SUBCHAPTER V—FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
Section, Pub. L. 95–501, title V, §501, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, §1531, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3686, established position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for International Affairs and Commodity Programs.
A prior section 501 of Pub. L. 95–501 enacted section 2211a of this title, amended section 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 2211a of this title, prior to the complete revision of Pub. L. 95–501 by Pub. L. 101–624.
§5692. Administrator of Foreign Agricultural Service
(a) Establishment
There is hereby established in the Department of Agriculture the position of Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service.
(b) Duties
The Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service is authorized to exercise such functions and perform such duties related to foreign agriculture, and shall perform such other duties, as may be required by law or prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(c) Use of Service
In carrying out the duties under this section, the Administrator shall oversee the operations of the Foreign Agricultural Service, the General Sales Manager, and the Agricultural Attaché Service.
(Pub. L. 95–501, title V, §502, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, §1531, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3686.)
§5693. Duties of Foreign Agricultural Service
The Service shall assist the Secretary in carrying out the agricultural trade policy and international cooperation policy of the United States by—
(1) acquiring information pertaining to agricultural trade;
(2) carrying out market promotion and development activities;
(3) providing agricultural technical assistance and training; and
(4) carrying out the programs authorized under this chapter, the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.), and other Acts.
(Pub. L. 95–501, title V, §503, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, §1531, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3686; amended Pub. L. 104–127, title II, §250, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 971; Pub. L. 110–246, title III, §3001(b)(1)(A), (2)(K), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1820.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Food for Peace Act, referred to in par. (4), is act July 10, 1954, ch. 469, 68 Stat. 454, which is classified generally to chapter 41 (§1691 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1691 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2008—Par. (4). Pub. L. 110–246 substituted "Food for Peace Act" for "Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954".
1996—Pub. L. 104–127 substituted "Duties" for "Establishment" in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Service shall assist the Secretary in carrying out the agricultural trade policy of the United States by acquiring information pertaining to agricultural trade, carrying out market promotion and development activities, and implementing the programs authorized in this chapter, the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, and other Acts."
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, see section 4(b) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.
Study on Fee for Services
Pub. L. 107–171, title III, §3208, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 302, provided that:
"(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [May 13, 2002], the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on International Relations [now Committee on Foreign Affairs], of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry of the Senate a report on the feasibility of instituting a program under which the Secretary would charge and retain a fee to cover the costs incurred by the Department of Agriculture, acting through the Foreign Agricultural Service or any successor agency, in providing persons with commercial services provided outside the United States.
"(b) Purpose of Program.—The purpose of a program described in subsection (a) would be to supplement and not replace any services currently offered overseas by the Foreign Agricultural Service.
"(c) Market Development Strategy.—A program under subsection (b) would be part of an overall market development strategy for a particular country or region.
"(d) Pilot Program.—A program under subsection (a) would be established on a pilot basis to ensure that the program does not disadvantage small- and medium-sized companies, including companies that have never engaged in exporting."
§5694. Staff of Foreign Agricultural Service
(a) Personnel of Service
To ensure that the agricultural export programs of the United States are carried out in an effective manner, the authorized number of personnel for the Service shall not be less than 900 staff years each fiscal year.
(b) Rank of Foreign Agricultural Service officers in foreign missions
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State shall, on the request of the Secretary of Agriculture, accord the diplomatic title of Minister-Counselor to the senior Service officer assigned to any United States mission abroad. The number of Service officers holding such diplomatic title at any time may not exceed twelve.
(Pub. L. 95–501, title V, §504, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, §1531, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3686.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in subsec. (b) of this section appear in the following appropriation acts:
Pub. L. 101–506, title IV, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1343.
Pub. L. 100–202, §101(k) [title IV, §401], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–322, 1329-350.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Language Proficiency and Evaluation of Foreign Agricultural Service Officers
Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, §1556, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3698, as amended by Pub. L. 104–127, title II, §281(b), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 980, provided that:
"(a) Assessment of Foreign Language Competence.—The Foreign Agricultural Service shall revise its evaluation reports for its Foreign Service officers so as to require in a separate entry an assessment of the officer's effectiveness in using, in his or her work, a foreign language or foreign languages tested at the General Professional Speaking Proficiency level or above, in cases where the supervisor is capable of making such an assessment.
"(b) Precedence in Promotion.—The Director of Personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service shall instruct promotion panels to take account of language ability and, all criteria for promotion otherwise being equal, to give precedence in promotions to officers who have achieved at least the General Professional Speaking Proficiency level in 1 or more foreign languages over officers who lack that level of proficiency."
§5695. Authorization of appropriations
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Service such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 95–501, title V, §505, formerly §506, as added Pub. L. 101–624, title XV, §1531, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3687; renumbered §505, Pub. L. 102–237, title III, §314, Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1856.)