[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1150 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.1150

                       One Hundred Fifth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twenty-seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-
                                  eight


                                 An Act


 
 To ensure that federally funded agricultural research, extension, and 
  education address high-priority concerns with national or multistate 
  significance, to reform, extend, and eliminate certain agricultural 
               research programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Short titles for Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887.

  TITLE I--PRIORITIES, SCOPE, REVIEW, AND COORDINATION OF AGRICULTURAL 
                   RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION

Sec. 101. Standards for Federal funding of agricultural research, 
          extension, and education.
Sec. 102. Priority setting process.
Sec. 103. Relevance and merit of agricultural research, extension, and 
          education funded by the Department.
Sec. 104. Research formula funds for 1862 Institutions.
Sec. 105. Extension formula funds for 1862 Institutions.
Sec. 106. Research facilities.

   TITLE II--REFORM OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                          EDUCATION AUTHORITIES

            Subtitle A--Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887

Sec. 201. Cooperative agricultural extension work by 1862, 1890, and 
          1994 Institutions.
Sec. 202. Plans of work to address critical research and extension 
          issues and use of protocols to measure success of plans.
Sec. 203. Consistent matching funds requirements under Hatch Act of 1887 
          and Smith-Lever Act.
Sec. 204. Integration of research and extension.

   Subtitle B--Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act

Sec. 211. Competitive grants.
Sec. 212. Special grants.

  Subtitle C--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                           Policy Act of 1977

Sec. 221. Definitions regarding agricultural research, extension, and 
          education.
Sec. 222. Advisory Board.
Sec. 223. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences 
          education.
Sec. 224. Policy research centers.
Sec. 225. Plans of work for 1890 Institutions to address critical 
          research and extension issues and use of protocols to measure 
          success of plans.
Sec. 226. Matching funds requirement for research and extension 
          activities at 1890 Institutions.
Sec. 227. International research, extension, and teaching.
Sec. 228. United States-Mexico joint agricultural research.
Sec. 229. Competitive grants for international agricultural science and 
          education programs.
Sec. 230. General administrative costs.
Sec. 231. Expansion of authority to enter into cost-reimbursable 
          agreements.

   Subtitle D--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990

Sec. 241. Agricultural Genome Initiative.
Sec. 242. High-priority research and extension initiatives.
Sec. 243. Nutrient management research and extension initiative.
Sec. 244. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative.
Sec. 245. Agricultural telecommunications program.
Sec. 246. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.

                         Subtitle E--Other Laws

Sec. 251. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.
Sec. 252. Fund for Rural America.
Sec. 253. Forest and rangeland renewable resources research.

TITLE III--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                          EDUCATION AUTHORITIES

Sec. 301. Extensions.
Sec. 302. Repeals.

     TITLE IV--NEW AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION 
                               INITIATIVES

Sec. 401. Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems.
Sec. 402. Partnerships for high-value agricultural product quality 
          research.
Sec. 403. Precision agriculture.
Sec. 404. Biobased products.
Sec. 405. Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification.
Sec. 406. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive 
          grants program.
Sec. 407. Coordinated program of research, extension, and education to 
          improve viability of small and medium size dairy, livestock, 
          and poultry operations.
Sec. 408. Support for research regarding diseases of wheat and barley 
          caused by Fusarium graminearum.

                TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS

                     Subtitle A--Food Stamp Program

Sec. 501. Reductions in funding of employment and training programs.
Sec. 502. Reductions in payments for administrative costs.
Sec. 503. Extension of eligibility period for refugees and certain other 
          qualified aliens from 5 to 7 years.
Sec. 504. Food stamp eligibility for certain disabled aliens.
Sec. 505. Food stamp eligibility for certain Indians.
Sec. 506. Food stamp eligibility for certain elderly individuals.
Sec. 507. Food stamp eligibility for certain children.
Sec. 508. Food stamp eligibility for certain Hmong and Highland 
          Laotians.
Sec. 509. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 510. Effective dates.

               Subtitle B--Information Technology Funding

Sec. 521. Information technology funding.

                       Subtitle C--Crop Insurance

Sec. 531. Funding.
Sec. 532. Budgetary offsets.
Sec. 533. Procedures for responding to certain inquiries.
Sec. 534. Time period for responding to submission of new policies.
Sec. 535. Crop insurance study.
Sec. 536. Required terms and conditions of Standard Reinsurance 
          Agreements.
Sec. 537. Effective date.

                   TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                    Subtitle A--Existing Authorities

Sec. 601. Retention and use of fees.
Sec. 602. Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.
Sec. 603. Kiwifruit research, promotion, and consumer information 
          program.
Sec. 604. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program.
Sec. 605. Honey research, promotion, and consumer information.
Sec. 606. Technical corrections.

                       Subtitle B--New Authorities

Sec. 611. Nutrient composition data.
Sec. 612. National Swine Research Center.
Sec. 613. Role of Secretary regarding food and agricultural sciences 
          research and extension.
Sec. 614. Office of Pest Management Policy.
Sec. 615. Food Safety Research Information Office and National 
          Conference.
Sec. 616. Safe food handling education.
Sec. 617. Reimbursement of expenses incurred under Sheep Promotion, 
          Research, and Information Act of 1994.
Sec. 618. Designation of Crisis Management Team within Department.
Sec. 619. Designation of Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural 
          Research Center, Weslaco, Texas.

                           Subtitle C--Studies

Sec. 631. Evaluation and assessment of agricultural research, extension, 
          and education programs.
Sec. 632. Study of federally funded agricultural research, extension, 
          and education.

                     Subtitle D--Senses of Congress

Sec. 641. Sense of Congress regarding Agricultural Research Service 
          emphasis on field research regarding methyl bromide 
          alternatives.
Sec. 642. Sense of Congress regarding importance of school-based 
          agricultural education.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
        (1) 1862 institution.--The term ``1862 Institution'' means a 
    college or university eligible to receive funds under the Act of 
    July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.).
        (2) 1890 institution.--The term ``1890 Institution'' means a 
    college or university eligible to receive funds under the Act of 
    August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 419, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), 
    including Tuskegee University.
        (3) 1994 institution.--The term ``1994 Institution'' means 1 of 
    the 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in 
    Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 
    U.S.C. 301 note)) (as amended by section 251(a)).
        (4) Advisory board.--The term ``Advisory Board'' means the 
    National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
    Advisory Board established under section 1408 of the National 
    Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
    (7 U.S.C. 3123).
        (5) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the Department 
    of Agriculture.
        (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    Agriculture.
SEC. 3. SHORT TITLES FOR SMITH-LEVER ACT AND HATCH ACT OF 1887.
    (a) Smith-Lever Act.--The Act of May 8, 1914 (commonly known as the 
``Smith-Lever Act'') (38 Stat. 372, chapter 79; 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 11. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This Act may be cited as the `Smith-Lever Act'.''.
    (b) Hatch Act of 1887.--The Act of March 2, 1887 (commonly known as 
the ``Hatch Act of 1887'') (24 Stat. 440, chapter 314; 7 U.S.C. 361a et 
seq.), is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 10. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This Act may be cited as the `Hatch Act of 1887'.''.

 TITLE I--PRIORITIES, SCOPE, REVIEW, AND COORDINATION OF AGRICULTURAL 
                   RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION

    SEC. 101. STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL FUNDING OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
      EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure that agricultural 
research, extension, or education activities described in subsection 
(b) address a concern that--
        (1) is a priority, as determined under section 102(a); and
        (2) has national, multistate, or regional significance.
    (b) Application.--Subsection (a) applies to--
        (1) research activities conducted by the Agricultural Research 
    Service; and
        (2) research, extension, or education activities administered, 
    on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative State Research, 
    Education, and Extension Service.

SEC. 102. PRIORITY SETTING PROCESS.

    (a) Establishment.--Consistent with section 1402 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3101), the Secretary shall establish priorities for agricultural 
research, extension, and education activities conducted or funded by 
the Department.
    (b) Responsibilities of Secretary.--In establishing priorities for 
agricultural research, extension, and education activities conducted or 
funded by the Department, the Secretary shall solicit and consider 
input and recommendations from persons who conduct or use agricultural 
research, extension, or education.
    (c) Responsibilities of 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institutions.--
        (1) Process.--Effective October 1, 1999, to obtain agricultural 
    research, extension, or education formula funds from the Secretary, 
    each 1862 Institution, 1890 Institution, and 1994 Institution shall 
    establish and implement a process for obtaining input from persons 
    who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or education 
    concerning the use of the funds.
        (2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate regulations 
    that prescribe--
            (A) the requirements for an institution referred to in 
        paragraph (1) to comply with paragraph (1); and
            (B) the consequences for an institution of not complying 
        with paragraph (1), which may include the withholding or 
        redistribution of funds to which the institution may be 
        entitled until the institution complies with paragraph (1).
    (d) Management Principles.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall ensure that federally supported and conducted 
agricultural research, extension, and education activities are 
accomplished in a manner that--
        (1) integrates agricultural research, extension, and education 
    functions to better link research to technology transfer and 
    information dissemination activities;
        (2) encourages regional and multistate programs to address 
    relevant issues of common concern and to better leverage scarce 
    resources; and
        (3) achieves agricultural research, extension, and education 
    objectives through multi-institutional and multifunctional 
    approaches and by conducting research at facilities and 
    institutions best equipped to achieve those objectives.
    SEC. 103. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, 
      AND EDUCATION FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
    (a) Review of Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.--
        (1) Peer review of research grants.--The Secretary shall 
    establish procedures that provide for scientific peer review of 
    each agricultural research grant administered, on a competitive 
    basis, by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
    Service of the Department.
        (2) Merit review of extension and education grants.--
            (A) Establishment of procedures.--The Secretary shall 
        establish procedures that provide for merit review of each 
        agricultural extension or education grant administered, on a 
        competitive basis, by the Cooperative State Research, 
        Education, and Extension Service.
            (B) Consultation with advisory board.--The Secretary shall 
        consult with the Advisory Board in establishing the merit 
        review procedures.
    (b) Advisory Board Review.--On an annual basis, the Advisory Board 
shall review--
        (1) the relevance to the priorities established under section 
    102(a) of the funding of all agricultural research, extension, or 
    education activities conducted or funded by the Department; and
        (2) the adequacy of the funding.
    (c) Requests for Proposals.--
        (1) Review results.--As soon as practicable after the review is 
    conducted under subsection (b) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
    shall consider the results of the review when formulating each 
    request for proposals, and evaluating proposals, involving an 
    agricultural research, extension, or education activity funded, on 
    a competitive basis, by the Department.
        (2) Input.--In formulating a request for proposals described in 
    paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall solicit and 
    consider input from persons who conduct or use agricultural 
    research, extension, or education regarding the prior year's 
    request for proposals.
    (d) Scientific Peer Review of Agricultural Research.--
        (1) Peer review procedures.--The Secretary shall establish 
    procedures that ensure scientific peer review of all research 
    activities conducted by the Department.
        (2) Review panel required.--As part of the procedures 
    established under paragraph (1), a review panel shall verify, at 
    least once every 5 years, that each research activity of the 
    Department and research conducted under each research program of 
    the Department has scientific merit and relevance.
        (3) Mission area.--If the research activity or program to be 
    reviewed is included in the research, educational, and economics 
    mission area of the Department, the review panel shall consider--
            (A) the scientific merit and relevance of the activity or 
        research in light of the priorities established pursuant to 
        section 102; and
            (B) the national or multistate significance of the activity 
        or research.
        (4) Composition of review panel.--
            (A) In general.--A review panel shall be composed of 
        individuals with scientific expertise, a majority of whom are 
        not employees of the agency whose research is being reviewed.
            (B) Scientists from colleges and universities.--To the 
        maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use scientists 
        from colleges and universities to serve on the review panels.
        (5) Submission of results.--The results of the panel reviews 
    shall be submitted to the Advisory Board.
    (e) Merit Review.--
        (1) 1862 and 1890 institutions.--Effective October 1, 1999, to 
    be eligible to obtain agricultural research or extension funds from 
    the Secretary for an activity, each 1862 Institution and 1890 
    Institution shall--
            (A) establish a process for merit review of the activity; 
        and
            (B) review the activity in accordance with the process.
        (2) 1994 institutions.--Effective October 1, 1999, to be 
    eligible to obtain agricultural extension funds from the Secretary 
    for an activity, each 1994 Institution shall--
            (A) establish a process for merit review of the activity; 
        and
            (B) review the activity in accordance with the process.
    (f) Repeal of Provisions for Withholding Funds.--
        (1) Smith-lever act.--Section 6 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
    U.S.C. 346) is repealed.
        (2) Hatch act of 1887.--Section 7 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
    U.S.C. 361g) is amended by striking the last paragraph.
        (3) National agricultural research, extension, and teaching 
    policy act of 1977.--The National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
    and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended--
            (A) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)--
                (i) by striking subsection (f); and
                (ii) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f);
            (B) in section 1445(g) (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)), by striking 
        paragraph (3); and
            (C) by striking section 1468 (7 U.S.C. 3314).

SEC. 104. RESEARCH FORMULA FUNDS FOR 1862 INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) 
is amended--
        (1) in subsection (c)--
            (A) by redesignating paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 5 as 
        paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and
            (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
        ``(3) Not less than 25 percent shall be allotted to the States 
    for cooperative research employing multidisciplinary approaches in 
    which a State agricultural experiment station, working with another 
    State agricultural experiment station, the Agricultural Research 
    Service, or a college or university, cooperates to solve problems 
    that concern more than 1 State. The funds available under this 
    paragraph, together with the funds available under subsection (b) 
    for a similar purpose, shall be designated as the `Multistate 
    Research Fund, State Agricultural Experiment Stations'.''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Peer Review and Plan of Work.--
        ``(1) Peer review.--Research carried out under subsection 
    (c)(3) shall be subject to scientific peer review. The review of a 
    project conducted under this paragraph shall be considered to 
    satisfy the merit review requirements of section 103(e) of the 
    Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998.
        ``(2) Plan of work.--The State shall include in the plan of 
    work of the State required under section 7 a description of the 
    manner in which the State will meet the requirements of subsection 
    (c)(3).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
U.S.C. 361c) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``subsection 3(c)(3)'' 
    and inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''; and
        (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection 3(c)3'' and 
    inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''.

SEC. 105. EXTENSION FORMULA FUNDS FOR 1862 INSTITUTIONS.

    Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Multistate Cooperative Extension Activities.--
        ``(1) In general.--Not less than the applicable percentage 
    specified under paragraph (2) of the amounts that are paid to a 
    State under subsections (b) and (c) during a fiscal year shall be 
    expended by States for cooperative extension activities in which 2 
    or more States cooperate to solve problems that concern more than 1 
    State (referred to in this subsection as `multistate activities').
        ``(2) Applicable percentages.--
            ``(A) 1997 expenditures on multistate activities.--Of the 
        Federal formula funds that were paid to each State for fiscal 
        year 1997 under subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary of 
        Agriculture shall determine the percentage that the State 
        expended for multistate activities.
            ``(B) Required expenditures on multistate activities.--Of 
        the Federal formula funds that are paid to each State for 
        fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent fiscal year under 
        subsections (b) and (c), the State shall expend for the fiscal 
        year for multistate activities a percentage that is at least 
        equal to the lesser of--
                ``(i) 25 percent; or
                ``(ii) twice the percentage for the State determined 
            under subparagraph (A).
            ``(C) Reduction by secretary.--The Secretary may reduce the 
        minimum percentage required to be expended for multistate 
        activities under subparagraph (B) by a State in a case of 
        hardship, infeasibility, or other similar circumstance beyond 
        the control of the State, as determined by the Secretary.
            ``(D) Plan of work.--The State shall include in the plan of 
        work of the State required under section 4 a description of the 
        manner in which the State will meet the requirements of this 
        paragraph.
        ``(3) Applicability.--This subsection does not apply to funds 
    provided--
            ``(A) by a State or local government pursuant to a matching 
        requirement;
            ``(B) to a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of 
        the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public 
        Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)); or
            ``(C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
        Islands, or Guam.
    ``(i) Merit Review.--
        ``(1) Review required.--Effective October 1, 1999, extension 
    activity carried out under subsection (h) shall be subject to merit 
    review.
        ``(2) Other requirements.--An extension activity for which 
    merit review is conducted under paragraph (1) shall be considered 
    to have satisfied the requirements for review under section 103(e) 
    of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 
    of 1998.''.

SEC. 106. RESEARCH FACILITIES.

    (a) Criteria for Approval.--Section 3(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the Research 
Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390a(c)(2)(C)(ii)) is amended by striking 
``regional needs'' and inserting ``national or multistate needs''.
    (b) National or Multistate Needs Served by ARS Facilities.--Section 
3 of the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390a) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(e) National or Multistate Needs Served by ARS Facilities.--The 
Secretary shall ensure that each research activity conducted by a 
facility of the Agricultural Research Service serves a national or 
multistate need.''.
    (c) 10-Year Strategic Plan.--Section 4(d) of the Research 
Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b(d)) is amended by striking ``regional'' 
and inserting ``multistate''.
    (d) Comprehensive Research Capacity.--Section 4 of the Research 
Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(g) Comprehensive Research Capacity.--After submission of the 10-
year strategic plan required under subsection (d), the Secretary shall 
continue to review periodically each operating agricultural research 
facility constructed in whole or in part with Federal funds, and each 
planned agricultural research facility proposed to be constructed in 
whole or in part with Federal funds, pursuant to criteria established 
by the Secretary, to ensure that a comprehensive research capacity is 
maintained.''.

  TITLE II--REFORM OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                         EDUCATION AUTHORITIES
           Subtitle A--Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887

    SEC. 201. COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK BY 1862, 1890, 
      AND 1994 INSTITUTIONS.
    Section 3(b)(3) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)) is 
amended in the last sentence by striking ``State institutions'' and all 
that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``1994 
Institutions (in accordance with regulations that the Secretary may 
promulgate) and may be administered by the 1994 Institutions through 
cooperative agreements with colleges and universities eligible to 
receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 
7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 419, 
chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, 
located in any State.''.
    SEC. 202. PLANS OF WORK TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
      ISSUES AND USE OF PROTOCOLS TO MEASURE SUCCESS OF PLANS.
    (a) Smith-Lever Act.--Section 4 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
344) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``Sec. 4.'' and inserting the following:
  ``SEC. 4. ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE TO FUNDS; TIME AND 
      MANNER OF PAYMENT; STATE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; PLANS OF WORK.
    ``(a) Ascertainment of Entitlement.--'';
        (2) in the last sentence, by striking ``Such sums'' and 
    inserting the following:
    ``(b) Time and Manner of Payment; Related Reports.--The amount to 
which a State is entitled''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Requirements Related to Plan of Work.--Each extension plan of 
work for a State required under subsection (a) shall contain 
descriptions of the following:
        ``(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term 
    agricultural issues in the State and the current and planned 
    extension programs and projects targeted to address the issues.
        ``(2) The process established to consult with extension users 
    regarding the identification of critical agricultural issues in the 
    State and the development of extension programs and projects 
    targeted to address the issues.
        ``(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with other 
    colleges and universities within the State, and within other 
    States, that have a unique capacity to address the identified 
    agricultural issues in the State and the extent of current and 
    emerging efforts (including regional efforts) to work with those 
    other institutions.
        ``(4) The manner in which research and extension, including 
    research and extension activities funded other than through formula 
    funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues in the State, 
    including the activities to be carried out separately, the 
    activities to be carried out sequentially, and the activities to be 
    carried out jointly.
        ``(5) The education and outreach programs already underway to 
    convey available research results that are pertinent to a critical 
    agricultural issue, including efforts to encourage multicounty 
    cooperation in the dissemination of research results.
    ``(d) Extension Protocols.--
        ``(1) Development.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop 
    protocols to be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-
    institutional, and multidisciplinary extension activities and joint 
    research and extension activities in addressing critical 
    agricultural issues identified in the plans of work submitted under 
    subsection (a).
        ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop 
    the protocols in consultation with the National Agricultural 
    Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board 
    established under section 1408 of the National Agricultural 
    Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
    3123) and land-grant colleges and universities.
    ``(e) Treatment of Plans of Work for Other Purposes.--To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a plan of work 
submitted under subsection (a) to satisfy other appropriate Federal 
reporting requirements.''.
    (b) Hatch Act of 1887.--Section 7 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
U.S.C. 361g) (as amended by section 103(f)(2)) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``Sec. 7.'' and inserting the following:
  ``SEC. 7. DUTIES OF SECRETARY; ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE 
      TO FUNDS; PLANS OF WORK.
    ``(a) Duties of Secretary.--'';
        (2) by striking ``On or before'' and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Ascertainment of Entitlement.--On or before'';
        (3) by striking ``Whenever it shall appear'' and inserting the 
    following:
    ``(c) Effect of Failure To Expend Full Allotment.--Whenever it 
shall appear''; and
        (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Plan of Work Required.--Before funds may be provided to a 
State under this Act for any fiscal year, a plan of work to be carried 
out under this Act shall be submitted by the proper officials of the 
State and shall be approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
    ``(e) Requirements Related to Plan of Work.--Each plan of work for 
a State required under subsection (d) shall contain descriptions of the 
following:
        ``(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term 
    agricultural issues in the State and the current and planned 
    research programs and projects targeted to address the issues.
        ``(2) The process established to consult with users of 
    agricultural research regarding the identification of critical 
    agricultural issues in the State and the development of research 
    programs and projects targeted to address the issues.
        ``(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with other 
    colleges and universities within the State, and within other 
    States, that have a unique capacity to address the identified 
    agricultural issues in the State and the extent of current and 
    emerging efforts (including regional efforts) to work with those 
    other institutions.
        ``(4) The manner in which research and extension, including 
    research and extension activities funded other than through formula 
    funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues in the State, 
    including the activities to be carried out separately, the 
    activities to be carried out sequentially, and the activities to be 
    carried out jointly.
    ``(f) Research Protocols.--
        ``(1) Development.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop 
    protocols to be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-
    institutional, and multidisciplinary research activities and joint 
    research and extension activities in addressing critical 
    agricultural issues identified in the plans of work submitted under 
    subsection (d).
        ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop 
    the protocols in consultation with the National Agricultural 
    Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board 
    established under section 1408 of the National Agricultural 
    Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
    3123) and land-grant colleges and universities.
    ``(g) Treatment of Plans of Work for Other Purposes.--To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a plan of work 
submitted under subsection (d) to satisfy other appropriate Federal 
reporting requirements.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on October 1, 1999.
    SEC. 203. CONSISTENT MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS UNDER HATCH ACT OF 
      1887 AND SMITH-LEVER ACT.
    (a) Hatch Act of 1887.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
U.S.C. 361c) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(d) Matching Funds.--
        ``(1) Requirement.--No allotment shall be made to a State under 
    subsection (b) or (c), and no payments from the allotment shall be 
    made to a State, in excess of the amount that the State makes 
    available out of non-Federal funds for agricultural research and 
    for the establishment and maintenance of facilities for the 
    performance of the research.
        ``(2) Failure to provide matching funds.--If a State fails to 
    comply with the requirement to provide matching funds for a fiscal 
    year under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
    withhold from payment to the State for that fiscal year an amount 
    equal to the difference between--
            ``(A) the amount that would be allotted and paid to the 
        State under subsections (b) and (c) (if the full amount of 
        matching funds were provided by the State); and
            ``(B) the amount of matching funds actually provided by the 
        State.
        ``(3) Reapportionment.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        reapportion amounts withheld under paragraph (2) for a fiscal 
        year among the States satisfying the matching requirement for 
        that fiscal year.
            ``(B) Matching requirement.--Any reapportionment of funds 
        under this paragraph shall be subject to the matching 
        requirement specified in paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Smith-Lever Act.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
343) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (c)--
            (A) by redesignating paragraphs 1 and 2 as paragraphs (1) 
        and (2), respectively; and
            (B) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``census: Provided, That payments'' and all that follows 
        through ``Provided further, That any'' and inserting ``census. 
        Any''; and
        (2) by striking subsections (e) and (f) and inserting the 
    following:
    ``(e) Matching Funds.--
        ``(1) Requirement.--Except as provided in subsection (f), no 
    allotment shall be made to a State under subsection (b) or (c), and 
    no payments from the allotment shall be made to a State, in excess 
    of the amount that the State makes available out of non-Federal 
    funds for cooperative extension work.
        ``(2) Failure to provide matching funds.--If a State fails to 
    comply with the requirement to provide matching funds for a fiscal 
    year under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
    withhold from payment to the State for that fiscal year an amount 
    equal to the difference between--
            ``(A) the amount that would be allotted and paid to the 
        State under subsections (b) and (c) (if the full amount of 
        matching funds were provided by the State); and
            ``(B) the amount of matching funds actually provided by the 
        State.
        ``(3) Reapportionment.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        reapportion amounts withheld under paragraph (2) for a fiscal 
        year among the States satisfying the matching requirement for 
        that fiscal year.
            ``(B) Matching requirement.--Any reapportionment of funds 
        under this paragraph shall be subject to the matching 
        requirement specified in paragraph (1).
    ``(f) Matching Funds Exception for 1994 Institutions.--There shall 
be no matching requirement for funds made available to a 1994 
Institution pursuant to subsection (b)(3).''.
    (c) Technical Corrections.--
        (1) Recognition of statehood of alaska and hawaii.--Section 1 
    of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a) is amended in the second 
    sentence by striking ``Alaska, Hawaii,''.
        (2) Role of secretary of agriculture.--Section 3 of the Smith-
    Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended--
            (A) in subsections (b)(1), (c), and (d), by striking 
        ``Federal Extension Service'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``Secretary of Agriculture''; and
            (B) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``through the Federal 
        Extension Service''.
        (3) References to regional research fund.--Section 5 of the 
    Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361e) is amended in the first sentence 
    by striking ``regional research fund authorized by subsection 
    3(c)(3)'' and inserting ``Multistate Research Fund, State 
    Agricultural Experiment Stations''.

SEC. 204. INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.

    (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) 
(as amended by section 104(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(i) Integration of Research and Extension.--
        ``(1) In general.--Not less than the applicable percentage 
    specified under paragraph (2) of the Federal formula funds that are 
    paid under this Act and subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 of the 
    Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) to colleges and universities 
    eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 
    503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), during a fiscal year shall 
    be expended for activities that integrate cooperative research and 
    extension (referred to in this subsection as `integrated 
    activities').
        ``(2) Applicable percentages.--
            ``(A) 1997 expenditures on multistate activities.--Of the 
        Federal formula funds that were paid to each State for fiscal 
        year 1997 under this Act and subsections (b) and (c) of section 
        3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343), the Secretary of 
        Agriculture shall determine the percentage that the State 
        expended for integrated activities.
            ``(B) Required expenditures on multistate activities.--Of 
        the Federal formula funds that are paid to each State for 
        fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent fiscal year under this Act 
        and subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act 
        (7 U.S.C. 343), the State shall expend for the fiscal year for 
        integrated activities a percentage that is at least equal to 
        the lesser of--
                ``(i) 25 percent; or
                ``(ii) twice the percentage for the State determined 
            under subparagraph (A).
            ``(C) Reduction by secretary.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        may reduce the minimum percentage required to be expended by a 
        State for integrated activities under subparagraph (B) in a 
        case of hardship, infeasibility, or other similar circumstance 
        beyond the control of the State, as determined by the 
        Secretary.
            ``(D) Plan of work.--The State shall include in the plan of 
        work of the State required under section 7 of this Act or 
        section 4 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 344), as applicable, 
        a description of the manner in which the State will meet the 
        requirements of this paragraph.
        ``(3) Applicability.--This subsection does not apply to funds 
    provided--
            ``(A) by a State or local government pursuant to a matching 
        requirement;
            ``(B) to a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of 
        the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public 
        Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)); or
            ``(C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
        Islands, or Guam.
        ``(4) Relationship to other requirements.--Federal formula 
    funds described in paragraph (1) that are used by a State for a 
    fiscal year for integrated activities in accordance with paragraph 
    (2)(B) may also be used to satisfy the multistate activities 
    requirements of subsection (c)(3) of this section and section 3(h) 
    of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(h)) for the same fiscal 
    year.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 343) (as amended by section 105) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(j) Integration of Research and Extension.--Section 3(i) of the 
Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c(i)) shall apply to amounts made 
available to carry out this Act.''.

  Subtitle B--Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act

SEC. 211. COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

    The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 
U.S.C. 450i) is amended in subsection (b)--
        (1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by inserting 
    ``national laboratories,'' after ``Federal agencies,'';
        (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``regional'' and inserting 
    ``multistate'';
        (3) in the second sentence of paragraph (3)(E), by striking 
    ``an individual shall have less than'' and all that follows through 
    ``research experience'' and inserting ``an individual shall be 
    within 5 years of the individual's initial career track position''; 
    and
        (4) in paragraph (8)(B)--
            (A) by striking ``the cost'' and inserting ``the cost of''; 
        and
            (B) by adding at the end the following: ``The Secretary may 
        waive all or part of the matching requirement under this 
        subparagraph in the case of a smaller college or university (as 
        described in section 793(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the Federal 
        Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
        2204f(c)(2)(C)(ii))) if the equipment to be acquired costs not 
        more than $25,000 and has multiple uses within a single 
        research project or is usable in more than 1 research 
        project.''.

SEC. 212. SPECIAL GRANTS.

    The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 
U.S.C. 450i) is amended in subsection (c)--
        (1) in paragraph (1)--
            (A) by striking ``5 years'' and inserting ``3 years'';
            (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, extension, or 
        education activities'' after ``conducting research''; and
            (C) in subparagraph (B)--
                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting 
            ``, extension, or education'' after ``agricultural 
            research'';
                (ii) in clause (i), by inserting ``, extension, or 
            education'' after ``research''; and
                (iii) in clause (iv), by striking ``among States 
            through regional research'' and inserting ``, extension, or 
            education among States through regional''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(5) Review requirements.--
            ``(A) Research activities.--The Secretary shall make a 
        grant under this subsection for a research activity only if the 
        activity has undergone scientific peer review arranged by the 
        grantee in accordance with regulations promulgated by the 
        Secretary.
            ``(B) Extension and education activities.--The Secretary 
        shall make a grant under this subsection for an extension or 
        education activity only if the activity has undergone merit 
        review arranged by the grantee in accordance with regulations 
        promulgated by the Secretary.
        ``(6) Reports.--
            ``(A) In general.--A recipient of a grant under this 
        subsection shall submit to the Secretary on an annual basis a 
        report describing the results of the research, extension, or 
        education activity and the merit of the results.
            ``(B) Public availability.--
                ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), 
            on request, the Secretary shall make the report available 
            to the public.
                ``(ii) Exceptions.--Clause (i) shall not apply to the 
            extent that making the report, or a part of the report, 
            available to the public is not authorized or permitted by 
            section 552 of title 5, United States Code, or section 1905 
            of title 18, United States Code.''.

  Subtitle C--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                           Policy Act of 1977

    SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, 
      AND EDUCATION.
    (a) Food and Agricultural Sciences.--Section 1404 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3103) is amended by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the 
following:
        ``(8) Food and agricultural sciences.--The term `food and 
    agricultural sciences' means basic, applied, and developmental 
    research, extension, and teaching activities in food and fiber, 
    agricultural, renewable natural resources, forestry, and physical 
    and social sciences, including activities relating to the 
    following:
            ``(A) Animal health, production, and well-being.
            ``(B) Plant health and production.
            ``(C) Animal and plant germ plasm collection and 
        preservation.
            ``(D) Aquaculture.
            ``(E) Food safety.
            ``(F) Soil and water conservation and improvement.
            ``(G) Forestry, horticulture, and range management.
            ``(H) Nutritional sciences and promotion.
            ``(I) Farm enhancement, including financial management, 
        input efficiency, and profitability.
            ``(J) Home economics.
            ``(K) Rural human ecology.
            ``(L) Youth development and agricultural education, 
        including 4-H clubs.
            ``(M) Expansion of domestic and international markets for 
        agricultural commodities and products, including agricultural 
        trade barrier identification and analysis.
            ``(N) Information management and technology transfer 
        related to agriculture.
            ``(O) Biotechnology related to agriculture.
            ``(P) The processing, distributing, marketing, and 
        utilization of food and agricultural products.''.
    (b) References to Teaching or Education.--Section 1404(14) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(14)) is amended by striking ``the term `teaching' 
means'' and inserting ``Teaching and education.--The terms `teaching' 
and `education' mean''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1404 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3103) is amended--
        (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
    ``title--'' and inserting ``title:'';
        (2) in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (10) through 
    (13), (15), (16), and (17), by striking ``the term'' each place it 
    appears and inserting ``The term'';
        (3) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the terms'' and inserting 
    ``The terms'';
        (4) in paragraph (9), by striking ``the term'' the first place 
    it appears and inserting ``The term'';
        (5) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraphs (1) 
    through (7) and (9) through (15) and inserting a period; and
        (6) in paragraph (16)(F), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
    period.

SEC. 222. ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) Representation on Board.--Section 1408(b) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3123(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(7) Equal representation of public and private sector 
    members.--In appointing members to serve on the Advisory Board, the 
    Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, equal 
    representation of public and private sector members.''.
    (b) Consultation.--Section 1408(d) of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123(d)) 
is amended--
        (1) by striking ``In'' and inserting the following:
        ``(1) Duties of advisory board.--In''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(2) Duties of secretary.--To comply with a provision of this 
    title or any other law that requires the Secretary to consult or 
    cooperate with the Advisory Board or that authorizes the Advisory 
    Board to submit recommendations to the Secretary, the Secretary 
    shall--
            ``(A) solicit the written opinions and recommendations of 
        the Advisory Board; and
            ``(B) provide a written response to the Advisory Board 
        regarding the manner and extent to which the Secretary will 
        implement recommendations submitted by the Advisory Board.''.
    (c) Limitation on Expenses of Advisory Board.--Section 1408 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended--
        (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
        (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Annual Limitation on Advisory Board Expenses.--
        ``(1) Maximum amount.--Not more than $350,000 may be used to 
    cover the necessary expenses of the Advisory Board for each fiscal 
    year.
        ``(2) General limitation.--The expenses of the Advisory Board 
    shall not be counted toward any general limitation on the expenses 
    of advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces of the 
    Department of Agriculture contained in any Act making 
    appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, whether enacted 
    before, on, or after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
    unless the appropriation Act specifically refers to this subsection 
    and specifically includes this Advisory Board within the general 
    limitation.''.
    SEC. 223. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 
      EDUCATION.
    Section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) is amended--
        (1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), 
    (i), and (j) as subsections (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and 
    (l), respectively;
        (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Priorities.--In awarding grants under subsection (b), the 
Secretary shall give priority to--
        ``(1) applications for teaching enhancement projects that 
    demonstrate enhanced coordination among all types of institutions 
    eligible for funding under this section; and
        ``(2) applications for teaching enhancement projects that focus 
    on innovative, multidisciplinary education programs, material, and 
    curricula.''; and
        (3) by inserting after subsection (d) (as redesignated by 
    paragraph (1)) the following:
    ``(e) Food and Agricultural Education Information System.--From 
amounts made available for grants under this section, the Secretary may 
maintain a national food and agricultural education information system 
that contains--
        ``(1) information on enrollment, degrees awarded, faculty, and 
    employment placement in the food and agricultural sciences; and
        ``(2) such other similar information as the Secretary considers 
    appropriate.''.

SEC. 224. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.

    Section 1419A(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3155(a)) is amended by 
inserting ``and trade agreements'' after ``public policies''.
    SEC. 225. PLANS OF WORK FOR 1890 INSTITUTIONS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL 
      RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE OF PROTOCOLS TO MEASURE 
      SUCCESS OF PLANS.
    (a) Extension at 1890 Institutions.--Section 1444(d) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(d)) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``(d)'' and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Ascertainment of Entitlement to Funds; Time and Manner of 
Payment; State Reporting Requirements; Plans of Work.--
        ``(1) Ascertainment of entitlement.--'';
        (2) in the last sentence, by striking ``Such sums'' and 
    inserting the following:
        ``(2) Time and manner of payment; related reports.--The amount 
    to which an eligible institution is entitled''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(3) Requirements related to plan of work.--Each plan of work 
    for an eligible institution required under this section shall 
    contain descriptions of the following:
            ``(A) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term 
        agricultural issues in the State in which the eligible 
        institution is located and the current and planned extension 
        programs and projects targeted to address the issues.
            ``(B) The process established to consult with extension 
        users regarding the identification of critical agricultural 
        issues in the State and the development of extension programs 
        and projects targeted to address the issues.
            ``(C) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with 
        other colleges and universities within the State, and within 
        other States, that have a unique capacity to address the 
        identified agricultural issues in the State and the extent of 
        current and emerging efforts (including regional extension 
        efforts) to work with those other institutions.
            ``(D) The manner in which research and extension, including 
        research and extension activities funded other than through 
        formula funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues in 
        the State, including the activities to be carried out 
        separately, the activities to be carried out sequentially, and 
        the activities to be carried out jointly.
            ``(E) The education and outreach programs already underway 
        to convey currently available research results that are 
        pertinent to a critical agricultural issue, including efforts 
        to encourage multicounty cooperation in the dissemination of 
        research results.
        ``(4) Extension protocols.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall develop protocols to 
        be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-
        institutional, and multidisciplinary extension activities and 
        joint research and extension activities in addressing critical 
        agricultural issues identified in the plans of work submitted 
        under this section.
            ``(B) Consultation.--The Secretary shall develop the 
        protocols in consultation with the Advisory Board and land-
        grant colleges and universities.
        ``(5) Treatment of plans of work for other purposes.--To the 
    maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a plan of 
    work submitted under this section to satisfy other appropriate 
    Federal reporting requirements.''.
    (b) Agricultural Research At 1890 Institutions.--Section 1445(c) of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222(c)) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``(c)'' and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Program and Plans of Work.--
        ``(1) Initial comprehensive program of agricultural research.--
    ''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(2) Plan of work required.--Before funds may be provided to 
    an eligible institution under this section for any fiscal year, a 
    plan of work to be carried out under this section shall be 
    submitted by the research director specified in subsection (d) and 
    shall be approved by the Secretary.
        ``(3) Requirements related to plan of work.--Each plan of work 
    required under paragraph (2) shall contain descriptions of the 
    following:
            ``(A) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term 
        agricultural issues in the State in which the eligible 
        institution is located and the current and planned research 
        programs and projects targeted to address the issues.
            ``(B) The process established to consult with users of 
        agricultural research regarding the identification of critical 
        agricultural issues in the State and the development of 
        research programs and projects targeted to address the issues.
            ``(C) Other colleges and universities within the State, and 
        within other States, that have a unique capacity to address the 
        identified agricultural issues in the State.
            ``(D) The current and emerging efforts to work with those 
        other institutions to build on each other's experience and take 
        advantage of each institution's unique capacities.
            ``(E) The manner in which research and extension, including 
        research and extension activities funded other than through 
        formula funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues in 
        the State, including the activities to be carried out 
        separately, the activities to be carried out sequentially, and 
        the activities to be carried out jointly.
        ``(4) Research protocols.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall develop protocols to 
        be used to evaluate the success of multistate, multi-
        institutional, and multidisciplinary research activities and 
        joint research and extension activities in addressing critical 
        agricultural issues identified in the plans of work submitted 
        under paragraph (2).
            ``(B) Consultation.--The Secretary shall develop the 
        protocols in consultation with the Advisory Board and land-
        grant colleges and universities.
        ``(5) Treatment of plans of work for other purposes.--To the 
    maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a plan of 
    work submitted under paragraph (2) to satisfy other appropriate 
    Federal reporting requirements.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on October 1, 1999.
    SEC. 226. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
      ACTIVITIES AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.
    (a) Imposition of Requirement.--Subtitle G of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is 
amended by inserting after section 1448 (7 U.S.C. 3222c) the following:
``SEC. 1449. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
ACTIVITIES AT ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible institution' 
    means a college eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 
    30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.) (commonly known as the `Second 
    Morrill Act'), including Tuskegee University.
        ``(2) Formula funds.--The term `formula funds' means the 
    formula allocation funds distributed to eligible institutions under 
    sections 1444 and 1445.
    ``(b) Determination of Non-Federal Sources of Funds.--Not later 
than September 30, 1999, each eligible institution shall submit to the 
Secretary a report describing for fiscal year 1999--
        ``(1) the sources of non-Federal funds made available by the 
    State to the eligible institution for agricultural research, 
    extension, and education to meet the requirements of this section; 
    and
        ``(2) the amount of such funds generally available from each 
    source.
    ``(c) Matching Formula.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this subtitle, the distribution of formula funds to an eligible 
institution shall be subject to the following matching requirements:
        ``(1) For fiscal year 2000, the State shall provide matching 
    funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 
    30 percent of the formula funds to be distributed to the eligible 
    institution.
        ``(2) For fiscal year 2001, the State shall provide matching 
    funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 
    45 percent of the formula funds to be distributed to the eligible 
    institution.
        ``(3) For fiscal year 2002 and each fiscal year thereafter, the 
    State shall provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in an 
    amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the formula funds to be 
    distributed to the eligible institution.
    ``(d) Limited Waiver Authority.--
        ``(1) Fiscal year 2000.--Notwithstanding subsection (f), the 
    Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement under subsection 
    (c)(1) for fiscal year 2000 for an eligible institution of a State 
    if the Secretary determines that, based on the report received 
    under subsection (b), the State will be unlikely to satisfy the 
    matching requirement.
        ``(2) Future fiscal years.--The Secretary may not waive the 
    matching requirement under subsection (c) for any fiscal year other 
    than fiscal year 2000.
    ``(e) Use of Matching Funds.--Under terms and conditions 
established by the Secretary, matching funds provided as required by 
subsection (c) may be used by an eligible institution for agricultural 
research, extension, and education activities.
    ``(f) Redistribution of Funds.--
        ``(1) Redistribution required.--Federal funds that are not 
    matched by a State in accordance with subsection (c) for a fiscal 
    year shall be redistributed by the Secretary to eligible 
    institutions whose States have satisfied the matching funds 
    requirement for that fiscal year.
        ``(2) Administration.--Any redistribution of funds under this 
    subsection shall be subject to the applicable matching requirement 
    specified in subsection (c) and shall be made in a manner 
    consistent with sections 1444 and 1445, as determined by the 
    Secretary.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1445(g) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3222(g)) is amended--
        (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
        (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2).
    (c) References to Tuskegee University.--The National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended--
        (1) in section 1404 (7 U.S.C. 3103), by striking ``the Tuskegee 
    Institute'' in paragraphs (10) and (16)(B) and inserting ``Tuskegee 
    University'';
        (2) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)--
            (A) by striking the section heading and ``Sec. 1444.'' and 
        inserting the following:
``SEC. 1444. EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE 
UNIVERSITY.'';
        and
            (B) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ``Tuskegee 
        Institute'' each place it appears and inserting ``Tuskegee 
        University''; and
        (3) in section 1445 (7 U.S.C. 3222)--
            (A) by striking the section heading and ``Sec. 1445.'' and 
        inserting the following:
``SEC. 1445. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, 
INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.'';
        and
            (B) in subsections (a) and (b)(2)(B), by striking 
        ``Tuskegee Institute'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``Tuskegee University''.

SEC. 227. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING.

    (a) Inclusion of Teaching.--Section 1458 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3291) is amended--
        (1) in the section heading, by striking ``research and 
    extension'' and inserting ``research, extension, and teaching'';
        (2) in subsection (a)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) by striking ``related research and extension'' and 
            inserting ``related research, extension, and teaching''; 
            and
                (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``research and 
            extension on'' and inserting ``research, extension, and 
            teaching activities that address'';
            (B) in paragraphs (2) and (6), by striking ``education'' 
        each place it appears and inserting ``teaching'';
            (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``scientists and 
        experts'' and inserting ``science and education experts'';
            (D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``teaching,'' after 
        ``development,'';
            (E) in paragraph (7), by striking ``research and extension 
        that is'' and inserting ``research, extension, and teaching 
        programs''; and
            (F) in paragraph (8), by striking ``research capabilities'' 
        and inserting ``research, extension, and teaching 
        capabilities''; and
        (3) in subsection (b), by striking ``counterpart agencies'' and 
    inserting ``counterpart research, extension, and teaching 
    agencies''.
    (b) Grants for Collaborative Projects.--Section 1458(a) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(a)) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
        (2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; and''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(9) make competitive grants for collaborative projects that--
            ``(A) involve Federal scientists or scientists from land-
        grant colleges and universities or other colleges and 
        universities with scientists at international agricultural 
        research centers in other nations, including the international 
        agricultural research centers of the Consultative Group on 
        International Agriculture Research;
            ``(B) focus on developing and using new technologies and 
        programs for--
                ``(i) increasing the production of food and fiber, 
            while safeguarding the environment worldwide and enhancing 
            the global competitiveness of United States agriculture; or
                ``(ii) training scientists;
            ``(C) are mutually beneficial to the United States and 
        other countries; and
            ``(D) encourage private sector involvement and the 
        leveraging of private sector funds.''.
    (c) Reports.--Section 1458 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Reports.--The Secretary shall provide biennial reports to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on 
efforts of the Federal Government--
        ``(1) to coordinate international agricultural research within 
    the Federal Government; and
        ``(2) to more effectively link the activities of domestic and 
    international agricultural researchers, particularly researchers of 
    the Agricultural Research Service.''.
    (d) Full Payment of Funds Made Available for Certain Binational 
Projects.--Section 1458 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended 
by inserting after subsection (d) (as added by subsection (c) of this 
section) the following:
    ``(e) Full Payment of Funds Made Available for Certain Binational 
Projects.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the full amount 
of any funds appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out 
cooperative projects under the arrangement entered into between the 
Secretary and the Government of Israel to support the Israel-United 
States Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund shall be 
paid directly to the Fund.''.
    (e) Subtitle Heading.--Subtitle I of title XIV of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) is amended by striking the subtitle heading and 
inserting the following:

    ``Subtitle I--International Research, Extension, and Teaching''.

SEC. 228. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.

    Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting after section 1458 
(7 U.S.C. 3291) the following:
``SEC. 1459. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.
    ``(a) Research and Development Program.--The Secretary may provide 
for an agricultural research and development program with the United 
States/Mexico Foundation for Science. The program shall focus on 
binational problems facing agricultural producers and consumers in the 
2 countries, in particular pressing problems in the areas of food 
safety, plant and animal pest control, and the natural resources base 
on which agriculture depends.
    ``(b) Administration.--Grants under the research and development 
program shall be awarded competitively through the Foundation.
    ``(c) Matching Requirements.--The provision of funds to the 
Foundation by the United States Government shall be subject to the 
condition that the Government of Mexico match, on at least a dollar-
for-dollar basis, any funds provided by the United States Government.
    ``(d) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Funds provided under this 
section may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, 
acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.''.
    SEC. 229. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE 
      AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
    Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 1459 (as added by section 228) the following:
``SEC. 1459A. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE 
AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
    ``(a) Competitive Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may make 
competitive grants to colleges and universities in order to strengthen 
United States economic competitiveness and to promote international 
market development.
    ``(b) Purpose of Grants.--Grants under this section shall be 
directed to agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities 
that will--
        ``(1) enhance the international content of the curricula in 
    colleges and universities so as to ensure that United States 
    students acquire an understanding of the international dimensions 
    and trade implications of their studies;
        ``(2) ensure that United States scientists, extension agents, 
    and educators involved in agricultural research and development 
    activities outside of the United States have the opportunity to 
    convey the implications of their activities and findings to their 
    peers and students in the United States and to the users of 
    agricultural research, extension, and teaching;
        ``(3) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities to 
    do collaborative research with other countries, in cooperation with 
    other Federal agencies, on issues relevant to United States 
    agricultural competitiveness;
        ``(4) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities to 
    provide cooperative extension education to promote the application 
    of new technology developed in foreign countries to United States 
    agriculture; and
        ``(5) enhance the capability of United States colleges and 
    universities, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to 
    provide leadership and educational programs that will assist United 
    States natural resources and food production, processing, and 
    distribution businesses and industries to compete internationally, 
    including product market identification, international policies 
    limiting or enhancing market production, development of new or 
    enhancement of existing markets, and production efficiencies.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.''.

SEC. 230. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    (a) Limitation on Charging Indirect Costs.--Subtitle K of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 is amended by inserting before section 1463 (7 U.S.C. 3311) the 
following:
``SEC. 1462. LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS.
    ``Except as otherwise provided in law, indirect costs charged 
against a competitive agricultural research, education, or extension 
grant awarded under this Act or any other Act pursuant to authority 
delegated to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, 
Education, and Economics shall not exceed 19 percent of the total 
Federal funds provided under the grant award, as determined by the 
Secretary.''.
    (b) Limitation on Department Administrative Costs.--Section 1469 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3315) is amended--
        (1) by striking the section heading and all that follows 
    through ``Except as'' and inserting the following:
``SEC. 1469. AUDITING, REPORTING, BOOKKEEPING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
REQUIREMENTS.
    ``(a) In General.--Except as'';
        (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
        ``(3) the Secretary may retain up to 4 percent of amounts 
    appropriated for agricultural research, extension, and teaching 
    assistance programs for the administration of those programs 
    authorized under this Act or any other Act; and''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Community Food Projects.--The Secretary may retain, for the 
administration of community food projects under section 25 of the Food 
Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2034), 4 percent of amounts available for 
the projects, notwithstanding the availability of any appropriation for 
administrative expenses of the projects.
    ``(c) Peer Panel Expenses.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law regarding a competitive research, education, or extension grant 
program of the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary may use grant 
program funds, as necessary, to supplement funds otherwise available 
for program administration, to pay for the costs associated with peer 
review of grant proposals under the program.
    ``(d) Definition of In-Kind Support.--In any law relating to 
agricultural research, education, or extension activities administered 
by the Secretary, the term `in-kind support', with regard to a 
requirement that the recipient of funds provided by the Secretary match 
all or part of the amount of the funds, means contributions such as 
office space, equipment, and staff support.''.
    SEC. 231. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO COST-REIMBURSABLE 
      AGREEMENTS.
    Section 1473A of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319a) is amended in the first 
sentence by inserting ``or other colleges and universities'' after 
``institutions''.

   Subtitle D--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990

SEC. 241. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.

    Section 1671 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 1671. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Goals.--The goals of this section are--
        ``(1) to expand the knowledge of public and private sector 
    entities and persons concerning genomes for species of importance 
    to the food and agriculture sectors in order to maximize the return 
    on the investment in genomics of agriculturally important species;
        ``(2) to focus on the species that will yield scientifically 
    important results that will enhance the usefulness of many 
    agriculturally important species;
        ``(3) to build on genomic research, such as the Human Genome 
    Initiative and the Arabidopsis Genome Project, to understand gene 
    structure and function that is expected to have considerable 
    payoffs in agriculturally important species;
        ``(4) to develop improved bioinformatics to enhance both 
    sequence or structure determination and analysis of the biological 
    function of genes and gene products;
        ``(5) to encourage Federal Government participants to maximize 
    the utility of public and private partnerships for agricultural 
    genome research;
        ``(6) to allow resources developed under this section, 
    including data, software, germplasm, and other biological 
    materials, to be openly accessible to all persons, subject to any 
    confidentiality requirements imposed by law; and
        ``(7) to encourage international partnerships with each partner 
    country responsible for financing its own strategy for agricultural 
    genome research.
    ``(b) Duties of Secretary.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred 
to in this section as the `Secretary') shall conduct a research 
initiative (to be known as the `Agricultural Genome Initiative') for 
the purpose of--
        ``(1) studying and mapping agriculturally significant genes to 
    achieve sustainable and secure agricultural production;
        ``(2) ensuring that current gaps in existing agricultural 
    genetics knowledge are filled;
        ``(3) identifying and developing a functional understanding of 
    genes responsible for economically important traits in 
    agriculturally important species, including emerging plant and 
    animal diseases causing economic hardship;
        ``(4) ensuring future genetic improvement of agriculturally 
    important species;
        ``(5) supporting preservation of diverse germplasm;
        ``(6) ensuring preservation of biodiversity to maintain access 
    to genes that may be of importance in the future; and
        ``(7) otherwise carrying out this section.
    ``(c) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
        ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary may make grants or enter into 
    cooperative agreements with individuals and organizations in 
    accordance with section 1472 of the National Agricultural Research, 
    Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3318).
        ``(2) Competitive basis.--A grant or cooperative agreement 
    under this subsection shall be made or entered into on a 
    competitive basis.
    ``(d) Administration.--Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of 
subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making of a 
grant or cooperative agreement under this section.
    ``(e) Matching of Funds.--
        ``(1) General requirement.--If a grant or cooperative agreement 
    under this section provides a particular benefit to a specific 
    agricultural commodity, the Secretary shall require the recipient 
    to provide funds or in-kind support to match the amount of funds 
    provided by the Secretary under the grant or cooperative agreement.
        ``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching funds 
    requirement of paragraph (1) with respect to a research project if 
    the Secretary determines that--
            ``(A) the results of the project, while of particular 
        benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
        applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
            ``(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
        deals with scientifically important research, and the recipient 
        is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
    ``(f) Consultation With National Academy of Sciences.--The 
Secretary may use funds made available under this section to consult 
with the National Academy of Sciences regarding the administration of 
the Agricultural Genome Initiative.''.

SEC. 242. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES.

    Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 1672. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES.

    ``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants 
Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section 
as the `Secretary') may make competitive grants to support research and 
extension activities specified in subsections (e), (f), and (g). The 
Secretary shall make the grants in consultation with the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board.
    ``(b) Administration.--
        ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
    section, paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of subsection (b) of 
    the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 
    U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making of grants under 
    this section.
        ``(2) Use of task forces.--To facilitate the making of research 
    and extension grants under this section in the research and 
    extension areas specified in subsection (e), the Secretary may 
    appoint a task force for each such area to make recommendations to 
    the Secretary. The Secretary may not incur costs in excess of 
    $1,000 for any fiscal year in connection with each task force 
    established under this paragraph.
    ``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the recipient of 
    a grant under this section to provide funds or in-kind support from 
    non-Federal sources in an amount at least equal to the amount 
    provided by the Federal Government.
        ``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the matching 
    funds requirement specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a 
    research project if the Secretary determines that--
            ``(A) the results of the project, while of particular 
        benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
        applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
            ``(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
        deals with scientifically important research, and the grant 
        recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
    ``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of a peer 
review process for grant proposals received under this section, the 
Secretary may provide a priority to those grant proposals, found in the 
peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, that involve the 
cooperation of multiple entities.
    ``(e) High-Priority Research and Extension Areas.--
        ``(1) Brown citrus aphid and citrus tristeza virus research and 
    extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under this 
    section for the purpose of--
            ``(A) developing methods to control or eradicate the brown 
        citrus aphid and the citrus tristeza virus from citrus crops 
        grown in the United States; or
            ``(B) adapting citrus crops grown in the United States to 
        the brown citrus aphid and the citrus tristeza virus.
        ``(2) Ethanol research and extension.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of carrying 
    out or enhancing research on ethanol derived from agricultural 
    crops as an alternative fuel source.
        ``(3) Aflatoxin research and extension.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    identifying and controlling aflatoxin in the food and feed chains.
        ``(4) Mesquite research and extension.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of developing 
    enhanced production methods and commercial uses of mesquite.
        ``(5) Prickly pear research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    investigating enhanced genetic selection and processing techniques 
    of prickly pears.
        ``(6) Deer tick ecology research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    studying the population ecology of deer ticks and other insects and 
    pests that transmit Lyme disease.
        ``(7) Red meat safety research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    developing--
            ``(A) intervention strategies that reduce microbial 
        contamination on carcass surfaces;
            ``(B) microbiological mapping of carcass surfaces; and
            ``(C) model hazard analysis and critical control point 
        plans.
        ``(8) Grain sorghum ergot research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    developing techniques for the eradication of sorghum ergot.
        ``(9) Peanut market enhancement research and extension.--
    Research and extension grants may be made under this section for 
    the purpose of evaluating the economics of applying innovative 
    technologies for peanut processing in a commercial environment.
        ``(10) Dairy financial risk management research and 
    extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under this 
    section for the purpose of providing research, development, or 
    education materials, information, and outreach programs regarding 
    risk management strategies for dairy producers and for dairy 
    cooperatives and other processors and marketers of milk.
        ``(11) Cotton research and extension.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of improving 
    pest management, fiber quality enhancement, economic assessment, 
    textile production, and optimized production systems for short 
    staple cotton.
        ``(12) Methyl bromide research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose 
    of--
            ``(A) developing and evaluating chemical and nonchemical 
        alternatives, and use and emission reduction strategies, for 
        pre-planting and post-harvest uses of methyl bromide; and
            ``(B) transferring the results of the research for use by 
        agricultural producers.
        ``(13) Potato research and extension.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of developing 
    and evaluating new strains of potatoes that are resistant to blight 
    and other diseases, as well as insects. Emphasis may be placed on 
    developing potato varieties that lend themselves to innovative 
    marketing approaches.
        ``(14) Wood use research and extension.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of developing 
    new uses for wood from underused tree species as well as 
    investigating methods of modifying wood and wood fibers to produce 
    better building materials.
        ``(15) Low-bush blueberry research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    evaluating methods of propagating and developing low-bush blueberry 
    as a marketable crop.
        ``(16) Wetlands use research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    better use of wetlands in diverse ways to provide various economic, 
    agricultural, and environmental benefits.
        ``(17) Wild pampas grass control, management, and eradication 
    research and extension.--Research and extension grants may be made 
    under this section for the purpose of control, management, and 
    eradication of wild pampas grass.
        ``(18) Food safety, including pathogen detection and 
    limitation, research and extension.--Research and extension grants 
    may be made under this section for the purpose of increasing food 
    safety, including the identification of advanced detection and 
    processing methods to limit the presence of pathogens (including 
    hepatitis A and E. coli 0157:H7) in domestic and imported foods.
        ``(19) Financial risk management research and extension.--
    Research and extension grants may be made under this section for 
    the purpose of providing research, development, or education 
    materials, information, and outreach programs regarding financial 
    risk management strategies for agricultural producers and for 
    cooperatives and other processors and marketers of any agricultural 
    commodity.
        ``(20) Ornamental tropical fish research and extension.--
    Research and extension grants may be made under this section for 
    the purpose of meeting the needs of commercial producers of 
    ornamental tropical fish and aquatic plants for improvements in the 
    areas of fish reproduction, health, nutrition, predator control, 
    water use, water quality control, and farming technology.
        ``(21) Sheep scrapie research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    investigating the genetic aspects of scrapie in sheep.
        ``(22) Gypsy moth research and extension.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    developing biological control, management, and eradication methods 
    against nonnative insects, including Lymantria dispar (commonly 
    known as the `gypsy moth'), that contribute to significant 
    agricultural, economic, or environmental harm.
        ``(23) Forestry research and extension.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section to develop and distribute 
    new, high-quality, science-based information for the purpose of 
    improving the long-term productivity of forest resources and 
    contributing to forest-based economic development by addressing 
    such issues as--
            ``(A) forest land use policies;
            ``(B) multiple-use forest management, including wildlife 
        habitat development, improved forest regeneration systems, and 
        timber supply; and
            ``(C) improved development, manufacturing, and marketing of 
        forest products.
        ``(24) Tomato spotted wilt virus research and extension.--
    Research and extension grants may be made under this section for 
    the purpose of control, management, and eradication of tomato 
    spotted wilt virus.
    ``(f) Imported Fire Ant Control, Management, and Eradication.--
        ``(1) Task force.--The Secretary shall establish a task force 
    pursuant to subsection (b)(2) regarding the control, management, 
    and eradication of imported fire ants. The Secretary shall solicit 
    and evaluate grant proposals under this subsection in consultation 
    with the task force.
        ``(2) Initial grants.--
            ``(A) Request for proposals.--The Secretary shall publish a 
        request for proposals for grants for research or demonstration 
        projects related to the control, management, and possible 
        eradication of imported fire ants.
            ``(B) Selection.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        publication of the request for proposals, the Secretary shall 
        evaluate the grant proposals submitted in response to the 
        request and may select meritorious research or demonstration 
        projects related to the control, management, and possible 
        eradication of imported fire ants to receive an initial grant 
        under this subsection.
        ``(3) Subsequent grants.--
            ``(A) Evaluation of initial grants.--If the Secretary 
        awards grants under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall 
        evaluate all of the research or demonstration projects 
        conducted under the grants for their use as the basis of a 
        national plan for the control, management, and possible 
        eradication of imported fire ants by the Federal Government, 
        State and local governments, and owners and operators of land.
            ``(B) Selection.--On the basis of the evaluation under 
        subparagraph (A), the Secretary may select the projects that 
        the Secretary considers most promising for additional research 
        or demonstration related to preparation of a national plan for 
        the control, management, and possible eradication of imported 
        fire ants. The Secretary shall notify the task force of the 
        projects selected under this subparagraph.
        ``(4) Selection and submission of national plan.--
            ``(A) Evaluation of subsequent grants.--If the Secretary 
        awards grants under paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary shall 
        evaluate all of the research or demonstration projects 
        conducted under the grants for use as the basis of a national 
        plan for the control, management, and possible eradication of 
        imported fire ants by the Federal Government, State and local 
        governments, and owners and operators of land.
            ``(B) Selection.--On the basis of the evaluation under 
        subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall select 1 project funded 
        under paragraph (3)(B), or a combination of those projects, for 
        award of a grant for final preparation of the national plan.
            ``(C) Submission.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress 
        the final national plan prepared under subparagraph (B) for the 
        control, management, and possible eradication of imported fire 
        ants.
    ``(g) Formosan Termite Research and Eradication.--
        ``(1) Research program.--The Secretary may make competitive 
    research grants under this subsection to regional and 
    multijurisdictional entities, local government planning 
    organizations, and local governments for the purpose of conducting 
    research for the control, management, and possible eradication of 
    Formosan termites in the United States.
        ``(2) Eradication program.--The Secretary may enter into 
    cooperative agreements with regional and multijurisdictional 
    entities, local government planning organizations, and local 
    governments for the purposes of--
            ``(A) conducting projects for the control, management, and 
        possible eradication of Formosan termites in the United States; 
        and
            ``(B) collecting data on the effectiveness of the projects.
        ``(3) Funding priority.--In allocating funds made available to 
    carry out paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide a higher 
    priority for regions or locations with the highest historical rates 
    of infestation of Formosan termites.
        ``(4) Management coordination.--The program management of 
    research grants, cooperative agreements, and projects under this 
    subsection shall be conducted under existing authority in 
    coordination with the national formosan termite management and 
    research demonstration program conducted by the Agricultural 
    Research Service.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.''.
    SEC. 243. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
    The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 is 
amended by inserting after section 1672 (7 U.S.C. 5925) the following:
``SEC. 1672A. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
    ``(a) Competitive Research and Extension Grants Authorized.--The 
Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the 
`Secretary') may make competitive grants to support research and 
extension activities specified in subsection (e). The Secretary shall 
make the grants in consultation with the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.
    ``(b) Administration.--
        ``(1) In general.--Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of 
    subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
    Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making of 
    grants under this section.
        ``(2) Use of task forces.--To facilitate the making of research 
    and extension grants under this section in the research and 
    extension areas specified in subsection (e), the Secretary may 
    appoint a task force for each such area to make recommendations to 
    the Secretary. The Secretary may not incur costs in excess of 
    $1,000 for any fiscal year in connection with each task force 
    established under this paragraph.
    ``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the recipient of 
    a grant under this section to provide funds or in-kind support from 
    non-Federal sources in an amount at least equal to the amount 
    provided by the Federal Government.
        ``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the matching 
    funds requirement specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a 
    research project if the Secretary determines that--
            ``(A) the results of the project, while of particular 
        benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
        applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
            ``(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
        deals with scientifically important research, and the grant 
        recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
    ``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of a peer 
review process for grant proposals received under this section, the 
Secretary may provide a priority to those grant proposals, found in the 
peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, that involve the 
cooperation of multiple entities.
    ``(e) Nutrient Management Research and Extension Areas.--
        ``(1) Animal waste and odor management.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of--
            ``(A) identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating innovative 
        technologies for animal waste management and related air 
        quality management and odor control;
            ``(B) investigating the unique microbiology of specific 
        animal wastes, such as swine waste, to develop improved methods 
        to effectively manage air and water quality; and
            ``(C) conducting information workshops to disseminate the 
        results of the research.
        ``(2) Water quality and aquatic ecosystems.--Research and 
    extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose of 
    investigating the impact on aquatic food webs, especially 
    commercially important aquatic species and their habitats, of 
    microorganisms of the genus Pfiesteria and other microorganisms 
    that are a threat to human or animal health.
        ``(3) Rural and urban interface.--Research and extension grants 
    may be made under this section for the purpose of identifying, 
    evaluating, and demonstrating innovative technologies to be used 
    for animal waste management (including odor control) in rural areas 
    adjacent to urban or suburban areas in connection with waste 
    management activities undertaken in urban or suburban areas.
        ``(4) Animal feed.--Research and extension grants may be made 
    under this section for the purpose of maximizing nutrition 
    management for livestock, while limiting risks, such as mineral 
    bypass, associated with livestock feeding practices.
        ``(5) Alternative uses of animal waste.--Research and extension 
    grants may be made under this section for the purpose of finding 
    innovative methods and technologies for economic use or disposal of 
    animal waste.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.''.
    SEC. 244. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
    The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 is 
amended by inserting after section 1672A (as added by section 243) the 
following:
``SEC. 1672B. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
    ``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants 
Authorized.--In consultation with the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, the Secretary of 
Agriculture (referred to in this section as the `Secretary') may make 
competitive grants to support research and extension activities 
regarding organically grown and processed agricultural commodities for 
the purposes of--
        ``(1) facilitating the development of organic agriculture 
    production and processing methods;
        ``(2) evaluating the potential economic benefits to producers 
    and processors who use organic methods; and
        ``(3) exploring international trade opportunities for 
    organically grown and processed agricultural commodities.
    ``(b) Grant Types and Process, Prohibition on Construction.--
Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of subsection (b) of the 
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) 
shall apply with respect to the making of grants under this section.
    ``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the recipient of 
    a grant under this section to provide funds or in-kind support from 
    non-Federal sources in an amount at least equal to the amount 
    provided by the Federal Government.
        ``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the matching 
    funds requirement specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a 
    research project if the Secretary determines that--
            ``(A) the results of the project, while of particular 
        benefit to a specified agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
        applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
            ``(B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
        deals with scientifically important research, and the grant 
        recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
    ``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of a peer 
review process for grant proposals received under this section, the 
Secretary may provide a priority to those grant proposals, found in the 
peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, that involve the 
cooperation of multiple entities.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.''.

SEC. 245. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM.

    Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (c)--
            (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as 
        paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively;
            (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
        ``(1) A*DEC.--The term `A*DEC' means the distance education 
    consortium known as A*DEC.''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(7) Secretary.--Except as provided in subsection (d)(1), the 
    term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
    A*DEC.'';
        (2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``The Secretary shall 
    establish a program, to be administered by the Assistant Secretary 
    for Science and Education,'' and inserting ``The Secretary of 
    Agriculture shall establish a program, to be administered through a 
    grant provided to A*DEC under terms and conditions established by 
    the Secretary of Agriculture,''; and
        (3) in the first sentence of subsection (f)(2), by striking 
    ``the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education'' and inserting 
    ``A*DEC''.
    SEC. 246. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WITH 
      DISABILITIES.
    Section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (6);
        (2) in subsection (b)--
            (A) by striking ``Dissemination.--'' and all that follows 
        through ``general.--The'' and inserting ``Dissemination.--
        The''; and
            (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
        ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there is 
    authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 
    for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
        ``(2) National grant.--Not more than 15 percent of the amounts 
    made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year shall be used 
    to carry out subsection (b).''.

                         Subtitle E--Other Laws

SEC. 251. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS ACT OF 1994.

    (a) Definition of 1994 Institutions.--Section 532 of the Equity in 
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 
301 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(30) Little Priest Tribal College.''.
    (b) Accreditation.--Section 533(a) of the Equity in Educational 
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(3) Accreditation.--To receive funding under sections 534 and 
    535, a 1994 Institution shall certify to the Secretary that the 
    1994 Institution--
            ``(A) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting 
        agency or association determined by the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Education, to be a reliable 
        authority regarding the quality of training offered; or
            ``(B) is making progress toward the accreditation, as 
        determined by the nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
        association.''.
    (c) Research Grants.--The Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status 
Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 536. RESEARCH GRANTS.

    ``(a) Research Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may 
make grants under this section, on the basis of a competitive 
application process (and in accordance with such regulations as the 
Secretary may promulgate), to a 1994 Institution to assist the 
Institution to conduct agricultural research that addresses high 
priority concerns of tribal, national, or multistate significance.
    ``(b) Requirements.--Grant applications submitted under this 
section shall certify that the research to be conducted will be 
performed under a cooperative agreement with at least 1 other land-
grant college or university (exclusive of another 1994 Institution).
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002. Amounts appropriated shall 
remain available until expended.''.

SEC. 252. FUND FOR RURAL AMERICA.

    Section 793(b) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform 
Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) 
and inserting the following:
        ``(1) In general.--On October 1, 1998, and each October 1 
    thereafter through October 1, 2002, out of any funds in the 
    Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
    shall transfer $60,000,000 to the Account.''.
    SEC. 253. FOREST AND RANGELAND RENEWABLE RESOURCES RESEARCH.
    (a) Findings.--Section 2 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641) is amended by striking 
``Sec. 2.'' and subsection (a) and inserting the following:

``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
        ``(1) Forests and rangeland, and the resources of forests and 
    rangeland, are of strategic economic and ecological importance to 
    the United States, and the Federal Government has an important and 
    substantial role in ensuring the continued health, productivity, 
    and sustainability of the forests and rangeland of the United 
    States.
        ``(2) Over 75 percent of the productive commercial forest land 
    in the United States is privately owned, with some 60 percent owned 
    by small nonindustrial private owners. These 10,000,000 
    nonindustrial private owners are critical to providing both 
    commodity and noncommodity values to the citizens of the United 
    States.
        ``(3) The National Forest System manages only 17 percent of the 
    commercial timberland of the United States, with over half of the 
    standing softwoods inventory located on that land. Dramatic changes 
    in Federal agency policy during the early 1990's have significantly 
    curtailed the management of this vast timber resource, causing 
    abrupt shifts in the supply of timber from public to private 
    ownership. As a result of these shifts in supply, some 60 percent 
    of total wood production in the United States is now coming from 
    private forest land in the southern United States.
        ``(4) At the same time that pressures are building for the 
    removal of even more land from commercial production, the Federal 
    Government is significantly reducing its commitment to 
    productivity-related research regarding forests and rangeland, 
    which is critically needed by the private sector for the sustained 
    management of remaining available timber and forage resources for 
    the benefit of all species.
        ``(5) Uncertainty over the availability of the United States 
    timber supply, increasing regulatory burdens, and the lack of 
    Federal Government support for research is causing domestic wood 
    and paper producers to move outside the United States to find 
    reliable sources of wood supplies, which in turn results in a 
    worsening of the United States trade balance, the loss of 
    employment and infrastructure investments, and an increased risk of 
    infestations of exotic pests and diseases from imported wood 
    products.
        ``(6) Wood and paper producers in the United States are being 
    challenged not only by shifts in Federal Government policy, but 
    also by international competition from tropical countries where 
    growth rates of trees far exceed those in the United States. Wood 
    production per acre will need to quadruple from 1996 levels for the 
    United States forestry sector to remain internationally competitive 
    on an ever decreasing forest land base.
        ``(7) Better and more frequent forest inventorying and analysis 
    is necessary to identify productivity-related forestry research 
    needs and to provide forest managers with the current data 
    necessary to make timely and effective management decisions.''.
    (b) High Priority Forestry and Rangeland Research and Education.--
Section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act 
of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended by striking subsection (d) and 
inserting the following:
    ``(d) High Priority Forestry and Rangeland Research and 
Education.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct, support, and 
    cooperate in forestry and rangeland research and education that is 
    of the highest priority to the United States and to users of public 
    and private forest land and rangeland in the United States.
        ``(2) Priorities.--The research and education priorities 
    include the following:
            ``(A) The biology of forest organisms and rangeland 
        organisms.
            ``(B) Functional characteristics and cost-effective 
        management of forest and rangeland ecosystems.
            ``(C) Interactions between humans and forests and 
        rangeland.
            ``(D) Wood and forage as a raw material.
            ``(E) International trade, competition, and cooperation.
        ``(3) Northeastern states research cooperative.--The Secretary 
    may cooperate with the northeastern States of New Hampshire, New 
    York, Maine, and Vermont, land-grant colleges and universities of 
    those States, natural resources and forestry schools of those 
    States, other Federal agencies, and other interested persons in 
    those States to coordinate and improve ecological and economic 
    research relating to agricultural research, extension, and 
    education, including--
            ``(A) research on ecosystem health, forest management, 
        product development, economics, and related fields;
            ``(B) research to assist those States and landowners in 
        those States to achieve sustainable forest management;
            ``(C) technology transfer to the wood products industry of 
        technologies that promote efficient processing, pollution 
        prevention, and energy conservation;
            ``(D) 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
            ``(E) analysis of strategies for the protection of areas of 
        outstanding ecological significance or high biological 
        diversity, and strategies for the provision of important 
        recreational opportunities and traditional uses, including 
        strategies for areas identified through State land conservation 
        planning processes.''.
    (c) Forest Inventory and Analysis.--Section 3 of the Forest and 
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Forest Inventory and Analysis.--
        ``(1) Program required.--In compliance with other applicable 
    provisions of law, the Secretary shall establish a program to 
    inventory and analyze, in a timely manner, public and private 
    forests and their resources in the United States.
        ``(2) Annual state inventory.--
            ``(A) In general.--Not later than the end of each full 
        fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall prepare for each State, in 
        cooperation with the State forester for the State, an inventory 
        of forests and their resources in the State.
            ``(B) Sample plots.--For purposes of preparing the 
        inventory for a State, the Secretary shall measure annually 20 
        percent of all sample plots that are included in the inventory 
        program for that State.
            ``(C) Compilation of inventory.--On completion of the 
        inventory for a year, the Secretary shall make available to the 
        public a compilation of all data collected for that year from 
        measurements of sample plots as well as any analysis made of 
        the samples.
        ``(3) 5-year reports.--Not more often than every 5 full fiscal 
    years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary 
    shall prepare, publish, and make available to the public a report, 
    prepared in cooperation with State foresters, that--
            ``(A) contains a description of each State inventory of 
        forests and their resources, incorporating all sample plot 
        measurements conducted during the 5 years covered by the 
        report;
            ``(B) displays and analyzes on a nationwide basis the 
        results of the annual reports required by paragraph (2); and
            ``(C) contains an analysis of forest health conditions and 
        trends over the previous 2 decades, with an emphasis on such 
        conditions and trends during the period subsequent to the 
        immediately preceding report under this paragraph.
        ``(4) National standards and definitions.--To ensure uniform 
    and consistent data collection for all forest land that is publicly 
    or privately owned and for each State, the Secretary shall develop, 
    in consultation with State foresters and Federal land management 
    agencies not under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, and publish 
    national standards and definitions to be applied in inventorying 
    and analyzing forests and their resources under this subsection. 
    The standards shall include a core set of variables to be measured 
    on all sample plots under paragraph (2) and a standard set of 
    tables to be included in the reports under paragraph (3).
        ``(5) Protection for private property rights.--The Secretary 
    shall obtain authorization from property owners prior to collecting 
    data from sample plots located on private property pursuant to 
    paragraphs (2) and (3).
        ``(6) Strategic plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
    of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall prepare and 
    submit to Congress a strategic plan to implement and carry out this 
    subsection, including the annual updates required by paragraph (2) 
    and the reports required by paragraph (3), that shall describe in 
    detail--
            ``(A) the financial resources required to implement and 
        carry out this subsection, including the identification of any 
        resources required in excess of the amounts provided for forest 
        inventorying and analysis in recent appropriations Acts;
            ``(B) the personnel necessary to implement and carry out 
        this subsection, including any personnel in addition to 
        personnel currently performing inventorying and analysis 
        functions;
            ``(C) the organization and procedures necessary to 
        implement and carry out this subsection, including proposed 
        coordination with Federal land management agencies and State 
        foresters;
            ``(D) the schedules for annual sample plot measurements in 
        each State inventory required by paragraph (2) within the first 
        5-year interval after the date of enactment of this subsection;
            ``(E) the core set of variables to be measured in each 
        sample plot under paragraph (2) and the standard set of tables 
        to be used in each State and national report under paragraph 
        (3); and
            ``(F) the process for employing, in coordination with the 
        Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, remote sensing, global 
        positioning systems, and other advanced technologies to carry 
        out this subsection, and the subsequent use of the 
        technologies.''.
    (d) Forestry and Rangeland Competitive Research Grants.--Section 5 
of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 1644) is amended--
        (1) by striking the section heading and ``Sec. 5.'' and 
    inserting the following:
  ``SEC. 5. FORESTRY AND RANGELAND COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.
    ``(a) Competitive Grant Authority.--''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Emphasis on Certain High Priority Forestry Research.--The 
Secretary may use up to 5 percent of the amounts made available for 
research under section 3 to make competitive grants regarding forestry 
research in the high priority research areas identified under section 
3(d).
    ``(c) Emphasis on Certain High Priority Rangeland Research.--The 
Secretary may use up to 5 percent of the amounts made available for 
research under section 3 to make competitive grants regarding rangeland 
research in the high priority research areas identified under section 
3(d).
    ``(d) Priorities.--In making grants under subsections (b) and (c), 
the Secretary shall give priority to research proposals under which--
        ``(1) the proposed research will be collaborative research 
    organized through a center of scientific excellence;
        ``(2) the applicant agrees to provide matching funds (in the 
    form of direct funding or in-kind support) in an amount equal to 
    not less than 50 percent of the grant amount; and
        ``(3) the proposed research will be conducted as part of an 
    existing private and public partnership or cooperative research 
    effort and involves several interested research partners.''.

TITLE III--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                         EDUCATION AUTHORITIES

SEC. 301. EXTENSIONS.

    (a) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977.--The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended--
        (1) in subsection (l) of section 1417 (7 U.S.C. 3152) (as 
    redesignated by section 223(1)), by striking ``1997'' and inserting 
    ``2002'';
        (2) in section 1419(d) (7 U.S.C. 3154(d)), by striking ``1997'' 
    and inserting ``2002'';
        (3) in section 1419A(d) (7 U.S.C. 3155(d)), by striking 
    ``fiscal years 1996 and 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 
    1996 through 2002'';
        (4) in section 1424(d) (7 U.S.C. 3174(d)), by striking ``fiscal 
    years 1996 and 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 1996 
    through 2002'';
        (5) in section 1424A(d) (7 U.S.C. 3174a(d)), by striking 
    ``fiscal year 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 1997 
    through 2002'';
        (6) in section 1425(c)(3) (7 U.S.C. 3175(c)(3)), by striking 
    ``and 1997'' and inserting ``through 2002'';
        (7) in the first sentence of section 1433(a) (7 U.S.C. 
    3195(a)), by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
        (8) in section 1434(a) (7 U.S.C. 3196(a)), by striking ``1997'' 
    and inserting ``2002'';
        (9) in section 1447(b) (7 U.S.C. 3222b(b)), by striking ``and 
    1997'' and inserting ``through 2002'';
        (10) in section 1448 (7 U.S.C. 3222c)--
            (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``and 1997'' and 
        inserting ``through 2002''; and
            (B) in subsection (f), by striking ``1997'' and inserting 
        ``2002'';
        (11) in section 1455(c) (7 U.S.C. 3241(c)), by striking 
    ``fiscal year 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 1997 
    through 2002'';
        (12) in section 1463 (7 U.S.C. 3311), by striking ``1997'' each 
    place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ``2002'';
        (13) in section 1464 (7 U.S.C. 3312), by striking ``1997'' and 
    inserting ``2002'';
        (14) in section 1473D(a) (7 U.S.C. 3319d(a)), by striking 
    ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
        (15) in the first sentence of section 1477 (7 U.S.C. 3324), by 
    striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''; and
        (16) in section 1483(a) (7 U.S.C. 3336(a)), by striking 
    ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (b) Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.--The 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 is amended--
        (1) in section 1635(b) (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)), by striking ``1997'' 
    and inserting ``2002'';
        (2) in section 1673(h) (7 U.S.C. 5926(h)), by striking ``1997'' 
    and inserting ``2002'';
        (3) in section 2381(e) (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)), by striking 
    ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (c) Critical Agricultural Materials Act.--Section 16(a) of the 
Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7 U.S.C. 178n(a)) is amended by 
striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (d) Research Facilities Act.--Section 6(a) of the Research 
Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390d(a)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 
1996 and 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 1996 through 
2002''.
    (e) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act Amendments of 1985.--Section 1431 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 (Public 
Law 99-198; 99 Stat. 1556) is amended by striking ``1997'' and 
inserting ``2002''.
    (f) Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act.--
Subsection (b)(10) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)) is amended by striking ``1997'' and 
inserting ``2002''.
    (g) Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.--Sections 
533(b) and 535 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 
1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) are amended by striking 
``2000'' each place it appears and inserting ``2002''.
    (h) Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978.--Section 6 of the 
Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1675) is amended 
in the first sentence by striking ``the fiscal year ending September 
30, 1988,'' and all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting ``each of fiscal years 1987 through 2002.''.
    (i) National Aquaculture Act of 1980.--Section 10 of the National 
Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2809) is amended by striking ``the 
fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993'' each place it appears and inserting 
``fiscal years 1991 through 2002''.

SEC. 302. REPEALS.

    (a) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977.--Section 1476 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3323) is repealed.
    (b) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act Amendments of 1981.--Subsection (b) of section 1432 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 
1981 (Public Law 97-98; 7 U.S.C. 3222 note) is repealed.
    (c) Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.--
Subtitle G of title XIV and sections 1670 and 1675 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5501 et 
seq., 5923, 5928) are repealed.
    (d) Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.--
Subtitle E of title VIII of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 110 Stat. 1184) is repealed.

     TITLE IV--NEW AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION 
                              INITIATIVES

SEC. 401. INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS.

    (a) Treasury Account.--There is established in the Treasury of the 
United States an account to be known as the Initiative for Future 
Agriculture and Food Systems (referred to in this section as the 
``Account'') to provide funds for activities authorized under this 
section.
    (b) Funding.--
        (1) In general.--On October 1, 1998, and each October 1 
    thereafter through October 1, 2002, out of any funds in the 
    Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
    shall transfer $120,000,000 to the Account.
        (2) Entitlement.--The Secretary of Agriculture--
            (A) shall be entitled to receive the funds transferred to 
        the Account under paragraph (1);
            (B) shall accept the funds; and
            (C) shall use the funds to carry out this section.
    (c) Purposes.--
        (1) Critical emerging issues.--The Secretary shall use the 
    funds in the Account--
            (A) subject to paragraph (2), for research, extension, and 
        education grants (referred to in this section as ``grants'') to 
        address critical emerging agricultural issues related to--
                (i) future food production;
                (ii) environmental quality and natural resource 
            management; or
                (iii) farm income; and
            (B) for activities carried out under the Alternative 
        Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 
        U.S.C. 5901 et seq.).
        (2) Priority mission areas.--In making grants under this 
    section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board, 
    shall address priority mission areas related to--
            (A) agricultural genome;
            (B) food safety, food technology, and human nutrition;
            (C) new and alternative uses and production of agricultural 
        commodities and products;
            (D) agricultural biotechnology;
            (E) natural resource management, including precision 
        agriculture; and
            (F) farm efficiency and profitability, including the 
        viability and competitiveness of small- and medium-sized dairy, 
        livestock, crop, and other commodity operations.
    (d) Eligible Grantees.--The Secretary may make a grant under this 
section to--
        (1) a Federal research agency;
        (2) a national laboratory;
        (3) a college or university or a research foundation maintained 
    by a college or university; or
        (4) a private research organization with an established and 
    demonstrated capacity to perform research or technology transfer.
    (e) Special Considerations.--
        (1) Smaller institutions.--The Secretary may award grants under 
    this section in a manner that ensures that the faculty of small and 
    mid-sized institutions that have not previously been successful in 
    obtaining competitive grants under subsection (b) of the 
    Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 
    450i(b)) receive a portion of the grants under this section.
        (2) Priorities.--In making grants under this section, the 
    Secretary shall provide a higher priority to--
            (A) a project that is multistate, multi-institutional, or 
        multidisciplinary; or
            (B) a project that integrates agricultural research, 
        extension, and education.
    (f) Administration.--
        (1) In general.--In making grants under this section, the 
    Secretary shall--
            (A) seek and accept proposals for grants;
            (B) determine the relevance and merit of proposals through 
        a system of peer review in accordance with section 103;
            (C) award grants on the basis of merit, quality, and 
        relevance to advancing the purposes and priority mission areas 
        established under subsection (c); and
            (D) solicit and consider input from persons who conduct or 
        use agricultural research, extension, or education in 
        accordance with section 102(b).
        (2) Competitive basis.--A grant under this section shall be 
    awarded on a competitive basis.
        (3) Term.--A grant under this section shall have a term that 
    does not exceed 5 years.
        (4) Matching funds.--As a condition of making a grant under 
    this section, the Secretary shall require the funding of the grant 
    be matched with equal matching funds from a non-Federal source if 
    the grant is--
            (A) for applied research that is commodity-specific; and
            (B) not of national scope.
        (5) Delegation.--The Secretary shall administer this section 
    through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
    Service of the Department. The Secretary may establish 1 or more 
    institutes to carry out all or part of the activities authorized 
    under this section.
        (6) Availability of funds.--Funds for grants under this section 
    shall be available to the Secretary for obligation for a 2-year 
    period.
        (7) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may use not more than 
    4 percent of the funds made available for grants under this section 
    for administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out 
    this section.
        (8) Buildings and facilities.--Funds made available for grants 
    under this section shall not be used for the construction of a new 
    building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or 
    alteration of an existing building or facility (including site 
    grading and improvement and architect fees).
    SEC. 402. PARTNERSHIPS FOR HIGH-VALUE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT QUALITY 
      RESEARCH.
    (a) Definition of Eligible Partnership.--In this section, the term 
``eligible partnership'' means a partnership consisting of a land-grant 
college or university and other entities specified in subsection (c)(1) 
that satisfies the eligibility criteria specified in subsection (c).
    (b) Establishment of Partnerships by Grant.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture may make competitive grants to an eligible partnership to 
coordinate and manage research and extension activities to enhance the 
quality of high-value agricultural products.
    (c) Criteria for an Eligible Partnership.--
        (1) Primary institutions in partnership.--The primary 
    institution involved in an eligible partnership shall be a land-
    grant college or university, acting in partnership with other 
    colleges or universities, nonprofit research and development 
    entities, and Federal laboratories.
        (2) Prioritization of research activities.--An eligible 
    partnership shall prioritize research and extension activities in 
    order to--
            (A) enhance the competitiveness of United States 
        agricultural products;
            (B) increase exports of such products; and
            (C) substitute such products for imported products.
        (3) Coordination.--An eligible partnership shall coordinate 
    among the entities comprising the partnership the activities 
    supported by the eligible partnership, including the provision of 
    mechanisms for sharing resources between institutions and 
    laboratories and the coordination of public and private sector 
    partners to maximize cost-effectiveness.
    (d) Types of Research and Extension Activities.--Research or 
extension supported by an eligible partnership may address the full 
spectrum of production, processing, packaging, transportation, and 
marketing issues related to a high-value agricultural product. Such 
issues include--
        (1) environmentally responsible--
            (A) pest management alternatives and biotechnology;
            (B) sustainable farming methods; and
            (C) soil conservation and enhanced resource management;
        (2) genetic research to develop improved agricultural-based 
    products;
        (3) refinement of field production practices and technology to 
    improve quality, yield, and production efficiencies;
        (4) processing and package technology to improve product 
    quality, stability, or flavor intensity;
        (5) marketing research regarding consumer perceptions and 
    preferences;
        (6) economic research, including industry characteristics, 
    growth, and competitive analysis; and
        (7) research to facilitate diversified, value-added enterprises 
    in rural areas.
    (e) Elements of Grant Making Process.--
        (1) Period of grant.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
    this section for a period not to exceed 5 years.
        (2) Preferences.--In making grants under this section, the 
    Secretary shall provide a preference to proposals that--
            (A) demonstrate linkages with--
                (i) agencies of the Department;
                (ii) other related Federal research laboratories and 
            agencies;
                (iii) colleges and universities; and
                (iv) private industry; and
            (B) guarantee matching funds in excess of the amounts 
        required by paragraph (3).
        (3) Matching funds.--An eligible partnership shall contribute 
    an amount of non-Federal funds for the operation of the partnership 
    that is at least equal to the amount of grant funds received by the 
    partnership under this section.
    (f) Limitation on Use of Grant Funds.--Funds provided under this 
section may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, 
acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

SEC. 403. PRECISION AGRICULTURE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Agricultural inputs.--The term ``agricultural inputs'' 
    includes all farm management, agronomic, and field-applied 
    agricultural production inputs, such as machinery, labor, time, 
    fuel, irrigation water, commercial nutrients, feed stuffs, 
    veterinary drugs and vaccines, livestock waste, crop protection 
    chemicals, agronomic data and information, application and 
    management services, seed, and other inputs used in agricultural 
    production.
        (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
            (A) a State agricultural experiment station;
            (B) a college or university;
            (C) a research institution or organization;
            (D) a Federal or State government entity or agency;
            (E) a national laboratory;
            (F) a private organization or corporation;
            (G) an agricultural producer or other land manager; or
            (H) a precision agriculture partnership referred to in 
        subsection (g).
        (3) Precision agriculture.--The term ``precision agriculture'' 
    means an integrated information- and production-based farming 
    system that is designed to increase long-term, site-specific, and 
    whole farm production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability 
    while minimizing unintended impacts on wildlife and the environment 
    by--
            (A) combining agricultural sciences, agricultural inputs 
        and practices, agronomic production databases, and precision 
        agriculture technologies to efficiently manage agronomic and 
        livestock production systems;
            (B) gathering on-farm information pertaining to the 
        variation and interaction of site-specific spatial and temporal 
        factors affecting crop and livestock production;
            (C) integrating such information with appropriate data 
        derived from field scouting, remote sensing, and other 
        precision agriculture technologies in a timely manner in order 
        to facilitate on-farm decisionmaking; or
            (D) using such information to prescribe and deliver site-
        specific application of agricultural inputs and management 
        practices in agricultural production systems.
        (4) Precision agriculture technologies.--The term ``precision 
    agriculture technologies'' includes--
            (A) instrumentation and techniques ranging from 
        sophisticated sensors and software systems to manual sampling 
        and data collection tools that measure, record, and manage 
        spatial and temporal data;
            (B) technologies for searching out and assembling 
        information necessary for sound agricultural production 
        decisionmaking;
            (C) open systems technologies for data networking and 
        processing that produce valued systems for farm management 
        decisionmaking; or
            (D) machines that deliver information-based management 
        practices.
        (5) Systems research.--The term ``systems research'' means an 
    integrated, coordinated, and iterative investigative process that 
    involves--
            (A) the multiple interacting components and aspects of 
        precision agriculture systems, including synthesis of new 
        knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-biological processes 
        and complex interactions of the systems with cropping, 
        livestock production practices, and natural resource systems;
            (B) precision agriculture technologies development and 
        implementation;
            (C) data and information collection and interpretation;
            (D) production-scale planning;
            (E) production-scale implementation; and
            (F) farm production efficiencies, productivity, and 
        profitability.
    (b) Grants Authorized.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
    competitive grants, for periods not to exceed 5 years, to eligible 
    entities to conduct research, education, or information 
    dissemination projects for the development and advancement of 
    precision agriculture.
        (2) Private sector financing.--A grant under this section shall 
    be used to support only a project that the Secretary determines is 
    unlikely to be financed by the private sector.
        (3) Consultation with advisory board.--The Secretary shall make 
    grants under this section in consultation with the Advisory Board.
    (c) Purposes of Projects.--A research, education, or information 
dissemination project supported by a grant under this section shall 
address 1 or more of the following purposes:
        (1) The study and promotion of components of precision 
    agriculture technologies using a systems research approach designed 
    to increase long-term site-specific and whole-farm production 
    efficiencies, productivity, and profitability.
        (2) The improvement in the understanding of agronomic systems, 
    including, soil, water, land cover (including grazing land), pest 
    management systems, and meteorological variability.
        (3) The provision of training and educational programs for 
    State cooperative extension services agents, and other 
    professionals involved in the production and transfer of integrated 
    precision agriculture technology.
        (4) The development, demonstration, and dissemination of 
    information regarding precision agriculture technologies and 
    systems and the potential costs and benefits of precision 
    agriculture as it relates to--
            (A) increased long-term farm production efficiencies, 
        productivity, and profitability;
            (B) the maintenance of the environment;
            (C) improvements in international trade; and
            (D) an integrated program of education for agricultural 
        producers and consumers, including family owned and operated 
        farms.
        (5) The promotion of systems research and education projects 
    focusing on the integration of the multiple aspects of precision 
    agriculture, including development, production-scale 
    implementation, and farm production efficiencies, productivity, and 
    profitability.
        (6) The study of whether precision agriculture technologies are 
    applicable and accessible to small and medium-size farms and the 
    study of methods of improving the applicability of precision 
    agriculture technologies to those farms.
    (d) Grant Priorities.--In making grants to eligible entities under 
this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board, 
shall give priority to research, education, or information 
dissemination projects designed to accomplish the following:
        (1) Evaluate the use of precision agriculture technologies 
    using a systems research approach to increase long-term site-
    specific and whole-farm production efficiencies, productivity, and 
    profitability.
        (2) Integrate research, education, and information 
    dissemination components in a practical and readily available 
    manner so that the findings of the project will be made readily 
    usable by agricultural producers.
        (3) Demonstrate the efficient use of agricultural inputs, 
    rather than the uniform reduction in the use of agricultural 
    inputs.
        (4) Maximize the involvement and cooperation of precision 
    agriculture producers, certified crop advisers, State cooperative 
    extension services agents, agricultural input machinery, product 
    and service providers, nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, 
    veterinarians, land-grant colleges and universities, and Federal 
    agencies in precision agriculture systems research projects 
    involving on-farm research, education, and dissemination of 
    precision agriculture information.
        (5) Maximize collaboration with multiple agencies and other 
    partners, including through leveraging of funds and resources.
    (e) Matching Funds.--The amount of a grant under this section to an 
eligible entity (other than a Federal agency) may not exceed the amount 
that the eligible entity makes available out of non-Federal funds for 
precision agriculture research and for the establishment and 
maintenance of facilities necessary for conducting precision 
agriculture research.
    (f) Reservation of Funds for Education and Information 
Dissemination Projects.--Of the funds made available for grants under 
this section, the Secretary shall reserve a portion of the funds for 
grants for projects regarding precision agriculture related to 
education or information dissemination.
    (g) Precision Agriculture Partnerships.--In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board, shall 
encourage the establishment of appropriate multistate and national 
partnerships or consortia between--
        (1) land-grant colleges and universities, State agricultural 
    experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, other 
    colleges and universities with demonstrable expertise regarding 
    precision agriculture, agencies of the Department, national 
    laboratories, agribusinesses, agricultural equipment and input 
    manufacturers and retailers, certified crop advisers, commodity 
    organizations, veterinarians, other Federal or State government 
    entities and agencies, or nonagricultural industries and nonprofit 
    organizations with demonstrable expertise regarding precision 
    agriculture; and
        (2) agricultural producers or other land managers.
    (h) Limitation Regarding Facilities.--A grant made under this 
section may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, 
acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
        (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated such 
    sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal 
    years 1999 through 2002, of which, for each fiscal year--
            (A) not less than 30 percent shall be available to make 
        grants for research to be conducted by multidisciplinary teams; 
        and
            (B) not less than 40 percent shall be available to make 
        grants for research to be conducted by eligible entities 
        conducting systems research directly applicable to producers 
        and agricultural production systems.
        (2) Availability of funds.--Funds made available under 
    paragraph (1) shall be available for obligation for a 2-year period 
    beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year for which the funds are 
    made available.

SEC. 404. BIOBASED PRODUCTS.

    (a) Definition of Biobased Product.--In this section, the term 
``biobased product'' means a product suitable for food or nonfood use 
that is derived in whole or in part from renewable agricultural and 
forestry materials.
    (b) Coordination of Biobased Product Activities.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall--
        (1) coordinate the research, technical expertise, economic 
    information, and market information resources and activities of the 
    Department to develop, commercialize, and promote the use of 
    biobased products;
        (2) solicit input from private sector persons who produce, or 
    are interested in producing, biobased products;
        (3) provide a centralized contact point for advice and 
    technical assistance for promising and innovative biobased 
    products; and
        (4) submit an annual report to Congress describing the 
    coordinated research, marketing, and commercialization activities 
    of the Department relating to biobased products.
    (c) Cooperative Agreements for Biobased Products.--
        (1) Agreements authorized.--The Secretary may enter into 
    cooperative agreements with private entities described in 
    subsection (d), under which the facilities and technical expertise 
    of the Agricultural Research Service may be made available to 
    operate pilot plants and other large-scale preparation facilities 
    for the purpose of bringing technologies necessary for the 
    development and commercialization of new biobased products to the 
    point of practical application.
        (2) Description of cooperative activities.--Cooperative 
    activities may include--
            (A) research on potential environmental impacts of a 
        biobased product;
            (B) methods to reduce the cost of manufacturing a biobased 
        product; and
            (C) other appropriate research.
    (d) Eligible Partners.--The following entities shall be eligible to 
enter into a cooperative agreement under subsection (c):
        (1) A party that has entered into a cooperative research and 
    development agreement with the Secretary under section 12 of the 
    Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
    3710a).
        (2) A recipient of funding from the Alternative Agricultural 
    Research and Commercialization Corporation established under 
    section 1658 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
    of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5902).
        (3) A recipient of funding from the Biotechnology Research and 
    Development Corporation.
        (4) A recipient of funding from the Secretary under a Small 
    Business Innovation Research Program established under section 9 of 
    the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
    (e) Pilot Project.--The Secretary, acting through the Agricultural 
Research Service, may establish and carry out a pilot project under 
which grants are provided, on a competitive basis, to scientists of the 
Agricultural Research Service to--
        (1) encourage innovative and collaborative science; and
        (2) during each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001, develop 
    biobased products with promising commercial potential.
    (f) Source of Funds.--
        (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), to carry 
    out this section, the Secretary may use--
            (A) funds appropriated to carry out this section; and
            (B) funds otherwise available for cooperative research and 
        development agreements under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
        Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).
        (2) Exception.--The Secretary may not use funds referred to in 
    paragraph (1)(B) to carry out subsection (e).
    (g) Sale of Developed Products.-- For the purpose of determining 
the market potential for new biobased products produced at a pilot 
plant or other large-scale preparation facility under a cooperative 
agreement under this section, the Secretary shall authorize the private 
partner or partners to the agreement to sell the products.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
    SEC. 405. THOMAS JEFFERSON INITIATIVE FOR CROP DIVERSIFICATION.
    (a) Initiative Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
provide for a research initiative (to be known as the ``Thomas 
Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification'') for the purpose of 
conducting research and development, in cooperation with other public 
and private entities, on the production and marketing of new and 
nontraditional crops needed to strengthen and diversify the 
agricultural production base of the United States.
    (b) Research and Education Efforts.--The initiative shall include 
research and education efforts regarding new and nontraditional crops 
designed--
        (1) to identify and overcome agronomic barriers to profitable 
    production;
        (2) to identify and overcome other production and marketing 
    barriers; and
        (3) to develop processing and utilization technologies for new 
    and nontraditional crops.
    (c) Purposes.--The purposes of the initiative are--
        (1) to develop a focused program of research and development at 
    the regional and national levels to overcome barriers to the 
    development of--
            (A) new crop opportunities for agricultural producers; and
            (B) related value-added enterprises in rural communities; 
        and
        (2) to ensure a broad-based effort encompassing research, 
    education, market development, and support of entrepreneurial 
    activity leading to increased agricultural diversification.
    (d) Establishment of Initiative.--The Secretary shall coordinate 
the initiative through a nonprofit center or institute that will 
coordinate research and education programs in cooperation with other 
public and private entities. The Secretary shall administer research 
and education grants made under this section.
    (e) Regional Emphasis.--
        (1) Required.--The Secretary shall support development of 
    multistate regional efforts in crop diversification.
        (2) Site-specific crop development efforts.--Of funding made 
    available to carry out the initiative, not less than 50 percent 
    shall be used for regional efforts centered at colleges and 
    universities in order to facilitate site-specific crop development 
    efforts.
    (f) Eligible Grantee.--The Secretary may award funds under this 
section to colleges or universities, nonprofit organizations, public 
agencies, or individuals.
    (g) Administration.--
        (1) Grants and contracts.--Grants awarded through the 
    initiative shall be selected on a competitive basis.
        (2) Private businesses.--The recipient of a grant may use a 
    portion of the grant funds for standard contracts with private 
    businesses, such as for test processing of a new or nontraditional 
    crop.
        (3) Terms.--The term of a grant awarded through the initiative 
    may not exceed 5 years.
        (4) Matching funds.--The Secretary shall require the recipient 
    of a grant awarded through the initiative to contribute an amount 
    of funds from non-Federal sources that is at least equal to the 
    amount provided by the Federal Government.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
    SEC. 406. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION COMPETITIVE 
      GRANTS PROGRAM.
    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to authorize the 
Secretary of Agriculture to establish an integrated research, 
education, and extension competitive grant program to provide funding 
for integrated, multifunctional agricultural research, extension, and 
education activities.
    (b) Competitive Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations to carry out this section, the Secretary may award 
grants to colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) on a competitive basis for integrated 
agricultural research, education, and extension projects in accordance 
with this section.
    (c) Criteria for Grants.--Grants under this section shall be 
awarded to address priorities in United States agriculture, determined 
by the Secretary in consultation with the Advisory Board, that involve 
integrated research, extension, and education activities.
    (d) Matching of Funds.--
        (1) General requirement.--If a grant under this section 
    provides a particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, 
    the Secretary shall require the recipient of the grant to provide 
    funds or in-kind support to match the amount of funds provided by 
    the Secretary in the grant.
        (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching funds 
    requirement specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a grant if 
    the Secretary determines that--
            (A) the results of the project, while of particular benefit 
        to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be 
        applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
            (B) the project involves a minor commodity, the project 
        deals with scientifically important research, and the grant 
        recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
    SEC. 407. COORDINATED PROGRAM OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION 
      TO IMPROVE VIABILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE DAIRY, LIVESTOCK, 
      AND POULTRY OPERATIONS.
    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may carry out 
a coordinated program of research, extension, and education to improve 
the competitiveness, viability, and sustainability of small and medium 
size dairy, livestock, and poultry operations (referred to in this 
section as ``operations'').
    (b) Components.--To the extent the Secretary elects to carry out 
the program, the Secretary shall conduct--
        (1) research, development, and on-farm extension and education 
    concerning low-cost production facilities and practices, management 
    systems, and genetics that are appropriate for the operations;
        (2) in the case of dairy and livestock operations, research and 
    extension on management-intensive grazing systems for dairy and 
    livestock production to realize the potential for reduced capital 
    and feed costs through greater use of management skills, labor 
    availability optimization, and the natural benefits of grazing 
    pastures;
        (3) research and extension on integrated crop and livestock or 
    poultry systems that increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and 
    prevent environmental pollution to strengthen the competitive 
    position of the operations;
        (4) economic analyses and market feasibility studies to 
    identify new and expanded opportunities for producers on the 
    operations that provide tools and strategies to meet consumer 
    demand in domestic and international markets, such as cooperative 
    marketing and value-added strategies for milk, meat, and poultry 
    production and processing; and
        (5) technology assessment that compares the technological 
    resources of large specialized producers with the technological 
    needs of producers on the operations to identify and transfer 
    existing technology across all sizes and scales and to identify the 
    specific research and education needs of the producers.
    (c) Administration.--The Secretary may use the funds, facilities, 
and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research Service and the 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and other 
funds available to the Secretary (other than funds of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation) to carry out this section.
    SEC. 408. SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH REGARDING DISEASES OF WHEAT AND 
      BARLEY CAUSED BY FUSARIUM GRAMINEARUM.
    (a) Research Grant Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may 
make a grant to a consortium of land-grant colleges and universities to 
enhance the ability of the consortium to carry out a multi-State 
research project aimed at understanding and combating diseases of wheat 
and barley caused by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi (referred 
to in this section as ``wheat scab'').
    (b) Research Components.--Funds provided under this section shall 
be available for the following collaborative, multi-State research 
activities:
        (1) Identification and understanding of the epidemiology of 
    wheat scab and the toxicological properties of vomitoxin, a toxic 
    metabolite commonly occurring in wheat and barley infected with 
    wheat scab.
        (2) Development of crop management strategies to reduce the 
    risk of wheat scab occurrence.
        (3) Development of--
            (A) efficient and accurate methods to monitor wheat and 
        barley for the presence of wheat scab and resulting vomitoxin 
        contamination;
            (B) post-harvest management techniques for wheat and barley 
        infected with wheat scab; and
            (C) milling and food processing techniques to render 
        contaminated grain safe.
        (4) Strengthening and expansion of plant-breeding activities to 
    enhance the resistance of wheat and barley to wheat scab, including 
    the establishment of a regional advanced breeding material 
    evaluation nursery and a germplasm introduction and evaluation 
    system.
        (5) Development and deployment of alternative fungicide 
    application systems and formulations to control wheat scab and 
    consideration of other chemical control strategies to assist 
    farmers until new more resistant wheat and barley varieties are 
    available.
    (c) Communications Networks.--Funds provided under this section 
shall be available for efforts to concentrate, integrate, and 
disseminate research, extension, and outreach-orientated information 
regarding wheat scab.
    (d) Management.--To oversee the use of a grant made under this 
section, the Secretary may establish a committee composed of the 
directors of the agricultural experiment stations in the States in 
which land-grant colleges and universities that are members of the 
consortium are located.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,200,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1999 through 2002.

               TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS
                     Subtitle A--Food Stamp Program

    SEC. 501. REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING 
      PROGRAMS.
    Section 16(h)(1)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2025(h)(1)(A)) is amended--
        (1) in clause (iv)(II), by striking ``$131,000,000'' and 
    inserting ``$31,000,000''; and
        (2) in clause (v)(II), by striking ``$131,000,000'' and 
    inserting ``$86,000,000''.

SEC. 502. REDUCTIONS IN PAYMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2025) is amended--
        (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking ``The 
    Secretary'' and inserting ``Subject to subsection (k), the 
    Secretary''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Reductions in Payments for Administrative Costs.--
        ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
            ``(A) AFDC program.--The term `AFDC program' means the 
        program of aid to families with dependent children established 
        under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        601 et seq. (as in effect, with respect to a State, during the 
        base period for that State)).
            ``(B) Base period.--The term `base period' means the period 
        used to determine the amount of the State family assistance 
        grant for a State under section 403 of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 603).
            ``(C) Medicaid program.--The term `medicaid program' means 
        the program of medical assistance under a State plan or under a 
        waiver of the plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
        ``(2) Determinations of amounts attributable to benefiting 
    programs.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
    this subsection, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in 
    consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the States, 
    shall, with respect to the base period for each State, determine--
            ``(A) the annualized amount the State received under 
        section 403(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        603(a)(3) (as in effect during the base period)) for 
        administrative costs common to determining the eligibility of 
        individuals, families, and households eligible or applying for 
        the AFDC program and the food stamp program, the AFDC program 
        and the medicaid program, and the AFDC program, the food stamp 
        program, and the medicaid program that were allocated to the 
        AFDC program; and
            ``(B) the annualized amount the State would have received 
        under section 403(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        603(a)(3) (as so in effect)), section 1903(a)(7) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)(7) (as so in effect)), and 
        subsection (a) of this section (as so in effect), for 
        administrative costs common to determining the eligibility of 
        individuals, families, and households eligible or applying for 
        the AFDC program and the food stamp program, the AFDC program 
        and the medicaid program, and the AFDC program, the food stamp 
        program, and the medicaid program, if those costs had been 
        allocated equally among such programs for which the individual, 
        family, or household was eligible or applied for.
        ``(3) Reduction in payment.--
            ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this section, effective for each of fiscal years 1999 through 
        2002, the Secretary shall reduce, for each fiscal year, the 
        amount paid under subsection (a) to each State by an amount 
        equal to the amount determined for the food stamp program under 
        paragraph (2)(B). The Secretary shall, to the extent 
        practicable, make the reductions required by this paragraph on 
        a quarterly basis.
            ``(B) Application.--If the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services does not make the determinations required by paragraph 
        (2) by September 30, 1999--
                ``(i) during the fiscal year in which the 
            determinations are made, the Secretary shall reduce the 
            amount paid under subsection (a) to each State by an amount 
            equal to the sum of the amounts determined for the food 
            stamp program under paragraph (2)(B) for fiscal year 1999 
            through the fiscal year during which the determinations are 
            made; and
                ``(ii) for each subsequent fiscal year through fiscal 
            year 2002, subparagraph (A) applies.
        ``(4) Appeal of determinations.--
            ``(A) In general.--Not later than 5 days after the date on 
        which the Secretary of Health and Human Services makes any 
        determination required by paragraph (2) with respect to a 
        State, the Secretary shall notify the chief executive officer 
        of the State of the determination.
            ``(B) Review by administrative law judge.--
                ``(i) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
            date on which a State receives notice under subparagraph 
            (A) of a determination, the State may appeal the 
            determination, in whole or in part, to an administrative 
            law judge of the Department of Health and Human Services by 
            filing an appeal with the administrative law judge.
                ``(ii) Documentation.--The administrative law judge 
            shall consider an appeal filed by a State under clause (i) 
            on the basis of such documentation as the State may submit 
            and as the administrative law judge may require to support 
            the final decision of the administrative law judge.
                ``(iii) Review.--In deciding whether to uphold a 
            determination, in whole or in part, the administrative law 
            judge shall conduct a thorough review of the issues and 
            take into account all relevant evidence.
                ``(iv) Deadline.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
            on which the record is closed, the administrative law judge 
            shall--

                    ``(I) make a final decision with respect to an 
                appeal filed under clause (i); and
                    ``(II) notify the chief executive officer of the 
                State of the decision.

            ``(C) Review by departmental appeals board.--
                ``(i) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
            date on which a State receives notice under subparagraph 
            (B) of a final decision, the State may appeal the decision, 
            in whole or in part, to the Departmental Appeals Board 
            established in the Department of Health and Human Services 
            (referred to in this paragraph as the `Board') by filing an 
            appeal with the Board.
                ``(ii) Review.--The Board shall review the decision on 
            the record.
                ``(iii) Deadline.--Not later than 60 days after the 
            date on which the appeal is filed, the Board shall--

                    ``(I) make a final decision with respect to an 
                appeal filed under clause (i); and
                    ``(II) notify the chief executive officer of the 
                State of the decision.

            ``(D) Judicial review.--The determinations of the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services under paragraph (2), and a final 
        decision of the administrative law judge or Board under 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, shall not be subject 
        to judicial review.
            ``(E) Reduced payments pending appeal.--The pendency of an 
        appeal under this paragraph shall not affect the requirement 
        that the Secretary reduce payments in accordance with paragraph 
        (3).
        ``(5) Allocation of administrative costs.--
            ``(A) In general.--No funds or expenditures described in 
        subparagraph (B) may be used to pay for costs--
                ``(i) eligible for reimbursement under subsection (a) 
            (or costs that would have been eligible for reimbursement 
            but for this subsection); and
                ``(ii) allocated for reimbursement to the food stamp 
            program under a plan submitted by a State to the Secretary 
            of Health and Human Services to allocate administrative 
            costs for public assistance programs.
            ``(B) Funds and expenditures.--Subparagraph (A) applies 
        to--
                ``(i) funds made available to carry out part A of title 
            IV, or title XX, of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 
            et seq., 1397 et seq.);
                ``(ii) expenditures made as qualified State 
            expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B) of that 
            Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)));
                ``(iii) any other Federal funds (except funds provided 
            under subsection (a)); and
                ``(iv) any other State funds that are--

                    ``(I) expended as a condition of receiving Federal 
                funds; or
                    ``(II) used to match Federal funds under a Federal 
                program other than the food stamp program.''.

    (b) Review of Methodology Used to Make Certain Determinations.--Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall--
        (1) review the adequacy of the methodology used in making the 
    determinations required under section 16(k)(2)(B) of the Food Stamp 
    Act of 1977 (as added by subsection (a)(2)); and
        (2) submit a written report on the results of the review to the 
    Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
    Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
    SEC. 503. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR REFUGEES AND CERTAIN 
      OTHER QUALIFIED ALIENS FROM 5 TO 7 YEARS.
    Section 402(a)(2)(A) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(A)) is 
amended--
        (1) by striking clause (ii);
        (2) by striking ``asylees.--'' and all that follows through 
    ``paragraph (3)(A)'' and inserting ``asylees.--With respect to the 
    specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)''; and
        (3) by redesignating subclauses (I) through (V) as clauses (i) 
    through (v) and indenting appropriately.

SEC. 504. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN DISABLED ALIENS.

    Section 402(a)(2)(F) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(F)) is 
amended--
        (1) by striking ``program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating 
    to the supplemental security income program)'' and inserting 
    ``specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)''; and
        (2) in clause (ii)--
            (A) by inserting ``(I) in the case of the specified Federal 
        program described in paragraph (3)(A),'' after ``(ii)'';
            (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
        and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
                ``(II) in the case of the specified Federal program 
            described in paragraph (3)(B), is receiving benefits or 
            assistance for blindness or disability (within the meaning 
            of section 3(r) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
            2012(r))).''.

SEC. 505. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN INDIANS.

    Section 402(a)(2)(G) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(G)) is 
amended--
        (1) in the subparagraph heading, by striking ``SSI exception'' 
    and inserting ``Exception''; and
        (2) by striking ``program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating 
    to the supplemental security income program)'' and inserting 
    ``specified Federal programs described in paragraph (3)''.
    SEC. 506. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS.
    Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
            ``(I) Food stamp exception for certain elderly 
        individuals.--With respect to eligibility for benefits for the 
        specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), 
        paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual who on August 
        22, 1996--
                ``(i) was lawfully residing in the United States; and
                ``(ii) was 65 years of age or older.''.

SEC. 507. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN.

    Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) (as 
amended by section 506) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(J) Food stamp exception for certain children.--With 
        respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal 
        program described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not 
        apply to any individual who--
                ``(i) was lawfully residing in the United States on 
            August 22, 1996; and
                ``(ii) is under 18 years of age.''.
    SEC. 508. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN HMONG AND HIGHLAND 
      LAOTIANS.
    Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) (as 
amended by section 507) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(K) Food stamp exception for certain hmong and highland 
        laotians.--With respect to eligibility for benefits for the 
        specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), 
        paragraph (1) shall not apply to--
                ``(i) any individual who--

                    ``(I) is lawfully residing in the United States; 
                and
                    ``(II) was a member of a Hmong or Highland Laotian 
                tribe at the time that the tribe rendered assistance to 
                United States personnel by taking part in a military or 
                rescue operation during the Vietnam era (as defined in 
                section 101 of title 38, United States Code);

                ``(ii) the spouse, or an unmarried dependent child, of 
            such an individual; or
                ``(iii) the unremarried surviving spouse of such an 
            individual who is deceased.''.

SEC. 509. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    Section 403(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(d)) is amended--
        (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``SSI'' and all that 
    follows through ``Indians'' and inserting ``Benefits for Certain 
    Groups'';
        (2) by striking ``not apply to an individual'' and inserting 
    ``not apply to--
        ``(1) an individual'';
        (3) by striking ``(a)(3)(A)'' and inserting ``(a)(3)''; and
        (4) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; 
    and
        (5) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(2) an individual, spouse, or dependent described in section 
    402(a)(2)(K), but only with respect to the specified Federal 
    program described in section 402(a)(3)(B).''.

SEC. 510. EFFECTIVE DATES.

    (a) Reductions.--The amendments made by sections 501 and 502 take 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Food Stamp Eligibility.--The amendments made by sections 503 
through 509 take effect on November 1, 1998.

               Subtitle B--Information Technology Funding

SEC. 521. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--Section 4(g) of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714b(g)) is amended in the first sentence by 
striking ``$275,000,000'' and inserting ``$193,000,000''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) takes 
effect on October 1, 1997.

                       Subtitle C--Crop Insurance

SEC. 531. FUNDING.

    Section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1516) is 
amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)--
            (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
        ``(1) Discretionary expenses.--There are authorized to be 
    appropriated for fiscal year 1999 and each subsequent fiscal year 
    such sums as are necessary to cover the salaries and expenses of 
    the Corporation.''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2)--
                (i) by inserting after ``are necessary to cover'' the 
            following: ``for each of the 1999 and subsequent 
            reinsurance years''; and
                (ii) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
            following:
            ``(A) the administrative and operating expenses of the 
        Corporation for the sales commissions of agents; and''; and
        (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Payment of Corporation Expenses From Insurance Fund.--
        ``(1) Expenses generally.--For each of the 1999 and subsequent 
    reinsurance years, the Corporation may pay from the insurance fund 
    established under subsection (c) all expenses of the Corporation 
    (other than expenses covered by subsection (a)(1) and expenses 
    covered by paragraph (2)(A)), including--
            ``(A) premium subsidies and indemnities;
            ``(B) administrative and operating expenses of the 
        Corporation necessary to pay the sales commissions of agents; 
        and
            ``(C) all administrative and operating expense 
        reimbursements due under a reinsurance agreement with an 
        approved insurance provider.
        ``(2) Research and development expenses.--
            ``(A) In general.--For each of the 1999 and subsequent 
        reinsurance years, the Corporation may pay from the insurance 
        fund established under subsection (c) research and development 
        expenses of the Corporation, but not to exceed $3,500,000 for 
        each fiscal year.
            ``(B) Dairy options pilot program.--Amounts necessary to 
        carry out the dairy options pilot program shall not be counted 
        toward the limitation on research and development expenses 
        specified in subparagraph (A).''.

SEC. 532. BUDGETARY OFFSETS.

    (a) Administrative Fee for Catastrophic Risk Protection.--Section 
508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)) is amended 
by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
        ``(5) Administrative fee.--
            ``(A) Basic fee.--Each producer shall pay an administrative 
        fee for catastrophic risk protection in an amount equal to 10 
        percent of the premium for the catastrophic risk protection or 
        $50 per crop per county, whichever is greater, as determined by 
        the Corporation.
            ``(B) Additional fee.--In addition to the amount required 
        under subparagraph (A), the producer shall pay a $10 fee for 
        each amount determined under subparagraph (A).
            ``(C) Time for payment.--The amounts required under 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be paid by the producer on the 
        date that premium for a policy of additional coverage would be 
        paid by the producer.
            ``(D) Use of fees.--
                ``(i) In general.--The amounts paid under this 
            paragraph shall be deposited in the crop insurance fund 
            established under section 516(c), to be available for the 
            programs and activities of the Corporation.
                ``(ii) Limitation.--No funds deposited in the crop 
            insurance fund under this subparagraph may be used to 
            compensate an approved insurance provider or agent for the 
            delivery of services under this subsection.
            ``(E) Waiver of fee.--The Corporation shall waive the 
        amounts required under this paragraph for limited resource 
        farmers, as defined by the Corporation.''.
    (b) Administrative Fee for Additional Coverage.--Section 508(c)(10) 
of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(c)(10)) is amended--
        (1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
            ``(A) Fee required.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        paragraph, if a producer elects to purchase additional coverage 
        for a crop at a level that is less than 65 percent of the 
        recorded or appraised average yield indemnified at 100 percent 
        of the expected market price, or an equivalent coverage, the 
        producer shall pay an administrative fee for the additional 
        coverage. The administrative fee for the producer shall be $50 
        per crop per county, but not to exceed $200 per producer per 
        county, up to a maximum of $600 per producer for all counties 
        in which a producer has insured crops. Subparagraphs (D) and 
        (E) of subsection (b)(5) shall apply with respect to the use of 
        administrative fees under this subparagraph.''; and
        (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$10'' and inserting 
    ``$20''.
    (c) Reimbursement for Administrative and Operating Costs.--Section 
508(k) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(k)) is amended 
by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
        ``(4) Rate.--
            ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
        the rate established by the Board to reimburse approved 
        insurance providers and agents for the administrative and 
        operating costs of the providers and agents shall not exceed--
                ``(i) for the 1998 reinsurance year, 27 percent of the 
            premium used to define loss ratio; and
                ``(ii) for each of the 1999 and subsequent reinsurance 
            years, 24.5 percent of the premium used to define loss 
            ratio.
            ``(B) Proportional reductions.--A policy of additional 
        coverage that received a rate of reimbursement for 
        administrative and operating costs for the 1998 reinsurance 
        year that is lower than the rate specified in subparagraph 
        (A)(i) shall receive a reduction in the rate of reimbursement 
        that is proportional to the reduction in the rate of 
        reimbursement between clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph 
        (A).''.
    (d) Loss Adjustment Expenses for Catastrophic Risk Protection.--
Section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(11) Loss adjustment.--The rate for reimbursing an approved 
    insurance provider or agent for expenses incurred by the approved 
    insurance provider or agent for loss adjustment in connection with 
    a policy of catastrophic risk protection shall not exceed 11 
    percent of the premium for catastrophic risk protection that is 
    used to define loss ratio.''.

SEC. 533. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO CERTAIN INQUIRIES.

    Section 506 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1506) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(s) Procedures for Responding to Certain Inquiries.--
        ``(1) Procedures required.--The Corporation shall establish 
    procedures under which the Corporation will provide a final agency 
    determination in response to an inquiry regarding the 
    interpretation by the Corporation of this title or any regulation 
    issued under this title.
        ``(2) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
    of enactment of this subsection, the Corporation shall issue 
    regulations to implement this subsection. At a minimum, the 
    regulations shall establish--
            ``(A) the manner in which inquiries described in paragraph 
        (1) are required to be submitted to the Corporation; and
            ``(B) a reasonable maximum number of days within which the 
        Corporation will respond to all inquiries.
        ``(3) Effect of failure to timely respond.--If the Corporation 
    fails to respond to an inquiry in accordance with the procedures 
    established pursuant to this subsection, the person requesting the 
    interpretation of this title or regulation may assume the 
    interpretation is correct for the applicable reinsurance year.''.
    SEC. 534. TIME PERIOD FOR RESPONDING TO SUBMISSION OF NEW POLICIES.
    Section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(h)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(10) Time limits for response to submission of new 
    policies.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Board shall establish a reasonable 
        time period within which the Board shall approve or disapprove 
        a proposal from a person regarding a new policy submitted in 
        accordance with this subsection.
            ``(B) Effect of failure to meet time limits.--Except as 
        provided in subparagraph (C), if the Board fails to provide a 
        response to a proposal described in subparagraph (A) in 
        accordance with subparagraph (A), the new policy shall be 
        deemed to be approved by the Board for purposes of this 
        subsection for the initial reinsurance year designated for the 
        new policy in the request.
            ``(C) Exceptions.--Subparagraph (B) shall not apply to a 
        proposal submitted under this subsection if the Board and the 
        person submitting the request agree to an extension of the time 
        period.''.

SEC. 535. CROP INSURANCE STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into a contract, 
with 1 or more entities outside the Federal Government with expertise 
in the establishment and delivery of crop and revenue insurance to 
agricultural producers, under which the contractor shall conduct a 
study of crop insurance issues specified in the contract, including--
        (1) improvement of crop insurance service to agricultural 
    producers;
        (2) options for transforming the role of the Federal Government 
    from a crop insurance provider to solely that of a crop insurance 
    regulator; and
        (3) privatization of crop insurance coverage.
    (b) Contractor.--Not later than 180 days after the date the 
contract is entered into, the contractor shall complete the study and 
submit a report on the study, including appropriate recommendations, to 
the Secretary.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date the Secretary 
receives the report, the Secretary shall submit the report, and any 
comments on the report, to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate.
    SEC. 536. REQUIRED TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STANDARD REINSURANCE 
      AGREEMENTS.
    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``approved insurance 
provider'' and ``Corporation'' have the meanings given the terms in 
section 502(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(b)).
    (b) Terms and Conditions.--
        (1) Incorporation of amendments.--For each of the 1999 and 
    subsequent reinsurance years, the Corporation shall ensure that 
    each Standard Reinsurance Agreement between an approved insurance 
    provider and the Corporation reflects the amendments to the Federal 
    Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) that are made by this 
    subtitle to the extent the amendments are applicable to approved 
    insurance providers.
        (2) Retention of existing provisions.--Except to the extent 
    necessary to implement the amendments made by this subtitle, each 
    Standard Reinsurance Agreement described in paragraph (1) shall 
    contain the following provisions of the Standard Reinsurance 
    Agreement for the 1998 reinsurance year:
            (A) Section II, concerning the terms of reinsurance and 
        underwriting gain and loss for an approved insurance provider.
            (B) Section III, concerning the terms for subsidies and 
        administrative fees for an approved insurance provider.
            (C) Section IV, concerning the terms for loss adjustment 
        for an approved insurance provider under catastrophic risk 
        protection.
            (D) Section V.C., concerning interest payments between the 
        Corporation and an approved insurance provider.
            (E) Section V.I.5., concerning liquidated damages.
    (c) Implementation.--To implement this subtitle and the amendments 
made by this subtitle, the Corporation is not required to amend 
provisions of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement not specifically 
affected by this subtitle or an amendment made by this subtitle.

SEC. 537. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as provided in section 535, this subtitle and the amendments 
made by this subtitle take effect on July 1, 1998.

                   TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
                    Subtitle A--Existing Authorities

SEC. 601. RETENTION AND USE OF FEES.

    (a) Organic Certification.--Section 2107 of the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6506) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(d) Availability of Fees.--
        ``(1) Account.--Fees collected under subsection (a)(10) 
    (including late payment penalties and interest earned from 
    investment of the fees) shall be credited to the account that 
    incurs the cost of the services provided under this title.
        ``(2) Use.--The collected fees shall be available to the 
    Secretary, without further appropriation or fiscal-year limitation, 
    to pay the expenses of the Secretary incurred in providing 
    accreditation services under this title.''.
    (b) National Arboretum.--Section 6(b) of the Act of March 4, 1927 
(20 U.S.C. 196(b)), is amended by striking ``Treasury'' and inserting 
``Treasury. Amounts in the special fund shall be available to the 
Secretary of Agriculture, without further appropriation,''.
    (c) Patent Culture Collection Fees.--
        (1) Retention.--All funds collected by the Agricultural 
    Research Service of the Department of Agriculture in connection 
    with the acceptance of microorganisms for deposit in, or the 
    distribution of microorganisms from, the Patent Culture Collection 
    maintained and operated by the Agricultural Research Service shall 
    be credited to the appropriation supporting the maintenance and 
    operation of the Patent Culture Collection.
        (2) Use.--The collected funds shall be available to the 
    Agricultural Research Service, without further appropriation or 
    fiscal-year limitation, to carry out its responsibilities under law 
    (including international treaties) with respect to the Patent 
    Culture Collection.

SEC. 602. OFFICE OF ENERGY POLICY AND NEW USES.

    The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended 
by inserting after section 219 (7 U.S.C. 6919) the following:

``SEC. 220. OFFICE OF ENERGY POLICY AND NEW USES.

    ``The Secretary shall establish for the Department, in the Office 
of the Secretary, an Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.''.
    SEC. 603. KIWIFRUIT RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION 
      PROGRAM.
    (a) Amendments to Orders.--Section 554(c) of the National Kiwifruit 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 7463(c)) is 
amended in the second sentence by inserting before the period at the 
end the following: ``, except that an amendment to an order shall not 
require a referendum to become effective''.
    (b) National Kiwifruit Board.--Section 555 of the National 
Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
7464) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) 
    and inserting the following:
        ``(1) 10 members who are producers, exporters, or importers (or 
    their representatives), based on a proportional representation of 
    the level of domestic production and imports of kiwifruit (as 
    determined by the Secretary).
        ``(2) 1 member appointed from the general public.'';
        (2) in subsection (b)--
            (A) by striking ``Membership.--'' and all that follows 
        through ``paragraph (2), the'' and inserting ``Membership.--
        Subject to the 11-member limit, the''; and
            (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
        (3) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``who are producers'' 
        after ``members'';
            (B) in paragraph (3)--
                (i) by inserting ``who are importers or exporters'' 
            after ``members''; and
                (ii) by striking ``(a)(2)'' and inserting ``(a)(1)''; 
            and
            (C) in the second sentence of paragraph (5), by inserting 
        ``and alternate'' after ``member''.

SEC. 604. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE PROGRAM.

    (a) Continuation of Program.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
continue operation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database 
program (referred to in this section as the ``FARAD program'') through 
contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with appropriate colleges 
or universities.
    (b) Activities.--In carrying out the FARAD program, the Secretary 
shall--
        (1) provide livestock producers, extension specialists, 
    scientists, and veterinarians with information to prevent drug, 
    pesticide, and environmental contaminant residues in food animal 
    products;
        (2) maintain up-to-date information concerning--
            (A) withdrawal times on FDA-approved food animal drugs and 
        appropriate withdrawal intervals for drugs used in food animals 
        in the United States, as established under section 512(a) of 
        the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(a));
            (B) official tolerances for drugs and pesticides in 
        tissues, eggs, and milk;
            (C) descriptions and sensitivities of rapid screening tests 
        for detecting residues in tissues, eggs, and milk; and
            (D) data on the distribution and fate of chemicals in food 
        animals;
        (3) publish periodically a compilation of food animal drugs 
    approved by the Food and Drug Administration;
        (4) make information on food animal drugs available to the 
    public through handbooks and other literature, computer software, a 
    telephone hotline, and the Internet;
        (5) furnish producer quality-assurance programs with up-to-date 
    data on approved drugs;
        (6) maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date, residue avoidance 
    database;
        (7) provide professional advice for determining the withdrawal 
    times necessary for food safety in the use of drugs in food 
    animals; and
        (8) engage in other activities designed to promote food safety.
    (c) Contract, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary 
shall offer to enter into a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement 
with 1 or more appropriate colleges and universities to operate the 
FARAD program. The term of the contract, grant, or cooperative 
agreement shall be 3 years, with options to extend the term of the 
contract triennially.
    (d) Indirect Costs.--Federal funds provided by the Secretary under 
a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement under this section shall be 
subject to reduction for indirect costs of the recipient of the funds 
in an amount not to exceed 19 percent of the total Federal funds 
provided under the contract, grant, or cooperative agreement.
    SEC. 605. HONEY RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION.
    (a) Findings and Purposes.--Section 2 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4601) is amended--
        (1) by striking the section heading and all that follows 
    through ``The Congress finds that:'' and inserting the following:

``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:'';
        (2) in subsection (a) (as so designated)--
            (A) in paragraphs (6) and (7), by striking ``and consumer 
        education'' each place it appears and inserting ``consumer 
        education, and industry information''; and
            (B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
        ``(8) The ability to develop and maintain purity standards for 
    honey and honey products is critical to maintaining the consumer 
    confidence, safety, and trust that are essential components of any 
    undertaking to maintain and develop markets for honey and honey 
    products.
        ``(9) Research directed at improving the cost effectiveness and 
    efficiency of beekeeping, as well as developing better means of 
    dealing with pest and disease problems, is essential to keeping 
    honey and honey product prices competitive and facilitating market 
    growth as well as maintaining the financial well-being of the honey 
    industry.
        ``(10) Research involving the quality, safety, and image of 
    honey and honey products and how that quality, safety, and image 
    may be affected during the extraction, processing, packaging, 
    marketing, and other stages of the honey and honey product 
    production and distribution process, is highly important to 
    building and maintaining markets for honey and honey products.''; 
    and
        (3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
        ``(1) to authorize the establishment of an orderly procedure 
    for the development and financing, through an adequate assessment, 
    of an effective, continuous, and nationally coordinated program of 
    promotion, research, consumer education, and industry information 
    designed to--
            ``(A) strengthen the position of the honey industry in the 
        marketplace;
            ``(B) maintain, develop, and expand domestic and foreign 
        markets and uses for honey and honey products;
            ``(C) maintain and improve the competitiveness and 
        efficiency of the honey industry; and
            ``(D) sponsor research to develop better means of dealing 
        with pest and disease problems;
        ``(2) to maintain and expand the markets for all honey and 
    honey products in a manner that--
            ``(A) is not designed to maintain or expand any individual 
        producer's, importer's, or handler's share of the market; and
            ``(B) does not compete with or replace individual 
        advertising or promotion efforts designed to promote individual 
        brand name or trade name honey or honey products; and
        ``(3) to authorize and fund programs that result in government 
    speech promoting government objectives.
    ``(c) Administration.--Nothing in this Act--
        ``(1) prohibits the sale of various grades of honey;
        ``(2) provides for control of honey production;
        ``(3) limits the right of the individual honey producer to 
    produce honey; or
        ``(4) creates a trade barrier to honey or honey products 
    produced in a foreign country.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4602) is amended--
        (1) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
        ``(7) Handle.--
            ``(A) In general.--The term `handle' means to process, 
        package, sell, transport, purchase, or in any other way place 
        or cause to be placed in commerce, honey or a honey product.
            ``(B) Inclusion.--The term `handle' includes selling 
        unprocessed honey that will be consumed or used without further 
        processing or packaging.
            ``(C) Exclusions.--The term `handle' does not include--
                ``(i) the transportation of unprocessed honey by a 
            producer to a handler;
                ``(ii) the transportation by a commercial carrier of 
            honey, whether processed or unprocessed, for a handler or 
            producer; or
                ``(iii) the purchase of honey or a honey product by a 
            consumer or other end-user of the honey or honey 
            product.'';
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(19) Department.--The term `Department' means the Department 
    of Agriculture.
        ``(20) Honey production.--The term `honey production' means all 
    beekeeping operations related to--
            ``(A) managing honey bee colonies to produce honey;
            ``(B) harvesting honey from the colonies;
            ``(C) extracting honey from the honeycombs; and
            ``(D) preparing honey for sale for further processing.
        ``(21) Industry information.--The term `industry information' 
    means information or a program that will lead to the development of 
    new markets, new marketing strategies, or increased efficiency for 
    the honey industry, or an activity to enhance the image of honey 
    and honey products and of the honey industry.
        ``(22) National honey marketing cooperative.--The term 
    `national honey marketing cooperative' means a cooperative that 
    markets its products in at least 2 of the following 4 regions of 
    the United States, as determined by the Secretary:
            ``(A) The Atlantic Coast, including the District of 
        Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
            ``(B) The Mideast.
            ``(C) The Midwest.
            ``(D) The Pacific, including the States of Alaska and 
        Hawaii.
        ``(23) Qualified national organization representing handler 
    interests.--The term `qualified national organization representing 
    handler interests' means an organization that the Secretary 
    certifies as being eligible to recommend nominations for the 
    Committee handler, handler-importer, alternate handler, and 
    alternate handler-importer members of the Honey Board under section 
    7(b).
        ``(24) Qualified national organization representing importer 
    interests.--The term `qualified national organization representing 
    importer interests' means an organization that the Secretary 
    certifies as being eligible to recommend nominations for the 
    Committee importer, handler-importer, alternate importer, and 
    alternate handler-importer members of the Honey Board under section 
    7(b).''; and
        (3) by reordering the paragraphs so that they are in 
    alphabetical order by term defined and redesignating the paragraphs 
    accordingly.
    (c) Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order.--
Section 4 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Act (7 U.S.C. 4603) is amended by inserting ``and regulations'' after 
``orders''.
    (d) Notice and Hearing.--Section 5 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4604) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 5. NOTICE AND HEARING.

    ``(a) Notice and Comment.--In issuing an order under this Act, an 
amendment to an order, or a regulation to carry out this Act, the 
Secretary shall comply with section 553 of title 5, United States Code.
    ``(b) Formal Agency Action.--Sections 556 and 557 of that title 
shall not apply with respect to the issuance of an order, an amendment 
to an order, or a regulation under this Act.
    ``(c) Proposal of an Order.--A proposal for an order may be 
submitted to the Secretary by any organization or interested person 
affected by this Act.''.
    (e) Findings and Issuance of Order.--Section 6 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4605) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 6. FINDINGS AND ISSUANCE OF ORDER.

    ``After notice and opportunity for comment has been provided in 
accordance with section 5(a), the Secretary shall issue an order, an 
amendment to an order, or a regulation under this Act, if the Secretary 
finds, and specifies in the order, amendment, or regulation, that the 
issuance of the order, amendment, or regulation will assist in carrying 
out the purposes of this Act.''.
    (f) Required Terms of an Order.--
        (1) National honey nominations committee.--Section 7(b) of the 
    Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
    4606(b)) is amended--
            (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``except'' and all that 
        follows through ``three-year terms'' and inserting ``except 
        that the term of appointments to the Committee may be staggered 
        periodically, as determined by the Secretary''; and
            (B) in paragraph (5)--
                (i) in the second sentence, by striking ``after the 
            first annual meeting''; and
                (ii) in the third sentence, by striking ``per centum'' 
            and inserting ``percent''.
        (2) Honey board.--Section 7(c) of the Honey Research, 
    Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(c)) is 
    amended--
            (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as 
        paragraphs (8) through (11), respectively;
            (B) in paragraph (2)--
                (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``seven'' and 
            inserting ``7''; and
                (ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (E) and all 
            that follows and inserting the following:
            ``(B) 2 members who are handlers appointed from nominations 
        submitted by the Committee from recommendations made by 
        qualified national organizations representing handler 
        interests;
            ``(C) if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, 
        2 members who--
                ``(i) are handlers of honey;
                ``(ii) during any 3 of the preceding 5 years, were also 
            importers of record of at least 40,000 pounds of honey; and
                ``(iii) are appointed from nominations submitted by the 
            Committee from recommendations made by--

                    ``(I) qualified national organizations representing 
                handler interests or qualified national organizations 
                representing importer interests; or
                    ``(II) if the Secretary determines that there is 
                not a qualified national organization representing 
                handler interests or a qualified national organization 
                representing importer interests, individual handlers or 
                importers that have paid assessments to the Honey Board 
                on imported honey or honey products;

            ``(D) 2 members who are importers appointed from 
        nominations submitted by the Committee from recommendations 
        made by--
                ``(i) qualified national organizations representing 
            importer interests; or
                ``(ii) if the Secretary determines that there is not a 
            qualified national organization representing importer 
            interests, individual importers that have paid assessments 
            to the Honey Board on imported honey or honey products; and
            ``(E) 1 member who is an officer, director, or employee of 
        a national honey marketing cooperative appointed from 
        nominations submitted by the Committee from recommendations 
        made by qualified national honey marketing cooperatives.'';
            (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
        ``(3) Alternates.--The Committee shall submit nominations for 
    an alternate for each member of the Honey Board described in 
    paragraph (2). An alternate shall be appointed in the same manner 
    as a member and shall serve when the member is absent from a 
    meeting or is disqualified.
        ``(4) Reconstitution.--
            ``(A) Review.--If approved in a referendum conducted under 
        this Act and in accordance with rules issued by the Secretary, 
        the Honey Board shall review, at times determined under 
        subparagraph (E)--
                ``(i) the geographic distribution of the quantities of 
            domestically produced honey assessed under the order; and
                ``(ii) changes in the annual average percentage of 
            assessments owed by importers under the order relative to 
            assessments owed by producers and handlers of domestic 
            honey, including--

                    ``(I) whether any changes in assessments owed on 
                imported quantities are owed by importers described in 
                paragraph (5)(B); or
                    ``(II) whether such importers are handler-importers 
                described in paragraph (2)(C).

            ``(B) Recommendations.--If warranted and in accordance with 
        this subsection, the Honey Board shall recommend to the 
        Secretary--
                ``(i) changes in the regional representation of honey 
            producers established by the Secretary;
                ``(ii) if necessary to reflect any changes in the 
            proportion of domestic and imported honey assessed under 
            the order or the source of assessments on imported honey or 
            honey products, the reallocation of--

                    ``(I) handler-importer member positions under 
                paragraph (2)(C) as handler member positions under 
                paragraph (2)(B);
                    ``(II) importer member positions under paragraph 
                (2)(D) as handler-importer member positions under 
                paragraph (2)(C); or
                    ``(III) handler-importer member positions under 
                paragraph (2)(C) as importer member positions under 
                paragraph (2)(D); or

                ``(iii) if necessary to reflect any changes in the 
            proportion of domestic and imported honey or honey products 
            assessed under the order, the addition of members to the 
            Honey Board under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of 
            paragraph (2).
            ``(C) Scope of review.--The review required under 
        subparagraph (A) shall be based on data from the 5-year period 
        preceding the year in which the review is conducted.
            ``(D) Basis for recommendations.--
                ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
            (F), recommendations made under subparagraph (B) shall be 
            based on--

                    ``(I) the 5-year average annual assessments, 
                excluding the 2 years containing the highest and lowest 
                disparity between the proportion of assessments owed 
                from imported and domestic honey or honey products, 
                determined pursuant to the review that is conducted 
                under subparagraph (A); and
                    ``(II) whether any change in the average annual 
                assessments is from the assessments owed by importers 
                described in paragraph (5)(B) or from the assessments 
                owed by handler-importers described in paragraph 
                (2)(C).

                ``(ii) Proportions.--The Honey Board shall recommend a 
            reallocation or addition of members pursuant to clause (ii) 
            or (iii) of subparagraph (B) only if 1 or more of the 
            following proportions change by more than 6 percent from 
            the base period proportion determined in accordance with 
            subparagraph (F):

                    ``(I) The proportion of assessments owed by 
                handler-importers described in paragraph (2)(C) 
                compared with the proportion of assessments owed by 
                importers described in paragraph (2)(D).
                    ``(II) The proportion of assessments owed by 
                importers compared with the proportion of assessments 
                owed on domestic honey by producers and handlers.

            ``(E) Timing of review.--
                ``(i) In general.--The Honey Board shall conduct the 
            reviews required under this paragraph not more than once 
            during each 5-year period.
                ``(ii) Initial review.--The Honey Board shall conduct 
            the initial review required under this paragraph prior to 
            the initial continuation referendum conducted under section 
            13(c) following the referendum conducted under section 14.
            ``(F) Base period proportions.--
                ``(i) In general.--The base period proportions for 
            determining the magnitude of change under subparagraph (D) 
            shall be the proportions determined during the prior review 
            conducted under this paragraph.
                ``(ii) Initial review.--In the case of the initial 
            review required under subparagraph (E)(ii), the base period 
            proportions shall be the proportions determined by the 
            Honey Board for fiscal year 1996.
        ``(5) Restrictions on nomination and appointment.--
            ``(A) Producer-packers as producers.--No producer-packer 
        that, during any 3 of the preceding 5 years, purchased for 
        resale more honey than the producer-packer produced shall be 
        eligible for nomination or appointment to the Honey Board as a 
        producer described in paragraph (2)(A) or as an alternate to 
        such a producer.
            ``(B) Importers.--No importer that, during any 3 of the 
        preceding 5 years, did not receive at least 75 percent of the 
        gross income generated by the sale of honey and honey products 
        from the sale of imported honey and honey products shall be 
        eligible for nomination or appointment to the Honey Board as an 
        importer described in paragraph (2)(D) or an alternate to such 
        an importer.
        ``(6) Certification of organizations.--
            ``(A) In general.--The eligibility of an organization to 
        participate in the making of recommendations to the Committee 
        for nomination to the Honey Board to represent handlers or 
        importers under this section shall be certified by the 
        Secretary.
            ``(B) Eligibility criteria.--Subject to the other 
        provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary shall certify an 
        organization that the Secretary determines meets the 
        eligibility criteria established by the Secretary under this 
        paragraph.
            ``(C) Finality.--An eligibility determination of the 
        Secretary under this paragraph shall be final.
            ``(D) Basis for certification.--Certification of an 
        organization under this paragraph shall be based on, in 
        addition to other available information, a factual report 
        submitted by the organization that contains information 
        considered relevant by the Secretary, including--
                ``(i) the geographic territory covered by the active 
            membership of the organization;
                ``(ii) the nature and size of the active membership of 
            the organization, including the proportion of the total 
            number of active handlers or importers represented by the 
            organization;
                ``(iii) evidence of the stability and permanency of the 
            organization;
                ``(iv) sources from which the operating funds of the 
            organization are derived;
                ``(v) the functions of the organization; and
                ``(vi) the ability and willingness of the organization 
            to further the purposes of this Act.
            ``(E) Primary considerations.--A primary consideration in 
        determining the eligibility of an organization under this 
        paragraph shall be whether--
                ``(i) the membership of the organization consists 
            primarily of handlers or importers that derive a 
            substantial quantity of their income from sales of honey 
            and honey products; and
                ``(ii) the organization has an interest in the 
            marketing of honey and honey products.
            ``(F) Nonmembers.--As a condition of certification under 
        this paragraph, an organization shall agree--
                ``(i) to notify nonmembers of the organization of Honey 
            Board nomination opportunities for which the organization 
            is certified to make recommendations to the Committee; and
                ``(ii) to consider the nomination of nonmembers when 
            making the nominations of the organization to the 
            Committee, if nonmembers indicate an interest in serving on 
            the Honey Board.
        ``(7) Minimum percentage of honey producers.--Notwithstanding 
    any other provision of this subsection, at least 50 percent of the 
    members of the Honey Board shall be honey producers.''; and
            (D) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``except'' and all that follows through ``three-year terms'' 
        and inserting ``except that appointments to the Honey Board may 
        be staggered periodically, as determined by the Secretary, to 
        maintain continuity of the Honey Board with respect to all 
        members and with respect to members representing particular 
        groups.''.
        (3) Assessments.--Section 7(e) of the Honey Research, 
    Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(e)) is 
    amended--
            (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively;
            (B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
        ``(1) In general.--The Honey Board shall administer collection 
    of the assessment provided for in this subsection, and may accept 
    voluntary contributions from other sources, to finance the expenses 
    described in subsections (d) and (f).
        ``(2) Rate.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the 
    assessment rate shall be $0.0075 per pound (payable in the manner 
    described in section 9), with--
            ``(A) in the case of honey produced in the United States, 
        $0.0075 per pound payable by honey producers; and
            ``(B) in the case of honey or honey products imported into 
        the United States, $0.0075 per pound payable by honey 
        importers.
        ``(3) Alternative rate approved in referendum.--If approved in 
    a referendum conducted under this Act, the assessment rate shall be 
    $0.015 per pound (payable in the manner described in section 9)--
            ``(A) in the case of honey produced in the United States--
                ``(i) $0.0075 per pound payable by--

                    ``(I) honey producers; and
                    ``(II) producer-packers on all honey produced by 
                the producer-packers; and

                ``(ii) $0.0075 per pound payable by--

                    ``(I) handlers; and
                    ``(II) producer-packers on all honey and honey 
                products handled by the producer-packers, including 
                honey produced by the producer-packers); and

            ``(B) in the case of honey and honey products imported into 
        the United States, $0.015 per pound payable by honey importers, 
        of which $0.0075 per pound represents the assessment due from 
        the handler to be paid by the importer on behalf of the 
        handler.'';
            (C) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
            ``(B) Small quantities.--
                ``(i) In general.--A producer, producer-packer, 
            handler, or importer that produces, imports, or handles 
            during a year less than 6,000 pounds of honey or honey 
            products shall be exempt in that year from payment of an 
            assessment on honey or honey products that the person 
            distributes directly through local retail outlets, as 
            determined by the Secretary, during that year.
                ``(ii) Inapplicability.--If a person no longer meets 
            the requirements of clause (i) for an exemption, the person 
            shall--

                    ``(I) file a report with the Honey Board in the 
                form and manner prescribed by the Honey Board; and
                    ``(II) pay an assessment on or before March 15 of 
                the subsequent year on all honey or honey products 
                produced, imported, or handled by the person during the 
                year in which the person no longer meets the 
                requirements of clause (i) for an exemption.''; and

            (D) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)--
                (i) by inserting ``handler,'' after ``producer-packer'' 
            each place it appears;
                (ii) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting 
            ``paragraph (4)''; and
                (iii) by inserting ``, handler,'' after ``producer'' 
            the last place it appears.
        (4) Use of funds.--Section 7(f) of the Honey Research, 
    Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(f)) is 
    amended--
            (A) by striking ``(f) Funds collected by the Honey Board 
        from the assessments'' and inserting the following:
    ``(f) Funds.--
        ``(1) Use.--Funds collected by the Honey Board'';
            (B) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and inserting the 
        following:
        ``(3) Reimbursement.--The Secretary shall''; and
            (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as designated by 
        subparagraph (A)) the following:
        ``(2) Research projects.--
            ``(A) In general.--If approved in a referendum conducted 
        under this Act, the Honey Board shall reserve at least 8 
        percent of all assessments collected during a year for 
        expenditure on approved research projects designed to advance 
        the cost effectiveness, competitiveness, efficiency, pest and 
        disease control, and other management aspects of beekeeping, 
        honey production, and honey bees.
            ``(B) Carryover.--If all funds reserved under subparagraph 
        (A) are not allocated to approved research projects in a year, 
        any reserved funds remaining unallocated shall be carried 
        forward for allocation and expenditure under subparagraph (A) 
        in subsequent years.''.
        (5) False or unwarranted claims or statements.--Section 7(g) of 
    the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
    U.S.C. 4606(g)) is amended by striking ``with assessments 
    collected'' and inserting ``by the Honey Board''.
        (6) Influencing governmental policy or action.--Section 7(h) of 
    the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
    U.S.C. 4606(h)) is amended by striking ``through assessments 
    authorized by'' and inserting ``by the Honey Board under''.
    (g) Permissive Terms and Provisions.--Section 8 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4607) is 
amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``On''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(8) If approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, 
    providing authority for the development of programs and related 
    rules and regulations that will, with the approval of the 
    Secretary, establish minimum purity standards for honey and honey 
    products that are designed to maintain a positive and wholesome 
    marketing image for honey and honey products.
    ``(b) Inspection and Monitoring System.--
        ``(1) Inspection.--Any program, rule, or regulation under 
    subsection (a)(8) may provide for the inspection, by the Secretary, 
    of honey and honey products being sold for domestic consumption in, 
    or for export from, the United States.
        ``(2) Monitoring system.--The Honey Board may develop and 
    recommend to the Secretary a system for monitoring the purity of 
    honey and honey products being sold for domestic consumption in, or 
    for export from, the United States, including a system for 
    identifying adulterated honey.
        ``(3) Coordination with other federal agencies.--The Secretary 
    may coordinate, to the maximum extent practicable, with the head of 
    any other Federal agency that has authority to ensure compliance 
    with labeling or other requirements relating to the purity of honey 
    and honey products concerning an enforcement action against any 
    person that does not comply with a rule or regulation issued by any 
    other Federal agency concerning the labeling or purity requirements 
    of honey and honey products.
        ``(4) Authority to issue regulations.--The Secretary may issue 
    such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this 
    subsection.
    ``(c) Voluntary Quality Assurance Program.--
        ``(1) In general.--In addition to or independent of any 
    program, rule, or regulation under subsection (b), the Honey Board, 
    with the approval of the Secretary, may establish and carry out a 
    voluntary quality assurance program concerning purity standards for 
    honey and honey products.
        ``(2) Components.--The program may include--
            ``(A) the establishment of an official Honey Board seal of 
        approval to be displayed on honey and honey products of 
        producers, handlers, and importers that participate in the 
        voluntary program and are found to meet such standards of 
        purity as are established under the program;
            ``(B) actions to encourage producers, handlers, and 
        importers to participate in the program;
            ``(C) actions to encourage consumers to purchase honey and 
        honey products bearing the official seal of approval; and
            ``(D) periodic inspections by the Secretary, or other 
        parties approved by the Secretary, of honey and honey products 
        of producers, handlers, and importers that participate in the 
        voluntary program.
        ``(3) Display of seal of approval.--To be eligible to display 
    the official seal of approval established under paragraph (2)(A) on 
    a honey or honey product, a producer, handler, or importer shall 
    participate in the voluntary program under this subsection.
    ``(d) Authority of the Secretary.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this Act, the Secretary shall have the authority to 
approve or disapprove the establishment of minimum purity standards, 
the inspection and monitoring system under subsection (b), and the 
voluntary quality assurance program under subsection (c).''.
    (h) Collection of Assessments.--
        (1) New assessment.--Section 9 of the Honey Research, 
    Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is 
    amended--
            (A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Handlers.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 
first handler of honey shall be responsible, at the time of first 
purchase--
        ``(1) for the collection, and payment to the Honey Board, of 
    the assessment payable by a producer under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, 
    if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, under section 
    7(e)(3)(A)(i); and
        ``(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, for 
    the payment to the Honey Board of an additional assessment payable 
    by the handler under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii).'';
            (B) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Importers.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, at 
the time of entry of honey and honey products into the United States, 
an importer shall remit to the Honey Board through the United States 
Customs Service--
        ``(1) the assessment on the imported honey and honey products 
    required under section 7(e)(2)(B); or
        ``(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, the 
    assessment on the imported honey and honey products required under 
    section 7(e)(3)(B), of which the amount payable under section 
    7(e)(3)(A)(ii) represents the assessment due from the handler to be 
    paid by the importer on behalf of the handler.''; and
            (C) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
    ``(e) Producer-Packers.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, a producer-packer shall be responsible for the collection, and 
payment to the Honey Board, of--
        ``(1) the assessment payable by the producer-packer under 
    section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a referendum conducted under 
    this Act, under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i) on honey produced by the 
    producer-packer;
        ``(2) at the time of first purchase, the assessment payable by 
    a producer under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a referendum 
    conducted under this Act, under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i) on honey 
    purchased by the producer-packer as a first handler; and
        ``(3) if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, an 
    additional assessment payable by the producer-packer under section 
    7(e)(3)(A)(ii).''.
        (2) Inspection; books and records.--Section 9 of the Honey 
    Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) 
    is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
    ``(f) Inspection; Books and Records.--
        ``(1) In general.--To make available to the Secretary and the 
    Honey Board such information and data as are necessary to carry out 
    this Act (including an order or regulation issued under this Act), 
    a handler, importer, producer, or producer-packer responsible for 
    payment of an assessment under this Act, and a person receiving an 
    exemption from an assessment under section 7(e)(4), shall--
            ``(A) maintain and make available for inspection by the 
        Secretary and the Honey Board such books and records as are 
        required by the order and regulations issued under this Act; 
        and
            ``(B) file reports at the times, in the manner, and having 
        the content prescribed by the order and regulations, which 
        reports shall include the total number of bee colonies 
        maintained, the quantity of honey produced, and the quantity of 
        honey and honey products handled or imported.
        ``(2) Employee or agent.--To conduct an inspection or review a 
    report of a handler, importer, producer, or producer-packer under 
    paragraph (1), an individual shall be an employee or agent of the 
    Department or the Honey Board, and shall not be a member or 
    alternate member of the Honey Board.
        ``(3) Confidentiality.--An employee or agent described in 
    paragraph (2) shall be subject to the confidentiality requirements 
    of subsection (g).''.
        (3) Confidentiality of information; disclosure.--Section 9 of 
    the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
    U.S.C. 4608) is amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting 
    the following:
    ``(g) Confidentiality of Information; Disclosure.--
        ``(1) In general.--All information obtained under subsection 
    (f) shall be kept confidential by all officers, employees, and 
    agents of the Department or of the Honey Board.
        ``(2) Disclosure.--Information subject to paragraph (1) may be 
    disclosed--
            ``(A) only in a suit or administrative hearing brought at 
        the request of the Secretary, or to which the Secretary or any 
        officer of the United States is a party, that involves the 
        order with respect to which the information was furnished or 
        acquired; and
            ``(B) only if the Secretary determines that the information 
        is relevant to the suit or administrative hearing.
        ``(3) Exceptions.--Nothing in this subsection prohibits--
            ``(A) the issuance of general statements based on the 
        reports of a number of handlers subject to an order, if the 
        statements do not identify the information furnished by any 
        person; or
            ``(B) the publication, by direction of the Secretary, of 
        the name of any person that violates any order issued under 
        this Act, together with a statement of the particular 
        provisions of the order violated by the person.
        ``(4) Violation.--Any person that knowingly violates this 
    subsection, on conviction--
            ``(A) shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned not 
        more than 1 year, or both; and
            ``(B) if the person is an officer or employee of the Honey 
        Board or the Department, shall be removed from office.''.
        (4) Refunds.--Section 9 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
    Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is amended by striking 
    subsection (h).
        (5) Administration and remittance.--Section 9 of the Honey 
    Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) 
    (as amended by paragraph (4)) is amended by inserting after 
    subsection (g) the following:
    ``(h) Administration and Remittance.--Administration and remittance 
of the assessments under this Act shall be conducted--
        ``(1) in the manner prescribed in the order and regulations 
    issued under this Act; and
        ``(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, in 
    a manner that ensures that all honey and honey products are 
    assessed a total of, but not more than, $0.015 per pound, including 
    any producer or importer assessment.''.
        (6) Liability for assessments.--Section 9(i) of the Honey 
    Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
    4608(i)) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``(i) If'' and inserting the following:
    ``(i) Liability for Assessments.--
        ``(1) Producers.--If''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(2) Importers.--If the United States Customs Service fails to 
    collect an assessment from an importer or an importer fails to pay 
    an assessment at the time of entry of honey and honey products into 
    the United States under this section, the importer shall be 
    responsible for the remission of the assessment to the Honey 
    Board.''.
    (i) Petition and Review.--Section 10 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4609) is amended by 
striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Filing of Petition; Hearing.--
        ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (4), a person subject 
    to an order may file a written petition with the Secretary--
            ``(A) that states that the order, any provision of the 
        order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order 
        is not in accordance with law; and
            ``(B) that requests--
                ``(i) a modification of the order, provision, or 
            obligation; or
                ``(ii) to be exempted from the order, provision, or 
            obligation.
        ``(2) Hearing.--In accordance with regulations issued by the 
    Secretary, the petitioner shall be given an opportunity for a 
    hearing on the petition.
        ``(3) Ruling.--After the hearing, the Secretary shall make a 
    ruling on the petition that shall be final, if in accordance with 
    law.
        ``(4) Statute of limitations.--A petition filed under this 
    subsection that challenges an order, any provision of the order, or 
    any obligation imposed in connection with the order, shall be filed 
    not later than 2 years after the later of--
            ``(A) the effective date of the order, provision, or 
        obligation challenged in the petition; or
            ``(B) the date on which the petitioner became subject to 
        the order, provision, or obligation challenged in the 
        petition.''.
    (j) Enforcement.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 11 of the 
Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4610) 
are amended by striking ``plan'' each place it appears and inserting 
``order''.
    (k) Requirements of Referendum.--Section 12 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4611) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 12. REQUIREMENTS OF REFERENDUM.

    ``(a) In General.--For the purpose of ascertaining whether issuance 
of an order is approved by producers, importers, and in the case of an 
order assessing handlers, handlers, the Secretary shall conduct a 
referendum among producers, importers, and, in the case of an order 
assessing handlers, handlers, not exempt under section 7(e)(4), that, 
during a representative period determined by the Secretary, have been 
engaged in the production, importation, or handling of honey or honey 
products.
    ``(b) Effectiveness of Order.--
        ``(1) In general.--No order issued under this Act shall be 
    effective unless the Secretary determines that--
            ``(A) the order is approved by a majority of the producers, 
        importers, and if covered by the order, handlers, voting in the 
        referendum; and
            ``(B) the producers, importers, and handlers comprising the 
        majority produced, imported, and handled not less than 50 
        percent of the quantity of the honey and honey products 
        produced, imported, and handled during the representative 
        period by the persons voting in the referendum.
        ``(2) Amendments to orders.--The Secretary may amend an order 
    in accordance with the administrative procedures specified in 
    sections 5 and 6, except that the Secretary may not amend a 
    provision of an order that implements a provision of this Act that 
    specifically provides for approval in a referendum without the 
    approval provided for in this section.
    ``(c) Producer-Packers and Importers.--
        ``(1) In general.--Each producer-packer and each importer shall 
    have 1 vote as a handler as well as 1 vote as a producer or 
    importer (unless exempt under section 7(e)(4)) in all referenda 
    concerning orders assessing handlers to the extent that the 
    individual producer-packer or importer owes assessments as a 
    handler.
        ``(2) Attribution of quantity of honey.--For the purpose of 
    subsection (b)(1)(B)--
            ``(A) the quantity of honey or honey products on which the 
        qualifying producer-packer or importer owes assessments as a 
        handler shall be attributed to the person's vote as a handler 
        under paragraph (1); and
            ``(B) the quantity of honey or honey products on which the 
        producer-packer or importer owes an assessment as a producer or 
        importer shall be attributed to the person's vote as a producer 
        or importer.
    ``(d) Confidentiality.--The ballots and other information or 
reports that reveal, or tend to reveal, the identity or vote of any 
producer, importer, or handler of honey or honey products shall be held 
strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed.''.
    (l) Termination or Suspension.--Section 13 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4612) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 13. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION.

    ``(a) Definition of Person.--In this section, the term `person' 
means a producer, importer, or handler.
    ``(b) Authority of Secretary.--If the Secretary finds that an order 
issued under this Act, or any provision of the order, obstructs or does 
not tend to effectuate the purposes of this Act, the Secretary shall 
terminate or suspend the operation of the order or provision.
    ``(c) Periodic Referenda.--Except as provided in subsection (d)(3) 
and section 14(g), on the date that is 5 years after the date on which 
the Secretary issues an order authorizing the collection of assessments 
on honey or honey products under this Act, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a referendum to determine if 
the persons subject to assessment under the order approve continuation 
of the order in accordance with section 12.
    ``(d) Referenda on Request.--
        ``(1) In general.--On the request of the Honey Board or the 
    petition of at least 10 percent of the total number of persons 
    subject to assessment under the order, the Secretary shall conduct 
    a referendum to determine if the persons subject to assessment 
    under the order approve continuation of the order in accordance 
    with section 12.
        ``(2) Limitation.--Referenda conducted under paragraph (1) may 
    not be held more than once every 2 years.
        ``(3) Effect on periodic referenda.--If a referendum is 
    conducted under this subsection and the Secretary determines that 
    continuation of the order is approved under section 12, any 
    referendum otherwise required to be conducted under subsection (c) 
    shall not be held before the date that is 5 years after the date of 
    the referendum conducted under this subsection.
    ``(e) Timing and Requirements for Termination or Suspension.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall terminate or suspend an 
    order at the end of the marketing year during which a referendum is 
    conducted under subsection (c) or (d) if the Secretary determines 
    that continuation of an order is not approved under section 12.
        ``(2) Subsequent referendum.--If the Secretary terminates or 
    suspends an order that assesses the handling of honey and honey 
    products under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, not later than 
    90 days after submission of a proposed order by an interested 
    party--
            ``(A) propose another order to establish a research, 
        promotion, and consumer information program; and
            ``(B) conduct a referendum on the order among persons that 
        would be subject to assessment under the order.
        ``(3) Effectiveness of order.--Section 12 shall apply in 
    determining the effectiveness of the subsequent amended order under 
    paragraph (2).''.
    (m) Implementation of Amendments.--The Honey Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Act is amended by inserting after section 13 
(7 U.S.C. 4612) the following:
    ``SEC. 14. IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENTS MADE BY AGRICULTURAL 
      RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1998.
    ``(a) Issuance of Amended Order.--To implement the amendments made 
to this Act by section 605 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 (other than subsection (m) of that 
section), the Secretary shall issue an amended order under section 4 
that reflects those amendments.
    ``(b) Proposal of Amended Order.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall publish a 
proposed order under section 4 that reflects the amendments made by 
section 605 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998. The Secretary shall provide notice and an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed order in accordance with 
section 5.
    ``(c) Issuance of Amended Order.--Not later than 240 days after 
publication of the proposed order, the Secretary shall issue an order 
under section 6, taking into consideration the comments received and 
including in the order such provisions as are necessary to ensure that 
the order conforms with the amendments made by section 605 of the 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998.
    ``(d) Referendum on Amended Order.--
        ``(1) Requirement.--
            ``(A) In general.--On issuance of an order under section 6 
        reflecting the amendments made by section 605 of the 
        Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
        1998, the Secretary shall conduct a referendum under this 
        section for the sole purpose of determining whether the order 
        as amended shall become effective.
            ``(B) Individual provisions.--No individual provision of 
        the amended order shall be subject to a separate vote under the 
        referendum.
        ``(2) Eligible voters.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
    referendum among persons subject to assessment under the order that 
    have been producers, producer-packers, importers, or handlers 
    during the 2-calendar-year period that precedes the referendum, 
    which period shall be considered to be the representative period.
        ``(3) Determination of quantity.--
            ``(A) In general.--Producer-packers, importers, and 
        handlers shall be allowed to vote as if--
                ``(i) the amended order had been in place during the 
            representative period described in paragraph (2); and
                ``(ii) they had owed the increased assessments provided 
            by the amended order.
            ``(B) Votes and attributed quantity for producer-packers 
        and importers.--The votes and the quantity of honey and honey 
        products attributed to the votes of producer-packers and 
        importers shall be determined in accordance with section 12.
            ``(C) Attributed quantity for handlers.--The quantity of 
        honey and honey products attributed to the vote of a handler 
        shall be the quantity handled in the representative period 
        described in paragraph (2) for which the handler would have 
        owed assessments had the amended order been in effect.
        ``(4) Effectiveness of order.--The amended order shall become 
    effective only if the Secretary determines that the amended order 
    is effective in accordance with section 12.
    ``(e) Continuation of Existing Order If Amended Order Is 
Rejected.--If adoption of the amended order is not approved--
        ``(1) the order issued under section 4 that is in effect on the 
    date of enactment of this section shall continue in full force and 
    effect; and
        ``(2) the Secretary may amend the order to ensure the 
    conformity of the order with this Act (as in effect on the day 
    before the date of enactment of this section).
    ``(f) Effect of Rejection on Subsequent Orders.--
        ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), if adoption of the 
    amended order is not approved in the referendum required under 
    subsection (d), the Secretary may issue an amended order that 
    implements some or all of the amendments made to this Act by 
    section 605 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
    Reform Act of 1998, or makes other changes to an existing order, in 
    accordance with the administrative procedures specified in sections 
    5 and 6.
        ``(2) Approval.--An amendment to an order that implements a 
    provision that is subject to a referendum shall be approved in 
    accordance with section 12 before becoming effective.
    ``(g) Effect on Periodic Referenda.--If the amended order becomes 
effective, any referendum otherwise required to be conducted under 
section 13(c) shall not be held before the date that is 5 years after 
the date of the referendum conducted under this section.''.

SEC. 606. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Supplemental and Alternative Crops Research.--Effective as of 
April 6, 1996, section 819(b)(5) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 110 Stat. 1167) is amended 
by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''.
    (b) Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences.--Section 
1413(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3128(b)) is amended by striking ``Joint 
Council, the Advisory Board,'' and inserting ``Advisory Board''.
    (c) Advisory Board.--
        (1) Support for advisory board.--Section 1412 of the National 
    Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
    (7 U.S.C. 3127) is amended--
            (A) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ``their 
        duties'' each place it appears and inserting ``its duties''; 
        and
            (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``their 
        recommendations'' and inserting ``its recommendations''.
        (2) General provisions.--Section 1413(a) of the National 
    Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
    (7 U.S.C. 3128(a)) is amended by striking ``their powers'' and 
    inserting ``its duties''.
    (d) Animal Health and Disease Research.--The National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended--
        (1) in section 1430 (7 U.S.C. 3192)--
            (A) in paragraph (3), by adding ``and'' at the end;
            (B) by striking paragraph (4); and
            (C) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4);
        (2) in section 1433(b)(3) (7 U.S.C. 3195(b)(3)), by striking 
    ``with the advice, when available, of the Board'';
        (3) in section 1434(c) (7 U.S.C. 3196(c))--
            (A) in the second sentence, by striking ``and the Board''; 
        and
            (B) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``, the Advisory 
        Board, and the Board'' and inserting ``and the Advisory 
        Board''; and
        (4) in the first sentence of section 1437 (7 U.S.C. 3199), by 
    striking ``with the advice, when available, of the Board''.
    (e) Rangeland Research.--The second sentence of section 1483(b) of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3336(b)) is amended by striking the last sentence.
    (f) Plant and Animal Pest and Disease Control Program.--Section 
1629(g) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 5832(g)) is amended by striking ``section 1650,''.
    (g) Grants To Upgrade 1890 Institutions Extension Facilities.--
Effective as of April 6, 1996, section 873 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 110 Stat. 1175) 
is amended by striking ``1981'' and inserting ``1985''.
    (h) Competitive and Special Grants.--The Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``Joint Council on Food 
    and Agricultural Sciences and the National Agricultural Research 
    and Extension Users Advisory Board'' and inserting ``National 
    Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
    Board (as established under section 1408 of the National 
    Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
    (7 U.S.C. 3123))''; and
        (2) by striking subsection (l).

                      Subtitle B--New Authorities

SEC. 611. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION DATA.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall update, on a 
periodic basis, nutrient composition data.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes--
        (1) the method the Secretary will use to update nutrient 
    composition data, including the quality assurance criteria that 
    will be used and the method for generating the data; and
        (2) the timing for updating the data.

SEC. 612. NATIONAL SWINE RESEARCH CENTER.

    Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this 
section, or through a reprogramming of funds provided for swine 
research to carry out this section pursuant to established procedures, 
during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and 
ending December 31, 1998, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Agricultural Research Service, may accept as a gift, and 
administer, the National Swine Research Center located in Ames, Iowa.
    SEC. 613. ROLE OF SECRETARY REGARDING FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL 
      SCIENCES RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.
    The Secretary of Agriculture shall be the principal official in the 
executive branch responsible for coordinating all Federal research and 
extension activities related to food and agricultural sciences.

SEC. 614. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish an Office 
of Pest Management Policy to provide for the effective coordination of 
agricultural policies and activities within the Department of 
Agriculture related to pesticides and of the development and use of 
pest management tools, while taking into account the effects of 
regulatory actions of other government agencies.
    (b) Establishment of Office; Principal Responsibilities.--The 
Secretary of Agriculture shall establish in the Department an Office of 
Pest Management Policy, which shall be responsible for--
        (1) the development and coordination of Department policy on 
    pest management and pesticides;
        (2) the coordination of activities and services of the 
    Department, including research, extension, and education 
    activities, regarding the development, availability, and use of 
    economically and environmentally sound pest management tools and 
    practices;
        (3) assisting other agencies of the Department in fulfilling 
    their responsibilities related to pest management or pesticides 
    under the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-170; 
    110 Stat. 1489), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
    Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), the Federal Food, Drug, and 
    Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and other applicable laws; 
    and
        (4) performing such other functions as may be required by law 
    or prescribed by the Secretary.
    (c) Interagency Coordination.--In support of its responsibilities 
under subsection (b), the Office of Pest Management Policy shall 
provide leadership to ensure coordination of interagency activities 
with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug 
Administration, and other Federal and State agencies.
    (d) Outreach.--The Office of Pest Management Policy shall consult 
with agricultural producers that may be affected by pest management or 
pesticide-related activities or actions of the Department or other 
agencies as necessary in carrying out the Office's responsibilities 
under this section.
    (e) Director.--The Office of Pest Management Policy shall be under 
the direction of a Director appointed by the Secretary, who shall 
report directly to the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.
    SEC. 615. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE AND NATIONAL 
      CONFERENCE.
    (a) Food Safety Research Information Office.--
        (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
    establish a Food Safety Research Information Office at the National 
    Agricultural Library.
        (2) Purpose.--The Office shall provide to the research 
    community and the general public information on publicly funded, 
    and to the maximum extent practicable, privately funded food safety 
    research initiatives for the purpose of--
            (A) preventing unintended duplication of food safety 
        research; and
            (B) assisting the executive and legislative branches of the 
        Federal Government and private research entities to assess food 
        safety research needs and priorities.
        (3) Cooperation.--The Office shall carry out this subsection in 
    cooperation with the National Institutes of Health, the Food and 
    Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and 
    Prevention, public institutions, and, on a voluntary basis, private 
    research entities.
    (b) National Conference; Annual Workshops.--Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sponsor a 
conference to be known as the ``National Conference on Food Safety 
Research'', for the purpose of beginning the task of prioritization of 
food safety research. The Secretary shall sponsor annual workshops in 
each of the subsequent 4 years after the conference so that priorities 
can be updated or adjusted to reflect changing food safety concerns.
    (c) Food Safety Report.--With regard to the study and report to be 
prepared by the National Academy of Sciences on the scientific and 
organizational needs for an effective food safety system, the study 
shall include recommendations to ensure that the food safety inspection 
system, within the resources traditionally available to existing food 
safety agencies, protects the public health.
    SEC. 616. SAFE FOOD HANDLING EDUCATION.
    The Secretary of Agriculture shall continue to develop a national 
program of safe food handling education for adults and young people to 
reduce the risk of food-borne illness. The national program shall be 
suitable for adoption and implementation through State cooperative 
extension services and school-based education programs.
    SEC. 617. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED UNDER SHEEP PROMOTION, 
      RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ACT OF 1994.
    Using funds available to the Agricultural Marketing Service, the 
Service may reimburse the American Sheep Industry Association for 
expenses incurred by the American Sheep Industry Association between 
February 6, 1996, and May 17, 1996, in preparation for the 
implementation of a sheep and wool promotion, research, education, and 
information order under the Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information 
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).
    SEC. 618. DESIGNATION OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM WITHIN DEPARTMENT.
    (a) Designation of Crisis Management Team.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall designate a Crisis Management Team within the 
Department of Agriculture, which shall be--
        (1) composed of senior departmental personnel with strong 
    subject matter expertise selected from each relevant agency of the 
    Department; and
        (2) headed by a team leader with management and communications 
    skills.
    (b) Duties of Crisis Management Team.--The Crisis Management Team 
shall be responsible for the following:
        (1) Developing a Department-wide crisis management plan, taking 
    into account similar plans developed by other government agencies 
    and other large organizations, and developing written procedures 
    for the implementation of the crisis management plan.
        (2) Conducting periodic reviews and revisions of the crisis 
    management plan and procedures developed under paragraph (1).
        (3) Ensuring compliance with crisis management procedures by 
    personnel of the Department and ensuring that appropriate 
    Department personnel are familiar with the crisis management plan 
    and procedures and are encouraged to bring information regarding 
    crises or potential crises to the attention of members of the 
    Crisis Management Team.
        (4) Coordinating the Department's information gathering and 
    dissemination activities concerning issues managed by the Crisis 
    Management Team.
        (5) Ensuring that Department spokespersons convey accurate, 
    timely, and scientifically sound information regarding crises or 
    potential crises that can be easily understood by the general 
    public.
        (6) Cooperating with, and coordinating among, other Federal 
    agencies, States, local governments, industry, and public interest 
    groups, Department activities regarding a crisis.
    (c) Role in Prioritizing Certain Research.--The Crisis Management 
Team shall cooperate with the Advisory Board in the prioritization of 
agricultural research conducted or funded by the Department regarding 
animal health, natural disasters, food safety, and other agricultural 
issues.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary shall seek to enter into 
cooperative agreements with other Federal departments and agencies that 
have related programs or activities to help ensure consistent, 
accurate, and coordinated dissemination of information throughout the 
executive branch in the event of a crisis, such as, in the case of a 
threat to human health from food-borne pathogens, developing a rapid 
and coordinated response among the Department, the Centers for Disease 
Control, and the Food and Drug Administration.
    SEC. 619. DESIGNATION OF KIKA DE LA GARZA SUBTROPICAL AGRICULTURAL 
      RESEARCH CENTER, WESLACO, TEXAS.
    (a) Designation.--The Federal facilities located at 2413 East 
Highway 83, and 2301 South International Boulevard, in Weslaco, Texas, 
and known as the ``Subtropical Agricultural Research Center'', shall be 
known and designated as the ``Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural 
Research Center''.
    (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, 
paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal facilities 
referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
``Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center''.

                          Subtitle C--Studies

    SEC. 631. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
      EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
    (a) Evaluation.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a 
performance evaluation to determine whether federally funded 
agricultural research, extension, and education programs result in 
public goods that have national or multistate significance.
    (b) Contract.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract with 1 or 
more entities with expertise in research assessment and performance 
evaluation to provide input and recommendations to the Secretary with 
respect to federally funded agricultural research, extension, and 
education programs.
    (c) Guidelines for Performance Measurement.--The contractor 
selected under subsection (b) shall develop and propose to the 
Secretary practical guidelines for measuring performance of federally 
funded agricultural research, extension, and education programs. The 
guidelines shall be consistent with the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-62) and amendments made by that 
Act.
    SEC. 632. STUDY OF FEDERALLY FUNDED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
      EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.
    (a) Study.--Not later than January 1, 1999, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall request the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a 
study of the role and mission of federally funded agricultural 
research, extension, and education.
    (b) Requirements.--The study shall--
        (1) evaluate the strength of science conducted by the 
    Agricultural Research Service and the relevance of the science to 
    national priorities;
        (2) examine how the work of the Agricultural Research Service 
    relates to the capacity of the agricultural research, extension, 
    and education system of the United States;
        (3) examine the appropriateness of the formulas for the 
    allocation of funds under the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 341 et 
    seq.) and the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.) with 
    respect to current conditions of the agricultural economy and other 
    factors of the various regions and States of the United States and 
    develop recommendations to revise the formulas to more accurately 
    reflect the current conditions; and
        (4) examine the system of competitive grants for agricultural 
    research, extension, and education.
    (c) Reports.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate--
        (1) not later than 18 months after the commencement of the 
    study, a report that describes the results of the study as it 
    relates to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b), including any 
    appropriate recommendations; and
        (2) not later than 3 years after the commencement of the study, 
    a report that describes the results of the study as it relates to 
    paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b), including the 
    recommendations developed under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) and 
    other appropriate recommendations.

                     Subtitle D--Senses of Congress

    SEC. 641. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE 
      EMPHASIS ON FIELD RESEARCH REGARDING METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES.
    It is the sense of Congress that, of the Agricultural Research 
Service funds made available for a fiscal year for research regarding 
the development for agricultural use of alternatives to methyl bromide, 
the Secretary of Agriculture should use a substantial portion of the 
funds for research to be conducted in real field conditions, especially 
pre-planting and post-harvest conditions, so as to expedite the 
development and commercial use of methyl bromide alternatives.
    SEC. 642. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL-BASED 
      AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
    It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture and 
the Secretary of Education should collaborate and cooperate in 
providing both instructional and technical support for school-based 
agricultural education.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.