7 U.S.C. § 473a
Cotton classification services
Classification fees collected under subsection (a)(2) and the proceeds from the sales of samples submitted under this section shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used to pay the cost of the services provided under this section, including administrative and supervisory costs.
The Secretary shall announce a uniform classification fee and any applicable surcharge for classification services not later than June 1 of the year in which the fee applies.
In establishing the amount of fees under this section, the Secretary shall consult with representatives of the United States cotton industry.
Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to consultations with representatives of the United States cotton industry under this section.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may enter into long-term lease agreements that exceed 5 years or may take title to property (including through purchase agreements) for the purpose of obtaining offices to be used for the classification of cotton in accordance with this chapter, if the Secretary determines that action would best effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
To the extent that financing is not available from fees and the proceeds from the sales of samples, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
2022—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)”.
2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 14201, inserted section catchline and amended text generally, substituting provisions consisting of subsecs. (a) to (g) for former undesignated provisions which related to cotton classification services in fiscal years 1992 through 2007.
2002—Pub. L. 107–171 substituted “2007” for “2002” in first sentence.
1996—Pub. L. 104–127 substituted “2002” for “1996” in first sentence.
1991—Pub. L. 102–237, § 120(c), amended third sentence generally. Prior to amendment, third sentence read as follows: “Special classification services provided at the request of the producer shall not be subject to the restrictions specified in clauses (1), (2), and (3) of the preceding sentence.”
Pub. L. 102–237, § 120(b)(2), added cl. (7) and struck out former cl. (7). Text read as follows: “the Secretary shall announce the uniform classification fee and any surcharge for the crop not later than June 1 of the year in which the fee applies, except that for fiscal year 1987, such announcement shall be made as soon as practicable following enactment of this proviso.”
Pub. L. 102–237, § 120(b)(1), added cls. (1) and (2) and struck out former cls. (1) and (2). Text read as follows: “(1) the uniform per bale classification fee to be collected from producers, or their agents, for such classification service in any year shall be the uniform fee collected in the previous year, exclusive of adjustments to such fee made in the previous year under clauses (2), (3), and (4) of this proviso, and as may be adjusted by the percentage change in the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross National Product as indexed during the most recent twelve-month period for which statistics are available; (2) the fee calculated in accordance with clause (1) for a crop year may be increased by an amount not to exceed 1 per centum for every 100,000 running bales, or portion thereof, that the Secretary estimates will be produced in such crop year below the level of 12,500,000 running bales, or decreased by an amount not to exceed 1 per centum for every 100,000 running bales, or portion thereof, that the Secretary estimates will be produced in such crop year above the level of 12,500,000 running bales;”.
Pub. L. 102–237, § 120(a), amended first sentence generally. Prior to amendment, first sentence read as follows: “Effective for the fiscal years ending
1987—Pub. L. 100–108 amended first sentence generally, substituting “
1984—Pub. L. 98–403 substituted provisions requiring the Secretary to make classification service available to producers and to set and collect fees for provisions establishing similar requirements effective for fiscal years ending
1981—Pub. L. 97–35 substituted provisions effective for fiscal years ending
Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective
Pub. L. 102–237, title I, § 120(e),
That part of Pub. L. 100–108, § 2,
That part of Pub. L. 98–403, [§ 1],
Pub. L. 97–35, title I, § 156(b),
[Provisions of section 156 of Pub. L. 97–35 effective
Act
Pub. L. 100–108, § 3,