Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1075

 PUBLIC LAW 95-113—SEPT. 29, 1977

91 STAT. 1041

TITLE XVIII—DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEES PURPOSES

The purposes of this title are to— 7 USC 2281. (1) require strict financial and program accounting by advisory committees of the Department of Agriculture; (2) assure balance and objectivity in the membership of such advisory committees; and (3) prevent the formation or continuation of unnecessary advisory committees by the Department of Agriculture.

SEC.1801.

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 1802. When used in this title— ^ 7 USC 2282. (1) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States; (2) the term "Department of Agriculture" means the United States Department of Agriculture; and (3) the term "advisory committee" means any committee, board, commission, council, conference, panel, task force, or other similar group, or any subcommittee or other subgroup thereof which is established or utilized by the Department of Agriculture in the interest of obtaining advice or recommendations for the President or the Department of Agriculture, except that such term excludes any committee which (A) is composed wholly of full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government, (B) is established by statute or reorganization plan, or (C) is established by the President. fc

ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES

SEC. 1803. No advisory committee shall be established by the 7 USC 228.H. Department of Agriculture unless the Secretary determines that— c (1) the advisory committee will serve an essential function; (2) the proposed membership for the advisory committee represents a balance of differing views; (3) the proposed work and goals of the advisory committee cannot be carried out by an existing advisory committee; (4) the proposed budget of the advisory committee reflects the reasonably anticipated costs of performing the function of the advisory committee; and (5) the establishment of the advisory committee is in the public interest. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

SEC. 1804. In addition to any responsibilities which the Secretary 7 USC 2284. has under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, or other 5 USC app. i. provision of law with respect to advisory committees, the Secretary shall ensure that all advisory committees— (1) comply with all provisions of law relating to advisory committees, including this title; (2) submit all reports and recommendations in written form; (3) retain a written record of any responses made by the Department of Agriculture to the recommendations of the advisory committees; and

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