About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


1 1 (April 17, 2003)

handle is hein.crs/crsahxj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21234 Updated April 17, 2003 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust: Background and Current Issues Charles E. Hanrahan Senior Specialist in Agricultural Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Summary The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust is becoming a critical component of the U.S. response to humanitarian food emergencies in Africa, Iraq, and elsewhere. The Trust, as presently constituted, was enacted in the 1998 Africa Seeds of Hope Act (P.L. 105- 385). It replaced the Food Security Commodity Reserve established in 1996 and its predecessor the Food Security Wheat Reserve of 1980. The Trust is a reserve of up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum and rice that can be used to help fulfill P.L. 480 food aid commitments to developing countries under two conditions: (1) to meet unanticipated emergency needs in developing countries, or (2) when U.S. domestic supplies are short. The Trust can also hold funds. Administration proposals to reduce food aid's reliance on surplus commodities and anticipated demand for emergency food aid have focused renewed attention on the Emerson Trust, which has been used four times in FY2002 and FY2003 to meet unanticipated food needs in Africa and Iraq. About 1.1 million metric tons of wheat remain in the Trust. As the Trust is drawn down, reimbursement and replenishment of the Trust for commodities released become important issues. This report will be updated as developments occur. The Emerson Trust The Africa Seeds of Hope Act of 1998 amended Title III of the Agricultural Act of 1980 by replacing the Food Security Commodity Reserve (FSCR) and its predecessor, the Food Security Wheat Reserve (FSWR), with the Bill Emerson Trust.1 The purpose of the Trust is solely to meet emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries...(Section 302, 7 U.S.C. 1736f-1). The legislation authorizes the Trust to hold up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum and rice. Taking into account previously unreplenished releases from the Trust and 4 recent releases of commodities for use in Africa and Iraq, approximately 1.1 million metric tons of wheat remain in the Trust. Congressional Research Service +** The Library of Congress 1 The Trust is named in honor of the late Representative Bill Emerson of Missouri who served as ranking member of the House Select Committee on Hunger.