Congress Again Overrides Veto of Farm Bill (Title III Enacted into Law)
On June 18, 2008, both the House of Representatives and the Senate overrode President Bush's veto of H.R. 6124, the complete (all 15 titles) version of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill).
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Override of President's Veto Enacts Previously Omitted Title III
As a result of this House and Senate override of President Bush's veto, Title III of the Farm bill is enacted into law (Public Law 110-246). The trade-related provisions in newly enacted Title III pertain to (partial list):
a softwood lumber importer declaration program
GSM-102 Export Credit Guarantees
market access for organics
repeal of export enhancement program
imported agricultural products and child labor
The Other Farm Bill Titles Were Enacted into Law in May 2008
The other Farm Bill titles (all except Title III) were enacted on May 22, 2008 (Public Law 110-234) by Congress' override of the President's veto of the previous (incomplete) version of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419). The previously enacted provisions pertain to (partial list):
a two-year extension of U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)
the "first sale" rule
unused merchandise drawback for wine
Haitian HOPE II
ethyl alcohol, including duty drawback
the import quota program for upland cotton
sugar
dairy exports
declarations for imported plants
the identification of honey
catfish
the country of origin labeling for beef, lamb, pork, goat, chicken, wild fish, macadamia nuts, ginseng, and pecans
a trichinae certification program for exports
the importation of live dogs for resale
an extension of Customs user fees and MPFs
(See ITT's Online Archives or 06/19/08 news, 08061999 1, for previous BP summary on the House and Senate override of the President's veto.
See ITT's Online Archives or 06/09/08 and 05/23/08 news, 08060999 1 and 08052399 1, for BP summaries of the Senate and House passage of H.R. 6124.)
See ITT's Online Archives or 05/27/08 news, 08052705, for BP summary of the enactment of 14 of the 15 titles of the Farm Bill.
See ITT's Online Archives or 05/19/08 news, 08051905, for BP summary of the conference version of H.R. 2419.)
House Agriculture Committee press release on override of President's veto (dated 06/18/08) available at http://agriculture.house.gov/list/press/agriculture_dem/po_06182008_FBvote.html.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman's statement on the override of President's veto (dated 06/19/08) available at http://agriculture.senate.gov/.)
Conference report for the complete Farm Bill available at http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr2419_confrpt.pdf
Joint explanatory statement of the Conference Committee for the complete Farm Bill available at http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr2419_jes.pdf