SUBCHAPTER I—ADJUSTMENT IN FREIGHT RATES, NEW USES AND MARKETS, AND DISPOSITION OF SURPLUSES

§1291. Adjustments in freight rates

(a) Complaints by Secretary of Agriculture; notice of hearings

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make complaint to the Surface Transportation Board with respect to rates, charges, tariffs, and practices relating to the transportation of farm products, and to prosecute the same before the Board. Before hearing or disposing of any complaint (filed by any person other than the Secretary) with respect to rates, charges, tariffs, and practices relating to the transportation of farm products, the Board shall cause the Secretary to be notified, and, upon application by the Secretary, shall permit the Secretary to appear and be heard.

(b) Secretary as party to proceedings

If such rate, charge, tariff, or practice complained of is one affecting the public interest, upon application by the Secretary, the Board shall make the Secretary a party to the proceeding. In such case the Secretary shall have the rights of a party before the Board and the rights of a party to invoke and pursue original and appellate judicial proceedings involving the Board's determination. The liability of the Secretary in any such case shall extend only to liability for court costs.

(c) Utilization of records, services, etc., of Department of Agriculture

For the purposes of this section, the Surface Transportation Board is authorized to avail itself of the cooperation, records, services, and facilities of the Department of Agriculture.

(d) Cooperation with complaining farm associations

The Secretary is authorized to cooperate with and assist cooperative associations of farmers making complaint to the Surface Transportation Board with respect to rates, charges, tariffs, and practices relating to the transportation of farm products.

(Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title II, §201, 52 Stat. 36; Pub. L. 104–88, title III, §311, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 948.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Pub. L. 104–88 substituted "Surface Transportation Board" for "Interstate Commerce Commission" in subsecs. (a), (c), and (d), "Board" for "Commission" wherever appearing in subsecs. (a) and (b), and "Board's" for "Commission's" in subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1995 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1301 of Title 49, Transportation.

§1292. New uses and markets for commodities

(a) Regional research laboratories

The Secretary is authorized and directed to establish, equip, and maintain four regional research laboratories, one in each major farm producing area, and, at such laboratories, to conduct researches into and to develop new scientific, chemical, and technical uses and new and extended markets and outlets for farm commodities and products and byproducts thereof. Such research and development shall be devoted primarily to those farm commodities in which there are regular or seasonal surpluses, and their products and byproducts.

(b) Acquisition of land for laboratories; donations

For the purposes of subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to acquire land and interests therein, and to accept in the name of the United States donations of any property, real or personal, to any laboratory established pursuant to this section, and to utilize voluntary or uncompensated services at such laboratories. Donations to any one of such laboratories shall not be available for use by any other of such laboratories.

(c) Cooperation with governmental agencies, associations, etc.

In carrying out the purposes of subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized and directed to cooperate with other departments or agencies of the Federal Government, States, State agricultural experiment stations, and other State agencies and institutions, counties, municipalities, business or other organizations, corporations, associations, universities, scientific societies, and individuals, upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe.

(d) Appropriation for purposes of subsection (a)

To carry out the purposes of subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to utilize in each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1938, a sum not to exceed $4,000,000 of the funds appropriated pursuant to section 1391 of this title, or section 590o of title 16, for such fiscal year. The Secretary shall allocate one-fourth of such sum annually to each of the four laboratories established pursuant to this section.

(e) Repealed. Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1076, §1(3), 68 Stat. 966

(f) Appropriation to Secretary of Commerce

There is allocated to the Secretary of Commerce for each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1938, out of funds appropriated for such fiscal year pursuant to section 1391 of this title, or section 590o of title 16 the sum of $1,000,000 to be expended for the promotion of the sale of farm commodities and products thereof in such manner as he shall direct. Of the sum allocated under this subsection to the Secretary of Commerce for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1938, $100,000 shall be devoted to making a survey and investigation of the cause or causes of the reduction in exports of agricultural commodities from the United States, in order to ascertain methods by which the sales in foreign countries of basic agricultural commodities produced in the United States may be increased.

(g) Duty of Secretary

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to use available funds to stimulate and widen the use of all farm commodities in the United States and to increase in every practical way the flow of such commodities and the products thereof into the markets of the world.

(Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title II, §202, 52 Stat. 37; Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1076, §1(3), 68 Stat. 966.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1954—Subsec. (e). Act Aug. 30, 1954, repealed subsec. (e) which required reports to Congress of the activities of, expenditures by, and donations to, the laboratories established pursuant to subsec. (a).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Wheat Research and Promotion Act

Pub. L. 91–430, Sept. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 885, provided:

"[Section 1. Short Title]. That this Act shall be known as the 'Wheat Research and Promotion Act.'

"Sec. 2 [Contract authority; sale of export marketing certificates and pro rata share of such certificates for financing agreements; rules and regulations]. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to enter into agreements with organizations of wheat growers, farm organizations, and such other organizations as he may deem appropriate to carry out a program of research and promotion designed to expand domestic and foreign markets and increase utilization for United States wheat and to carry out any other such program which he deems will benefit wheat producers in the United States. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall use the total net proceeds from the sale of export marketing certificates during the marketing year ending June 30, 1969, to finance the cost of such agreements, except that he shall provide for the issuance of a pro rata share of export marketing certificates for such marketing year to any producer eligible therefor under section 379c of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended [section 1379c of this title], who applies for such certificates not later than ninety days after the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 26, 1970]. The Secretary is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act."

§1293. Transferred

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section, act Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title II, §204, 52 Stat. 38, which provided for annual report of Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, was transferred to section 713c–1 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.