110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 912
To provide additional funds for food safety research related to
perishable agricultural commodities, to provide emergency financial assistance
to producers and first handlers of fresh spinach for losses incurred as
a result of the removal of fresh spinach and products containing fresh spinach
from the market and other actions undertaken in response to a public health
advisory regarding spinach issued by the Food and Drug Administration in
September 2006, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 8, 2007
Mr. FARR (for himself, Mr. BACA, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. COSTA, Mr. FILNER, Mr.
GILCHREST, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, and Mr. SALAZAR) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To provide additional funds for food safety research related to
perishable agricultural commodities, to provide emergency financial assistance
to producers and first handlers of fresh spinach for losses incurred as
a result of the removal of fresh spinach and products containing fresh spinach
from the market and other actions undertaken in response to a public health
advisory regarding spinach issued by the Food and Drug Administration in
September 2006, 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.
This Act may be cited as the `Spinach Research and Recovery Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH REGARDING PERISHABLE
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.
(a) In General- For the purpose of conducting and supporting applied research
to enhance the safety of perishable agricultural commodities for consumers:
(1) For the Agricultural Research Service within the Department of Agriculture
for such research within the jurisdiction and particular expertise of
such Service, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal
year 2008, in addition to other authorizations of appropriations available
to such Service for such purpose, to remain available until expended.
(2) For the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
within the Department of Agriculture for such research within the jurisdiction
and particular expertise of such Service, there is authorized to be appropriated
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, in addition to other authorizations
of appropriations available to such Service for such purpose, to remain
available until expended.
(3) For the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition within the Food
and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, for
such research within the jurisdiction and particular expertise of such
Center, there is authorized to be appropriated $6,500,000 for fiscal year
2008, in addition to other authorizations of appropriations available
to such agency for such Center, to remain available until expended.
(b) Consultation- Programs of research under subsection (a) shall be conducted
and supported in consultation with producers of perishable agricultural
commodities.
(c) Perishable Agricultural Commodity Defined- In this section, the term
`perishable agricultural commodity' has the meaning given that term in section
1(b) of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a(b)).
SEC. 3. SPINACH EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall use such sums as may be necessary of
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make payments to growers and
first handlers, as defined by the Secretary, of fresh spinach that were
unable to market spinach crops as a result of the Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Advisory issued on September 14, 2006. The payment made to
a grower or first handler under this section shall not exceed 75 percent
of the value of the unmarketed spinach crop.
END
