Those subcommittees must then decide how to distribute funds within their b allocations. These b allocations are voted on by the respective Appropriations Committees but are not subject to review or vote by the full House or Senate. The table below lists the FY regular non-war, non-disaster appropriations, along with the House and Senate FY spending put forward by the Appropriations Committees. This table excludes funding not subject to the spending caps, such as Overseas Contingency Operations OCO or disaster funding.
Each subcommittee must propose a bill that ultimately must pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President in order to take effect. Although the budget process calls for 12 individual bills, many of them are often combined into what is known as an omnibus appropriations bill , and sometimes a few are combined into what has been termed a minibus appropriations bill. If, despite these points of order, Congress enacts legislation increasing spending beyond the defense or non-defense caps, then the President must issue a sequestration order to reduce discretionary spending across the board in the category in which the caps were exceeded, effective 15 days after Congress adjourns for the year.
Importantly, certain types of discretionary spending — including OCO and designated emergencies — do not count against the statutory caps. Supplementals are often used for emergencies such as natural disasters or military actions. Occasionally, Congress has used supplemental appropriations to stimulate the economy or to provide more money for routine government functions after determining that the amount originally appropriated was insufficient. Supplemental appropriations bills are subject to the same internal and statutory spending limits as regular appropriations and require the same offsets to ensure they do not exceed spending limits unless designated as emergency spending.
Although the President has no power to set appropriations, he influences both the size and composition of appropriations by sending requests to Congress. In addition, the President must sign or veto each of the 12 appropriations bills or omnibus or minibus , giving him additional influence over what the bills look like. The Budget Act calls for the President to submit his or her budget request by the first Monday in February and for Congress to agree to a concurrent budget resolution by April The House may begin consideration of appropriations bills on May 15 even if a budget resolution has not been adopted, and it is supposed to complete action on appropriations bills by June However, none of these deadlines are enforceable, and they are regularly missed.
The practical deadline for passage of appropriations is October 1, when the next fiscal year begins and the previous appropriation bills expire. If the appropriations bills are not enacted before the fiscal year begins on October 1st, federal funding will lapse, resulting in a government shutdown. To avoid a shutdown, Congress will often pass a continuing resolution CR , which extends funding and provides additional time for completion of the appropriations process.
Congress can pass a CR for all or just some of the appropriations bills. A shutdown represents a lapse in available funding, and during a shutdown the government stops most non-essential activities related to the discretionary budget. Executive branch agencies must spend funds provided by Congress in the manner directed by Congress in the text of the appropriations bills.
Appropriations bills often contain accompanying report language with additional directions, which are not legally binding but are generally followed by agencies. In some instances, Congress will provide for very narrow authority or use funding limitation clauses to tell agencies what they cannot spend the money on. That said, Congress often provides broad authority, which gives agencies more control in allocating spending. Agencies also have some authority to reprogram funds between accounts after notifying and in some cases getting approval from the Appropriations Committees.
An agricultural export health certificate verifies that agricultural products are prepared or raised in accordance with requirements of the importing country. In the United States, export health certificates are issued primarily by the U. The Federal Role in Groundwater Supply: Overview and Legislation in the th Congress. Groundwater, the water in aquifers accessible by wells, is a critical component of the U. It is important for both domestic and agricultural water needs, among other uses.
The greatest volume of groundwater used every day is for agriculture, specifically for irrigation. Energy Provisions in the Farm Bill P. March 12, — July 12, R USDA energy programs have incentivized research, development, and adoption of renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, and anaerobic digesters.
January 5, — July 9, RL Industrial hemp is an agricultural commodity that is cultivated for use in the production of a wide range of products, including foods and beverages, cosmetics and personal care products, nutritional supplements, fabrics and textiles, yarns and spun fibers, paper, construction and insulation materials, and other manufactured goods. Hemp can be grown as a fiber, seed, or other dual-purpose crop.
However, hemp is also from the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa, as marijuana. Congress sets national food and agriculture policy through periodic omnibus farm bills.
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The th Congress has the opportunity to establish the future direction of farm and food policy because many of the provisions in the current farm bill the Agricultural Act of , P. The farm bill addresses a broad range of farm and food programs and policies, including commodity support, crop insurance, conservation, domestic food assistance, trade and food aid, credit, rural development, research, horticulture, forestry, and bioenergy, among others.
Department of Agriculture USDA has numerous programs to support the management of state and private forests. These programs are under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and are often examined in the periodic legislation to reauthorize agricultural programs, commonly known as farm bills.
For example, the farm bill repealed, reauthorized, or modified many of these programs. Science and Technology Issues in the th Congress. Public and private research and development spur scientific and technological advancement. Such advances can drive economic growth, help address national priorities, and improve health and quality of life. The constantly changing nature and ubiquity of science and technology frequently create public policy issues of congressional interest.
The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement directly by funding and performing research and development and Program Overview for the th Congress. Since its inception in , the federal crop insurance program has evolved from an ancillary program with low participation to a central pillar of federal support for agriculture.
From to , the federal crop insurance title had the second-largest outlays in the farm bill after nutrition. Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy: Individuals, companies, governments, universities, and other organizations fund, conduct, disseminate, and acquire science and technology for a myriad of purposes. February 7, — May 2, R The farm bill the Agricultural Act of , P. Some of these programs have a budget baseline beyond the end of the farm bill in FY, while others do not. The Congressional Budget Office CBO baseline is a projection at a particular point in time of what future federal spending on mandatory programs would be under current law.
This baseline is the benchmark against which proposed changes in law are measured. This report identifies mandatory programs in the farm bill that lack a budget baseline and explains the This report provides information on federal financial assistance provided to the Gulf States after major disasters were declared in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas in response to the widespread destruction that resulted from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in Though the storms happened over a decade ago, Congress has remained interested in the types and amounts of federal assistance that were provided to the Gulf Coast for several reasons.
This includes how the money has been spent, what resources have been provided to August 29, — April 26, RS Titles in the most recent farm bill encompassed farm commodity price and income supports, agricultural conservation, farm credit, trade, research, rural development, bioenergy, foreign food aid, and domestic nutrition assistance. Because it is renewed about every five years, the farm bill provides a predictable opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural and food issues. March 25, — April 26, RL For more than four decades, Congress has authorized and refined several programs to help communities address water supply and wastewater problems.
The agencies that administer these programs differ in multiple ways.
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In terms of funding mechanisms, projects developed by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U. Army Corps of Engineers typically require direct, individual project authorizations from Congress. In contrast, standing program authorizations provide project funding for other agencies, including.
The Commodity Credit Corporation: August 29, — April 19, R The Commodity Credit Corporation CCC has served as a mandatory funding mechanism for agricultural programs since While CCC is authorized to carry out a number of activities, it has no staff of its own. CCC is overseen by the Secretary of Agriculture and a board of directors, which are An Overview of Selected Programs. Federal efforts to bolster farm household incomes and the rural economy by providing support to producers of key crops has been a central pillar of U.
Current farm support programs are counter-cyclical in design—that is payments are triggered when the annual market price for an eligible crop drops below a statutory minimum or when revenue is below a guaranteed level. A Guide to Programs. March 25, — April 17, R Department of Agriculture USDA currently administer 20 programs and subprograms that are directly or indirectly available to assist producers and landowners who wish to practice conservation on agricultural lands.
The differences and number of these programs have created general confusion about the purpose, participation, and policies of the programs. While recent consolidation efforts removed some duplication, a large number of programs remain. The programs discussed in this report are as November 18, — March 26, RS The federal government provides credit assistance to farmers to help assure adequate and reliable lending in rural areas, particularly for farmers who cannot obtain loans elsewhere.
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Federal farm loan programs also target credit to beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged groups. Emergency Assistance for Agricultural Land Rehabilitation. December 11, — February 12, R Department of Agriculture USDA administers several permanently authorized programs to help producers recover from natural disasters. Most of these programs offer financial assistance to producers for a loss in the production of crops or livestock. In addition to the production assistance programs, USDA also has several permanent disaster assistance programs that help producers repair damaged crop and forest land following natural disasters.
These programs offer financial and technical assistance to producers to repair, restore, and mitigate damage on private land. Background, Issues, and FY Appropriations. October 31, — January 30, R These responsibilities include prevention, detection, response, and recovery related to fires that begin on federal lands. These responsibilities are accomplished through activities such as preparedness, suppression, fuel reduction, and site rehabilitation, among others.
There are several ongoing concerns regarding federal wildfire management. These concerns include the total Federal Research and Development Funding: July 10, — January 25, R Federal Milk Marketing Orders: Department of Agriculture USDA establishes a minimum milk price, and those who buy milk from producers, known as handlers, are required to pay milk producers no less than this established price.
Handlers are responsible for reporting milk receipts by end use to FMMO milk market administrators and maintain adequate records so that administrators may audit and verify the accuracy of the reported uses. This could protect certain U. Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: April 6, — November 28, R Table 1 provides names and contact information for CRS subject matter experts on policy concerns and legal issues relating to funding gaps and the processes and effects that may be associated with a government shutdown.
Policy areas that are identified in Table 1 include. Potential Effects of a U. November 13, — November 16, R Currently, the United States is renegotiating the agreement. Agricultural exports are important to both farmers and the U. With the productivity of U. The farm bill Agricultural Act of , P. There are two main types of agricultural trade and export promotion programs:. This report provides an analysis of the continuing appropriations provisions for FY in Division D of H. The measure also included separate divisions that establish a program to provide foreign assistance concerning basic education Division A—Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act , supplemental appropriations for disaster relief requirements for FY Division B , and a temporary suspension of the public debt limit Division C.
On September 8, , the President signed H. February 13, — October 4, R Net cash income calculated on a cash-flow basis is also projected to be up in but by a larger share July 5, — September 12, R The following table provides access to names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns relating to wildfires. Policy areas identified include federal wildfire policy; federal forest management; federal firefighting assistance; federal emergency management policy; federal preparedness system and response plan; hazard mitigation; armed forces and national guard assistance; supplemental disaster funding; and disaster insurance.
An Overview of the U. The financial regulatory system has been described as fragmented, with multiple overlapping regulators and a dual state-federal regulatory system. The system evolved piecemeal, punctuated by major changes in response to various historical financial crises. To address the fragmented nature of the system, the Dodd-Frank Act created Comparison by Program Crop. August 10, — August 11, R August 11, — June 26, R In May , the U.
Selected Federal Water Activities: Agencies, Authorities, and Congressional Committees. They were developed by multiple congressional committees with varying jurisdictions. Such committees are involved in legislating, funding, and overseeing the water-related activities of numerous federal agencies. These activities include responding to natural disasters such as droughts and Department of Agriculture USDA estimates agricultural production including area and yield and stocks for more than crops and 45 livestock items.
Traditionally NASS estimates have focused on state and national data, but in recent years county-level estimates have gained in importance. NASS crop production estimates are crucial to people in the U. November 4, — March 21, R EERE oversees nearly a dozen technologies and programs—from vehicle technologies to solar energy to advanced manufacturing to weatherization and intergovernmental programs—each with its own respective mission and program goals.
Geographical Indications GIs in U. Food and Agricultural Trade. Geographical indications GIs are place names used to identify products that come from these places and to protect the quality and reputation of a distinctive product originating in a certain region. The term is most often applied to wines, spirits, and agricultural products. Some food producers benefit from the use of GIs by giving certain foods recognition for their distinctiveness, differentiating them from other foods in the marketplace.
In this manner, GIs can be commercially valuable. GIs may be eligible for relief from acts of infringement or unfair competition. Congress periodically establishes agricultural and food policy in an omnibus farm bill. The th Congress faces reauthorization of the farm bill—the Agricultural Act of P. The farm bill is the most recent omnibus farm bill. In recent decades, the breadth of farm bills has steadily grown to include new and expanding food and agricultural interests. The farm bill contains January 23, — March 6, R Botanically, industrial hemp and marijuana are from the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa, but from different varieties or cultivars.
However, industrial hemp and marijuana are genetically distinct forms of cannabis that are distinguished by their use and chemical makeup as well as by differing cultivation practices in their production. While marijuana generally refers primarily to the psychotropic drug whether used for medicinal or recreational purposes , industrial hemp is cultivated for use in the production of a wide range of products, including foods and beverages, personal care Major Agricultural Trade Issues in the th Congress.
February 10, — January 30, R Trade, particularly exports, is critical to the vitality of American agriculture. On average, foreign markets absorb about one-fifth of U. The positive economic effects of trade in farm products are felt well beyond the farm gate. The economic benefits of agricultural exports also extend across rural communities, while overseas farm sales help to buoy a wide array of industries September 2, — January 23, R The th Congress faces reauthorization of the current five-year farm bill—the Agricultural Act of P.
The following table provides names and contact information for CRS experts on policy issues related to the farm bill. Numerous agricultural and food issues are addressed in the farm bill, including farm commodity support, conservation, international food aid and agricultural trade, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, agricultural research, forestry, bioenergy, horticulture and organic agriculture, crop Farm Program Eligibility and Payment Limits.
Some requirements are common across most programs while others are specific to individual programs. In addition, program participants are subject to annual payment limits that vary across different combinations of farm programs. Federal farm support programs, along with their current eligibility requirements and payment limits, are listed in Table 1. October 24, — January 17, R The introduction of invasive species to the United States—whether deliberate or unintentional—from around the globe can pose a significant threat to native animal and plant communities, and may result in extinctions of native animals and plants, species disruptions as native and non-native species compete for limited resources, reduced Water Resource Issues in the th Congress.
The th Congress faces various water resource development, management, and protection issues. Water resource activities generally encompass navigation improvements, flood damage reduction measures, water supply augmentation, hydropower generation, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. Congressional actions shape reinvestment in aging federal infrastructure e.
The principal agencies involved in federal water resource infrastructure are the U. Army Corps of Engineers Corps and the Department of the December 22, — January 9, R The statutory definition of specialty crops ties to program eligibility and funding allocations for a number of U. Department of Agriculture USDA programs providing marketing and research assistance to eligible producer groups. March 19, — January 9, R Despite an ongoing series of dispute settlement proceedings and decisions by the World Trade Organization WTO , there is continued disagreement between the United States and the EU on a range of legal and procedural issues, as well as the scientific evidence and consensus concerning the safety of hormone-treated beef.
To date, the EU continues to ban imports of hormone-treated meat and restricts most meat exports to the European February 4, — January 5, R This dispute dates back to , when the EU first banned the use of PRTs on poultry, effectively shutting out virtually all imports from the United States since then. This WTO case has not moved forward. June 20, — January 5, RL Recent Congresses have considered numerous policy topics that involve wetlands. Many reflect issues of long-standing interest, such as applying federal regulations on private lands, wetland loss rates, and restoration and creation accomplishments.
The issue receiving the greatest attention recently has been determining which wetlands should be included and excluded from requirements of the Clean Water Act CWA , especially the Section permit program that regulates waste discharges affecting wetlands, which is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection March 27, — January 5, R The rule revises regulations that have been in place for more than 25 years.
Revisions are being made in light of and Supreme Court rulings that interpreted the regulatory scope of the CWA more narrowly than the agencies and lower courts were then doing, and created uncertainty about the appropriate scope of waters protected under the CWA. This report is an analysis of the provisions in H. The measure also included appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year for Overseas Contingency Operations in the Security Assistance Appropriations Act Division B. On December 10, , the President signed H. Division A of H.
The Federal Food Safety System: February 7, — December 16, RS Numerous federal, state, and local agencies share responsibilities for regulating the safety of the U. FDA, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for ensuring the safety of all domestic and imported food products except for most meats and poultry.
FDA also has oversight of all seafood, fish, and shellfish products. September 22, — December 16, R Generalized System of Preferences: November 29, — December 8, RS The Generalized System of Preferences GSP provides duty-free tariff treatment for certain products from designated developing countries. Leading agricultural imports based on value include processed foods and food processing inputs; beverages and drinking waters; processed and fresh fruits and vegetables; sugar and sugar confectionery; olive oil; and miscellaneous food preparations and inputs for further processing.
The majority of these imports are from Thailand, Brazil, Trade Situation for Fruit and Vegetable Products. April 30, — December 1, RL Over the last decade, there has been a growing U. This trade deficit has generally widened over time as growth in imports has outpaced export growth. As a result, the United States has gone from being a net exporter of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables in the early s to being a net January 14, — November 18, R One of the initiatives within the CAP focused on the control of methane emissions, a potent short-lived climate pollutant.
It called for the U. AEF requirements apply equally to U. Designing a transparent and comprehensive AEF definition has proven difficult and has evolved over the years. The current set of laws and rules governing farm program eligibility—particularly August 21, — October 17, R Recent threats to water availability as a result of moderate to exceptional drought in several states have raised questions about agricultural water use and efficiencies across the United States.
An understanding of common irrigation technologies and the impacts of best management practices in irrigation may be useful to Congress concerning potential policy responses to this issue. Additional demands on water supplies, extreme weather events e. July 9, — October 17, RL The Secretary of Agriculture, acting The purpose of this report is to provide an analysis of the continuing appropriations provisions for FY in H. The measure also included provisions covering appropriations in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for all of FY Division A , as well as emergency funds to combat the Zika virus and provide relief for flood victims in Louisiana and other affected states Division B.
On September 29, , the President signed H. March 23, — October 6, R USDA conducts its own research and administers extramural federal funding to states and local partners primarily Conservation Compliance and U. April 2, — October 6, R The Food Security Act of P. Many of the provisions remain in effect today, including the two compliance provisions—highly erodible land conservation sodbuster and wetland conservation swampbuster.
The two provisions, collectively referred to as conservation compliance, require that in exchange for certain U. August 19, — September 27, R According to the U. Department of Agriculture USDA , the United States is expected to be the fourth-largest producer and third-largest exporter of peanuts in the world in In addition to its prominent role in international markets, U.
Agricultural Trade with Cuba: Current Limitations and Future Prospects. July 23, — September 21, R After more than half a century during which trade relations between the United States and Cuba have evolved from a tight economic embargo to a narrow window of trade in U.
International Food Aid Programs: February 3, — September 14, R For almost six decades, the United States has played a leading role in global efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and to enhance world food security through international food assistance—traditionally through either the donation or sale on concessional terms of U. Textiles are a sensitive sector in the Trans-Pacific Partnership TPP , an agreement that would establish a free-trade zone across the Pacific if it is approved by Congress and foreign governments.
Because the TPP includes Vietnam, a major apparel producer that now mainly sources yarns and fabrics from China and other Asian nations, the agreement could shift global trading patterns for textiles and demand for U.
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Canada and Mexico, both significant regional textile markets for the United States, and Japan, a major manufacturer of high-end textiles and industrial fabrics, The greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus is a squat, feathered, chicken-like bird that is currently found in 11 western states. For more than 25 years, there has been considerable controversy concerning whether to list sage-grouse for protection under the Endangered Species Act ESA; P.
Under the act, one of the factors that can lead to a listing is the inadequacy of existing regulatory Every year, Congress considers numerous pieces of legislation that would create or modify federal government programs and activities. The variety of approaches used across the federal budget to fund these programs and activities involve different timelines for budgetary decisionmaking, and different processes and committees within Congress to make those decisions.
How a particular funding mechanism is structured requires tradeoffs between the frequency of congressional review and the predictability of funding for the program. The purpose of this report is to explain these approaches, Data, Trends, and Issues. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior DOI are the two primary federal entities tasked with wildland fire management activities. Federal wildland fire management includes activities such as preparedness, suppression, fuel reduction, and site rehabilitation, among others.
January 22, — August 1, R The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers TAAF program provides technical assistance and cash benefits to producers of farm commodities and fishermen who experience adverse economic effects from increased imports. Congress first authorized this program in , and made significant changes to it in the economic stimulus package P. Comparison of Selected Provisions in S. January 29, — July 26, R Congress most recently enacted major energy legislation in the Energy Independence and Security Act of P. The th Congress is currently considering new legislation to address broad energy issues.
On April 20, , the Senate passed an amended version of S. On December 3, , the House passed an amended version of H. On May 25, , the House passed an amended version of S. October 5, — July 25, R Global wine production totaled roughly 28 billion liters in France, Italy, and Spain are among the principal EU wine-producing countries.
Other exporting nations include Australia, Chile, Formal negotiations began in July Through the negotiations, both sides are seeking to liberalize transatlantic trade and investment, set globally relevant rules and disciplines that could boost economic growth, support multilateral trade liberalization through the World Trade Organization WTO , and address third-country trade policy challenges.
Agricultural issues have been an active topic of debate in the Key Provisions and Issues for Congress. The proposed agreement is perhaps the most ambitious FTA undertaken by the United States in terms of its size, the breadth and depth of its commitments, its potential evolution, and its geo-political significance.
Signed on February 4, , after several years of negotiations, if implemented, TPP would be the largest FTA in which the United States participates, and would eliminate trade barriers and establish new Overview and Comparison with the United States. Historically, both the United States and the EU have provided significant government support for their agricultural sectors. In contrast, the EU provides more extensive support to a broader range of farm and food products—including livestock products and fresh In the th Congress, the House and Senate have passed energy legislation that addresses hydropower.
Both bills would establish a formal timeline for nonfederal hydropower project regulation, would appoint the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FERC as the lead agency for nonfederal August 24, — May 17, RS The Farm Credit System FCS is a nationwide financial cooperative lending to agricultural and aquatic producers, rural homeowners, and certain agriculture-related businesses and cooperatives. Established in , this government-sponsored enterprise GSE has a statutory mandate to serve agriculture.
It receives tax benefits but no federal appropriations or guarantees. Agricultural Exports and Farm Bill Programs: Background and Current Issues. But the trend of recent years—increasing export sales and a wider agricultural trade surplus—was reversed in FY, and the reversal is expected to be more pronounced in FY Meanwhile, the value of U.
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April 22, — April 13, R Department of Agriculture USDA , as program administrator, is directed to administer the program at no budgetary cost to the federal government by limiting the amount of sugar supplied for food use in the U. To achieve both objectives, USDA uses four tools—as reauthorized without change by the farm bill P. Trade Concepts, Performance, and Policy: March 27, — March 25, RL Congress plays a major role in U. There are a number of major trade issues that are currently the focus of Congress.
Export-Import Bank, and legislative action on these issues could be forthcoming in the th Congress. September 16, — March 8, RS Since the final rule to implement country-of-origin labeling COOL took effect in March , most retail food stores have been required to inform consumers about the country of origin of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, shellfish, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, ginseng, and ground and muscle cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and goat. The rules were required by the farm bill P. October 13, — March 4, R February 4, — February 29, R Formal negotiations commenced in July Both sides initially aimed to conclude the negotiations in two years, but more recently have updated their timeline and aim to conclude the T-TIP by the end of Twelve rounds of T-TIP negotiations have occurred to date.
The United States and EU seek to enhance market access and trade disciplines by addressing remaining transatlantic barriers to Nutrients in Agricultural Production: A Water Quality Overview. February 20, — February 29, R Nutrients are elements essential to plant and animal growth. In agricultural production, the focus generally rests on the three primary macronutrients——nitrogen N , phosphorus P , and potassium K —because of their relative abundance in plants. As crops grow and are harvested, they gradually remove the existing nutrients from the soil and over time will require additional nutrients to maintain or increase crop yield.
March 20, — February 24, R Sales of locally produced foods comprise a small but growing part of U. May 27, — February 23, R October 21, — February 23, R March 18, — February 17, R January 20, — February 12, R To promote energy diversity and improve energy security, Congress has expressed interest in biopower—electricity generated from biomass. Biopower, a baseload power source, can be produced from a large range of biomass feedstocks nationwide e. The two most common biopower processes are combustion e. Proponents have stated that biopower has the potential to strengthen rural economies, enhance energy security, and minimize the environmental October 6, — February 12, R Biopower—a form of renewable energy—is the generation of electric power from biomass feedstocks.
In , Biopower comprised about 1. Its advantages include a potential for baseload power production, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and use of renewable biomass feedstock, among other things. Its disadvantages include uncertain sustainable feedstock supply and infrastructure concerns, among other things.
January 8, — February 9, R The 12 countries announced the conclusion of the TPP negotiations and released the text of the agreement in late , after several years of ongoing talks. Trade ministers from the TPP countries signed the final agreement on February 4, , but Congress would need to pass implementing legislation for the agreement to enter into Selected Federal Food Safety Agencies. FDA, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for ensuring the safety of the majority of all domestic and imported food products except for meat and poultry products.
FSIS, an agency at the U. Department of Agriculture, regulates most meat, March 29, — January 7, R The farm bill P. The farm bill required USDA to propose rules to implement these provisions. Recent media and industry reports have employed the term big data as a key to the future of increased food production and sustainable agriculture. A recent hearing on the private elements of big data in agriculture suggests that Congress too is interested in potential opportunities and challenges big data may hold.
While there appears to be great interest, the subject of big data is complex and often misunderstood, especially within the context of agriculture. There is no commonly accepted definition of the term big data. It is often used to describe a modern trend in which the combination Final Rule for , , and While the rule contains wide-ranging information, most stakeholders are primarily concerned with the annual volume amounts for total renewable fuel, advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, and biomass-based diesel. May 11, — November 20, R Some livestock producers, believing such Reauthorization in the th Congress.
December 2, — November 12, R Under the United States Grain Standards Act USGSA of , the federal government is authorized to establish official marketing standards not health and safety standards for grains and oilseeds, and to provide procedures for grain inspection and weighing. To encourage the marketing of high-quality grain for an agriculture sector that is highly dependent on export demand, the USGSA requires that exported grains and oilseeds be officially inspected if sold by grade and weighed.
Domestic shipments do not require official inspection and weighing, but the service is available and is often Meat Animal Research Center: July 1, — October 9, R The Center is a U. A veterinarian, who had worked at the Center for 24 years, approached the newspaper after his concerns about animal welfare conditions apparently went unanswered by the Center. Drought in the United States: Congressional Research Service www. While the technology and science to predict droughts have improved, regional predictions remain limited to a few months in advance.
History suggests that severe and extended droughts are inevitable and part of natural climate cycles. The physical conditions causing drought in the United States are increasingly understood to be linked to sea surface temperatures SSTs July 28, — August 31, R Over 15 years, the RFS requires that increasing amounts of biofuels—36 billion gallons by —be used in transportation fuel.
The mandate is to be accomplished Farm Safety Net Programs: October 21, — August 21, R Department of Agriculture USDA operates several programs that supplement the income of farmers and ranchers in times of low farm prices and natural disasters. Federal crop insurance, farm programs, and disaster assistance are collectively called the farm safety net. Federal crop insurance is often referred to as the centerpiece of the farm safety net because of its cost and broad scope for addressing natural disasters.
The program is permanently authorized and makes available subsidized insurance for more than commodities ranging from apples to wheat to help farmers December 13, — August 13, R The current program, which is administered by the U. Background, Regulation, and Policy Issues. March 7, — July 28, RL Biotechnology refers primarily to the use of recombinant DNA techniques to genetically modify or bioengineer plants and animals.
Most crops developed through recombinant DNA technology have been engineered to be tolerant of various herbicides or to be pest resistant through having a pesticide genetically engineered into the plant organism. Over the past 15 years, GE varieties in the United States have increased from 3. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: Control Options and Issues for Congress. For the first few centuries after the arrival of Europeans in North America, plants and animals of many species were sent between the two land masses.
The transfer of non-natives consisted not only of intentional westbound species ranging from pigs to dandelions but also of intentional eastbound species such as grey squirrels and tomatoes. And for those centuries, the remaining non-native species crossing the Atlantic, uninvited and often unwelcome, were ignored if they were noticed at all. They were joined by various species arriving deliberately or accidentally from Asia and Africa.
The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement directly by funding research and development and indirectly by creating September 5, — March 20, R The broad outline of an agreement was announced on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Policies are available for about commodities, covering crops supported by traditional farm programs e.
Climate Change Adaptation by Federal Agencies: An Analysis of Plans and Issues for Congress. Though Congress has debated the significance of global climate change and what federal policies, if any, should address them, the Government Accountability Office GAO since has identified the changing climate as one of the 30 most significant risks facing the federal government. The November Executive Order , Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change, directed agencies to undertake vulnerability assessments and planning for adaptation.
The th Congress faces many water resource development, management, and protection issues. These issues often arise at the regional or local levels but frequently have a federal connection. Ongoing issues include competition over water, drought and flood responses and policies, competitiveness and October 22, — February 4, R Although the fiscal year began under a continuing resolution, the April 2, — February 2, R January 31, — January 23, R June 22, — January 12, R The Biomass Crop Assistance Program BCAP is designed to assist the bioenergy industry to overcome the hurdle of continuous biomass availability—viewed as a critical deterrent to private sector investment in the cellulosic biofuels industry.
To accomplish this, BCAP is charged with two tasks: This report discusses the Renewable Fuel Standard RFS that sets the annual minimum use requirements for biofuels in the nation's transportation fuel supply. October 6, — November 13, R The Bali Package represents the first multilateral trade deal in nearly two decades; however, it covers only a small fraction of the January 22, — September 16, RL President Obama signed the legislation implementing the U. Dairy Provisions in the Farm Bill P. March 18, — August 29, R The Conservation Reserve Program CRP provides payments to agricultural producers to take highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land out of production and install resource conserving practices for 10 or more years.
Participants offer land for enrollment through two types of sign-up: General sign-ups are competitive and only open October 5, — August 28, R Textiles are a contentious and unresolved issue in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership TPP negotiations to establish a free-trade zone across the Pacific. Because the negotiating parties include Vietnam, a major apparel producer that now mainly sources yarns and fabrics from China and other Asian nations, the agreement has the potential to shift global trading patterns for textiles and demand for U.
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Canada and Mexico, both significant regional textile markets for the United States, and Japan, a major manufacturer of high-end textiles and industrial fabrics, are also April 14, — August 13, R The following table lists the names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns related to border security. Policy areas identified include the following: Immigration and foreign visitors: January 20, — July 17, R Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Specialty Crops: Selected Farm Bill and Federal Programs.
October 3, — July 11, R Specialty crop producers are ineligible for the federal commodity price and income support programs that benefit commodity crop producers e. Unlike federal support for commodity crops, support for specialty crops spans a wide range of existing USDA programs, many of which also provide support to other agricultural March 12, — June 16, R Much of the criticism has focused on environmental regulations promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA.
Some claim that EPA is overreaching its regulatory authority and imposing costly and burdensome requirements on society. In general, the agriculture community, among others, has been vocal in its concerns, contending that EPA appears to be focusing some of its recent regulatory efforts on Conservation Provisions in the Farm Bill P.
The Agricultural Act of farm bill, P. After years of debate and deliberation, the enacted farm bill included a number of changes to the Conservation title Title II , including program consolidation and reauthorization, amendments to conservation compliance, and a reduction in overall funding. Debate on the farm bill focused on a number of controversial issues. While many did not consider conservation to be controversial, nonetheless, a number of policy issues shaped the final version of the title and ultimately its role in The changes stem from the desire of many in Congress, particularly members of the agriculture committees, to bolster what they consider to be the most significant aspect of the farm safety net.
Under the federal crop insurance program, which is administered by the U. Expiration and Extension of the Farm Bill. November 16, — April 11, R Farm bills, like many other pieces of legislation, have become more complicated and politically sensitive. They are taking longer to enact than in previous decades. Legislative delays have caused the past two farm bills the and farm bills to expire for short periods, and to be extended for months or a year while a new farm bill was developed. September 29, — April 11, R Some of these programs had budget baseline beyond the end of the farm bill in FY, while others did not.
Those with continuing baseline essentially had built-in future funding if policy makers decided that the programs should continue. However, 37 programs that received mandatory funds during the farm bill were not assumed to continue from a budgetary perspective because they did not have a budgetary baseline beyond FY Notable programs among this March 11, — April 10, R Congress returns to the farm bill about every five years to establish an omnibus policy for food and agriculture. Deficit reduction influenced the Agricultural Act of P.
Related political dynamics sometimes forced Congress to make difficult choices concerning how much total support to provide for agriculture and nutrition, and how to allocate it among competing constituencies. The farm bill authorizes programs in two spending categories: Mandatory programs generally operate as December 14, — April 1, R This report discusses the sugar program that provides a price guarantee to the processors of sugarcane and sugar beets, and in turn, to the producers of both crops. Price Loss Coverage PLC payments, which are triggered when the national average farm price for a covered commodity e.
Sugar Provisions of the Farm Bill P. June 19, — March 21, R The sugar program provides a minimum price guarantee to sugar crop processors and is structured to operate at no cost to the federal government using two tools: The sugar-to-ethanol program is intended to be used if marketing allotments and the Forestry Provisions in the Farm Bill P. The Agricultural Act of P. The farm bill establishes agricultural and food policy for the next several years, and also addresses several aspects of federal forestry policy. Forestry provisions were included in the Forestry title Title VIII of the farm bill as well as in some of the other titles.
The farm bill generally repeals, reauthorizes, and modifies existing forestry assistance programs and provisions June 18, — March 10, R The annual Agriculture appropriations bill provides funding for all of the U. Trade and Implications for U. April 9, — February 26, RL Free trade areas FTAs are arrangements among two or more countries under which they agree to eliminate tariffs and nontariff barriers on trade in goods among themselves.
However, each country maintains its own policies, including tariffs, on trade outside the region. In the last few years, the United States has engaged or has proposed to engage in negotiations to establish bilateral and regional free trade arrangements with a number of trading partners. Such arrangements are not new in U. The United States has had a free trade arrangement with Israel since and with Emergency Water Assistance During Drought: Drought conditions often fuel congressional interest in federal assistance.
While drought planning and preparedness are largely individual, business, local, and state responsibilities, some federal assistance is available to mitigate drought impacts. While much of the federal assistance is targeted at mitigating impacts on the agricultural economy, other federal programs are authorized to provide non-agricultural water assistance.
Interest in these non-agricultural programs often increases as communities, households, and businesses experience shrinking and less reliable water supplies Framework, Scope, and Magnitude. April 15, — February 21, RL The ties have also become more complex and interdependent, covering a growing number and type of trade and financial activities. May 23, — February 19, R Congress completed action on the FY regular appropriations bills with enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, P. Prior to enactment of P. The Farm Bill P.
June 14, — February 12, R Congress periodically establishes agricultural and food policy in a multi-year, omnibus farm bill. The farm bill governed policy for farm commodity support, horticulture, livestock, conservation, nutrition assistance, trade and international food aid, agricultural research, farm credit, rural development, bioenergy, and forestry. It originally expired in , but the th Congress did not complete action and instead extended the law for one year P. Food fraud, or the act of defrauding buyers of food or ingredients for economic gain—whether they be consumers or food manufacturers, retailers, and importers—has vexed the food industry throughout history.
Some of the earliest reported cases of food fraud, dating back thousands of years, involved olive oil, tea, wine, and spices. These products continue to be associated with fraud, along with some other foods. Although the vast majority of fraud incidents do not pose a public health risk, some cases have resulted in actual or potential public health risks. Perhaps the most high-profile August 10, — January 7, RL Department of Agriculture USDA has numerous programs to support management of state and private forests. Both the House H.
Both versions of the farm bill propose to repeal, reauthorize, and modify some of these programs June 20, — December 27, R Public and private research and development spurs scientific and technological advancement. The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement by directly funding research and development and indirectly by creating Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: It also includes funding for arts and cultural agencies, the U.
Environmental Protection Agency, and numerous other entities. June 1, — December 5, R January 23, — November 22, R Federal policy has played a key role in the emergence of the U. Policy measures have included minimum renewable fuel usage requirements, blending and production tax credits, an import tariff, loans and loan guarantees, and research grants. One of the more prominent forms of federal policy support is the Renewable Fuel Standard RFS —whereby a minimum volume of biofuels is to be used in the national transportation fuel supply each year.
This report describes the general nature of the RFS mandate and its implementation, and outlines some emerging issues related to the The federal government, primarily the Environmental Protection Agency EPA , administers a number of laws, largely through states and local agencies, established by Congress to protect human health and the environment. Numerous congressional committees and subcommittees have jurisdiction over these environmental laws for purpose of authorization, appropriations, and oversight. Analysis of environmental policy issues requires an understanding of the impacts to, and from, various industries including coal, oil and gas, manufacturing, and agriculture resulting in overlapping policy issues May 2, — November 12, RS Renewable Energy Programs and the Farm Bill: September 7, — October 25, R Title IX, the energy title of the farm bill P.