Selective Agricultural Embargoes Act of 1999 (Introduced in the House)
HR 17 IH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 17
To amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to require the President
to report to Congress on any selective embargo on agricultural commodities,
to provide a termination date for the embargo, to provide greater assurances
for contract sanctity, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 6, 1999
Mr. EWING (for himself, Mr. COMBEST, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. CONDIT,
Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. MINGE, Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr.
BEREUTER, Mr. THUNE, Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. MANZULLO,
Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. WELLER, Mr. CANADY of Florida, Mr. KOLBE, Mr.
NETHERCUTT, and Mr. WALDEN of Oregon) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee
on International relations, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to require the President
to report to Congress on any selective embargo on agricultural commodities,
to provide a termination date for the embargo, to provide greater assurances
for contract sanctity, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Selective Agricultural Embargoes Act
of 1999'.
SEC. 2. REPORTING ON SELECTIVE EMBARGOES.
The Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5711 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end of title VI:
`SEC. 604. REPORTING ON SELECTIVE EMBARGOES.
`(a) REPORT- If the President takes any action, pursuant to statutory
authority, to embargo the export under an export sales contract (as defined
in subsection (e)) of an agricultural commodity to a country that is not
part of an embargo on all exports to the country, not later than 5 days
after imposing the embargo, the President shall submit a report to Congress
that sets forth in detail the reasons for the embargo and specifies the
proposed period during which the embargo will be effective.
`(b) APPROVAL OF EMBARGO- If a joint resolution approving the embargo
becomes law during the 100-day period beginning on the date of receipt
of the report provided for in subsection (a), the embargo shall terminate
on the earlier of--
`(1) a date determined by the President; or
`(2) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of the joint
resolution approving the embargo.
`(c) DISAPPROVAL OF EMBARGO- If a joint resolution disapproving the
embargo becomes law during the 100-day period referred to in subsection
(b), the embargo shall terminate on the expiration of the 100-day period.
`(d) EXCEPTION- Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
an embargo may take effect and continue in effect during any period in
which the United States is in a state of war declared by Congress or national
emergency, requiring such action, declared by the President.
`(e) DEFINITIONS- As used in this section--
`(1) the term `agricultural commodity' includes plant nutrient materials;
`(2) the term `under an export sales contract' means under an export
sales contract entered into before the President has transmitted to Congress
notice
of the proposed embargo; and
`(3) the term `embargo' includes any prohibition or curtailment.'.
SEC. 3. ADDITION OF PLANT NUTRIENT MATERIALS TO PROTECTION OF CONTRACT
SANCTITY.
Section 602(c) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5712(c))
is amended by inserting `(including plant nutrient materials)' after `agricultural
commodity' each place it appears.