§ 2101. — Congressional declaration of policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC2101]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 53--COTTON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION
Sec. 2101. Congressional declaration of policy
Cotton is the basic natural fiber of the Nation. It is produced by
many individual cottongrowers throughout the various cotton-producing
States of the Nation and also outside the United States. Cotton moves in
the channels of interstate and foreign commerce and such cotton which
does not move in such channels directly burdens or affects interstate
commerce in cotton and cotton products. The efficient production of
cotton and the maintenance and expansion of existing markets and the
development of new or improved markets and uses is vital to the welfare
of cottongrowers and those concerned with marketing, using, and
processing cotton as well as the general economy of the Nation. The
great inroads on the market and uses for cotton which have been made by
manmade fibers have been largely the result of extensive research and
promotion which have not been effectively matched by cotton research and
promotion. The production and marketing of cotton by numerous individual
farmers have prevented the development and carrying out of adequate and
coordinated programs of research and promotion necessary to the
maintenance and improvement of the competitive position of, and markets
for, cotton. Without an effective and coordinated method for assuring
cooperative and collective action in providing for, and financing such
programs, individual cotton farmers are unable adequately to provide or
obtain the research and promotion necessary to maintain and improve
markets for cotton.
It has long been found to be in the public interest to have, or
endeavor to have, a reasonable balance between the supply of and demand
for cotton grown in this country. To serve this public interest the
Congress has provided for the comprehensive exercise of regulatory
authority in regulating the handling of such cotton supplemented by
price-support programs with the objective of adjusting supply to demand
in the interest of benefiting producers and all others concerned with
the production and handling of cotton as well as the general economy of
the country. In order for the objective of such programs to be
effectuated to the fullest degree, it is necessary that the existing
regulation of marketing be supplemented by providing as part of the
overall governmental program for effectuating this objective, means of
increasing the demand for cotton with the view of eventually reducing or
eliminating the need for limiting marketings and supporting the price of
cotton.
It is therefore declared to be the policy of the Congress and the
purpose of this chapter that it is essential in the public interest
through the exercise of the powers provided herein, to authorize and
enable the establishment of an orderly procedure for the development,
financing through adequate assessments on all cotton marketed in the
United States and on imports of cotton, and carrying out an effective
and continuous coordinated program of research and promotion designed to
strengthen cotton's competitive position and to maintain and expand
domestic and foreign markets and uses for United States cotton.
(Pub. L. 89-502, Sec. 2, July 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 279; Pub. L. 101-624,
title XIX, Sec. 1991, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3909.)
Amendments
1990--Pub. L. 101-624, in first undesignated par., inserted ``and
also outside the United States'', struck out ``in large part'' before
``in the channels of interstate'', ``All cotton produced in the United
States is in the current of interstate or foreign commerce or directly
burdens, obstructs, or affects interstate or foreign commerce in cotton
and cotton products.'' before ``The efficient production'', and ``In the
years since World War II, United States cotton and the products thereof
have been confronted with intensive competition, both at home and
abroad, from foreign-grown cotton and from other fibers, primarily
manmade fibers.'' after ``economy of the Nation.'', and substituted
``The great inroads on the market and uses for'' for ``The great inroads
on the market and uses for United States'' and, in third undesignated
par., substituted ``marketed'' for ``harvested'' and inserted ``and on
imports of cotton''.
Effective Date
Section 20 of Pub. L. 89-502 provided that: ``This Act [enacting
this chapter] shall take effect upon enactment [July 13, 1966]''.
Short Title of 1990 Amendment
Section 1990 of Pub. L. 101-624 provided that: ``This subtitle
[subtitle G (Secs. 1990-1998) of title XIX of Pub. L. 101-624, amending
this section and sections 2106 to 2110 and 2116 of this title, and
enacting provisions set out below] may be cited as the `Cotton Research
and Promotion Act Amendments of 1990'.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 89-502 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this
chapter] shall be known as the `Cotton Research and Promotion Act'.''
Reports on Implementation and Enforcement of Cotton Research and
Promotion Program
Section 1998 of title XIX of Pub. L. 101-624, as amended by Pub. L.
102-237, title VIII, Sec. 808(b), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1883,
provided that:
``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which
imports are subject to assessments under this subtitle [see Short Title
of 1990 Amendment note above]--
``(1) the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare a report
concerning the implementation and enforcement of the cotton research
and promotion program, and any problems that may have arisen in the
implementation and enforcement of such program; and
``(2) the Customs Service shall, if on such date it has any role
in the implementation or enforcement of such assessments, prepare a
report concerning such implementation and enforcement as it relates
to imports.
``(b) Comptroller General Report.--Not prior to the date that occurs
3 years after the date on which imports are subject to assessments under
this subtitle, the Comptroller General shall prepare a report concerning
the administration of the cotton research and promotion program as it
relates to such imports. Such report shall be submitted not later than 6
months after such date, and include an analysis of--
``(1) the growth in the United States market for cotton and
cotton products, with particular attention provided to the period of
time subsequent to the imposition of assessments on such imports;
``(2) the extent to which import restrictions, such as quotas,
on imports of cotton and cotton-containing products have permitted
or prevented importers from benefiting from any such growth in the
United States market; and
``(3) the relevant United States international obligations
applicable under trade agreements that relate to the assessments on
imports of cotton and cotton products under this subtitle.
``(c) Submission.--The reports required under subsections (a) and
(b) shall be submitted to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee
on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Finance of the
Senate not later than the applicable dates referred to in such
subsections.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry out this section.''
