[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3603 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

                  In the Senate of the United States,

                                                         July 24, 1996.
      Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
3603) entitled ``An Act making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
purposes'', do pass with the following

                              AMENDMENTS:

(1)Page 2, line 19, strike out all after ``Secretary'' down to and 
including ``days'' in line 23

(2)Page 5, line 11, strike out [$5,000,000] and insert: $23,505,400

(3)Page 5, line 12, strike out [$125,548,000] and insert: $144,053,400

(4)Page 6, line 5, strike out [$28,304,000] and insert: $30,529,000

(5)Page 6, line 18, after ``551-558'' insert: : Provided further, That 
of the total amount appropriated, not less than $11,774,000 shall be 
made available for civil rights enforcement

(6)Page 7, line 1, strike out [$3,728,000] and insert: $3,668,000

(7)Page 9, line 14, strike out [$54,176,000] and insert: $53,109,000

(8)Page 10, line 1, strike out [$100,221,000] and insert: $98,121,000

(9)Page 10, line 17, strike out [$702,831,000] and insert: $722,839,600

(10)Page 11, line 21, after ``law'' insert: : Provided further, That 
all rights and title of the United States in the property known as the 
National Agricultural Water Quality Laboratory of the United States 
Department of Agriculture, consisting of approximately 9.161 acres in 
the city of Durant, Oklahoma, including facilities and fixed equipment, 
shall be conveyed to Southeastern Oklahoma State University

(11)Page 12, line 6, strike out [$59,600,000] and insert: $59,200,000

(12)Page 12, line 17, strike out [$163,671,000] and insert: 
$168,734,000

(13)Page 12, line 19, strike out [$19,882,000] and insert: $20,497,000

(14)Page 12, line 20, strike out [$26,902,000] and insert: $27,735,000

(15)Page 12, line 22, strike out [$44,235,000] and insert: $47,080,000

(16)Page 12, line 25, strike out [$96,735,000] and insert: $93,935,000

(17)Page 13, line 2, strike out [$4,775,000] and insert: $5,051,000

(18)Page 13, line 3, strike out [$650,000] and insert: $500,000

(19)Page 13, line 5, strike out [$500,000] and insert: $700,000

(20)Page 13, line 16, strike out [$2,000,000] and insert: $1,500,000

(21)Page 13, line 19, strike out [$8,000,000] and insert: $8,100,000

(22)Page 13, line 21, after ``grants'' insert: (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4))

(23)Page 13, lines 23 and 24, strike out [7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)]

(24)Page 14, line 2, strike out [$9,605,000] and insert: $10,644,000

(25)Page 14, line 5, strike out [$411,849,000] and insert: $419,370,000

(26)Page 14, line 21, strike out [$30,449,000] and insert: $55,668,000 
(7 U.S.C. 390 et seq.)

(27)Page 15, line 7, strike out [$260,438,000] and insert: $268,493,000

(28)Page 15, line 7, after ``$260,438,000'' insert: ; $2,500,000 for 
extension work at the 1994 Institutions under the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 343(b)(3))

(29)Page 15, line 9, strike out [$58,695,000] and insert: $60,510,000

(30)Page 15, line 12, strike out [$2,855,000] and insert: $2,943,000

(31)Page 15, line 14, strike out [$3,214,000] and insert: $3,313,000

(32)Page 15, line 17, strike out [$7,549,000] and insert: $7,782,000

(33)Page 15, line 18, after ``pended;'' insert: $1,700,000 for 
institutional capacity building grants at the 1994 Institutions (7 
U.S.C. 301 note), to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b);

(34)Page 15, line 19, strike out [$908,000] and insert: $936,000

(35)Page 15, line 21, strike out [$10,733,000] and insert: $11,065,000

(36)Page 15, line 23, strike out [$1,167,000] and insert: $1,203,000

(37)Page 15, line 24, strike out [$9,554,000] and insert: $9,850,000

(38)Page 16, line 1, strike out [$2,365,000] and insert: $2,438,000

(39)Page 16, line 3, strike out [$3,192,000] and insert: $3,291,000

(40)Page 16, line 4, strike out [$1,672,000] and insert: $1,724,000

(41)Page 16, line 6, strike out [$3,309,000] and insert: $3,411,000

(42)Page 16, line 8, strike out [$2,628,000] and insert: $2,709,000

(43)Page 16, line 11, strike out [$24,337,000] and insert: $25,090,000

(44)Page 16, line 18, strike out [$6,271,000] and insert: $11,381,000

(45)Page 16, line 19, strike out [$409,670,000] and insert: 
$431,122,000

(46)Page 17, line 23, strike out [$435,428,000] and insert: 
$432,103,000

(47)Page 17, line 23, strike out [$4,500,000] and insert: $5,000,000

(48)Page 20, line 14, strike out [$37,592,000] and insert: $46,767,000

(49)Page 22, line 15, strike out [$22,728,000] and insert: $23,928,000

(50)Page 23, line 15, strike out [$574,000,000] and insert: 
$557,697,000

(51)Page 23, line 21, after ``1034(d))'' insert: : Provided further, 
That not to exceed $1,500,000 of this appropriation shall be made 
available to establish a joint FSIS/APHIS National Farm Animal 
Identification Pilot Program for dairy cows

(52)Page 24, line 12, strike out [Consolidated]

(53)Page 24, line 20, strike out [$746,440,000] and insert: 
$725,000,000

(54)Page 25, after line 6 insert:

                         state mediation grants

    For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural Credit 
Act of 1987, as amended (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), $2,000,000.

(55)Page 27, line 4, strike out [$25,000,000] and insert: $75,000,000

(56)Page 27, line 5, after ``asters'' insert: ; for boll weevil 
eradication program loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $15,384,000;

(57)Page 27, line 16, strike out [$6,365,000] and insert: $19,095,000

(58)Page 27, line 17, after ``asters;'' insert: for boll weevil 
eradication program loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $2,000,000;

(59)Page 28, strike out lines 1 through 7 and insert:

                            Risk Management

    For administrative and operating expenses, as authorized by section 
226A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 6933), $70,000,000, of which not to exceed $700 shall be 
available for official reception and representation expenses, as 
authorized by section 506(i) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1506(i)): Provided, That this appropriation shall be available 
only to the extent that an official budget request for a specific 
dollar amount is submitted by the President to Congress.

(60)Page 31, line 3, strike out [$619,392,000] and insert: $638,954,000

(61)Page 32, line 6, after ``590e-2)'' insert: : Provided further, That 
of the total amount appropriated, no more than $250,000 may be 
available for purposes authorized under sections 351-360 of Public Law 
104-127

(62)Page 32, line 13, strike out [$10,762,000] and insert: $14,000,000

(63)Page 35, line 25, strike out all after ``$28,987,000'' over to and 
including ``1997'' in line 2 on page 36

(64)Page 37, line 18, strike out [$73,190,000] and insert: $136,435,000

(65)Page 37, line 20, after ``program,'' insert: rental assistance 
associated with and direct loans for new construction of section 515 
rental housing,

(66)Page 38, line 4, strike out all after ``Secretary'' down to and 
including ``1997'' in line 7

(67)Page 39, line 3, strike out [$53,889,000] and insert: $66,354,000

(68)Page 39, line 11, strike out [$18,400,000] and insert: $17,270,000

(69)Page 39, line 18, strike out [$40,000,000] and insert: $37,544,000

(70)Page 40, line 19, strike out [$6,000,000] and insert: $10,000,000

(71)Page 41, line 1, strike out [$51,400,000] and insert: $53,750,000

(72)Page 41, line 17, after ``development'' insert: as provided under 
section 747(e) of Public Law 104-127

(73)Page 41, line 17, after ``development'' insert: : Provided further, 
That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $1,300,000 may be 
available through a cooperative agreement for the appropriate 
technology transfer for rural areas program: Provided further, That of 
the total amount appropriated, not less than $2,000,000 shall be 
available for grants in accordance with section 310B(f) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(f))

(74)Page 44, line 22, strike out [$7,500,000] and insert: $10,000,000

(75)Page 45, line 8, strike out [$496,868,000] and insert: $656,742,000

(76)Page 46, line 2, strike out [$5,000,000] and insert: $5,400,000

(77)Page 46, line 10, after ``1932)'' insert: : Provided further, That 
of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed $10,000,000 shall be 
for water and waste disposal systems pursuant to section 757 of Public 
Law 104-127

(78)Page 46, line 10, after ``1932)'' insert: : Provided further, That 
notwithstanding section 306(a)(7) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(7)), the town of Berlin, New 
Hampshire, shall be eligible during fiscal year 1997 for a grant under 
the rural utilities assistance program

(79)Page 47, line 2, strike out [$454,000] and insert: $554,000

(80)Page 47, line 9, strike out [$8,652,597,000] and insert: 
$8,654,797,000

(81)Page 47, line 10, strike out [$3,218,844,000] and insert: 
$3,221,044,000

(82)Page 47, line 13, strike out all after ``612c)'' down to and 
including ``evaluations'' in line 15 and insert: : Provided, That not 
to exceed $2,000,000 of the funds made available under this heading 
shall be used for studies and evaluations

(83)Page 48, line 3, strike out all after ``levels'' down to and 
including ``Committees'' in line 9 and insert: : Provided further, That 
once the amount for fiscal year 1996 carryover funds has been 
determined by the Secretary, any funds in excess of $100,000,000 may be 
transferred by the Secretary of Agriculture to any loan program of the 
Department and/or to make available up to $10,000,000 for the WIC 
farmers' market nutrition program

(84)Page 48, line 18, after ``1786)'' insert: : Provided further, That 
State agencies required to procure infant formula using a competitive 
bidding system may use funds appropriated by this Act to purchase 
infant formula under a cost containment contract entered into after 
September 30, 1996 only if the contract was awarded to the bidder 
offering the lowest net price, as defined by section 17(b)(20) of the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, unless the State agency demonstrates to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary that the weighted average retail 
price for different brands of infant formula in the State does not vary 
by more than five percent

(85)Page 48, line 21, strike out [2011-2029] and insert: 2011 et seq.

(86)Page 48, line 21, strike out [$27,615,029,000] and insert: 
$28,521,029,000

(87)Page 48, line 24, strike out [$100,000,000] and insert: 
$1,000,000,000

(88)Page 49, line 2, strike out all after ``operations'' down to and 
including ``evaluations'' in line 4 and insert: : Provided further, 
That not to exceed $6,000,000 of the funds made available under this 
heading shall be used for studies and evaluations

(89)Page 50, line 1, strike out all after ``(note)),'' down to and 
including ``2013(b)),'' in line 2

(90)Page 50, line 4, strike out [$205,000,000] and insert: $141,250,000

(91)Page 50, line 8, strike out [$104,487,000] and insert: $107,769,000

(92)Page 51, line 7, strike out [$128,005,000] and insert: $138,561,000

(93)Page 51, line 8, strike out [$2,792,000] and insert: $3,231,000

(94)Page 51, line 9, strike out [$1,005,000] and insert: $1,035,000

(95)Page 51, line 18, strike out all after ``2392)'' down to and 
including ``expenditure'' in line 23

(96)Page 52, line 11, strike out [$216,400,000] and insert: 
$218,944,000

(97)Page 52, line 19, strike out [$29,500,000] and insert: $40,000,000

(98)Page 53, line 7, strike out [$177,000,000] and insert: $179,082,000

(99)Page 53, line 11, strike out [$1,750,000] and insert: $1,818,000

(100)Page 53, line 17, strike out [$3,381,000] and insert: $3,820,000

(101)Page 53, line 21, strike out [$2,792,000] and insert: $3,231,000

(102)Page 55, line 7, after ``9701'' insert: : Provided further, That a 
sufficient amount of these funds shall be used to ensure compliance 
with the statutory deadlines set forth in section 505(j)(4)(A) of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)(4)(A))

(103)Page 55, strike out lines 14 through 21

(104)Page 55, after line 21 insert:

                           General Provisions

(105)Page 55, after line 21 insert:
    Sec. 601. Effective Medication Guides.--
            (a) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of 
        Health and Human Services shall request that national 
        organizations representing health care professionals, consumer 
        organizations, voluntary health agencies, the pharmaceutical 
        industry, drug wholesalers, patient drug information database 
        companies, and other relevant parties collaborate to develop a 
        long-range comprehensive action plan to achieve goals 
        consistent with the goals of the proposed rule of the Food and 
        Drug Administration on ``Prescription Drug Product Labeling: 
        Medication Guide Requirements'' (60 Fed. Reg. 44182; relating 
        to the provision of oral and written prescription information 
        to consumers).
            (b) Goals.--Goals consistent with the proposed rule 
        described in subsection (a) are the distribution of useful 
        written information to 75 percent of individuals receiving new 
        precriptions by the year 2000 and to 95 percent by the year 
        2006.
            (c) Plan.--The plan described in subsection (a) shall--
                    (1) identify the plan goals;
                    (2) assess the effectiveness of the current 
                private-sector approaches used to provide oral and 
                written prescription information to consumers;
                    (3) develop guidelines for providing effective oral 
                and written prescription information consistent with 
                the findings of any such assessment;
                    (4) contain elements necessary to ensure the 
                transmittal of useful information to the consuming 
                public, including being scientifically accurate, non-
                promotional in tone and content, sufficiently specific 
                and comprehensive as to adequately inform consumers 
                about the use of the product, and in an understandable, 
                legible format that is readily comprehensible and not 
                confusing to consumers expected to use the product.
                    (5) develop a mechanism to assess periodically the 
                quality of the oral and written prescription 
                information and the frequency with which the 
                information is provided to consumers; and
                    (6) provide for compliance with relevant State 
                board regulations.
            (d) Limitation on the authority of the secretary.--The 
        Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall 
        have no authority to implement the proposed rule described in 
        subsection (a), or to develop any similar regulation, policy 
        statement, or other guideline specifying a uniform content or 
        format for written information voluntarily provided to 
        consumers about prescription drugs if, (1) not later than 120 
        days after the date of enactment of this Act, the national 
        organizations described in subsection (a) develop and submit to 
        the Secretary for Health and Human Services a comprehensive, 
        long-range action plan (as described in subsection (a)) which 
        shall be acceptable to the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services; (2) the aforementioned plan is submitted to the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services for review and 
        acceptance: Provided, That the Secretary shall give due 
        consideration to the submitted plan and that any such 
        acceptance shall not be arbitrarily withheld; and (3) the 
        implementation of (a) a plan accepted by the Secretary 
        commences within 30 days of the Secretary's acceptance of such 
        plan, or (b) the plan submitted to the Secretary commences 
        within 60 days of the submission of such plan if the Secretary 
        fails to take any action on the plan within 30 days of the 
        submission of the plan. The Secretary shall accept, reject or 
        suggest modifications to the plan submitted within 30 days of 
        its submission. The Secretary may confer with and assist 
        private parties in the development of the plan described in 
        subsections (a) and (b).
            (e) Secretary review.--Not later than January 1, 2001, the 
        Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall 
        review the status of private-sector initiatives designed to 
        achieve the goals of the plan described in subsection (a), and 
        if such goals are not achieved, the limitation in subsection 
        (d) shall not apply, and the Secretary shall seek public 
        comment on other initiatives that may be carried out to meet 
        such goals.

(106)Page 55, line 22, before ``Section'' insert: Sec. 602.

(107)Page 55, line 24, strike out [2002] and insert: 1998

(108)Page 55, after line 24 insert:
    Sec. 603. Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.--
            (a) Imports for export.--Section 801(d)(3) of the Federal 
        Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is amended--
                    (1) by striking ``accessory of a device which is 
                ready'' and inserting ``accessory of a device, or other 
                article of device requiring further processing, which 
                is ready'';
                    (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``is intended 
                to be'' and inserting ``is intended to be further 
                processed by the initial owner or consignee, or''; and
                    (3) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (A) by striking ``part,'' and inserting 
                        ``part, article,''; and
                            (B) by striking ``incorporated'' and 
                        inserting ``incorporated or further 
                        processed''.
            (b) Labeling of exported drugs.--Section 801(f) of the 
        Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is amended--
                    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``If a drug'' and 
                inserting ``If a drug (other than insulin, an 
                antibiotic drug, an animal drug, or a drug exported 
                under section 802)''; and
                    (2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 
                following new sentence: ``A drug exported under section 
                802 is exempt from this section.''.
            (c) Export of certain unapproved drugs and devices.--
        Section 802(f)(5) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
        is amended by striking ``if the drug or device is not labeled'' 
        and inserting ``if the labeling of the drug or device is not''.

(109)Page 55, after line 24 insert:
    Sec. 604. Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Food and Drug Administration, in consultation with 
the States and other appropriate Federal agencies shall report to the 
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House and Senate on the feasibility of applying DNA testing or other 
testing procedures to determine the adulteration, blending, mixing or 
substitution of crab meat other than Callinectes Sapidus offered for 
sale in the United States. The Administrator also shall report on the 
feasibility of developing a database of imported crab meat shipments 
from port of entry to final wholesaler to be made available to State 
agencies to aid enforcement and public health protection.

(110)Page 57, line 14, strike out [$55,101,000] and insert: $56,601,000

(111)Page 57, strike out all after line 21 over to and including line 3 
on page 58

(112)Page 59, line 17, strike out all after ``Service;'' down to and 
including ``project;'' in line 19

(113)Page 64, line 18, after ``statute'' insert: : Provided, That 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds 
appropriated or otherwise made available in this Act may be used to 
transfer to the Treasury or to the Federal Financing Bank any 
unobligated balance of the Rural Telephone Bank telephone liquidating 
account which is in excess of current requirements and such balance 
shall receive interest as set forth for financial accounts in section 
505(c) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990

(114)Page 65, strike out lines 6 through 9 and insert:
    Sec. 721. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act, or made available through the commodity Credit 
Corporation, shall be used to enroll in excess of 130,000 acres in the 
fiscal year 1997 wetlands reserve program, as authorized by section 
3837 of title 16, United States Code: Provided, That additional acreage 
may be enrolled in the program to the extent that non-Federal funds 
available to the Secretary are used to fully compensate for the cost of 
additional enrollments: Provided further, That the condition on 
enrollments provided in section 1237(b)(2)(B) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3837(b)(2)(B)) shall be deemed met upon 
the enrollment of 43,333 acres through the use of temporary easements: 
Provided further That the Secretary shall not enroll acres in the 
wetlands reserve program through the use of new permanent easements in 
fiscal year 1998 until the Secretary has enrolled at least 31,667 acres 
in the program through the use of temporary easements.

(115)Page 65, line 15, after ``makings'' insert: and panels used to 
evaluate competitively awarded grants

(116)Page 65, strike out all after line 21 over to and including line 2 
on page 66

(117)Page 66, strike out lines 3 through 7

(118)Page 66, strike out lines 8 through 12

(119)Page 66, strike out all after line 21 over to and including 
``disaster'' in line 2 on page 67 and insert: used for an agricultural 
or related activity, including conserving use, as determined by the 
Secretary

(120)Page 67, strike out lines 7 through 14

(121)Page 67, strike out all after line 18 over to and including line 
19 on page 68

(122)Page 68, line 20, strike out [Funds] and insert: Hereafter, funds

(123)Page 69, strike out all after line 2 over to and including line 2 
on page 70

(124)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 734. Not to exceed 10 percent of the amounts appropriated or 
otherwise made available by this Act for the Rural Housing Assistance 
Program, the Rural Business-Cooperative Assistance Program, and the 
Rural Utilities Assistance Program may be transferred between these 
programs for authorized purposes.

(125)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 735. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available to the Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to 
detail or assign an individual from an agency or office funded in this 
Act to any other agency or office for more than 60 days, unless the 
Secretary provides notification to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations that an employee detail or assignment in excess of 60 
days is required.

(126)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 736. Section 747(e) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 is amended by inserting, ``effective October 1, 
1996'' following ``The Secretary shall make grants'' in Section 
747(e)(2).

(127)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 737. Labeling of Raw Poultry Products.--
            (a) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
        by this Act may be used to implement or enforce the final rule 
        related to the labeling of raw poultry products promulgated by 
        the Food Safety and Inspection Service on August 25, 1995 (60 
        Fed. Reg. 44395), and the final rule shall not be effective 
        during fiscal year 1997.
            (b) Final rule.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue 
        a revised final rule related to the labeling of raw poultry 
        products that--
                    (1) maintains the standard that the term ``fresh'' 
                may be used only for raw poultry products the internal 
                core temperature of which has not fallen below 26 deg. 
                Fahrenheit;
                    (2) deletes the requirement that poultry products 
                the internal core temperature of which has ever been 
                less than 26 deg. Fahrenheit, but more than 0 deg. 
                Fahrenheit, be labeled as ``hard chilled'' or 
                ``previously hard chilled'', except that--
                            (A) the products shall be prohibited under 
                        the rule from being labeled as ``fresh'' but 
                        shall not be required to bear any specific 
                        alternative labeling; and
                            (B) nothing in this section shall be 
                        interpreted as modifying the requirements for 
                        labeling of all poultry products the internal 
                        core temperature of which has ever fallen to 
                        0 deg. Fahrenheit as ``frozen'';
                    (3) provides for a tolerance from the 26 deg. 
                Fahrenheit standard established by the rule of--
                            (A) 1 deg. Fahrenheit for poultry products 
                        within an official processing establishment;
                            (B) 2 deg. Fahrenheit for poultry products 
                        in commerce;
                    (4) exempts from temperature testing wings, 
                tenders, hearts, livers, gizzards, necks, and products 
                that undergo special processing, such as sliced poultry 
                products; and
                    (5) in all other terms and conditions (including 
                the period of time permitted for implementation) is 
                substantively identical to the rule referred to in 
                subsection (a).
            (c) Revised labeling standards.--Not later than 60 days 
        after the issuance of a revised final rule under subsection 
        (b), the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, shall 
        issue a compliance directive for the enforcement of the revised 
        labeling standards established by the rule, including standards 
        for--
                    (1) temperature testing that are based on 
                measurements at the center of the deepest muscle; and
                    (2) sampling methods that ensure that the average 
                of individual temperatures within poultry product lots 
                of each specific product type (such as whole birds, 
                whole muscle leg products, and whole muscle breast 
                products) meet the standards.
            (d) Severability.--If any provision of this section or the 
        application thereof to any person or circumstance is held 
        invalid, the validity of the remainder of this section and of 
        the application of the provision to any other persons or 
        circumstances shall not be affected.

(128)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 738. Section 7 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2016) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Electronic Benefit Transfers.--
            ``(1) Definition of electronic benefit transfer system.--In 
        this subsection, the term `electronic benefit transfer system' 
        means a system under which a governmental entity distributes 
        benefits pursuant to this Act by establishing an account that 
        may be accessed electronically by a recipient of the benefits 
        or payments.
            ``(2) Applicable law.--Disclosures, protections, 
        responsibilities, and remedies established by the Federal 
        Reserve Board under section 904 of the Electronic Fund Transfer 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 1692b) shall not apply to benefits under this 
        Act delivered through any electronic benefit transfer system.
            ``(3) Replacement of benefits.--Regulations issued by the 
        Secretary regarding the replacement of benefits and liability 
        for replacement of benefits under an electronic benefit 
        transfer system shall be similar to the regulations in effect 
        for a paper-based food stamp issuance system.''.

(129)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 739. (a) Electronic Warehouse Receipts.--Section 17(c) of the 
United States Warehouse Act (7 U.S.C. 259(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``cotton'' and 
        inserting ``any agricultural product'';
            (2) by striking ``the cotton'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``the agricultural product''; and
            (3) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``in cotton'' 
                and inserting ``in the agricultural product''; and
                    (B) in the last sentence of subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by striking ``electronic cotton'' and 
                        inserting ``electronic''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``cotton stored in a 
                        cotton warehouse'' and inserting ``any 
                        agricultural product stored in a warehouse''.
    (b) Written Receipts.--Section 18(c) of the United States Warehouse 
Act (7 U.S.C. 260(c)) is amended by striking ``consecutive''.

(130)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 740. Hereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
any domestic fish or fish product produced in compliance with food 
safety standards or procedures accepted by the Food and Drug 
Administration as satisfying the requirements of the ``Procedures for 
the Safe and Sanitary Processing and Importing of Fish and Fish 
Products'' (published by the Food and Drug Administration as a final 
regulation in the Federal Register of December 18, 1995), shall be 
deemed to have met any inspection requirements of the Department of 
Agriculture or other Federal agency for any Federal commodity purchase 
program, including the program authorized under section 32 of the Act 
of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) except that the Department of 
Agriculture or other Federal agency may utilize lot inspection to 
establish a reasonable degree of certainty that fish or fish products 
purchased under a Federal commodity purchase program, including the 
program authorized under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 
U.S.C. 612c), meet Federal product specifications.

(131)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 741. (a) Extension of Multifamily Rural Housing Loan 
Program.--
            (1) Authority to make loans.--Section 515(b)(4) of the 
        Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(b)(4)) is amended by 
        striking ``September 30, 1996'' and inserting ``September 30, 
        1997''.
            (2) Set-aside for nonprofit entities.--The first sentence 
        of section 515(w)(1) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
        1485(w)(1)) is amended by striking ``fiscal year 1996'' and 
        inserting ``fiscal year 1997''.
    (b) Extension of Housing in Underserved Areas Program.--The first 
sentence of section 509(f)(4)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1479(f)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ``fiscal year 1996'' and 
inserting ``fiscal year 1997''.
    (c) Reforms for Multifamily Rural Housing Loan Program.--
            (1) Limitation on project transfers.--Section 515 of the 
        Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) is amended by inserting 
        after subsection (g) the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Project Transfers.--After the date of the enactment of the 
Act entitled `An Act making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
purposes', the ownership or control of a project for which a loan is 
made or insured under this section may be transferred only if the 
Secretary determines that such transfer would further the provision of 
housing and related facilities for low-income families or persons and 
would be in the best interests of residents and the Federal 
Government.''.
            (2) Equity loans.--Section 515(t) of the Housing Act of 
        1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(t)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (8) as 
                paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively.
            (3) Equity takeout loans to extend low-income use.--
                    (A) Authority and limitation.--Section 
                502(c)(4)(B)(iv) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
                1472(c)(4)(B)(iv)) is amended by inserting before the 
                period at the end the following: ``or under paragraphs 
                (1) and (2) of section 514(j), except that an equity 
                loan referred to in this clause may not be made 
                available after the date of the enactment of the Act 
                entitled `An Act making appropriations for Agriculture, 
                Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
                Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending 
                September 30, 1997, and for other purposes', unless the 
                Secretary determines that the other incentives 
                available under this subparagraph are not adequate to 
                provide a fair return on the investment of the 
                borrower, to prevent prepayment of the loan insured 
                under section 514 or 515, or to prevent the 
                displacement of tenants of the housing for which the 
                loan was made''.
                    (B) Approval of assistance.--Section 502(c)(4)(C) 
                of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(c)(4)(C)) is 
                amended by striking ``(C)'' and all that follows 
                through ``provided--'' and inserting the following:
    ``(C) Approval of assistance.--The Secretary may approve assistance 
under subparagraph (B) for assisted housing only if the restrictive 
period has expired for any loan for the housing made or insured under 
section 514 or 515 pursuant to a contract entered into after December 
21, 1979, but before the date of the enactment of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989, and the Secretary 
determines that the combination of assistance provided--''.
                    (C) Technical correction.--Section 515(c)(1) of the 
                Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(c)(1)) is amended 
                by striking ``December 21, 1979'' and inserting 
                ``December 15, 1989''.
    (d) Equity Skimming Penalties.--
    (1) Insurance of loans for the provision of housing and related 
facilities for domestic farm labor.--Section 514 of the Housing Act of 
1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(j) Equity Skimming Penalty.--Whoever, as an owner, agent, or 
manager, or who is otherwise in custody, control, or possession of 
property that is security for a loan made or insured under this section 
willfully uses, or authorizes the use, of any part of the rents, 
assets, proceeds, income, or other funds derived from such property, 
for any purpose other than to meet actual or necessary expenses of the 
property, or for any other purpose not authorized by this title or the 
regulations adopted pursuant to this title, shall be fined not more 
than $250,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.''.
            (2) Direct and insured loans to provide housing and related 
        facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas.--
        Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(aa) Equity Skimming Penalty.--Whoever, as an owner, agent, or 
manager, or who is otherwise in custody, control, or possession of 
property that is security for a loan made or insured under this section 
willfully uses, or authorizes the use, of any part of the rents, 
assets, proceeds, income, or other funds derived from such property, 
for any purpose other than to meet actual or necessary expenses of the 
property, or for any other purpose not authorized by this title or the 
regulations adopted pursuant to this title, shall be fined not more 
than $250,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.''.

(132)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 742. Reauthorization of National Aquaculture Act of 1980.--
Section 10 of the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2809) is 
amended by striking ``1991, 1992, and 1993'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``1991 through 1997''.

(133)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 743. Department of Agriculture Voluntary Separation Incentive 
Payments.--
            (a) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
                    (1) the term ``agency'' means the Department of 
                Agriculture;
                    (2) the term ``employee'' means an employee (as 
                defined by section 2105 of title 5, United States Code) 
                who is employed by the agency (or an individual 
                employed by a county committee established under 
                section 8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic 
                Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5))), is serving under 
                an appointment without time limitation, and has been 
                currently employed for a continuous period of at least 
                3 years, but does not include--
                            (A) a reemployed annuitant under subchapter 
                        III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5, 
                        United States Code, or another retirement 
                        system for employees of the agency;
                            (B) an employee having a disability on the 
                        basis of which such employee is or would be 
                        eligible for disability retirement under the 
                        applicable retirement system referred to in 
                        subparagraph (A);
                            (C) an employee who is in receipt of a 
                        specific notice of involuntary separation for 
                        misconduct or unacceptable performance;
                            (D) an employee who, upon completing an 
                        additional period of service as referred to in 
                        section 3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Federal Workforce 
                        Restructuring Act of 1994 (5 U.S.C. 5597 note), 
                        would qualify for a voluntary separation 
                        incentive payment under section 3 of such Act;
                            (E) an employee who has previously received 
                        any voluntary separation incentive payment by 
                        the Federal Government under this section or 
                        any other authority and has not repaid such 
                        payment;
                            (F) an employee covered by statutory 
                        reemployment rights who is on transfer to 
                        another organization; or
                            (G) any employee who, during the twenty 
                        four month period preceding the date of 
                        separation, has received a recruitment or 
                        relocation bonus under section 5753 of title 5, 
                        United States Code, or who, within the twelve 
                        month period preceding the date of separation, 
                        received a retention allowance under section 
                        5754 of title 5, United States Code.
            (b) Agency strategic plan.--
                    (1) In general.--The head of the agency, prior to 
                obligating any resources for voluntary separation 
                incentive payments, shall submit to the House and 
                Senate Committees on Appropriations and the Committee 
                on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
                on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of 
                Representatives a strategic plan outlining the intended 
                use of such incentive payments and a proposed 
                organizational chart for the agency once such incentive 
                payments have been completed.
                    (2) Contents.--The agency's plan shall include--
                            (A) the positions and functions to be 
                        reduced or eliminated, identified by 
                        organizational unit, geographic location, 
                        occupational category and grade level;
                            (B) the number and amounts of voluntary 
                        separation incentive payments to be offered; 
                        and
                            (C) a description of how the agency will 
                        operate without the eliminated positions and 
                        functions.
            (c) Authority to provide voluntary separation incentive 
        Payments.--
                    (1) In general.--A voluntary separation incentive 
                payment under this section may be paid by an agency to 
                any employee only to the extent necessary to eliminate 
                the positions and functions identified by the strategic 
                plan.
                    (2) Amount and treatment of payments.--A voluntary 
                separation incentive payment--
                            (A) shall be paid in a lump sum after the 
                        employee's separation;
                            (B) shall be paid from appropriations or 
                        funds available for the payment of the basic 
                        pay of the employees;
                            (C) shall be equal to the lesser of--
                                    (i) an amount equal to the amount 
                                the employee would be entitled to 
                                receive under section 5595(c) of title 
                                5, United States Code; or
                                    (ii) an amount determined by the 
                                agency head not to exceed $25,000 in 
                                fiscal year 1997, $20,000 in fiscal 
                                year 1998, $15,000 in fiscal year 1999, 
                                or $10,000 in fiscal year 2000;
                            (D) shall not be a basis for payment, and 
                        shall not be included in the computation, of 
                        any other type of Government benefit; and
                            (E) shall not be taken into account in 
                        determining the amount of any severance pay to 
                        which the employee may be entitled under 
                        section 5595 of title 5, United States Code, 
                        based on any other separation.
                    (3) Limitation.--No amount shall be payable under 
                this section based on any separation occurring before 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, or after 
                September 30, 2000.
            (d) Additional agency contributions to the retirement 
        fund.--
                    (1) In general.--In addition to any other payments 
                which it is required to make under subchapter III of 
                chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, the agency 
                shall remit to the Office of Personnel Management for 
                deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the 
                credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability 
                Fund an amount equal to 15 percent of the final basic 
                pay of each employee of the agency who is covered under 
                subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5, 
                United States Code, to whom a voluntary separation 
                incentive has been paid under this section.
                    (2) Definition.--For the purpose of paragraph (1), 
                the term ``final basic pay'', with respect to an 
                employee, means the total amount of basic pay which 
                would be payable for a year of service by such 
                employee, computed using the employee's final rate of 
                basic pay, and, if last serving on other than a full-
                time basis, with appropriate adjustment therefor.
            (e) Effect of subsequent employment with the government.--
        An individual who has received a voluntary separation incentive 
        payment under this section and accepts any employment for 
        compensation with the Government of the United States, or who 
        works for any agency of the United States Government through a 
        personal services contract, within 5 years after the date of 
        the separation on which the payment is based shall be required 
        to pay, prior to the individual's first day of employment, the 
        entire amount of the incentive payment to the agency that paid 
        the incentive payment.
            (f) Reduction of agency employment levels.--
                    (1) In general.--The total number of funded 
                employee positions in the agency shall be reduced by 
                one position for each vacancy created by the separation 
                of any employee who has received, or is due to receive, 
                a voluntary separation incentive payment under this 
                section. For the purposes of this subsection, positions 
                shall be counted on a full-time-equivalent basis.
                    (2) Enforcement.--The President, through the Office 
                of Management and Budget, shall monitor the agency and 
                take any action necessary to ensure that the 
                requirements of this subsection are met.
            (g) Effective date.--This section shall take effect October 
        1, 1996.

(134)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 744. Section 101(b) of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 
(Public Law 97-98; 7 U.S.C. 608c note) is amended by striking ``1996'' 
and inserting ``2002''.

(135)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 745. Review and Report on H-2A Nonimmigrant Workers Program.--
            (a) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
        that the enactment of this Act may impact the future 
        availability of an adequate work force for the producers of our 
        Nation's labor intensive agricultural commodities and 
        livestock.
            (b) Review.--The Comptroller General shall review the 
        effectiveness of the H-2A nonimmigrant worker program to ensure 
        that the program provides a workable safety valve in the event 
        of future shortages of domestic workers after the enactment of 
        this Act. Among other things, the Comptroller General shall 
        review the program to determine--
                    (1) that the program ensures that an adequate 
                supply of qualified United States workers is available 
                at the time and place needed for employers seeking such 
                workers after the date of enactment of this Act;
                    (2) that the program ensures that there is timely 
                approval of applications for temporary foreign workers 
                under the H-2A nonimmigrant worker program in the event 
                of shortages of United States workers after the date of 
                enactment of this Act;
                    (3) that the program ensures that implementation of 
                the H-2A nonimmigrant worker program is not displacing 
                United States agricultural workers or diminishing the 
                terms and conditions of employment of United States 
                agricultural workers; and
                    (4) if and to what extent the H-2A nonimmigrant 
                worker program is contributing to the problem of 
                illegal immigration.
            (c) Report.--Not later than December 31, 1996, or three 
        months after the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is 
        sooner, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to 
        Congress setting forth the findings of the review conducted 
        under subsection (b).
            (d) Definitions.--As used in this section--
                    (1) the term ``Comptroller General'' means the 
                Comptroller General of the United States; and
                    (2) the term ``H-2A nonimmigrant worker program'' 
                means the program for the admission of nonimmigrant 
                aliens described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(A) of the 
                Immigration and Nationality Act.

(136)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 746. Northern Forest Stewardship.--
            (a) Findings.--With respect to the Northern Forest in the 
        States of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, Congress 
        finds that--
                    (1) the current land ownership and management 
                patterns have served the people and forests of the 
                region well; public policies relating to the Northern 
                Forest should seek to reinforce rather than replace the 
                patterns of ownership and use that have characterized 
                lands in the Northern Forest for decades;
                    (2) people have a right to participate in decisions 
                that affect them;
                    (3) the rights of private property owners must be 
                respected;
                    (4) natural systems must be sustained over the long 
                term, including air, soil, water, and the diversity of 
                plant and animal species;
                    (5) the history and culture of the Northern Forest 
                and the connections between people and the land must be 
                respected;
                    (6) States should work in partnership with local 
                governments and the Federal Government;
                    (7) differences among the 4 Northern Forest States 
                must be recognized;
                    (8) people must appreciate that the Northern Forest 
                has values that are important beyond the boundaries of 
                the Northern Forest;
                    (9) because public funds are scarce, the greatest 
                public benefit must be secured for any additional 
                investment;
                    (10) proposals must be judged by their long-term 
                benefits, looking at least 50 years into the future;
                    (11) programs and regulations in existence on the 
                date of enactment of this Act should be continually 
                evaluated, built upon, and improved before new ones are 
                created;
                    (12) the actions described in this section are most 
                appropriately directed by the States, with assistance 
                from the Federal Government, as requested by the 
                States;
                    (13) certain Federal tax policies work against the 
                long-term ownership, management, and conservation of 
                forest land in the Northern Forest region, and Congress 
                and the President should enact additional legislation 
                to address those tax policies as soon as possible; and
                    (14) this section effectuates certain 
                recommendations of the Northern Forest Lands Council 
                that were developed with broad public input and the 
                involvement of Federal, State, and local governments.
            (b) Principles of Sustainability.--
                    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture, 
                acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, is 
                authorized, at the request of the State of Maine, New 
                Hampshire, New York, or Vermont, to provide technical 
                assistance for a State-based initiative directed by the 
                State, to define the appropriate benchmarks of 
                sustainable forest management that address the 
                principles of sustainability, as recommended by the 
                Northern Forest Lands Council.
                    (2) Principles of sustainability.--It is the sense 
                of Congress that for the purposes of paragraph (1), 
                principles of sustainability should include--
                            (A) maintenance of soil productivity;
                            (B) conservation of water quality, 
                        wetlands, and riparian zones;
                            (C) maintenance or creation of a healthy 
                        balance of forest age classes;
                            (D) continuous flow of timber, pulpwood, 
                        and other forest products;
                            (E) improvement of the overall quality of 
                        the timber resource as a foundation for more 
                        value-added opportunities;
                            (F) addressing scenic quality by limiting 
                        adverse aesthetic impacts of forest harvesting, 
                        particularly in high-elevation areas and 
                        vistas;
                            (G) conservation and enhancement of 
                        habitats that support a full range of native 
                        flora and fauna;
                            (H) protection of unique or fragile natural 
                        areas; and
                            (I) continuation of opportunities for 
                        traditional recreation.
            (c) Northern Forest Research Cooperative.--The Secretary of 
        Agriculture, acting through the Northeastern Forest Experiment 
        Station and the Chief of the Forest Service, is authorized, at 
        the request of the State of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, or 
        Vermont, to cooperate with the State, the land grant 
        universities of the State, natural resource and forestry 
        schools, other Federal agencies, and other interested parties 
        in coordinating ecological and economic research, including--
                    (1) research at those universities on ecosystem 
                health, forest management, product development, 
                economics, and related fields;
                    (2) development of specific forest management 
                guidelines to achieve principles of sustainability 
                described in subsection (b) as recommended by the 
                Northern Forest Lands Council;
                    (3) technology transfer to the wood products 
                industry on efficient processing, pollution prevention, 
                and energy conservation;
                    (4) dissemination of existing and new information 
                to landowners, public and private resource managers, 
                State forest citizen advisory committees, and the 
                general public through professional associations, 
                publications, and other information clearinghouse 
                activities; and
                    (5) analysis of strategies for the protection of 
                areas of outstanding ecological significance, high 
                biodiversity, and the provision of important 
                recreational opportunities, including strategies for 
                areas identified through State land acquisition 
                planning processes.
            (d) Interstate Coordination Strategy.--At the request of 
        the States of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, the 
        Chief of the Forest Service is authorized to make a 
        representative of the State and Private Forest Program 
        available to meet with representatives of the States to 
        coordinate the implementation of Federal and State policy 
        recommendations issued by the Northern Forest Lands Council and 
        other policies agreed to by the States.
            (e) Land Conservation.--.
                    (1) Federal assistance.--The Secretary of 
                Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest 
                Service) and the Secretary of the Interior (acting 
                through the Director of the National Park Service and 
                Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
                Service) at the request of the State of Maine, New 
                Hampshire, Vermont, or New York, is authorized to 
                provide technical and financial assistance for a State-
                managed public land acquisition planning process and 
                land acquisition initiatives directed by the State.
                    (2) Program development.--A goal-oriented planning 
                process for a State described in paragraph (1) to 
                establish a land conservation program shall include--
                            (A) identification of, and setting of 
                        priorities for the acquisition of, fee or less-
                        than-fee interests in exceptional and important 
                        lands, in accordance with criteria that 
                        include--
                                    (i) places offering outstanding 
                                recreational opportunities, including 
                                locations for hunting, fishing, 
                                trapping, hiking, camping, and other 
                                forms of back-country recreation;
                                    (ii) recreational access to river 
                                and lake shorelines;
                                    (iii) land supporting vital 
                                ecological functions and values;
                                    (iv) habitats for rare, threatened, 
                                or endangered natural communities, 
                                plants, and wildlife;
                                    (v) areas of outstanding scenic 
                                value and significant geological 
                                features; and
                                    (vi) working private forest lands 
                                that are of such significance or so 
                                threatened by conversion that 
                                conservation easements should be 
                                purchased;
                            (B) acquisition of land and interests in 
                        land only from willing sellers;
                            (C) involvement of local governments and 
                        landowners in the planning process in a 
                        meaningful way that acknowledges their concerns 
                        about public land acquisition;
                            (D) recognition that zoning, while an 
                        important land use mechanism, is not an 
                        appropriate substitution for acquisition;
                            (E) assurances that unilateral eminent 
                        domain will only be used with the consent of 
                        the landowner to clear title and establish 
                        purchase prices;
                            (F) efficient use of public funds by 
                        purchasing only the rights necessary to best 
                        identify and protect exceptional values;
                            (G) consideration of the potential impacts 
                        and benefits of land and easement acquisition 
                        on local and regional economies;
                            (H) consideration of the necessity of 
                        including costs of future public land 
                        management in the assessment of overall costs 
                        of acquisition;
                            (I) minimization of adverse tax 
                        consequences to municipalities by making funds 
                        available to continue to pay property taxes 
                        based at least on current use valuation of 
                        parcels acquired, payments in lieu of taxes, 
                        user fee revenues, or other benefits, where 
                        appropriate;
                            (J) identification of the potential for 
                        exchanging public land for privately held land 
                        of greater public value; and
                            (K) assurances that any land or interests 
                        inland that are acquired are used and managed 
                        for their intended purposes.
                    (3) Willing seller.--No Federal funds made 
                available to carry out this section may be expended for 
                acquisition of private or public property unless the 
                owner of the property willingly offers the property for 
                sale.
                    (4) Land acquisition.--
                            (A) Funding.--After completion of the 
                        planning process under paragraph (2), a Federal 
                        and State cooperative land acquisition project 
                        under this section may be carried out with 
                        funding provided exclusively by the Federal 
                        Government or with funding provided by both the 
                        Federal Government and a State government.
                            (B) Objectives.--A cooperative land 
                        acquisition project funded under this section 
                        shall promote State land conservation 
                        objectives that correspond with Federal goals 
                        and the recommendations of the Northern Forest 
                        Lands Council.
                    (5) Complementary program.--The Secretary of the 
                Interior shall conduct activities under this 
                subsection--
                            (A) as a complement to the State 
                        Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for each 
                        Northern Forest State in existence on the date 
                        of enactment of this section; and
                            (B) with a landscape perspective.
                    (6) Authorization of appropriations.--
                            (A) In general.--There are authorized to be 
                        appropriated, out of any funds made available 
                        for State purposes under section 6 of the Land 
                        and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 
                        U.S.C. 460l-8), such sums as are necessary to 
                        carry out this subsection.
                            (B) Effect on apportionment.--Apportionment 
                        among the States under section 6(b) of the Act 
                        (16 U.S.C. 460l-8(b)) shall be from funds not 
                        appropriated under subparagraph (A).
            (f) Landowner Liability Exemption.--
                    (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
                            (A) many landowners keep their land open 
                        and available for responsible recreation; and
                            (B) private lands help provide important 
                        forest-based recreation opportunities for the 
                        public in the Northern Forest region.
                    (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress 
                that States and other interested persons should pursue 
                initiatives that--
                            (A) strengthen relief-from-liability laws 
                        to protect landowners that allow responsible 
                        public recreational use of their lands;
                            (B) update relief-from-liability laws to 
                        establish hold-harmless mechanisms for 
                        landowners that open their land to public use, 
                        including provision for payment by the State of 
                        the costs of a landowner's defense against 
                        personal injury suits and of the costs of 
                        repairing property damage and removing litter;
                            (C) private additional reductions in 
                        property taxes for landowners that allow 
                        responsible public recreational use of their 
                        lands;
                            (D) provide for purchases by the State of 
                        land in fee and of temporary and permanent 
                        recreation easements and leases, including 
                        rights of access;
                            (E) foster State and private cooperative 
                        recreation agreements;
                            (F) create recreation coordinator and 
                        landowner liaison and remote ranger positions 
                        in State government to assist in the management 
                        of public use of private lands and provide 
                        recreation opportunities and other similar 
                        services;
                            (G) strengthen enforcement of trespass, 
                        antilittering, and antidumping laws;
                            (H) improve recreation user education 
                        programs; and
                            (I) improve capacity in State park and 
                        recreation agencies to measure recreational use 
                        (including types, amounts, locations, and 
                        concentrations of use) and identify and address 
                        trends in use before the trends create 
                        problems.
            (g) Nongame Conservation.--
                    (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
                            (A) private landowners often manage their 
                        lands in ways that produce a variety of public 
                        benefits, including wildlife habitat; and
                            (B) there should be more incentives for 
                        private landowners to exceed current forest 
                        management standards and responsibilities under 
                        Federal laws.
                    (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress 
                that Congress should make it a priority to consider 
                legislation that creates a funding mechanism to support 
                the conservation of nongame fish and wildlife and 
                associated recreation activities on public and private 
                lands and does not replace, substitute, or duplicate 
                existing laws that support game fish and wildlife.
            (h) Water Quality.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
        Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, is authorized, 
        at the request of the State of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, 
        or Vermont, to provide technical and financial assistance to 
        assess water quality trends within the Northern Forest region.
            (i) Rural Community Assistance.--
                    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture is 
                authorized, at the request of the State of Maine, New 
                Hampshire, New York, or Vermont, to provide technical 
                and financial assistance to the State, working in 
                partnership with the forest products industry, local 
                communities, and other interests to develop technical 
                and marketing capacity within rural communities for 
                realizing value-added opportunities in the forest 
                products sector.
                    (2) Rural community assistance program.--Sufficient 
                funds from the rural community assistance program under 
                paragraph (1) shall be directed to support State-based 
                public and private initiatives to--
                            (A) strengthen partnerships between the 
                        public and private sectors and enhance the 
                        viability of rural communities;
                            (B) develop technical capacity in the 
                        utilization and marketing of value-added forest 
                        products; and
                            (C) develop extension capacity in 
                        delivering utilization and marketing 
                        information to forest-based businesses.
            (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
        subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), and (i) of this section 
        and section 2371 of the Rural Economic Development Act of 1990 
        (7 U.S.C. 6601) in the States of Maine, New Hampshire, New 
        York, and Vermont.
            (k) Applicability.--This section shall be in effect during 
        fiscal year 1997 and each fiscal year thereafter.

(137)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 747. Barley Payments.--Section 113 of Public Law 104-127 is 
amended by inserting a new subsection (g) that reads:
    ``(g) Adjustment in Barley Allocation.--In addition to the 
adjustments required under subsection (c), the amount allocated under 
subsection (b) for barley contract payments shall be increased by 
$20,000,000 in fiscal year 1998, and shall be reduced by $5,000,000 in 
each of fiscal years 1999-2002.''.

(138)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 748. Interim Moratorium on Bypass Flows.--
            (a) Moratorium.--Section 389(a) of Public Law 104-127 is 
        amended by striking ``an 18-month'' after the word ``be'' and 
        inserting ``a 20-month''.
            (b) Report.--Section 389(d)(4) of Public Law 104-127 is 
        amended by striking ``1 year'' after the word ``than'' and 
        inserting ``14 months''.
            (c) Extension for Delay.--Section 389 of public law 104-127 
        is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection--
            ``(e) Extension for Delay.--There shall be a day-for-day 
        extension to the 20-month moratorium required by subsection (a) 
        and a day-for-day extension to the report required by 
        subsection (d)(4)--
                    ``(1) for every day of delay in implementing or 
                establishing the Water Rights Task Force caused by a 
                failure to nominate Task Force members by the 
                Administration or by the Congress; or
                    ``(2) for every day of delay caused by a failure by 
                the Secretary of Agriculture to identify adequate 
                resources as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture 
                to carry out the purposes of the task force.''.

(139)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 749. Easements on Inventoried Property.--None of the funds 
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used by the 
Secretary of Agriculture to establish a wetland conservation easement 
under section 335(g) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1985(g)) on an inventoried property that was used for farming 
(including haying and grazing) at any time during the period beginning 
on the date 5 years before the property entered the inventory of the 
Secretary and ending on the date the property entered the inventory of 
the Secretary, to the extent that land would otherwise be eligible for 
an easement haying and grazing must be done, according to a plan 
approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(140)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 750. Grants for Precision Agricultural Technologies.--Section 
793(c)(2)(A) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (vii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (viii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ix) develop and apply precision 
                        agricultural technologies.''.

(141)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 751. Sense of Senate on Canadian Wheat and Barley Exports.--It 
is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the United States Trade Representative should continue 
        to carefully monitor the export of wheat and barley from 
        western Canada to the United States;
            (2) the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with Canada 
        clearly states that the United States--
                    (A) will not accept market disruptions from imports 
                of Canadian grains; and
                    (B) will use its trade laws if it appears likely 
                that market disruptions will occur;
            (3) the United States Trade Representative should monitor 
        any policy changes by the Canadian Government, acting through 
        the Canadian Wheat Board, that have the potential for 
        increasing the exports of Canadian grains to the United States;
            (4) family farmers of the United States should not be 
        subjected to increases in the 1-way channel of Canadian grain 
        exports to the United States that unfairly disrupt the grain 
        transportation systems and depress the prices received by 
        farmers; and
            (5) the United States Trade Representative should be 
        prepared to support the use of antidumping laws, countervailing 
        duty laws, section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
        2411), and other United States laws consistent with the 
        international obligations of the United States, if--
                    (A) the Canadian Government implements the changes 
                described in paragraph (3) without a resolution of the 
                underlying cross-border grain trading issues between 
                the United States and Canada; and
                    (B) the changes lead to unfair and injurious 
                exports of Canadian grain to the United States.

(142)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 752. No funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the 
Secretary of Agriculture may be used to administer section 118(b)(2)(A) 
of the Agricultural Marketing Transition Act unless the planting of a 
fruit or vegetable on contract acreage, if planted subsequent to the 
failure of a contract commodity on the same acreage within the same 
crop year is permitted on contract acreage: Provided, That this 
provision shall take effect upon the date of enactment of this Act into 
law.

(143)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    Sec. 753. Planting of Wild Rice on Contract Acreage.--None of the 
funds appropriated in this Act may be used to administer the provision 
of contract payments to a producer under the Agricultural Market 
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) for contract acreage on which 
wild rice is planted unless the contract payment is reduced by an acre 
for each contract acre planted to wild rice.

(144)Page 70, after line 2 insert:

 TITLE VIII--SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND RESCISSION FOR THE FISCAL 
                     YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

(145)Page 70, after line 2 insert:

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                          Farm Service Agency

           agricultural credit insurance fund program account

    For an additional amount for the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund 
Program Account for the additional cost of emergency insured loans 
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, including the cost of modifying such 
loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, resulting from droughts in the Western United States, Hurricane 
Bertha, and other natural disasters, to remain available until 
expended, $25,000,000: Provided, That these funds are available to 
subsidize additional gross obligations for the principal amount of 
direct loans of $85,208,000: Provided further, That the entire amount 
is designated by Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to 
section 251(b)(2)(D)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985, as amended: Provided further, That the amount 
shall be available to the extent that the President notifies Congress 
of his designation of any or all of these amounts as an emergency 
requirement under section 251(b)(2)(D)(i) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

(146)Page 70, after line 2 insert:

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

                Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

                         salaries and expenses

    For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'', to be used 
in connection with investigations of arson or violence against 
religious institutions, $12,011,000, to remain available until 
expended.

                        Internal Revenue Service

                          information systems

                              (rescission)

    Of the funds made available under this heading in Public Law 104-
52, $16,500,000 are rescinded.

(147)Page 70, after line 2 insert:
    This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
1997''.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
104th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 3603

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENTS

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