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H.R. 1714 (114th): Sugar Reform Act of 2015

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The text of the bill below is as of Mar 26, 2015 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

I

114th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1714

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 26, 2015

(for himself, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Goodlatte, Ms. Speier, Mr. Dold, Ms. Kuster, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Rush, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Latta, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Womack, Mrs. Black, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Massie, Mr. Hensarling, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Dent, Mr. Barletta, and Mr. Sensenbrenner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To reform the Federal sugar program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sugar Reform Act of 2015.

2.

Sugar program

(a)

Sugarcane

Section 156(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3), by striking and after the semicolon at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (4)—

(A)

by striking 2018 and insert 2014; and

(B)

by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(6)

18 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for each of the 2015 through 2018 crop years.

.

(b)

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 2009 and inserting 2015.

(c)

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 2008 and inserting 2015.

3.

Flexible marketing allotments for sugar

(a)

In general

Section 359b of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359bb) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(1)—

(A)

in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking 2008 and inserting 2017; and

(B)

in subparagraph (B), by inserting at reasonable prices after stocks; and

(2)

in subsection (b)(1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking but after the semicolon at the end and inserting and; and

(B)

by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

(B)

appropriate to maintain adequate domestic supplies at reasonable prices, taking into account all sources of domestic supply, including imports.

.

(b)

Establishment of flexible marketing allotments

Section 359c of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359cc) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A), by striking but after the semicolon at the end and inserting and; and

(ii)

by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

(B)

appropriate to maintain adequate supplies at reasonable prices, taking into account all sources of domestic supply, including imports.

; and

(B)

in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting at reasonable prices after market; and

(2)

in subsection (g)(1)—

(A)

by striking Adjustments.— and all that follows through Subject to subparagraph (B), the and inserting Adjustments.—The; and

(B)

by striking subparagraph (B).

(c)

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:

(c)

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—

(1)

the interests of consumers, workers in the food industry, businesses (including small businesses), and agricultural producers; and

(2)

the relative competitiveness of domestically produced and imported foods containing sugar.

.

(d)

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:

359k.

Administration of tariff rate quotas

(a)

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.

(b)

Adjustment

(1)

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.

(2)

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.

(3)

Maintenance of reasonable prices and avoidance of forfeitures

(A)

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—

(i)

unreasonably high prices; or

(ii)

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).

(B)

Announcement

The Secretary shall publicly announce any establishment of a target under this paragraph.

(4)

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.

(c)

Temporary transfer of quotas

(1)

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.

(2)

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.

(3)

Transfers temporary

(A)

In general

Any transfer under this subsection shall be valid only for the duration of the quota year during which the transfer is made.

(B)

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.

.

(e)

Effective period

Section 359l(a) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359ll(a)) is amended by striking 2008 and inserting 2015.

4.

Repeal of feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers

(a)

In general

Section 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8110) is repealed.

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Section 359a(3)(B) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359aa(3)(B)) is amended—

(A)

in clause (i), by inserting and after the semicolon at the end;

(B)

in clause (ii), by striking ; and at the end and inserting a period; and

(C)

by striking clause (iii).

(2)

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.