7 U.S.C. § 6952: Multiagency task force

Summary

The Secretary must create a multiagency task force inside the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services to coordinate and guide commodity programs. It must have at least four members: a chair from the Food Distribution Division and representatives from the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Farm Services Agency, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service, each appointed by their respective Under Secretaries. The task force must check how well commodity programs support U.S. farms and deliver domestic food for public health. It must review procurement rules, distribution methods, and whether amounts, quality, and specs match producers’ needs and recipient agencies’ preferences. The Secretary must report the task force’s findings and any new procurement policies to Congress within 1 year after February 7, 2014, and every year after.

Title 7, §6952

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary shall establish, in the office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, a multiagency task force for the purpose of providing coordination and direction for commodity programs.

(b)Composition

The Task Force shall be composed of at least 4 members, including—

(1)a representative from the Food Distribution Division of the Food and Nutrition Service, who shall—

(A)be appointed by the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services; and

(B)serve as Chairperson of the Task Force;

(2)at least 1 representative from the Agricultural Marketing Service, who shall be appointed by the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs;

(3)at least 1 representative from the Farm Services Agency, who shall be appointed by the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation; and

(4)at least 1 representative from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, who shall be appointed by the Under Secretary for Food Safety.

(c)Duties

(1)In general

The Task Force shall be responsible for evaluation and monitoring of the commodity programs to ensure that the commodity programs meet the mission of the Department—

(A)to support the United States farm sector; and

(B)to contribute to the health and well-being of individuals in the United States through the distribution of domestic agricultural products through commodity programs.

(2)Specific duties

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Task Force shall—

(A)review and make recommendations regarding the specifications used for the procurement of food commodities;

(B)review and make recommendations regarding the efficient and effective distribution of food commodities; and

(C)review and make recommendations regarding the degree to which the quantity, quality, and specifications of procured food commodities align the needs of producers and the preferences of recipient agencies.

(d)Reports

Not later than 1 year after February 7, 2014, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes, for the period covered by the report—

(1)the findings and recommendations of the Task Force; and

(2)policies implemented for the improvement of commodity procurement programs.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation” for “Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services”.

§6952 Multiagency Task Force

Summary

Title 7, §6952

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata