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Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust

EHT
Number: 10.079
Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Farm Service Agency

Program Information 

Program Number/Title (010):
10.079 Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust
Popular Name (020):
(EHT)
Federal Agency (030):
FARM SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Authorization (040):
Sections 301 and 302, Title III of Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. Section 302 (c) of the Agricultural Act of 1980, as amended. The Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations, Public Law 108-11.
Objectives (050):
To provide for a Trust solely to meet emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a trust stock of wheat, rice, corn, or sorghum, or any combination of the commodities, totaling not more than 4,000,000 metric tons for use as described.
Types of Assistance (060):
Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use.
Uses and Use Restrictions (070):
The Secretary may release eligible commodities only to the extent such release is consistent with maintaining the long-term value of the trust.
Eligibility Requirements (080)
Applicant Eligibility (081):
Developing countries that suffer from natural disasters (such as extreme drought, flood, earthquake, etc.), prolong war, prolong diseases, and/or acute hunger.
Beneficiary Eligibility (082):
Developing countries.
Credentials/Documentation (083):
None. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process (090)
Preapplication Coordination (091):
There is no preapplication coordination related to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedures (092):
None.
Award Procedure (093):
None.
Deadlines (094):
None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):
From 1 to 30 days.
Appeals (096):
None.
Renewals (097):
None.
Assistance Consideration (100)
Formula and Matching Requirements (101):
Release of commodities from the Trust can be triggered in two situations: 1) when domestic supplies are insufficient to meet the availability criteria of Public Law 480, or 2) when unanticipated needs for Title II, Public Law 480 commodities cannot be met in a timely manner under normal means of obtaining commodities. In the second situation, the Secretary is authorized to release up to 500,000 metric tons from the Trust plus an additional 500,000 metric tons that could have been but was not released, in previous years.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):
The reserve was originally authorized by the Agricultural Trade Act of 1980 as the Food Security Wheat Reserve. Subsequent legislation broadened the number of commodities that can be held in the reserve and, in 1998, it was renamed the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. Most recently, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 reauthorized the Emerson Trust through 2007.
Post Assistance Requirements (110)
Reports (111):
None.
Audits (112):
None.
Records (113):
None.
Financial Information (120)
Obligations (122):
(Includes CCC transfer funds) FY 07 $0; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance (123):
Not applicable.
Program Accomplishments (130):
None.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature (140):
Program is announced through news media and is posted on Farm Service Agency website. Regulations published in Title III of Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. EHT fact sheet may be located online at http://www.fas.usda.gov/excredits/pl480/Emersontrust.htm.
Information Contacts (150)
Regional or Local Office (151) :
None.
Headquarters Office (152):
Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Kansas City Commodity Office, 6501 Beacon Drive, Kansas City, MO 64131-4676. Telephone: (816) 926-6715.
Website Address (153):
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/daco/Default.htm.
Related Programs (160):
None.
Examples of Funded Projects (170):
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):
The Secretary is authorized to release commodities from the reserve to meet unanticipated emergency needs that cannot otherwise be met under Public Law 480, the U.S. government's major humanitarian food aid program. The Secretary is also authorized to release eligible commodities for use under Public Law 480 if the domestic supply of that commodity is determined to be in limited supply and would not meet the availability criteria of Public Law 480.