FT 16.03 - Feed Frémonters Act (SIGNATURE AWAITING)

[OBD]

AN ACT

to combat economic blight and hunger within the Commonwealth

Section I. (Title)
i. The title of this Act shall be the “Feed Frémonters Act”.

Section II. (Definitions)
i. As it is used in this legislation, "food bank" is defined as an organization providing stocks of food free of charge to people in need.

Section III. (Declaration of Intents)
i. The Commonwealth of Frémont hereby recognizes the economic peril facing many farmers throughout the Commonwealth.
ii. The Commonwealth notes that due to the ongoing recession, it is currently more cost-effective for some farmers to allow crops to rot in fields than to pay for their harvest and distribution to retailers.

Section IV. (Purchase, Donation, and Distribution of Produce)
i. Any farmer conducting business within the Commonwealth may apply to the Frémont Farm Relief Bureau (FFRB) to sell produce to the Commonwealth at cost.
ii. Any food bank or branch thereof operating within the Commonwealth may apply to the FFRB to receive produce purchased under §IV(i) of this Act free of charge.
iii. Any such food bank may also apply to the Frémont Ministry of Transportation to lease any vehicle in the Commonwealth Vehicle Fleet, free of charge, to transport produce donated by the Commonwealth.

Section V. (Funding)
i. All funds appropriated by the Fremont Farm Maintenance Act of 2018 (FFM Act) not yet allocated shall be reappropriated to finance purchases authorized under §IV(i) of this Act, and leases authorized under §IV(iii) of this Act.
ii. $500,000 of the aforementioned funding shall be appropriated within the FFRB for the purposes of creating a webpage to efficiently process applications for produce donations, and for the hiring of additional employees to help process such applications.

Section VI. (Enactment and Expiration)
i. This act shall take effect immediately after signature by the First Minister.
ii. This act shall expire once all funds appropriated by the FFM Act are exhausted, or at the end of Fiscal Year 2020, whichever comes first.

Sponsor: MP Ted Bessell (Fine Gayle-Labor, California)

The gentleman from California has the floor.

[Mike Thick]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This legislation addresses a problem that you may have seen in the news. In difficult economic times like these, it can be more cost-effective for farmers to let crops rot than to pay to harvest and distribute food that might not sell. This bill pays farmers to farm so they don't lose money, donates the food to people in need via food banks, and uses the state vehicle fleet to provide ad-hoc transportation infrastructure to get the food from point A to point B.

Previously, Frémont appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars to farmer relief programs, the vast majority of which is still likely unutilized. This Act takes that money, already appropriated, and effectively loosens the criteria of which farms can receive it while allowing a small portion to be accessed for personnel/administrative costs and the vehicle fleet provision. Consequently, cost is likely not an issue here.

This is a simple solution to a severe problem, and I encourage my fellow MPs to pass it as soon as possible. I yield the floor.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

A logical and compassionate response to a regional crisis. This legislation will have my support.

[OBD]

It's certainly a big government program, though not one without precedent. However, feeding more Frémonters is more than worth the cost. I will support this legislation.

[Mike Thick]

Since nobody seems to have additional comments on the bill, I motion for a final vote.

[OBD]

Motion seconded. Vote opened, y'all know the drill (48 hours).

Aye.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Aye.

[Tirnam]

Aye

[Mike Thick]

Aye.

[AustralianSwingVoter]

Aye

[OBD]

Feed Frémonters Act
Frémont Parliament Bill 16.03 - Sponsored by Ted Bessell, MFP

	LAB	IND	TOTAL
Aye	4	1	5
Nay	0	0	0
Abstain	0	0	0
Not Present	0	0	0

	FF	FG	ML	SF	TOTAL
Aye	2	1	1	1	5
Nay	0	0	0	0	0
Abstain	0	0	0	0	0
Not Present	0	0	0	0	0

First Minister HARRY S TRUMAN of North Dakota (LAB/FF)
Mr. AUSTRALIANSWINGVOTER of Washington (IND/ML)
Mr. TIRNAM of California (LAB/FF)
Mr. TED BESSELL of California (LAB/FG)
Mr. OREGON BLUE DOG of Oregon (LAB/SF)

Aight the bill passes. Truman?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

AN ACT

to combat economic blight and hunger within the Commonwealth

Section I. (Title)
i. The title of this Act shall be the “Feed Frémonters Act”.

Section II. (Definitions)
i. As it is used in this legislation, "food bank" is defined as an organization providing stocks of food free of charge to people in need.

Section III. (Declaration of Intents)
i. The Commonwealth of Frémont hereby recognizes the economic peril facing many farmers throughout the Commonwealth.
ii. The Commonwealth notes that due to the ongoing recession, it is currently more cost-effective for some farmers to allow crops to rot in fields than to pay for their harvest and distribution to retailers.

Section IV. (Purchase, Donation, and Distribution of Produce)
i. Any farmer conducting business within the Commonwealth may apply to the Frémont Farm Relief Bureau (FFRB) to sell produce to the Commonwealth at cost.
ii. Any food bank or branch thereof operating within the Commonwealth may apply to the FFRB to receive produce purchased under §IV(i) of this Act free of charge.
iii. Any such food bank may also apply to the Frémont Ministry of Transportation to lease any vehicle in the Commonwealth Vehicle Fleet, free of charge, to transport produce donated by the Commonwealth.

Section V. (Funding)
i. All funds appropriated by the Fremont Farm Maintenance Act of 2018 (FFM Act) not yet allocated shall be reappropriated to finance purchases authorized under §IV(i) of this Act, and leases authorized under §IV(iii) of this Act.
ii. $500,000 of the aforementioned funding shall be appropriated within the FFRB for the purposes of creating a webpage to efficiently process applications for produce donations, and for the hiring of additional employees to help process such applications.

Section VI. (Enactment and Expiration)
i. This act shall take effect immediately after signature by the First Minister.
ii. This act shall expire once all funds appropriated by the FFM Act are exhausted, or at the end of Fiscal Year 2020, whichever comes first.