A bill to restore an economic safety net for agricultural producers, to increase market transparency in agricultural markets domestically and abroad, and for other purposes.
Agricultural Safety Net and Market Competitiveness Act of 1999 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that strategies should be considered to offset extreme income loss by agricultural producers from economic and weather related events.
(Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal crop insurance program should be modified to: (1) increase covered commodities; (2) increase access to and affordability of crop insurance products; and (3) protect against multiyear disasters.
(Sec. 5) Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to include livestock within the crop insurance and revenue insurance pilot programs.
(Sec. 6) Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a livestock market mandatory reporting pilot program.
(Sec. 7) Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require country of origin labeling for: (1) imported or U.S. beef, lamb, or pork offered for sale as muscle cuts; and (2) imported ground or processed beef, lamb, or pork.
(Sec. 8) Directs the President to establish an interagency task force to investigate: (1) potential anticompetitive practices in the meat packing industry; and (2) effects of concentration in the agricultural industry.
(Sec. 9) Directs the President to study the link between credit and concentration among agricultural producers, handlers, and processors, including credit eligibility requirements for beginning and alternative management farmers and ranchers.
(Sec. 10) Directs the Comptroller General to study potential packer and stockyard anticompetitive practices.
(Sec. 11) Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to require dealers and live poultry dealers, packers, stockyard owners, and market agencies to submit copies of business contracts to the Secretary.
(Sec. 12) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should provide opportunities and incentives for agricultural producers to expand value-added enterprise and new market participation.
(Sec. 13) United States Agricultural Products Market Access Act of 1998 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the United States Trade Representative to identify countries that deny market access to U.S. agricultural products.
(Sec. 14) Sets forth U.S. agricultural trade negotiation goals.
(Sec. 15) Directs The United States Trade Representative to consult with the House and Senate agriculture committees prior to initiating agricultural tariff reduction negotiations.
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S306)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
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