§ 4901. — Congressional findings and 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: 7USC4901]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 80--WATERMELON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION
Sec. 4901. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
(a) Congress finds that--
(1) the per capita consumption of watermelons in the United
States has declined steadily in recent years;
(2) watermelons are an important cash crop to many farmers in
the United States and are an economical, enjoyable, and healthful
food for consumers;
(3) approximately 2,607,600,000 pounds of watermelons with a
farm value of $158,923,000 were produced in 1981 in the United
States;
(4) watermelons move in the channels of interstate commerce, and
watermelons that do not move in such channels directly affect
interstate commerce;
(5) the maintenance and expansion of existing markets and the
establishment of new or improved markets and uses for watermelons
are vital to the welfare of watermelon growers and those concerned
with marketing, using, handling, and importing watermelons, as well
as the general economic welfare of the Nation; and
(6) the development and implementation of coordinated programs
of research, development, advertising, and promotion are necessary
to maintain and expand existing markets and establish new or
improved markets and uses for watermelons.
(b) It is declared to be the policy of Congress that it is essential
in the public interest, through the exercise of the powers provided
herein, to authorize the establishment of an orderly procedure for the
development, financing (through adequate assessments on watermelons
harvested in the United States, or imported into the United States, for
commercial use), and carrying out of an effective, continuous, and
coordinated program of research, development, advertising, and promotion
designed to strengthen the watermelon's competitive position in the
marketplace, and establish, maintain, and expand domestic and foreign
markets for watermelons. The purpose of this chapter is to so authorize
the establishment of such procedure and the development, financing, and
carrying out of such program. Nothing in this chapter may be construed
to dictate quality standards nor provide for the control of production
or otherwise limit the right of individual watermelon producers to
produce watermelons.
(Pub. L. 99-198, title XVI, Sec. 1642, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1622;
Pub. L. 103-189, Sec. 8(k)(1), (2), Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2263.)
Amendments
1993--Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 103-189, Sec. 8(k)(1), substituted
``handling, and importing'' for ``and handling''.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103-189, Sec. 8(k)(2), inserted ``, or imported
into the United States,'' after ``harvested in the United States'' and
struck out ``produced in the United States'' after ``foreign markets for
watermelons''.
Short Title of 1993 Amendment
Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 103-189 provided that: ``This Act [amending
this section and sections 4902 to 4904, 4906, 4908, and 4911 to 4914 of
this title] may be cited as the `Watermelon Research and Promotion
Improvement Act of 1993'.''
Short Title
Section 1641 of Pub. L. 99-198 provided that: ``This subtitle
[subtitle C (Secs. 1641-1657) of Pub. L. 99-198, enacting this chapter]
may be cited as the `Watermelon Research and Promotion Act'.''
