| HR 245 IH
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 245
To replace the existing
Federal price support and quota programs for tobacco with price support
and quota programs designed to assist the actual producers of tobacco,
to compensate quota holders for the loss of tobacco quota asset value,
to provide assistance for active tobacco producers, including those producers
who forgo obtaining a tobacco production license, during the transition
of the new programs, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 8, 2003
Mr. FLETCHER (for himself, Mr.
ETHERIDGE, Mr. TANNER, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. LEWIS of
Kentucky, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky, Mr. WAMP, Mr.
WHITFIELD, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, and Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To replace the existing
Federal price support and quota programs for tobacco with price support
and quota programs designed to assist the actual producers of tobacco,
to compensate quota holders for the loss of tobacco quota asset value,
to provide assistance for active tobacco producers, including those producers
who forgo obtaining a tobacco production license, during the transition
of the new programs, 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; TABLE
OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act
may be cited as the `Tobacco Equity Elimination Act of 2003'.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The
table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table
of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purpose.
TITLE I--TOBACCO EQUITY ELIMINATION
Sec. 101. Definitions of
active tobacco producer and quota holder.
Sec. 102. Payments to tobacco
quota holders.
Sec. 103. Transition payments
for active tobacco producers.
Sec. 104. Tobacco product
manufacturer and importer user fees.
Sec. 105. Reimbursement
of Commodity Credit Corporation expenditures.
TITLE II--TOBACCO PRICE SUPPORT
Sec. 201. Availability of
tobacco price support.
Sec. 202. Repeal of related
provisions.
Sec. 203. Effective date.
TITLE III--TOBACCO PRODUCTION
LICENSES
Sec. 301. Definitions of
historic tobacco producer and licensed tobacco producer.
Sec. 302. Annual estimate
of tobacco purchase intentions.
Sec. 303. National tobacco
marketing factor.
Sec. 304. Issuance of tobacco
production licenses.
Sec. 305. Annual authorized
tobacco production under tobacco production licenses.
Sec. 306. Assessment on
licensed tobacco producers for administrative costs.
Sec. 307. Termination of
marketing quota programs and repeal of related provisions.
Sec. 308. Effective date.
TITLE IV--TOBACCO ADVISORY BOARD
Sec. 401. Establishment
and duties of Tobacco Advisory Board.
TITLE V--ASSISTANCE TO TOBACCO-DEPENDENT
COMMUNITIES
Sec. 501. Center for Tobacco-Dependent
Communities.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds
the following:
(1) Tobacco production is
conducted extensively in a number of States and generates significant income
in local communities in these States, which are dependent on such production
for economic vitality.
(2) Tobacco products manufactured
from tobacco grown in the these States are transported in interstate commerce.
(3) While manufacturers
of tobacco products enjoy profitable circumstances, many tobacco growers
and their communities are in dire economic situations.
(4) Downturns in domestic
manufacturing demand for tobacco grown in the United States, losses in
the United States share of the world tobacco market, reduced domestic demand
for tobacco products, and State and Federal tobacco policies that have
inadvertently encouraged economic dependence on tobacco have contributed
to such dire economic situations.
(5) Many tobacco-producing
communities are experiencing the loss of tobacco farms, reductions in quota
level, and a lowered value for tobacco quotas.
(6) Such communities often
have difficulty developing non-tobacco income, and are therefore quite
dependent on tobacco and vulnerable to changes in the tobacco-growing industry.
(7) Domestic and world economic
trends have had a disproportionately harsh impact on small family farms
and on their communities, as the number of tobacco farms in the United
States declined by more than 50 percent between 1978 and 1997.
(8) A failure to respond
to the current crisis affecting family farms will result in a continued
reduction in the number of such farms and the jobs and income that they
provide to their communities.
(9) A continued program
of assistance will provide many benefits to most tobacco-dependent communities,
particularly to small family farms.
(10) While tobacco-growing
States have some financial resources to support community revitalization,
few States have the resources necessary to support the transition from
dependence on tobacco to a varied economy.
(b) PURPOSE- It is the purpose
of this Act to provide assistance to tobacco-dependent communities, and
particularly to those comprised of small family farms, to assist them in
making the transition from tobacco-dependent economies to a diversified
economic base.
TITLE I--TOBACCO EQUITY ELIMINATION
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS OF ACTIVE
TOBACCO PRODUCER AND QUOTA HOLDER.
(1) The term `active tobacco
producer' means a owner, operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper who--
(A) shares in the risk of
producing tobacco on a farm where tobacco is produced pursuant to a tobacco
farm marketing quota or farm acreage allotment established under the Agricultural
Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) for the 2002 crop year;
and
(B) planted the crop, or
is considered to have planted the crop under that Act, in 2002.
(2) The term `tobacco quota
holder' means an owner, as of July 1, 2002, of a tobacco farm marketing
quota or a farm acreage allotment established under the Agricultural Adjustment
Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) for the 2002 marketing year.
SEC. 102. PAYMENTS TO TOBACCO
QUOTA HOLDERS.
(a) PAYMENT AUTHORITY- The
Secretary of Agriculture shall use funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation
to make payments under this section to tobacco quota
holders as compensation for
the loss of tobacco quota asset value on account of the repeal of part
I of subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1311 et seq.).
(b) APPLICATION- To receive
payments under this section, a person shall prepare and submit to the Secretary
of Agriculture an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require, including information sufficient
to demonstrate that the person satisfies the definition of tobacco quota
holder.
(c) TOTAL PAYMENT AMOUNT-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall determine the total amount to be paid to all tobacco
quota holders under this section with respect to each kind of tobacco.
(2) POUNDAGE QUOTA TOBACCO-
For each kind of tobacco for which the marketing quota is expressed in
pounds, the total amount available for payments to tobacco quota holders
under this section shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying--
(B) the total tobacco farm
marketing quotas established under the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938
for the 1998 marketing year for that kind of tobacco.
(3) MARKETING QUOTAS OTHER
THAN POUNDAGE QUOTAS- For each kind of tobacco for which there is a marketing
quota or allotment on an acreage basis, the Secretary shall convert the
tobacco farm marketing quotas or allotments established under the Agriculture
Adjustment Act of 1938 for the 1998 marketing year for that kind of tobacco
to a poundage basis before executing the mathematical equation specified
in paragraph (2).
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall determine the base quota level of each tobacco quota
holder with respect to each kind of tobacco.
(2) POUNDAGE QUOTA TOBACCO-
For each kind of tobacco for which the marketing quota is expressed in
pounds, the base quota level for a tobacco quota holder shall be equal
to the average of the tobacco farm marketing quota established under the
Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938 for the 2002 marketing year for quota
tobacco on the farm owned by the tobacco quota holder.
(3) MARKETING QUOTAS OTHER
THAN POUNDAGE QUOTAS- For each kind of tobacco for which there is a marketing
quota or allotment on an acreage basis, the base quota level for a tobacco
quota holder shall be equal to the product obtained (based on a poundage
conversion) by multiplying--
(A) the average tobacco
farm marketing quota or allotment established under the Agriculture Adjustment
Act of 1938 for the 2002 marketing year for the tobacco quota holder's
farm; by
(B) the average yield per
acre for the tobacco quota holder's farm for the kind of tobacco for that
marketing year.
(e) PAYMENT AMOUNT- The
Secretary of Agriculture shall make payments to a tobacco quota holder
with respect to a kind of tobacco under this section in a total amount
that bears the same ratio to the amount determined by the Secretary under
subsection (c) with respect to that kind of tobacco as the base quota level
of the tobacco quota holder with respect to that kind of tobacco bears
to the base quota level of all tobacco quota holders with respect to that
kind of tobacco.
(f) TIME FOR PAYMENT- The
amount determined under subsection (e) for a tobacco quota holder shall
be paid in five equal installments during each of the 2003 through 2007
crops of tobacco.
(g) DEATH OF TOBACCO QUOTA
HOLDER- If a tobacco quota holder who is entitled to payments under this
section dies and is survived by a spouse or one or more dependents, the
right to receive the payments shall transfer to the surviving spouse or,
if there is no surviving spouse, to the estate of the tobacco quota holder.
SEC. 103. TRANSITION PAYMENTS
FOR ACTIVE TOBACCO PRODUCERS.
(a) PAYMENT AUTHORITY- The
Secretary of Agriculture shall use funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation
to make transition payments under this section to active tobacco producers.
(b) APPLICATION- To receive
payments under this section, a person shall prepare and submit to the Secretary
of Agriculture an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require, including information sufficient
to demonstrate that the person satisfies the definition of active tobacco
producer.
(c) TOTAL PAYMENT AMOUNT-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall determine the total amount to be paid to all active
tobacco producers under this section with respect to each kind of tobacco.
(2) POUNDAGE QUOTA TOBACCO-
For each kind of tobacco for which the marketing quota is expressed in
pounds, the total amount available for payments to active tobacco producers
under this section shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying--
(B) the total tobacco farm
marketing quotas established under the Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938
for the 1998 marketing year for that kind of tobacco.
(3) MARKETING QUOTAS OTHER
THAN POUNDAGE QUOTAS- For each kind of tobacco for which there is a marketing
quota or allotment on an acreage basis, the Secretary shall convert the
tobacco farm marketing quotas or allotments established under the Agriculture
Adjustment Act of 1938 for the 1998 marketing year for that kind of tobacco
to a poundage basis before executing the mathematical equation specified
in paragraph (2).
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall determine the payment quantity of tobacco for each
active tobacco producer with respect to each kind of tobacco.
(2) POUNDAGE QUOTA TOBACCO-
For each kind of tobacco for which the marketing quota is expressed in
pounds, the payment quantity for an active tobacco producer shall be equal
to the average of the following:
(A) The July 1 effective
quota for that quota tobacco produced by the producer under the Agriculture
Adjustment Act of 1938 for the 2001 marketing year.
(B) The marketing quota
for that quota tobacco produced by the producer under the Agriculture Adjustment
Act of 1938 for the 2001 marketing year.
(C) The July 1 effective
quota for that quota tobacco produced by the producer under the Agriculture
Adjustment Act of 1938 for the 2002 marketing year.
(3) MARKETING QUOTAS OTHER
THAN POUNDAGE QUOTAS- For each kind of tobacco for which there is a marketing
quota or allotment on an acreage basis, the payment quantity for an active
tobacco producer shall be equal to the average of the actual pounds of
that kind of tobacco produced by the active tobacco producer for the 2001
and 2002 marketing years.
(1) ALL TOBACCO PRODUCERS-
The Secretary of Agriculture shall make payments to each active tobacco
producer with respect to a kind of tobacco under this section in a total
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount determined by the Secretary
under subsection (c) with respect to that kind of tobacco as the payment
quantity of the active tobacco producer with respect to that kind of tobacco
bears to the payment quantities of all active tobacco producers with respect
to that kind of tobacco.
(2) PRODUCERS WHO FORGO
OBTAINING TOBACCO PRODUCTION LICENSE- If an active tobacco producer who
is entitled to transition payments under this section with respect to a
kind of tobacco agrees to permanently forgo the opportunity to obtain a
tobacco production license under section 304 for the same type of tobacco,
the Secretary shall pay to the active tobacco producer, in addition to
the amount determined under paragraph (1), an amount equal to the product
obtained by multiplying--
(B) the payment quantity
of the active tobacco producer with respect to that kind of tobacco.
(f) TIME FOR PAYMENT- The
amount determined under subsection (e) for an active tobacco producer shall
be paid in five equal installments during each of the 2003 through 2007
crops of tobacco, except that an active tobacco producer who is also a
quota owner with a base quota level of 1,000 pounds or less and who no
longer intends to engage in tobacco production may elect to receive the
total amount in the first year after the date on which the agreement is
signed.
(g) DEATH OF ACTIVE TOBACCO
PRODUCER- If an active tobacco producer who is entitled to transition payments
under this section dies and is survived by a spouse or one or more dependents,
the right to receive the payments shall transfer to the surviving spouse
or, if there is no surviving spouse, to the estate of the producer.
SEC. 104. TOBACCO PRODUCT MANUFACTURER
AND IMPORTER USER FEES.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall assess an annual user fee, calculated in accordance
with this section, upon each tobacco product manufacturer and tobacco product
importer that sells tobacco products in domestic commerce in the United
States. The assessments shall commence during calendar year 2003, based
on domestic sales of tobacco products during fiscal year 2003.
(b) BASE AMOUNT OF USER
FEE FOR EACH CLASS OF TOBACCO PRODUCT-
(1) The base amount of the
user fee for cigarette manufacturers and importers shall be $2,116,252,000.
(2) The base amount of the
user fee for small cigar manufacturers and importers shall be $1,051,000.
(3) The base amount of the
user fee for large cigar manufacturers and importers shall be $164,274,000.
(4) The base amount of the
user fee for snuff manufacturers and importers shall be $9,920,000.
(5) The base amount of the
user fee for chewing tobacco manufacturers and importers shall be $2,275,000.
(6) The base amount of the
user fee for pipe tobacco manufacturers and importers shall be $1,505,000.
(7) The base amount of the
user fee for roll-your-own tobacco manufacturers and importers shall be
$3,231,000.
(c) DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL
USER FEE FOR EACH CLASS OF TOBACCO PRODUCT- The total user fee to be assessed
upon, and paid by, the manufacturers and importers of each class of tobacco
product in each calendar year, as allocated pursuant to subsection (d),
shall be the base amount for that class of tobacco product provided in
subsection (b) multiplied by a fraction--
(1) the numerator of which
is the total volume of domestic sales of that class of tobacco product
in the fiscal year ending on September 30 of that calendar year; and
(2) the denominator of which
is the total volume of domestic sales of that class of tobacco product
in fiscal year 2003.
(d) ALLOCATION OF TOTAL
USER FEE AMOUNTS BY MARKET SHARE--
(1) FORMULA- The user fee
for each class of tobacco product to be paid by each manufacturer or importer
of that class of tobacco product under subsection (a) shall be determined
in each year by multiplying--
(A) such manufacturer's
or importer's market share, as calculated with respect to the current calendar
year, of that class of tobacco product; by
(B) the total user fee amount
for the current calendar year, as determined under subsection (c), for
that class of tobacco product.
(2) MARKET SHARE DEFINED-
In this subsection, the term `market share' for each manufacturer or importer
of a class of tobacco product for the purpose of the assessment to be calculated
in the current calendar year shall be equal to that manufacturer's or importer's
respective share (expressed as a decimal to the fourth place) of the total
volume of domestic sales of that class of tobacco product during the calendar
year immediately preceding the year of such assessment.
(e) DETERMINATION OF VOLUME
OF DOMESTIC SALES-
(1) BASED ON CERTIFIED REPORTS-
The calculation of the volume of domestic sales of a class of tobacco product
by a manufacturer or importer, and by all manufacturers and importers as
a group, shall be made by the Secretary of Agriculture based on certified
reports submitted by such manufacturers and importers pursuant to subsection
(f).
(2) MEASUREMENT CRITERIA-
For purposes of the Secretary's calculations under this subsection and
the certifications under subsection (f), the volumes of domestic sales
shall be measured as follows:
(A) With respect to cigarettes,
in terms of the numbers of cigarettes sold.
(B) With respect to small
cigars, the number of cigars weighing not more than three pounds per thousand
sold.
(C) With respect to large
cigars, the number of cigars weighing more than three pounds per thousand
sold.
(D) With respect to other
classes of tobacco products, in terms of the number of pounds, or fraction
thereof, or these tobacco products sold.
(f) CERTIFICATION OF VOLUME
OF DOMESTIC SALES- Every manufacturer and importer of tobacco products
shall submit each year a certified report to the Secretary of Agriculture
setting forth for each class of tobacco products the total, for the prior
year, of such manufacturer's or importer's domestic sales to wholesalers
and retailers and directly to consumers. These certified reports must be
submitted to the Secretary not later than March 1 of the year after the
year for which the certified report is being made.
(g) TERMINATION- The user
fees imposed under this section shall terminate at the end of the fiscal
year in which the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the Commodity
Credit Corporation has been fully reimbursed for all expenditures made
using Commodity Credit Corporation funds under this title.
SEC. 105. REIMBURSEMENT OF COMMODITY
CREDIT CORPORATION EXPENDITURES.
Amounts collected by the
Secretary of Agriculture under section 104 shall be used to reimburse the
Commodity Credit Corporation for all expenditures made under this title.
TITLE II--TOBACCO PRICE SUPPORT
SEC. 201. AVAILABILITY OF TOBACCO
PRICE SUPPORT.
(a) NEW APPROACH TO PRICE
SUPPORT- Section 106 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1445) is
amended to read as follows:
`SEC. 106. TOBACCO PRICE SUPPORT.
`(a) PRICE SUPPORT RATE
TO REFLECT COST OF PRODUCTION-
`(1) ESTABLISHMENT AND ANNUAL
ADJUSTMENT- The price of each type of tobacco produced in the United States
shall be supported at a rate established by the Secretary, and adjusted
annually, to reflect the costs of production for producers of that type
of tobacco.
`(2) DETERMINATION OF COST
OF PRODUCTION- The Secretary shall use the information collection and survey
resources of the Economic Research Service and National Agricultural Statistics
Service of the Department of Agriculture to determine the cost of domestic
tobacco production. The Economic Research Service shall reevaluate the
cost-of-production annually, based on the survey of factors used by the
Economic Research Service, which shall be conducted once every five years.
`(b) CONSIDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL
PRICE LEVELS- In establishing the price support rate for a type of tobacco,
the Secretary shall also consider the international tobacco price levels.
`(c) CONSULTATION- The Secretary
shall consult with the Tobacco Advisory Board, farm organizations, producer
cooperatives and associations, colleges and universities in tobacco-producing
States, and other interested persons when determining the costs of tobacco
production and establishing or adjusting the price support rate.
`(d) DIFFERENCES IN GRADE-
The Secretary may take into consideration differences in tobacco grades
when establishing or adjusting the price support rate for a type of tobacco.'.
(b) ELIMINATION OF REFERENCES
TO QUOTA TOBACCO IN NO NET COST PROVISIONS- (1) Section 106A of the Agricultural
Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1445-1) is amended as follows:
(A) In subsection (a), by
striking `quota' each place it appears in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6).
(B) By striking subsection
(a)(7).
(C) In subsection (d), by
striking `quota' each place it appears in paragraphs (1), (3), and (7).
(D) In subsection (e), by
striking `quota'.
(2) Section 106B of the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1445-2) is amended as follows:
(A) In subsection (a)(5),
by striking `, for which marketing quotas are in effect or for which marketing
quotas are not disapproved by producers'.
(B) In subsection (a)(8),
by striking `quota'.
(C) In subsection (d), by
striking `quota' each place it appears in paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(A).
SEC. 202. REPEAL OF RELATED
PROVISIONS.
(a) PARITY PRICE SUPPORT-
Section 101 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1441) is amended--
(1) in the first sentence
of subsection (a), by striking `tobacco (except as otherwise provided herein),
corn' and inserting `corn';
(2) by striking subsection
(c);
(3) in subsection (d)(3)--
(A) by striking `, except
tobacco,'; and
(B) by striking `and no
price support shall be made available for any crop of tobacco for which
marketing quotas have been disapproved by producers;'; and
(4) by redesignating subsections
(d) and (e) as subsection (c) and (d), respectively.
(b) DEFINITION OF BASIC
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY- Section 408(c) of the Agricultural Act of 1949
(7 U.S.C. 1428(c)) is amended by striking `tobacco,'.
SEC. 203. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments
made by this title shall apply with respect to the 2003 and subsequent
tobacco crops.
TITLE III--TOBACCO PRODUCTION
LICENSES
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS OF HISTORIC
TOBACCO PRODUCER AND LICENSED TOBACCO PRODUCER.
(1) The term `historic tobacco
producer' means an owner, operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper who
bore, individually or collectively, the risk of producing a crop of tobacco
on a farm for the 2002 crop year.
(2) The term `licensed tobacco
producer' means an owner, operator, landlord, tenant, or sharecropper who
holds a license issued under this title--
(A) to plant a crop of tobacco
on a farm in a specified county for the 2003 or a subsequent crop year;
and
(B) to harvest and market
an authorized quantity of tobacco.
SEC. 302. ANNUAL ESTIMATE OF
TOBACCO PURCHASE INTENTIONS.
(a) ANNUAL ESTIMATE- Not
later than February 1 of each calendar year, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall publish in the Federal Register an estimate of the quantity in pounds
of each type of tobacco necessary--
(1) to satisfy domestic
use and export needs during the next marketing year; and
(2) to maintain a reasonable
reserve.
(b) RULES FOR ESTIMATE-
When making an estimate under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture
shall consider--
(1) the industry purchase
estimates submitted under subsection (c);
(2) export estimates; and
(3) an appropriate reserve
stock adjustment.
(c) INDUSTRY PURCHASE ESTIMATES-
Not later than December 1 of each calendar year with respect to Flue-cured
tobacco, and January 15 of each calendar year with respect to Burley tobacco
or other types of tobacco, each domestic manufacturer of cigarettes or
other type of domestic tobacco-product manufacturer shall submit to the
Secretary of Agriculture a statement, by kind, of the quantity of Flue-cured
tobacco, Burley tobacco, and other types of tobacco that the manufacturer
intends to purchase, directly or indirectly, on the United States auction
markets or from licensed tobacco producers during the next marketing year.
(d) FAILURE TO SUBMIT, OR
OVER-DECLARATION OF, PURCHASE INTENTIONS- If a domestic manufacturer of
cigarettes or other type of domestic tobacco-product manufacturer fails
to submit to the Secretary of Agriculture purchase intentions as required
under subsection (c) for a marketing year, but subsequently purchases tobacco
on the United States auction markets or from licensed tobacco producers
during that marketing year, or if a domestic manufacturer of cigarettes
or other type of domestic tobacco-product manufacturer over-estimates such
purchase intentions by more than 5 percent, the domestic manufacturer of
cigarettes or other type of domestic tobacco-product manufacturer shall
be liable for a civil penalty up to an amount determined by multiplying--
(1) the quantity of tobacco
involved in the violation; by
(2) price support rate for
the type of tobacco involved in effect under section 106 of the Agriculture
Act of 1949 at the time of the violation.
(e) ENFORCEMENT- The Secretary
of Agriculture may enforce subsection (d) in the courts of the United States.
(f) CONSULTATION WITH TOBACCO
ADVISORY BOARD- The Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare the estimate
under subsection (a) and otherwise carry out this title in consultation
with the Tobacco Advisory Board appointed under title IV.
SEC. 303. NATIONAL TOBACCO MARKETING
FACTOR.
The national marketing factor
for a type of tobacco for a crop year shall be the ratio of--
(1) the aggregate quantity
of that type of tobacco estimated by the Secretary of Agriculture under
section 302 to be necessary to satisfy domestic consumption and exports
of tobacco for the corresponding marketing year; to
(2) the estimated aggregate
quantity of that type of tobacco to be produced in the United States for
that year.
SEC. 304. ISSUANCE OF TOBACCO
PRODUCTION LICENSES.
(a) INITIAL ISSUANCE TO
HISTORIC TOBACCO PRODUCERS-
(A) ISSUANCE REQUIRED- As
soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of Agriculture shall issue to each historic tobacco producer a tobacco
production license for the purpose of ensuring sufficient production of
each type of tobacco to satisfy annual purchase intentions for that type
of tobacco estimated under section 302, but also preventing over-production
of that type of tobacco.
(B) EXCEPTION- The Secretary
shall not issue a tobacco production license to an historic tobacco producer
with respect to a kind of tobacco if the historic tobacco producer agreed
under subsection (e) of section 103 to permanently forgo the tobacco production
license for that type of tobacco in exchange for additional transition
payments under such section.
(2) TOBACCO PRODUCTION HISTORY-
The tobacco production license issued to an historic tobacco producer under
paragraph (1) shall specify the tobacco production history of the producer
for each type of tobacco for each county in which the producer bore, individually
or collectively, the risk of producing a crop of tobacco on a farm in the
county for the 2002 crop year. In the case of an historic tobacco producer
who bore 100 percent of the risk of producing a type of tobacco on a farm
for the 2002 crop year, the tobacco production history of the historic
tobacco producer for that type of tobacco in a county shall be equal to
the 2002 marketing and effective quota of that type tobacco produced by
the producer in the county for commercial use during the 2002 crop year.
In the case of an historic tobacco producer who bore less than 100 percent
of the risk of production, the Secretary of Agriculture shall adjust the
tobacco production history to reflect the percentage of risk that was borne
by the producer.
(3) ADJUSTMENT AUTHORITY-
An historic tobacco producer may petition the Secretary of Agriculture
to increase the tobacco production history determined under paragraph (2)
for the producer for a type of tobacco on the grounds that the producer's
2002 production under-represents the producer's historic production of
that type of tobacco.
(4) CONSOLIDATION OF COUNTIES-
If the initial issuance of a tobacco production license to an historic
tobacco producer for a type of tobacco would result in the producer receiving
a license for that type of tobacco for more than one county, the producer
may elect to consolidate the licenses in a single county in which the producer
bore or shared in the risk of producing a crop of that type of tobacco
for the 2002 crop year. The option to make this election shall be provided
only once.
(1) IN GENERAL- If a tobacco
production license is surrendered or revoked, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall transfer the license and the corresponding tobacco production history
to beginning tobacco producers or licensed tobacco producers in the following
order of preference:
(A) Producers in the same
county as the county in which the tobacco production history was derived.
(B) Producers in the same
State.
(C) Producers in counties
in other States in which licensed tobacco producers are operating.
(2) RESERVATION FOR BEGINNING
PRODUCERS- In all instances specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C)
of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reserve for beginning tobacco producers
at least five percent of the tobacco production history surrendered or
revoked under this section.
(3) PRODUCERS WHO FORGO
OBTAINING TOBACCO PRODUCTION LICENSE- The tobacco production history of
those historic tobacco producers who agree under section 103(e) to permanently
forgo the opportunity to obtain a tobacco production license under subsection
(a) shall also be available to the Secretary for distribution as provided
in paragraph (1).
(c) LIMITATIONS ON USE OF
LICENSE-
(1) IN GENERAL- A tobacco
production license specifying a particular type of tobacco and the county
in which that type of tobacco may be grown may not be used as the basis
to grow a different type of tobacco or to grow that type of tobacco in
a different county.
(2) REVOCATION- Any use
of a tobacco production license contrary to this subsection shall result
in the revocation of the license.
(d) LIMITATIONS ON SALE,
LEASE, OR TRANSFER OF LICENSE-
(1) SALE PROHIBITED- A tobacco
production license and the corresponding tobacco production history may
not be sold or leased.
(2) TRANSFER UNDER LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES- A licensed tobacco producer may not transfer a tobacco production
license and the corresponding tobacco production history unless--
(A) in the case of a licensed
tobacco producer who is in a partnership, the transfer is among the partners;
or
(B) in the case of a licensed
tobacco producer who is an individual, the transfer is made to the spouse,
parent, brother, sister, or natural or adopted child of the licensed tobacco
producer.
(3) REVOCATION- Any sale,
lease, or transfer of a tobacco production license or the corresponding
tobacco production history contrary to this subsection shall result in
the revocation of the license.
(e) SURRENDER OR REVOCATION
OF LICENSE FOR NON-USE-
(1) SURRENDER- A licensed
tobacco producer may surrender a tobacco production license and the corresponding
tobacco production history to the Secretary of Agriculture at any time.
(2) REVOCATION- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall revoke the tobacco production license and the corresponding
tobacco production history of a licensed tobacco producer if the licensed
tobacco producer--
(A) fails to share, individually
or collectively, in 100 percent of the risk of producing a crop of tobacco
of the type specified in the tobacco production license for any year; or
(B) fails to produce at
least 75 percent of the quantity of that type of tobacco specified in the
tobacco production license for two out of three years, unless that Secretary
determines the failure was due to damaging weather or related condition.
(3) ANNUAL MONITORING OF
RISK- The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Farm Service Agency,
shall monitor at least five percent of all licensed tobacco producers annually
to ensure that
the producers comply with the
risk-sharing requirements of paragraph (2). The licensed tobacco producers
to be monitored in a given crop year under the authority of this paragraph
shall be selected at random. Nothing in this paragraph prevents the Secretary
from instituting an investigation of a specific licensed tobacco producer
if the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe the producer is not complying
with such risk-sharing requirements.
SEC. 305. ANNUAL AUTHORIZED
TOBACCO PRODUCTION UNDER TOBACCO PRODUCTION LICENSES.
(a) NOTIFICATION OF LICENSED
TOBACCO PRODUCERS- As soon as practicable after preparing the estimate
required by section 302 for a type of tobacco for a marketing year, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall notify each licensed tobacco producer of
that type of tobacco of the authorized quantity of tobacco that the producer
may produce in a county in the corresponding crop year under the tobacco
production license.
(b) DETERMINATION OF AUTHORIZED
PRODUCTION LEVELS- The authorized tobacco production level for a licensed
tobacco producer for a type of tobacco in a county for a crop year is equal
to the product of--
(1) the tobacco production
history of the producer for that type of tobacco in that county; and
(2) the national tobacco
marketing factor for that year determined by the Secretary of Agriculture
under section 303.
(c) EXCESS PRODUCTION- Except
as provided in subsection (e), if a licensed tobacco producer harvests
and markets tobacco in excess of the quantity specified in the producer's
tobacco production license or any other person produces tobacco without
a tobacco production license, the licensed tobacco producer or other person
shall be liable for a civil penalty up to an amount determined by multiplying--
(1) the quantity of tobacco
involved in the violation; by
(2) price support rate for
the type of tobacco involved in effect under section 106 of the Agriculture
Act of 1949 at the time of the violation.
(d) ENFORCEMENT- The Secretary
of Agriculture may enforce subsection (c) in the courts of the United States.
(e) LIMITED AUTHORITY TO
EXCEED LICENSE- If the Tobacco Advisory Board notifies the Secretary of
Agriculture that the actual production of a type of tobacco for a crop
year will be less than 80 percent of the production authorized under all
licenses issued for that type of tobacco, the Secretary may authorize a
licensed tobacco producer of that type of tobacco to harvest and market
tobacco in excess of the quantity specified in the producer's tobacco production
license. The Secretary shall establish a mechanism under which a licensed
tobacco producer may apply for the authority to exceed the quantity specified
in the producer's license.
SEC. 306. ASSESSMENT ON LICENSED
TOBACCO PRODUCERS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
(a) ASSESSMENT- Effective
for the 2003 and subsequent marketing years for each type of tobacco covered
by this title, each licensed tobacco producer shall remit to the Secretary
a nonrefundable marketing assessment in an amount determined by the Secretary
that, in the aggregate, will cover all administrative expenses incurred
by the Secretary and the Corporation in carrying out this title.
(b) LIMITATION- The amount
of the assessment imposed under this section shall not exceed 1 cent for
each pound of covered tobacco produced.
SEC. 307. TERMINATION OF MARKETING
QUOTA PROGRAMS AND REPEAL OF RELATED PROVISIONS.
(a) TOBACCO CONTROL ACT-
The Act of April 25, 1936 (commonly known as the Tobacco Control Act; 7
U.S.C. 515-515k), is repealed.
(b) COMMODITY HANDLING ORDERS-
Section 8c(2) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(2)), reenacted
with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is
amended by striking `tobacco,'.
(c) PROCESSING TAX- Section
9(b) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 609(b)), reenacted with
amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by
striking `tobacco,'; and
(2) in paragraph (6)(B)(i),
by striking `, or, in the case of tobacco, is less than the fair exchange
value by not more than 10 per centum,'.
(d) BURLEY TOBACCO IMPORT
REVIEW- Section 3 of Public Law 98-59 (7 U.S.C. 625) is repealed.
(e) DECLARATION OF POLICY-
Section 2 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1282) is
amended by striking `tobacco,'.
(f) DEFINITIONS- Section
301(b) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1301(b)) is
amended--
(A) by striking subparagraph
(C); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraph
(D) as subparagraph (C);
(2) in paragraph (6)(A),
by striking `tobacco,';
(3) in paragraph (7), by
striking the following:
`Tobacco (flue-cured), July
1-June 30;
Tobacco (other than flue-cured),
October 1-September 30);'
(A) by striking subparagraph
(B); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraph
(C) as subparagraph (B);
(5) in paragraph (11)(B),
by striking `and tobacco';
(6) in paragraph (12), by
striking `tobacco,';
(A) by striking `(A)' in
subparagraph (A); and
(B) by striking subparagraphs
(B), (C), and (D);
(8) by striking paragraph
(15);
(A) by striking subparagraph
(B); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraph
(C) as subparagraph (B);
(10) by striking paragraph
(17); and
(11) by redesignating paragraph
(16) as paragraph (15).
(g) PARITY PAYMENTS- Section
303 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1303) is amended
in the first sentence by striking `rice, or tobacco' and inserting `or
rice'.
(h) MARKETING QUOTAS- Part
I of subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1311 et seq.) is repealed.
(i) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS-
Section 361 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1361)
is amended by striking `tobacco,'.
(j) ADJUSTMENT OF QUOTAS-
Section 371 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1371)
is amended--
(1) in the first sentence
of subsection (a) by striking `, rice, or tobacco' and inserting `or rice';
and
(2) in the first sentence
of subsection (b), by striking `, rice, or tobacco' and inserting `or rice'.
(k) REPORTS AND RECORDS-
Section 373 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1373)
is amended--
(1) by striking `rice, or
tobacco' each place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting
`or rice'; and
(A) in the first sentence
by striking `all persons engaged in the business of redrying, prizing,
or stemming tobacco for producers,'; and
(B) in the last sentence
by striking `$500' and all that follows through the period at the end of
the sentence and inserting `$500.'.
(l) REGULATIONS- Section
375(a) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1375(a)) is
amended by striking `peanuts, or tobacco' and inserting `or peanuts'.
(m) EMINENT DOMAIN- Section
378 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1378) is amended--
(1) in the first sentence
of subsection (c) by striking `and tobacco' and inserting `cotton'; and
(2) by striking subsections
(d), (e), and (f).
(n) BURLEY TOBACCO FARM
RECONSTITUTION- Section 379 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1379) is amended--
(A) by striking `(a)'; and
(B) in paragraph (6) by
striking `, but this clause (6) shall not be applicable in the case of
burley tobacco'; and
(2) by striking subsections
(b) and (c).
(o) ACREAGE-POUNDAGE QUOTAS-
Section 4 of the Act of April 16, 1955 (Public Law 89-12; 7 U.S.C. 1314c
note), is repealed.
(p) BURLEY TOBACCO ACREAGE
ALLOTMENTS- The Act of July 12, 1952 (7 U.S.C. 1315), is repealed.
(q) TRANSFER OF ALLOTMENTS-
Section 703 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1965 (7 U.S.C. 1316) is
repealed.
(r) ADVANCE RECOURSE LOANS-
Section 13(a)(2)(B) of the Food Security Improvements Act of 1986 (7 U.S.C.
1433c-1(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking `tobacco and'.
(s) TOBACCO FIELD MEASUREMENT-
Section 1112 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (Public Law
100-203) is amended by striking subsection (c).
(t) LIABILITY- The amendments
made by this section shall not affect the liability of any person under
any provision of law in effect before the amendments take effect as provided
under subsection (u).
SEC. 308. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments
made by this title shall apply with respect to the 2003 and subsequent
tobacco crops.
TITLE IV--TOBACCO ADVISORY BOARD
SEC. 401. ESTABLISHMENT AND
DUTIES OF TOBACCO ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary
of Agriculture shall establish a permanent advisory board in the Department
of Agriculture to be known as the Tobacco Advisory Board.
(b) MEMBERS- The Tobacco
Advisory Board shall consist of 12 appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture
as follows:
(1) Three licensed tobacco
producers of Flue-cured tobacco.
(2) Three licensed tobacco
producers of Burley tobacco.
(3) One licensed tobacco
producer of dark-type tobacco.
(4) One representative of
United States cigarette manufacturers.
(5) One representative of
United States moist snuff manufacturers.
(7) One representative of
Flue-cured tobacco marketing facilities.
(8) One representative of
Burley tobacco marketing facilities.
(c) NON-VOTING MEMBERS-
The Tobacco Advisory Board shall also have the following non-voting members:
(1) The Secretary of Agriculture,
or an officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture.
(2) A tobacco analyst of
the Department of Agriculture, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(3) The United States Trade
Representative, or the designee of the United States Trade Representative.
(4) One representative from
a college or university in a predominately Flue-cured tobacco producing
State.
(5) One representative from
a college or university in a predominately Burley tobacco producing State.
(d) DUTIES- The Tobacco
Advisory Board shall be responsible for--
(1) making recommendations
for modifications of the tobacco price support program under section 106
of the Agriculture Act of 1949;
(2) making recommendations
for modifications of the tobacco production license program under title
III;
(3) determining adequate
reserve stock levels for each type of tobacco;
(4) conducting oversight
regarding tobacco marketing issues, such as opening sales dates, marketing
regulations, and grading fees; and
(5) making recommendations
regarding a simplification and reform of the grading system for tobacco,
which the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to implement.
TITLE V--ASSISTANCE TO TOBACCO-DEPENDENT
COMMUNITIES
SEC. 501. CENTER FOR TOBACCO-DEPENDENT
COMMUNITIES.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress
finds the following:
(1) The economies of many
local communities are dependent on tobacco production.
(2) Many tobacco-producing
communities are facing significant challenges in developing non-tobacco
income, and remain therefore quite dependent on tobacco and vulnerable
to changes in the tobacco-growing industry.
(3) Greater analysis and
study is needed of economic conditions in these communities in order to
gain critical information, including identification of the interconnections
among various tobacco-related activities, the degree to which the economic
base of these communities is diversified, and the extent to which these
communities are dependent on other declining economic sectors.
(b) CORPORATION ESTABLISHED-
There is authorized to be established a nonprofit corporation, to be known
as the `Center for Tobacco-Dependent Communities', which will not be an
agency or establishment of the United States Government. The Center shall
be subject to the provisions of this section, and (to the extent consistent
with this section) to the laws and regulations applicable to nonprofit
corporations in the State in which the corporation is established.
(1) The Center shall have
a Board of Directors consisting of 7 members. Six of the members of the
Board shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, and such members shall appoint the Center's Executive Director,
who shall also be a member of the Board. No more than 3 of the 6 members
appointed by the President may be members of the same political party.
(2) The 6 members of the
Board appointed by the President shall be citizens of the United States
who have knowledge and experience regarding the matters for which the Center
is responsible, and who are eminent in issues related to rural development
(including small-crop agriculture; entrepreneurial activity; and industrial,
small business and community development).
(3) The members of the initial
Board of Directors shall serve as incorporators and shall take whatever
actions are necessary to establish the Center.
(4) The term of office of
each member of the Board appointed by the President shall be 4 years, except
that of the members initially so appointed, 3 members shall serve for a
2-year term. Any member whose term has expired may serve until such member's
successor has taken office, or until the end of the calendar year in which
such member's term has expired, whichever is earlier. Any member appointed
to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which
such member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder
of such term. No member of the Board shall be eligible to serve in excess
of 2 consecutive full terms.
(5) Any vacancy in the Board
shall not affect its power, but shall be filled in the manner consistent
with this section.
(6) Members of the Board
shall attend not less than 50 percent of all duly convened meetings of
the Board in any calendar year. A member who fails to meet the requirement
of the preceding sentence shall forfeit membership, and the President shall
appoint a new member to fill such vacancy not later than 30 days after
such vacancy is determined by the Chairman of the Board.
(7) Members of the Board
shall annually elect 1 of their members to be Chair and elect 1 or more
of their members as a Vice Chair or Chairs. The members of the Board shall
not, by reason of such membership, be officers or employees of the United
States. Members of the Board shall, while attending meetings of the Board
or while engaged in duties related to such meetings or other activities
of the Board pursuant to this section, be entitled to receive compensation
at the rate of $150 per day, including traveltime. No Board member shall
receive compensation of more than $10,000 in any fiscal year. While away
from their homes or regular places of business, Board members shall be
allowed travel and actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses.
(8) All meetings of the
Board, including any committee of the Board, shall be open to the public.
(d) OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES-
(1) The Center shall have
a President, and such other officers as may be named and appointed by the
Board for terms and at rates of compensation fixed by the Board. No officer
or employee of the Corporation may be compensated by the Corporation at
an annual rate of pay which exceeds the rate of basic pay in effect from
time to time for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of
title 5, United States Code. No individual other than a citizen of the
United States may be an officer of the Center. No officer of the Center,
other than the Chair or a Vice Chair, may receive any salary or other compensation
(except for compensation for services on boards of directors of other organizations
that do not receive funds from the Center, on committees of such boards,
and in similar activities for such organizations) from any sources other
than the Center for services rendered during the period of his or her employment
by the Center. Service by any officer on boards of directors of other organizations,
on committees of such boards,
and in similar activities for such organizations shall be subject to annual
advance approval by the Board and subject to the provisions of the Center's
Statement of Ethical Conduct. All officers shall serve at the pleasure
of the Board.
(2) Except as provided in
subsection (c)(1), no political test or qualification shall be used in
selecting, appointing, promoting, or taking other personnel actions with
respect to officers, agents, and employees of the Center.
(e) NONPROFIT AND NONPOLITICAL
NATURE OF THE CENTER-
(1) The Center shall have
no power to issue any shares of stock, or to declare or pay any dividends.
(2) No part of the income
or assets of the Center shall inure to the benefit of any director, officer,
employee, or any other individual except as salary or reasonable compensation
for services.
(3) The Center may not contribute
to or otherwise support any political party or candidate for elective public
office.
(f) PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES
OF THE CENTER-
(1) In order to achieve
the objectives and to carry out the purposes of this section, the Center
shall provide economic and community development assistance for tobacco
communities to assist them in making the transition from tobacco-based
economies. The primary activities of the Center shall be agricultural and
entrepreneurial, and shall include outreach and education to tobacco quota
owners, growers and others (including small communities) with limited ability
to obtain access to current economic development resources. In particular,
the Center shall provide assistance to tobacco-producing communities identified
by the Economic Research Service within the Department, with emphasis on
those communities that are especially dependent on tobacco production for
the generation of revenue.
(2) The Center is authorized
to--
(A) provide communities
and producers with targeted technical assistance;
(B) convene meetings and
conduct workshops and conferences;
(C) serve as a clearinghouse
for exchange of information regarding best industry practices;
(D) provide research and
policy development activities;
(E) serve as an advocate
for communities making the transition from tobacco-based economies;
(F) make grants to individuals
or entities, including challenge grants, community mini-grants, technical
assistance grants and grants for pilot projects and demonstrations;
(G) hire or accept the voluntary
services of consultants, experts, advisory boards, and panels to aid the
Center in carrying out the purposes of this section;
(H) accept bequests, donations,
and other forms of assistance; and
(I) take such other actions
as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in this section.
(3) Nothing contained in
paragraph (2) shall be construed to commit the Federal Government to provide
any sums for the payment of any obligation of the Center.
(4) To carry out the foregoing
purposes and engage in the foregoing activities, the Center shall have
the usual powers conferred upon a nonprofit corporation by applicable laws
and regulations of the State in which the corporation is established, except
that the Center is prohibited from owning or operating any tobacco-related
interest.
(1) The Center shall submit
an annual report for the preceding fiscal year ending September 30 to the
President for transmittal to the Congress on or before the 15th day of
May of each year. The report shall include--
(A) a comprehensive and
detailed report of the Center's operations, activities, financial condition,
and accomplishments under this section and such recommendations as the
Center considers appropriate; and
(B) a listing of each organization
that receives a grant from the Center, the purpose of such grant, and the
amount of each such grant.
(2) The officers and directors
of the Center shall be available to testify before appropriate committees
of the Congress with respect to such report, the report of any audit made
by the Comptroller General of the United States pursuant to this section,
or any other matter which such committees may determine.
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS-
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture,
from funds derived from the user fees imposed under section 104, $5,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2013 to provide funds for the
operations and activities of the Center. Funds so appropriated shall remain
available until expended. The Corporation shall establish an annual budget
for use in allocating amounts made available to the Center under this section.
(i) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
AND RECORDS-
(1)(A) The accounts of the
Center shall be audited annually in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards by independent certified public accountants or independent
licensed public accountants certified or licensed by a regulatory authority
of a State or other political subdivision of the United States. The audits
shall be conducted at the place or places where the accounts of the Center
are normally kept. All books, accounts, financial records, reports, files,
and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the
Center and necessary to facilitate the audits shall be made available to
the person or persons conducting the audits; and full facilities for verifying
transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal
agents and custodians shall be afforded to such person or persons.
(B) The report of each such
independent audit shall be included in the annual report required by this
subsection. The audit report shall set forth the scope of the audit and
include such statements as are necessary to present fairly the Center's
assets and liabilities, surplus or deficit, with an analysis of the changes
therein during the year, supplemented in reasonable detail by a statement
of the Center's expenses during the year, and a statement of the sources
and application of funds, together with the independent auditor's opinion
of such statements.
(2)(A) The financial transactions
of the Center for any fiscal year during which Federal funds are available
to finance any portion of its operations may be audited by the General
Accounting Office in accordance with the principles and procedures applicable
to commercial corporate transactions and under such rules and regulations
as may be prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States. Any
such audit shall be conducted at the place or places where accounts of
the Center are normally kept. The representative of the General Accounting
Office shall have access to all books, accounts, records, reports, files,
and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the
Center pertaining to its financial transactions and necessary to facilitate
the audit, and they shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions
with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and
custodians. All such books, accounts, records, reports, files, papers and
property of the Center shall remain in possession and custody of the Center.
(B) A report of each such
audit shall be made by the Comptroller General to the Congress. The report
to the Congress shall contain such comments and information as the Comptroller
General may deem necessary to inform Congress of the financial operations
and condition of the Center, together with such recommendations with respect
thereto as the Comptroller General may consider advisable. The report shall
also show specifically any program, expenditure, or other financial transaction
or undertaking observed in the course of the audit, which, in the opinion
of the Comptroller General, has been carried on or made without authority
of law. A copy of each report shall be furnished to the President, to the
Secretary, and to the Center at the time submitted to the Congress.
(3)(A) Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Center, in consultation
with the Comptroller General, and as appropriate with others, shall develop
accounting principles which shall be used uniformly by all individuals
and entities receiving funds under this section, taking into account organizational
differences among various categories of such entities. Such principles
shall be designed to account fully for all funds received and expended
by such entities under this section.
(B) Each individual and
entity receiving funds under this section shall be required--
(i) to keep its books, records,
and accounts in such form as may be required by the Center;
(ii)(I) to undergo a biennial
audit by independent certified public accountants or independent licensed
public accountants certified or licensed by a regulatory authority of a
State, which audit shall be in accordance with auditing standards developed
by the Center, in consultation with the Comptroller General; or
(II) to submit a financial
statement in lieu of the audit required by subclause (I) if the Center
determines that the cost burden of such audit on such entity is excessive
in light of the financial condition of such entity; and
(iii) to furnish biennially
to the Center a copy of the audit report required pursuant to clause (ii),
as well as such other information regarding finances (including an annual
financial report) as the Center may require.
(C) Any recipient of assistance
by grant under this section shall keep such records as may be reasonably
necessary to disclose fully the amount and the disposition by such recipient
of such assistance, the total cost of the project or undertaking in connection
with which such assistance is given or used, and the amount and nature
of that portion of the cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other
sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
(D) The Center or any of
its duly authorized representatives shall have access to any books, documents,
papers, and records of any recipient of assistance for the purpose of auditing
and examining all funds received or expended by the recipient under this
section. The Comptroller General of the United States or any duly authorized
representatives of the Comptroller General also shall have access to such
books, documents, papers, and records for the purpose of auditing and examining
all funds received or expended under this section during any fiscal year
for which Federal funds are available to the Center.
(4) The Center shall maintain
the information described in paragraph (3) at its offices for public inspection
and copying for at least 3 years, according to such reasonable guidelines
as the Center may issue. This public file shall be updated regularly.
END
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