| HR 2447 IH
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2447
To establish a Federal
interagency task force to promote the benefits, safety, and potential uses
of agricultural biotechnology to improve human and animal nutrition, increase
crop productivity, and improve agricultural sustainability while ensuring
the safety of food and the environment.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2003
Mr. SMITH of Michigan (for himself,
Mr. PAUL, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. ROYCE, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, Mr.
CHABOT, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. WELLER, Ms. EDDIE
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. BACHUS, Mrs. EMERSON,
Mr. HYDE, Mr. BEREUTER, Ms. LOFGREN, and Mr. HALL) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and
in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 establish a Federal
interagency task force to promote the benefits, safety, and potential uses
of agricultural biotechnology to improve human and animal nutrition, increase
crop productivity, and improve agricultural sustainability while ensuring
the safety of food and the environment.
Be it enacted by the
Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY
TASK FORCE TO PROMOTE THE BENEFITS, SAFETY, AND POTENTIAL USES OF AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERAGENCY
TASK FORCE TO PROMOTE BENEFITS, SAFETY, AND POTENTIAL USES OF AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY- There is established the `Federal Interagency Task Force
to Promote the Benefits, Safety, and Potential Uses of Agricultural Biotechnology'
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the `task force') for the purpose
of improving interagency cooperation and to develop and disseminate accurate
written scientific information on the benefits, safety, and potential uses
of agricultural biotechnology.
(b) MEMBERSHIP- The members
of the task force shall consist of the Secretary of State, the Secretary
of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade Representative,
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development,
and the Director of the National Science Foundation. The Secretary of State
shall chair the task force. Members of the task force may designate a senior
official from the appropriate participating Federal agency to attend meetings
of the task force.
(c) OBJECTIVES OF TASK FORCE-
The task force shall coordinate the activities of the participating agencies
to--
(1) improve the knowledge
of foreign assigned individuals from the participating agencies regarding
the safety and potential of biotechnology-derived agricultural products,
including regulatory safeguards that assure food and environmental safety;
(2) expand the dissemination
by participating agencies of scientifically-based facts regarding the safety
and potential of biotechnology-derived agricultural products;
(3) improve the ability
of the participating agencies to advocate to foreign countries the benefits
that agricultural biotechnology can potentially provide for human and animal
nutrition, the environment, crop productivity, and agricultural sustainability;
and
(4) achieve a better understanding
by foreign countries of the potential benefits of agricultural biotechnology
to develop products that can be grown under local soil and climate conditions
and better meet the health and nutritional needs of local populations.
(d) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS-
(1) SUBMISSION- Not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biannually
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Congress a report
on the activities undertaken by the task force and the participating agencies
to promote the benefits, safety, and potential uses of agricultural biotechnology.
(2) REQUIREMENTS- A report
submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of--
(A) measures taken to coordinate
and communicate, as appropriate, the scientific evidence on the benefits,
safety, and potential uses of agricultural biotechnology;
(B) progress toward achieving
coordination under subsection (c);
(C) the success of efforts
coordinated under subsection (c);
(D) efforts to advance the
goals of subsection (c) in developing nations; and
(E) recommendations to improve
the activities of the participating agencies pertaining to communicating
benefits, safety, and potential uses of biotechnology.
END
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