---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 3701"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "3701"
heading: "Congressional findings and declarations"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/3701"
units:
  - "Chapter 68 — Agricultural Subterminal Facilities"
---

# §3701. Congressional findings and declarations


Congress finds and declares that—

- (1) an adequate system for the efficient transient storage and movement of [bulk agricultural commodities](/usc/7/3702.md?p=1) is essential to the overall success of the agricultural industry of the Nation, the development of [rural areas](/usc/7/950bb–3.md?p=a-4) of the Nation, and the economic stability of the Nation;
- (2) the movement and storage of [bulk agricultural commodities](/usc/7/3702.md?p=1) has been seriously and repeatedly impeded by shortages of transient storage facilities, adequate rail rolling stock, and the deterioration of many railroad track beds and [rural](/usc/7/1991.md?p=a-13-B) highways throughout the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8);
- (3) the efficient movement and storage of [bulk agricultural commodities](/usc/7/3702.md?p=1) may be achieved and facilitated by the joint location at strategic points throughout the [United States](/usc/7/6402.md?p=8) of transient storage facilities and multimodal terminal facilities constructed especially for the efficient shipment and receipt of [agricultural commodities](/usc/7/5602.md?p=1); and
- (4) the location of such facilities must be carefully planned to assure maximum benefits to [producers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-iii-III-bb) of [agricultural commodities](/usc/7/5602.md?p=1) and [unprocessed agricultural products](/usc/7/3702.md?p=2) and utilization of the most efficient means of transporting [bulk agricultural commodities](/usc/7/3702.md?p=1) for domestic and export markets.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–358, § 2, Sept. 25, 1980, 94 Stat. 1184.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 96–358, § 6, Sept. 25, 1980, 94 Stat. 1189, provided that: “The provisions of this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 1932 of this title] shall become effective October 1, 1980.”

### Short Title

Pub. L. 96–358, § 1, Sept. 25, 1980, 94 Stat. 1184, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 1932 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Agricultural Subterminal Facilities Act of 1980’.”