Farm Bill Trade Section Passed by Committee

November 8, 2001

The Senate Agriculture Committee Wednessday approved the trade title for its farm bill, increasing funding authority for agricultural trade programs by $2.1 billion over 10 years for commercial export programs and food aid programs. Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said he expected the committee would complete the bill by the end of next week.

"The consensus agreement that we were able to reach on this title is telling of the bipartisanship that we've seen thus far in the Agriculture Committee," said Harkin. "We don't all agree on every single aspect of the farm bill, but we have been able to work out our differences so far, and I look forward to working with the members of the committee to finish this process."

Market Access Program (MAP) funding would be increased to $190 million annually by the end of the five-year bill. The trade section also expands the definition of unfair trade practices that can be countered by the use of the Export Enhancement Program to include unfair pricing practices by state-owned or controlled trading operations and deliberate manipulation of exchange rates and establishes the Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program which helps exporters facilitate acceptance of agricultural products developed using biotechnology in foreign markets. This new program is funded at $15 million annually for five years.

The title also establishes the International Food for Education and Nutrition Program for a five-year period, funded at $200 million per year, to help the U.N. World Food Program and private voluntary organizations carry out programs of nutrition in connection with education. The bill provides more resources for the Food for Progress Program and reforms and streamlines the operations of all food aid programs run by USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The bill makes it easier in a number of ways for groups like Save the Children, CARE, and Catholic Relief Services, that operate many food aid projects overseas, to do their jobs, while still permitting USDA and US-AID to monitor them effectively.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) told reporters he believes there is a consensus within the commitee to complete a farm bill this year, but consensus on the contents remains elusive. "Most people want to move it if it is [a bill] they agree with," Roberts said after the committee marked up the trade title of the bill, according to NATIONAL JOURNAL'S CONGRESSDAILY. Robert said that since Congress will return after Thanksgiving, Harkin should take more time to mark up a final bill for floor action.and "do it right" to "spare us time down the road."