7 USC 1736f-1 – Establishment of commodity trust
(a) In general
To provide for a trust solely to meet emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish and maintain a trust of wheat, rice, corn, or sorghum, any combination of the commodities, or funds for use as described in subsection (c).
(b) Commodities or funds in trust
(1) In general
The trust established under this section shall consist of—
(A) wheat in the reserve established under the Food Security Wheat Reserve Act of 1980 as of April 4, 1996;
(B) wheat, rice, corn, and sorghum (referred to in this section as “eligible commodities”) acquired in accordance with paragraph (2) to replenish eligible commodities released from the trust, including wheat to replenish wheat released from the reserve established under the Food Security Wheat Reserve Act of 1980 but not replenished as of April 4, 1996;
(C) such rice, corn, and sorghum as the Secretary may, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary determines appropriate, acquire as a result of exchanging an equivalent value of wheat in the trust established under this section; and
(D) funds made available—
(i) under paragraph (2)(B);
(ii) as a result of an exchange of any commodity held in the trust for an equivalent amount of funds from the market, if the Secretary determines that such a sale of the commodity on the market will not unduly disrupt domestic markets; or
(iii) to maximize the value of the trust, in accordance with subsection (d)(3).
(2) Replenishment of trust
(A) In general
Subject to subsection (h), commodities of equivalent value to eligible commodities in the trust established under this section may be acquired—
(i) through purchases—
(I) from producers; or
(II) in the market, if the Secretary determines that the purchases will not unduly disrupt the market; or
(ii) by designation by the Secretary of stocks of eligible commodities of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
(B) Funds
Any funds used to acquire eligible commodities through purchases from producers or in the market to replenish the trust shall be derived—
(i) with respect to fiscal years 2000 through 2023 from funds made available to carry out the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) that are used to repay or reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for the release of eligible commodities under subsections (c)(1) and (f)(2), except that, of such funds, not more than $20,000,000 may be expended for this purpose in each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2023;
(ii) from funds authorized for that use by an appropriations Act; or
(iii) from funds accrued through the management of the trust under subsection (d).
(c) Release of eligible commodities
(1) Releases for emergency assistance
(A) Definition of emergency
(i) In general
In this paragraph, the term “emergency” means an urgent situation—
(I) in which there is clear evidence that an event or series of events described in clause (ii) has occurred—
(aa) that causes human suffering; and
(bb) for which a government concerned has not chosen, or has not the means, to remedy; or
(II) created by a demonstrably abnormal event or series of events that produces dislocation in the lives of residents of a country or region of a country on an exceptional scale.
(ii) Event or series of events
An event or series of events referred to in clause (i) includes 1 or more of—
(I) a sudden calamity, such as an earthquake, flood, locust infestation, or similar unforeseen disaster;
(II) a human-made emergency resulting in—
(aa) a significant influx of refugees;
(bb) the internal displacement of populations; or
(cc) the suffering of otherwise affected populations;
(III) food scarcity conditions caused by slow-onset events, such as drought, crop failure, pest infestation, and disease, that result in an erosion of the ability of communities and vulnerable populations to meet food needs; and
(IV) severe food access or availability conditions resulting from sudden economic shocks, market failure, or economic collapse, that result in an erosion of the ability of communities and vulnerable populations to meet food needs.
(B) Releases
(i) In general
Any funds or commodities held in the trust may be released to provide food, and cover any associated costs, under title II of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.)—
(I) to assist in averting an emergency, including during the period immediately preceding the emergency;
(II) to respond to an emergency; or
(III) for recovery and rehabilitation after an emergency.
(ii) Procedure
A release under clause (i) shall be carried out in the same manner, and pursuant to the same authority as provided in title II of that Act.
(C) Insufficiency of other funds
The funds and commodities held in the trust shall be made immediately available on a determination by the Administrator that funds available for emergency needs under title II of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.) for a fiscal year are insufficient to meet emergency needs during the fiscal year.
(D) Waiver relating to minimum tonnage requirements
Nothing in this paragraph requires a waiver by the Administrator of the Agency for International Development under section 204(a)(3) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1724(a)(3)) as a condition for a release of funds or commodities under subparagraph (B).
(2) Processing of eligible commodities
Eligible commodities that are released from the trust established under this section may be processed in the United States and shipped to a developing country when conditions in the recipient country require processing.
(3) Exchange
The Secretary may exchange an eligible commodity for another United States commodity of equal value, including powdered milk, pulses, and vegetable oil.
(4) Use of normal commercial practices
To the maximum extent practicable consistent with the fulfillment of the purposes of this section and the effective and efficient administration of this section, the Secretary shall use the usual and customary channels, facilities, arrangements, and practices of trade and commerce to carry out this subsection.
(d) Management of trust
(1) In general
The Secretary shall provide for the management of eligible commodities and funds held in the trust in a manner that is consistent with maximizing the value of the trust, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Eligible commodities
The Secretary shall provide—
(A) for the management of eligible commodities in the trust established under this section as to location and quality of eligible commodities needed to meet emergency situations;
(B) for the periodic rotation or replacement of stocks of eligible commodities in the trust to avoid spoilage and deterioration of the commodities; 1
(C) subject to the need for release of commodities from the trust under subsection (c)(1), for the management of the trust to preserve the value of the trust through acquisitions under subsection (b)(2); and 2
(3) Funds
(A) Exchanges
If any commodity held in the trust is exchanged for funds under subsection (b)(1)(D)(ii), the funds shall be held in the trust until the date on which the funds are released in the case of an emergency under subsection (c).
(B) Investment
The Secretary may invest funds held in the trust in any short-term obligation of the United States or any other low-risk short-term instrument or security insured by the Federal Government in which a regulated insurance company may invest under the laws of the District of Columbia.
(e) Treatment of trust under other law
Terms Used In 7 USC 1736f-1
- Administrator: means the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, unless otherwise specified in this chapter. See 7 USC 1732
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- developing country: means a country that has a shortage of foreign exchange earnings and has difficulty meeting all of its food needs through commercial channels. See 7 USC 1732
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
- food security: means access by all people at all times to sufficient food and nutrition for a healthy and productive life. See 7 USC 1732
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture, unless otherwise specified in this chapter. See 7 USC 1732
Eligible commodities in the trust established under this section shall not be—
(1) considered a part of the total domestic supply (including carryover) for the purpose of subsection (c) or for the purpose of administering the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.); and
(2) subject to any quantitative limitation on exports that may be imposed under section 4606 3 of title 50.
(f) Use of Commodity Credit Corporation
(1) In general
Subject to the limitations provided in this section, the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation shall be used by the Secretary in carrying out this section, except that any restriction applicable to the acquisition, storage, or disposition of eligible commodities owned or controlled by the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not apply.
(2) Reimbursement of trust
(A) In general
The Commodity Credit Corporation shall be reimbursed for the release of eligible commodities from funds made available to carry out the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) and the funds shall be available to replenish the trust under subsection (b).
(B) Basis for reimbursement
The reimbursement shall be made on the basis of the lesser of—
(i) the actual costs incurred by the Commodity Credit Corporation with respect to the eligible commodity; or
(ii) the export market price of the eligible commodity (as determined by the Secretary) as of the time the eligible commodity is released from the trust.
(C) Source of funds
The reimbursement may be made from funds appropriated for subsequent fiscal years.
(g) Finality of determination
Any determination by the Secretary under this section shall be final.
(h) Termination of authority
(1) In general
The authority to replenish stocks of eligible commodities to maintain the trust established under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2023.
(2) Disposal of eligible commodities
Eligible commodities remaining in the trust after September 30, 2024, shall be disposed of by release for use in providing for emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries as provided in this section.