I
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 693
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2013
Mr. Pitts (for himself, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Bucshon, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Marino, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Moran, Mr. Petri, Mr. Rush, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Speier, Mr. Dent, Mrs. Black, Mr. Womack, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Quigley, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Latta, Mr. Massie, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Perry, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. Rothfus, Mr. Renacci, Mr. Gerlach, Mr. Lance, Mr. Lipinski, and Mr. Harris) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To reform the Federal sugar program, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Sugar Reform Act of
2013
.
Sugar program
Sugarcane
Section 156(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (4),
by striking and
after the semicolon at the end;
in paragraph (5),
by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
;
and
by adding at the end the following:
18 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for each of the 2013 through 2017 crop years.
.
Sugar beets
Section 156(b)(2) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(b)(2)) is amended by striking
2012
and inserting 2017
.
Effective period
Section 156(i) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(i)) is amended by striking
2012
and inserting 2017
.
Flexible marketing allotments for sugar
In general
Section 359b of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359bb) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1)—
in the matter
before subparagraph (A), by striking 2012
and inserting
2017
; and
in subparagraph
(B), by inserting at reasonable prices
after
stocks
; and
in subsection (b)(1)—
in subparagraph
(A), by striking but
after the semicolon at the end and
inserting and
; and
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
appropriate to maintain adequate domestic supplies at reasonable prices, taking into account all sources of domestic supply, including imports.
.
Establishment of flexible marketing allotments
Section 359c of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359cc) is amended—
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (1)—
in
subparagraph (A), by striking but
after the semicolon at the end
and inserting and
; and
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
appropriate to maintain adequate supplies at reasonable prices, taking into account all sources of domestic supply, including imports.
; and
in paragraph
(2)(B), by inserting at reasonable prices
after
market
; and
in subsection (g)(1)—
by striking
Adjustments.—
and all that follows through
Subject to subparagraph (B), the
and inserting
Adjustments.—The
; and
by striking subparagraph (B).
Suspension or modification of provisions
Section 359j of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359jj) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Suspension or modification of provisions
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Secretary may suspend or modify, in whole or in part, the application of any provision of this part if the Secretary determines that the action is appropriate, taking into account—
the interests of consumers, workers in the food industry, businesses (including small businesses), and agricultural producers; and
the relative competitiveness of domestically produced and imported foods containing sugar.
.
Administration of tariff rate quotas
Section 359k of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359kk) is amended to read as follows:
Administration of tariff rate quotas
Establishment
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, at the beginning of the quota year, the Secretary shall establish the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar and refined sugar at no less than the minimum level necessary to comply with obligations under international trade agreements that have been approved by Congress.
Adjustment
In general
Subject to subsection (a), the Secretary shall adjust the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar and refined sugar to provide adequate supplies of sugar at reasonable prices in the domestic market.
Ending stocks
Subject to paragraphs (1) and (3), the Secretary shall establish and adjust tariff-rate quotas in such a manner that the ratio of sugar stocks to total sugar use at the end of the quota year will be approximately 15.5 percent.
Maintenance of reasonable prices and avoidance of forfeitures
In general
The Secretary may establish a different target for the ratio of ending stocks to total use if, in the judgment of the Secretary, the different target is necessary to prevent—
unreasonably high prices; or
forfeitures of sugar pledged as collateral for a loan under section 156 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272).
Announcement
The Secretary shall publicly announce any establishment of a target under this paragraph.
Considerations
In establishing tariff-rate quotas under subsection (a) and making adjustments under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the impact of the quotas on consumers, workers, businesses (including small businesses), and agricultural producers.
Temporary transfer of quotas
In general
To promote full use of the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar and refined sugar, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations that provide that any country that has been allocated a share of the quotas may temporarily transfer all or part of the share to any other country that has also been allocated a share of the quotas.
Transfers voluntary
Any transfer under this subsection shall be valid only on voluntary agreement between the transferor and the transferee, consistent with procedures established by the Secretary.
Transfers temporary
In general
Any transfer under this subsection shall be valid only for the duration of the quota year during which the transfer is made.
Following quota year
No transfer under this subsection shall affect the share of the quota allocated to the transferor or transferee for the following quota year.
.
Effective period
Section 359l(a) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
(7 U.S.C. 1359ll(a)) is amended by striking 2012
and inserting
2017
.
Repeal of feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers
In general
Section 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8110) is repealed.
Conforming amendments
Section 359a(3)(B) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359aa(3)(B)) is amended—
in clause (i), by
inserting and
after the semicolon at the end;
in clause (ii), by
striking ; and
at the end and inserting a period; and
by striking clause (iii).
Section
359b(c)(2)(C) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C.
1359bb(c)(2)(C)) is amended by striking , except for
and all
that follows through of 2002
.