To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance for the construction, improvement, and rehabilitation of farmers markets.

February 9, 2005

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CASE, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. MARSHALL, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SERRANO, and Ms. SLAUGHTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance for the construction, improvement, and rehabilitation of farmers markets.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FOR FARMERS MARKETS.

(a) In General- In addition to exercising authority to make loans and loan guarantees under other law, the Secretary shall make loans, loan guarantees, and grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the construction of new farmers markets, or the improvement or rehabilitation of existing farmers markets.

(b) Eligibility- To be eligible to receive a loan, loan guarantee, or grant under subsection (a) with respect to a farmers market the public agency or nonprofit organization involved shall--

(1) demonstrate financial need as determined by the Secretary; and

(2) commit to reserving at least 50 percent of the floor area of the farmers market for the sale of products that are produced locally, as determined by the Secretary, by farmers, ranchers, or aquaculture, mariculture, or fisheries operators, or by associations of farmers, ranchers, or such operators, .

(c) Cost Sharing-

(1) GRANTS- The amount of a grant shall not exceed 25 percent of the cost of the activity funded under subsection (a).

(2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMBINED GRANT AND LOAN- The combined amount of a grant and loan made or guaranteed shall not exceed 80 percent of the cost of the activity funded under subsection (a).

(d) Interest Rate-

(1) IN GENERAL- A loan made by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall bear interest at the rate equivalent to the rate of interest charged on Treasury securities of comparable maturity on the date the loan is approved.

(2) DURATION- The interest rate for each loan will remain in effect for the term of the loan.

(e) Funding- Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007.

(f) Effective Date- This Act shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

END