The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Text of Senate Amendment 72” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the in the Senate section section on page S1137 on April 17.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SA 72. Mr. HAGERTY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 870, to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration and firefighter assistance grant programs; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM REORGANIZATION.
(a) Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board.--
(1) In general.--Section 301 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11331) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Members.--
``(1) In general.--The National Board shall consist of--
``(A) the Director;
``(B) 2 members appointed by the Director in accordance with paragraph (2);
``(C) 1 member appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
``(D) 1 member appointed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
``(E) 1 member appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture; and
``(F) 1 member appointed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
``(2) Application for membership.--
``(A) In general.--In appointing the members described in paragraph (1)(B), the Director shall select from applications of individuals seeking to serve as a member on the National Board.
``(B) Criteria.--In selecting applications of individuals under subparagraph (A), the Director shall select the 2 most qualified individuals who--
``(i) have not less than 10 years of experience working on public policy relating to housing and homelessness; and
``(ii) are not from the same geographic region of the United States.
``(3) Conflicts of interest.--An individual may not serve as a member of the National Board if, during the 5-year period preceding the first day of service on the National Board, the individual was an employee of an organization, or an affiliate of an organization, that, during the preceding 5 fiscal years, received funding under this title.
``(4) Revolving door.--During the 2-year period following the final day of service of an individual as a member of the National Board, the individual may not serve as an employee of an organization, or an affiliate of an organization, that, during a fiscal year during which the individual served as a member of the National Board, received funding under this title.
``(5) Term limit.--An individual may not serve as a member of the National Board for a period of more than 2 years.''; and
(B) by striking subsection (e).
(2) Current national board members.--With respect to an individual serving as a member of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board established under section 301 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11331) as of the date of enactment of this Act, for the purpose of section 301(b)(5) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of that Act, as amended by this Act, the individual shall be deemed to have begun service on the Board on the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Local Boards.--Section 302 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11332) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--Each locality designated by the National Board shall constitute a local board for the purpose of determining how program funds allotted to the locality will be distributed. The local board shall consist, to the extent practicable, of--
``(A) agencies of State and local governments that serve functions similar to the functions of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Management and Budget;
``(B) the mayor or other appropriate heads of government; and
``(C) representatives of nonprofit organizations that aid individuals and families who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, hunger or homelessness.
``(2) Program funds for reservations.--Each local board administering program funds for a locality within which is located a reservation (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452), or a portion thereof, shall include a board member who is a member of an Indian tribe (as such term is defined in section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)). The chairperson of the local board shall be elected by a majority of the members of the local board. Local boards are encouraged to expand participation of other private nonprofit organizations on the local board.''.
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