolina
CONTENTS
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Page
Jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry........................................................
1
Senate bills......................................................
13
Senate amendments.................................................
31
Senate resolutions................................................
33
Senate joint resolutions..........................................
35
Senate concurrent resolutions.....................................
37
Senate reports....................................................
39
Conference reports................................................
41
Public laws.......................................................
43
Nominations.......................................................
45
Executive communications..........................................
47
Watershed projects................................................
83
Hearings..........................................................
85
Index by Senators.................................................
87
Subject index.....................................................
97
Index to Sponsors.................................................
99
JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
\1\
JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY--
Continued
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(a)(1) Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, to which
committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages,
petitions, memorials, and other matters relating primarily to the
following subjects:
\1\ As specified in Rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the United
States Senate.
1. Agricultural economics and research.
2. Agricultural extension services and experiment stations.
3. Agricultural production, marketing, and stabilization of prices.
4. Agriculture and agricultural commodities.
5. Animal industry and diseases.
6. Crop insurance and soil conservation.
7. Farm credit and farm security.
8. Food from fresh waters.
9. Food stamp programs.
10. Forestry, and forest reserves and wilderness areas other than
those created from the public domain.
11. Home economics.
12. Human nutrition.
13. Inspection of livestock, meat, and agricultural products.
14. Pests and pesticides.
15. Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering.
16. Rural development, rural electrification, and watersheds.
17. School nutrition programs.
(2) Such committee shall also study and review, on a comprehensive
basis, matters relating to food, nutrition, and hunger, both in the
United States and in foreign countries, and rural affairs, and report
thereon from time to time.
RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
RULE 1--MEETINGS
1.1 Regular Meetings.--Regular meetings shall be held on the first and
third Wednesday of each month when Congress is in session.
1.2 Additional Meetings.--The Chairman, in consultation with the
Ranking Minority Member, may call such additional meetings as he deems
necessary.
1.3 Notification.--In the case of any meeting of the committee, other
than a regularly scheduled meeting, the clerk of the committee shall
notify every member of the committee of the time and place of the
meeting and shall give reasonable notice which, except in extraordinary
circumstances, shall be at least 24 hours in advance of any meeting held
in Washington, DC. and at least 48 hours in the case of any meeting held
outside Washington, DC.
1.4 Called Meeting.--If three members of the committee have made a
request in writing to the Chairman to call a meeting of the committee,
and the Chairman fails to call such a meeting within 7 calendar days
thereafter, including the day on which the written notice is submitted,
a majority of the members may call a meeting by filing a written notice
with the clerk of the committee who shall promptly notify each member of
the committee in writing of the date and time of the meeting.
1.5 Adjournment of Meetings.--The Chairman of the committee or a
subcommittee shall be empowered to adjourn any meeting of the committee
or a subcommittee if a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the
time scheduled for such meeting.
RULE 2--MEETINGS AND HEARINGS IN GENERAL
2.1 Open Sessions.--Business meetings and hearings held by the
committee or any subcommittee shall be open to the public except as
otherwise provided for in Senate Rule XXVI, paragraph 5.
2.2 Transcripts.--A transcript shall be kept of each business meeting
and hearing of the committee or any subcommittee unless a majority of
the committee or the subcommittee agrees that some other form of
permanent record is preferable.
2.3 Reports.--An appropriate opportunity shall be given the Minority
to examine the proposed text of committee reports prior to their filing
or publication. In the event there are supplemental, minority, or
additional views, an appropriate opportunity shall be given the Majority
to examine the proposed text prior to filing or publication.
2.4 Attendance.--(a) Meetings. Official attendance of all markups and
executive sessions of the committee shall be kept by the committee
clerk. Official attendance of all subcommittee markups and executive
sessions shall be kept by the subcommittee clerk.
(b) Hearings. Official attendance of all hearings shall be kept,
provided that, Senators are notified by the committee Chairman and
ranking minority member, in the case of committee hearings, and by the
subcommittee Chairman and ranking minority member, in the case of
subcommittee hearings, 48 hours in advance of the hearing that
attendance will be taken. Otherwise, no attendance will be taken.
Attendance at all hearings is encouraged.
RULE 3--HEARING PROCEDURES
3.1 Notice.--Public notice shall be given of the date, place, and
subject matter of any hearing to be held by the committee or any
subcommittee at least 1 week in advance of such hearing unless the
Chairman of the full committee or the subcommittee determines that the
hearing is noncontroversial or that special circumstances require
expedited procedures and a majority of the committee or the subcommittee
involved concurs. In no case shall a hearing be conducted with less than
24 hours notice.
3.2 Witness Statements.--Each witness who is to appear before the
committee or any subcommittee shall file with the committee or
subcommittee, at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing, a written
statement of his or her testimony and as many copies as the Chairman of
the committee or subcommittee prescribes.
3.3 Minority Witnesses.--In any hearing conducted by the committee, or
any subcommittee thereof, the minority members of the committee or
subcommittee shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairman by the
ranking minority member of the committee or subcommittee to call
witnesses of their selection during at least 1 day of such hearing
pertaining to the matter or matters heard by the committee or
subcommittee.
3.4 Swearing in of Witnesses.--Witnesses in committee or subcommittee
hearings may be required to give testimony under oath whenever the
Chairman or ranking minority member of the committee or subcommittee
deems such to be necessary.
3.5 Limitation.--Each member shall be limited to 5 minutes in the
questioning of any witness until such time as all members who so desire
have had an opportunity to question a witness. Questions from members
shall rotate from majority to minority members in order of seniority or
in order of arrival at the hearing.
RULE 4--NOMINATIONS
4.1 Assignment.--All nominations shall be considered by the full
committee.
4.2 Standards.--In considering a nomination, the committee shall
inquire into the nominee's experience, qualifications, suitability, and
integrity to serve in the position to which he or she has been
nominated.
4.3 Information.--Each nominee shall submit in response to questions
prepared by the committee the following information:
(1) A detailed biographical resume which contains information relating
to education, employment, and achievements;
(2) Financial information, including a financial statement which lists
assets and liabilities of the nominee; and
(3) Copies of other relevant documents requested by the committee.
Information received pursuant to this subsection shall be available
for public inspection except as specifically designated confidential by
the committee.
4.4 Hearings.--The committee shall conduct a public hearing during
which the nominee shall be called to testify under oath on all matters
relating to his or her suitability for office. No hearing shall be held
until at least 48 hours after the nominee has responded to a prehearing
questionnaire submitted by the committee.
4.5 Action on Confirmation.--A business meeting to consider a
nomination shall not occur on the same day that the hearing on the
nominee is held. The Chairman, with the agreement of the ranking
minority member, may waive this requirement.
RULE 5--QUORUMS
5.1 Testimony.--For the purpose of receiving evidence, the swearing of
witnesses, and the taking of sworn or unsworn testimony at any duly
scheduled hearing, a quorum of the committee and each subcommittee
thereof shall consist of one member.
5.2 Business.--A quorum for the transaction of committee or
subcommittee business, other than for reporting a measure or
recommendation to the Senate or the taking of testimony, shall consist
of one-third of the members of the committee or subcommittee, including
at least one member from each party.
5.3 Reporting.--A majority of the membership of the committee shall
constitute a quorum for reporting bills, nominations, matters, or
recommendations to the Senate. No measure or recommendation shall be
ordered reported from the committee unless a majority of the committee
members are physically present. The vote of the committee to report a
measure or matter shall require the concurrence of a majority of those
members who are physically present at the time the vote is taken.
RULE 6--VOTING
6.1 Rollcalls.--A roll call vote of the members shall be taken upon
the request of any member.
6.2 Proxies.--Voting by proxy as authorized by the Senate rules for
specific bills or subjects shall be allowed whenever a quorum of the
committee is actually present.
6.3 Polling.--The committee may poll any matters of committee
business, other than a vote on reporting to the Senate any measures,
matters or recommendations or a vote on closing a meeting or hearing to
the public, provided that every member is polled and every poll consists
of the following two questions:
(1) Do you agree or disagree to poll the proposal; and
(2) Do you favor or oppose the proposal.
If any member requests, any matter to be polled shall be held for
meeting rather than being polled. The chief clerk of the committee shall
keep a record of all polls.
RULE 7--SUBCOMMITTEES
7.1 Assignments.--To assure the equitable assignment of members to
subcommittees, no member of the committee will receive assignment to a
second subcommittee until, in order of seniority, all members of the
committee have chosen assignments to one subcommittee, and no member
shall receive assignment to a third subcommittee until, in order of
seniority, all members have chosen assignments to two subcommittees.
7.2 Attendance.--Any member of the committee may sit with any
subcommittee during a hearing or meeting but shall not have the
authority to vote on any matter before the subcommittee unless he or she
is a member of such subcommittee.
7.3 Ex Officio Members.--The Chairman and ranking minority member
shall serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the subcommittees on
which they do not serve as voting members. The Chairman and ranking
minority member may not be counted toward a quorum.
7.4 Scheduling.--No subcommittee may schedule a meeting or hearing at
a time designated for a hearing or meeting of the full committee. No
more than one subcommittee business meeting may be held at the same
time.
7.5 Discharge.--Should a subcommittee fail to report back to the full
committee on any measure within a reasonable time, the Chairman may
withdraw the measure from such subcommittee and report that fact to the
full committee for further disposition. The full committee may at any
time, by majority vote of those members present, discharge a
subcommittee from further consideration of a specific piece of
legislation.
7.6 Application of Committee Rules to Subcommittees.--The proceedings
of each subcommittee shall be governed by the rules of the full
committee, subject to such authorizations or limitations as the
committee may from time to time prescribe.
RULE 8--INVESTIGATIONS, SUBPOENAS AND DEPOSITIONS
8.1 Investigations.--Any investigation undertaken by the committee or
a subcommittee in which depositions are taken or subpoenas issued, must
be authorized by a majority of the members of the committee voting for
approval to conduct such investigation at a business meeting of the
committee convened in accordance with Rule 1.
8.2 Subpoenas.--The Chairman, with the approval of the ranking
minority member of the committee, is delegated the authority to subpoena
the attendance of witnesses or the production of memoranda, documents,
records, or any other materials at a hearing of the committee or a
subcommittee or in connection with the conduct of an investigation
authorized in accordance with paragraph 8.1. The Chairman may subpoena
attendance or production without the approval of the ranking minority
member when the Chairman has not received notification from the ranking
minority member of disapproval of the subpoena within 72 hours,
excluding Saturdays and Sundays, of being notified of the subpoena. If a
subpoena is disapproved by the ranking minority member as provided in
this paragraph the subpoena may be authorized by vote of the members of
the committee. When the committee or Chairman authorizes subpoenas,
subpoenas may be issued upon the signature of the Chairman or any other
member of the committee designated by the Chairman.
8.3 Notice for Taking Depositions.--Notices for the taking of
depositions, in an investigation authorized by the committee, shall be
authorized and be issued by the Chairman or by a staff officer
designated by him. Such notices shall specify a time and place for
examination, and the name of the Senator, staff officer or officers who
will take the deposition. Unless otherwise specified, the deposition
shall be in private. The committee shall not initiate procedures leading
to criminal or civil enforcement proceedings for a witness' failure to
appear unless the deposition notice was accompanied by a committee
subpoena.
8.4 Procedure for Taking Depositions.--Witnesses shall be examined
upon oath administered by an individual authorized by local law to
administer oaths. The Chairman will rule, by telephone or otherwise, on
any objection by a witness. The transcript of a deposition shall be
filed with the committee clerk.
RULE 9--AMENDING THE RULES
These rules shall become effective upon publication in the
Congressional Record. These rules may be modified, amended, or repealed
by the committee, provided that all members are present or provide
proxies or if a notice in writing of the proposed changes has been given
to each member at least 48 hours prior to the meeting at which action
thereon is to be taken. The changes shall become effective immediately
upon publication of the changed rule or rules in the Congressional
Record, or immediately upon approval of the changes if so resolved by
the committee as long as any witnesses who may be affected by the change
in rules are provided with them.