7 U.S.C. § 1722 : US Code - Section 1722: Provision of agricultural commodities

Search 7 U.S.C. § 1722 : US Code - Section 1722: Provision of agricultural commodities

(a) Emergency assistance
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may
provide agricultural commodities to meet emergency food needs under
this subchapter through governments and public or private agencies,
including intergovernmental organizations such as the World Food
Program and other multilateral organizations, in such manner and on
such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines
appropriate to respond to the emergency.
(b) Nonemergency assistance
(1) In general
The Administrator may provide agricultural commodities for
nonemergency assistance under this subchapter through eligible
organizations (as described in subsection (d) of this section)
that have entered into an agreement with the Administrator to use
the commodities in accordance with this subchapter.
(2) Limitation
The Administrator may not deny a request for funds submitted
under this subsection because the program for which the funds are
requested - 
(A) would be carried out by the eligible organization in a
foreign country in which the Agency for International
Development does not have a mission, office, or other presence;
or
(B) is not part of a development plan for the country
prepared by the Agency.
(3) Program diversity
The Administrator shall - 
(A) encourage eligible organizations to propose and implement
program plans to address 1 or more aspects of the program under
section 1721 of this title; and
(B) consider proposals that incorporate a variety of program
objectives and strategic plans based on the identification by
eligible organizations of appropriate activities, consistent
with section 1721 of this title, to assist development of
foreign countries.
(c) Uses of assistance
Agricultural commodities provided under this subchapter may be
made available for direct distribution, sale, barter, or other
appropriate disposition.
(d) Eligible organizations
To be eligible to receive assistance under subsection (b) of this
section an organization shall be - 
(1) a private voluntary organization or cooperative that is, to
the extent practicable, registered with the Administrator; or
(2) an intergovernmental organization, such as the World Food
Program.
(e) Support for eligible organizations
(1) In general
Of the funds made available in each fiscal year under this
subchapter to the Administrator, not less than 5 percent nor more
than 10 percent of the funds shall be made available in each
fiscal year to eligible organizations described in subsection (d)
of this section, to assist the organizations in - 
(A) establishing new programs under this subchapter; and
(B) meeting specific administrative, management, personnel
and internal transportation and distribution costs for carrying
out programs in foreign countries under this subchapter.
(2) Request for funds
To receive funds made available under paragraph (1), an
eligible organization described in subsection (d) of this section
shall submit a request for the funds that is subject to approval
by the Administrator.
(3) Assistance with respect to sale
Upon the request of an eligible organization, the Administrator
may provide assistance to the eligible organization with respect
to the sale of agricultural commodities made available to it
under this subchapter.
(f) Effective use of commodities
To ensure that agricultural commodities made available under this
subchapter are used effectively and in the areas of greatest need,
organizations or cooperatives through which such commodities are
distributed shall - 
(1) to the extent feasible, work with indigenous institutions
and employ indigenous workers;
(2) assess and take into account nutritional and other needs of
beneficiary groups;
(3) help such beneficiary groups design and carry out mutually
acceptable projects;
(4) recommend to the Administrator methods of making assistance
available that are the most appropriate for each local setting;
(5) supervise the distribution of commodities provided and the
implementation of programs carried out under this subchapter; and
(6) periodically evaluate the effectiveness of projects
undertaken under this subchapter.
(g) Labeling
Commodities provided under this subchapter shall, to the extent
practicable, be clearly identified with appropriate markings on the
package or container of such commodity in the language of the
locality in which such commodities are distributed, as being
furnished by the people of the United States of America.
(h) Streamlined program management
(1) Improvements
Not later than 1 year after May 13, 2002, the Administrator
shall - 
(A) streamline program procedures and guidelines under this
subchapter for agreements with eligible organizations for
programs in 1 or more countries; and
(B) effective beginning with fiscal year 2004, to the maximum
extent practicable, incorporate the changes into the procedures
and guidelines for programs and the guidelines for resource
requests.
(2) Streamlined procedures and guidelines
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make
improvements in the Office of Food for Peace management systems
that include - 
(A) expedition of and greater consistency in the program
review and approval process under this subchapter;
(B) streamlining of information collection and reporting
systems by identifying the critical information that needs to
be monitored and reported on by eligible organizations; and
(C) for approved programs, provision of greater flexibility
for an eligible organization to make modifications in program
activities to achieve program results with streamlined
procedures for reporting such modifications.
(3) Consultation
(A) In general
Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be carried out in accordance
with section 1725 of this title and subsections (b) and (c) of
section 1726a of this title.
(B) Consultation with congressional committees
Not later than 180 days after May 13, 2002, the Administrator
shall consult with the Committee on Agriculture and the
Committee on International Relations of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate on progress made in carrying out
this subsection.
(4) Report
Not later than 270 days after May 13, 2002, the Administrator
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a
report on the improvements made and planned upgrades in the
information management, procurement, and financial management
systems to administer this subchapter.