7 U.S.C. § 7712a — Reduction in backlog of agricultural export petitions

(a) Reduction efforts. To the greatest practicable extent, the Secretary^* of Agriculture must try to reduce the backlog of United States agricultural-commodity export^*-permit^* applications. In doing so, the Secretary may not dilute or reduce existing personnel resources managing sanitary and phytosanitary issues for (1) commodities proposed for export, or (2) pest and disease interception and control, including evaluation of pest and disease concerns involving foreign commodities proposed for import^*.

(b) Report. Each year the Secretary must report to the House Agriculture Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee: (1) total applications completed; (2) backlog applications completed; (3) the percentage of backlog applications completed; and (4) backlog applications remaining.