Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/3915

 118 STAT. 3885 PUBLIC LAW 108–465—DEC. 21, 2004 on significant sanitary and phytosanitary issues that affect the export of specialty crops. TITLE III—SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH SEC. 301. METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES. (a) PRIORITY.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall elevate the priority of current methyl bromide alternative research and exten- sion activities and reexamine the risks and benefits of extending the phase-out deadline in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, including the estimated cost to the grower or processor associated with any alternatives proposed. (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture $5,000,000 to carry out this section. SEC. 302. NATIONAL SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH PROGRAM. Section 1672(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(e)) is amended by adding at the end of the following new paragraph: ‘‘(45) SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH.—Research and extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of improving the efficiency, productivity, and profitability of spe- cialty crop production in the United States.’’. SEC. 303. SPECIALTY CROP COMMITTEE. The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1408 (7 U.S.C. 3123) the following new section: ‘‘SEC. 1408A. SPECIALTY CROP COMMITTEE. ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004, the executive committee of the Advisory Board shall establish, and appoint the initial members of, a permanent specialty crops committee that will be responsible for studying the scope and effectiveness of research, extension, and economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry. ‘‘(b) MEMBERS.—Individuals who are not members of the Advisory Board may be appointed as members of the specialty crops committee. Members of the specialty crops committee shall serve at the discretion of the executive committee. ‘‘(c) ANNUAL COMMITTEE REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the establishment of the specialty crops committee, and annually thereafter, the specialty crops committee shall submit to the Advisory Board a report containing the findings of its study under subsection (a). The specialty crops committee shall include in each report recommendations regarding the following: ‘‘(1) Measures designed to improve the efficiency, produc- tivity, and profitability of specialty crop production in the United States. ‘‘(2) Measures designed to improve competitiveness in research, extension, and economics programs affecting the spe- cialty crop industry. ‘‘(3) Programs that would— ‘‘(A) enhance the quality and shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables, including their taste and appearance; Deadline. 7 USC 3123a. 7 USC 5925 note. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:54 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00419 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.001 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4

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