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B-176943 1 (1974-03-28)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabkoj0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 
                       N o- ob  re, ens ed  ou -od  ~ e n
                 COMPTROLLI'R GEN':RALr..TI, UNITEDSTATES



B-176943.        RELEASED           og'(v4yr           2     -~~
                                                        MAR 2 8 1974


The Honorable Henry M. Jackson, Chairman
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate

Dear Mr. Chairman:

     On January 3, 1974, you requested that we ascertain and make
availabl# to you certain facts concerning wJat   ubsiy prelint*ary
poay  .s1/discussed in the Washington Post on December 6, 1973.

     The article stated that wheat farmers reaped a legal windfall
of nearly a half a billion dollars in Government subsidies last
summer because the circumstances the Department of Agriculture
assumed in making the payments did not materialize. According to
the article, the law provided that no refund could be requested
from the wheat producers.

     We discussed these matters with Department officials and
reviewed applicable legislation, information on the Kansas City
wheat futures market, and pertinent Department records. The results
of our review, which were provided to your office on January 18,
1974, are summarized herein. We found that the payments, amounting
to about $375 million, were made in accordance with the law and that
there were no means by which the Government could require repayment.

AUTHORITY FOR WHEAT MARKETING CERTIFICATES
AND ADVANCE PAYMENTS

     The wheat marketing certificate program was authorized by
section 379b of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended
(7 U.S.C. 1379b), which stated:

          The Secretary shall provide for the issuance of
     wheat marketing certificates for the purpose of enabling
     producers on any farm for which certificates are issued
     to receive, in addition to the other proceeds from the,
     sale of wheat, an amount equal to the face value of such
     certificates.




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