[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1150 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]





                                                       Calendar No. 154

105th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1150

                          [Report No. 105-73]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 5, 1997

                 Read twice and placed on the calendar



                                                       Calendar No. 154
105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1150

                          [Report No. 105-73]

 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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 5, 1997

 Mr. Lugar, from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, 
        reported the following original bill; which was read twice and 
        placed on the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 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 1997''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
   TITLE I--PRIORITIES, SCOPE, AND REVIEW 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 federally funded agricultural 
                            research, extension, and education.
Sec. 104. Research formula funds for 1862 Institutions.
Sec. 105. Extension formula funds for 1862 Institutions.
Sec. 106. Research facilities.
   TITLE II--OTHER REFORMS OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                               EDUCATION

 Subtitle A--Amendments to National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
                    and Teaching Policy Act of 1977

Sec. 201. Advisory Board.
Sec. 202. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences 
                            education.
Sec. 203. Policy research centers.
Sec. 204. International agricultural research, extension, and teaching.
Sec. 205. General administrative costs.
Sec. 206. Expansion of authority to enter into cost-reimbursable 
                            agreements.
 Subtitle B--Amendments to Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
                              Act of 1990

Sec. 211. National Agricultural Weather Information System.
Sec. 212. National Food Genome Strategy.
Sec. 213. Imported fire ant control, management, and eradication.
Sec. 214. Agricultural telecommunications program.
Sec. 215. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.
                  Subtitle C--Amendments to Other Laws

Sec. 221. 1994 Institutions.
Sec. 222. Cooperative agricultural extension work by 1862, 1890, and 
                            1994 Institutions.
Sec. 223. Eligibility of certain colleges and universities for 
                            extension funding.
Sec. 224. Integration of research and extension.
Sec. 225. Competitive, special, and facilities research grants.
Sec. 226. Fund for Rural America.
Sec. 227. Honey research, promotion, and consumer information.
Sec. 228. Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.
                        Subtitle D--New Programs

Sec. 231. Biobased products.
Sec. 232. Precision agriculture.
Sec. 233. Formosan termite eradication program.
Sec. 234. Nutrient composition data.
Sec. 235. Consolidated administrative and laboratory facility.
Sec. 236. National Swine Research Center.
                 Subtitle E--Studies and Miscellaneous

Sec. 241. Evaluation and assessment of agricultural research, 
                            extension, and education programs.
Sec. 242. Study of federally funded agricultural research, extension, 
                            and education.
Sec. 243. Sense of Congress on State match for 1890 Institutions.
     TITLE III--INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS

Sec. 301. Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems.
    TITLE IV--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES; TECHNICAL 
                               AMENDMENTS

Sec. 401. Extensions of authorities.
Sec. 402. Repeal of authorities.
Sec. 403. Short titles for Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887.
Sec. 404. Technical corrections to research provisions of Federal 
                            Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
                            1996.
                 TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM SAVINGS

Sec. 501. Nutrition programs.
Sec. 502. Information technology funding.
Sec. 503. Haying and grazing on conservation reserve land.

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 
        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)).
            (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) Hatch act of 1887.--The term ``Hatch Act of 1887'' 
        means the Hatch Act of 1887 (as designated by section 403(b)).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (8) Smith-lever act.--The term ``Smith-Lever Act'' means 
        the Smith-Lever Act (as designated by section 403(a)).
            (9) Stakeholder.--The term ``stakeholder'' means a person 
        who conducts or uses agricultural research, extension, or 
        education.

   TITLE I--PRIORITIES, SCOPE, AND REVIEW 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 or multistate 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) In General.--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) Input From Stakeholders.--
            (1) In general.--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 
        stakeholders.
            (2) 1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions.--
                    (A) In general.--Effective beginning October 1, 
                1998, 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 
                stakeholder input concerning the use of the funds.
                    (B) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
                regulations that prescribe--
                            (i) the requirements for an Institution to 
                        comply with subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) the consequences for an Institution of 
                        not complying with subparagraph (A), which may 
                        include the withholding and redistribution of 
                        funds to which the Institution may be entitled 
                        until the Institution complies with 
                        subparagraph (A).
    (c) Management Principles.--Section 1402 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3101) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and management 
        principles'' after ``purposes'';
            (2) by inserting ``(a) Purposes.--'' before ``The 
        purposes''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Management Principles.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
the Secretary shall ensure that federally supported and conducted 
agricultural research, education, and extension activities are 
accomplished in a manner that--
            ``(1) integrates agricultural research, education, and 
        extension 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;
            ``(3) achieves agricultural research, education, and 
        extension objectives through multi-institutional and 
        multifunctional approaches and by conducting research at 
facilities and institutions best equipped to achieve those objectives; 
and
            ``(4) requires accountability to be measured against shared 
        national goals of the research, education, and economics 
        mission area agencies of the Department and their partners that 
        receive Federal research, extension, and higher education 
        funds, consistent with the Government Performance and Results 
        Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-62) and amendments made by that 
        Act.''.
    (d) Notification of Advisory Board and Congress.--Section 1408 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as 
        subsections (e) through (h), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Notification of Advisory Board and Congress.--
            ``(1) Advisory board.--The Secretary shall provide a 
        written response to the Advisory Board regarding the 
        implementation of any written recommendations made by the 
        Advisory Board to the Secretary under subsection (c).
            ``(2) Congress.--The Secretary shall provide to the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
        Senate a copy of the response of the Secretary to an Advisory 
        Board recommendation concerning the priority mission areas of 
        the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems 
        established under section 301(c)(2)(B) of the Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1997.''.

SEC. 103. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED AGRICULTURAL 
              RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.

    (a) Review of CSREES Research.--The Secretary shall establish 
procedures that ensure--
            (1) scientific peer review of each agricultural research 
        grant administered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative 
        State Research, Education, and Extension Service; and
            (2) merit review of each agricultural extension or 
        education grant administered, on a competitive basis, by the 
        Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.
    (b) Advisory Board Review.--The Advisory Board shall review, on an 
annual basis, the relevance to the Secretary's priorities established 
under section 102(a), and adequacy, of the funding of all agricultural 
research, extension, or education activities of the Department.
    (c) Requests for Proposals.--
            (1) Review results.--As soon as practicable after the 
        initial review is conducted under subsection (b) for a fiscal 
        year, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
        consider the results of the annual 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) Stakeholder input.--In formulating a request for 
        proposals described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        solicit and consider input from stakeholders on the prior 
        year's request for proposals.
    (d) Scientific Peer Review of ARS Research.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish procedures 
        that ensure scientific peer review of research activities of 
        the Agricultural Research Service.
            (2) Requirements.--The procedures shall require that--
                    (A) at least once every 5 years, a review panel 
                verify that a research activity referred to in 
                paragraph (1) and research conducted by each scientist 
                employed by the Agricultural Research Service--
                            (i) has scientific merit and relevance to 
                        the priorities established under section 
                        102(a); and
                            (ii) has national or multistate 
                        significance, as required under section 
                        101(a)(2);
                    (B) a review panel comprised of individuals with 
                scientific expertise, a majority of whom are not 
                employees of the Agricultural Research Service; and
                    (C) the results of the panel reviews are 
                transmitted to--
                            (i) the Committee on Agriculture of the 
                        House of Representatives;
                            (ii) the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; and
                            (iii) the Advisory Board.
    (e) Merit Review.--
            (1) 1862 and 1890 institutions.--Effective beginning 
        October 1, 1998, 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 beginning October 1, 
        1998, 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.--Section 1468 of the National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
        3314) is repealed.

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), 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, a college, or a 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'.
            ``(4) Research carried out under paragraph (3) shall be 
        subject to scientific peer review. A project review 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 1997.''; and
            (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``regional research 
        fund, State agricultural experiment stations,'' and inserting 
        ``Multistate Research Fund, State Agricultural Experiment 
        Stations,''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 5 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
U.S.C. 361e) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``regional 
research fund'' and inserting ``Multistate Research Fund, State 
Agricultural Experiment Stations''.

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 made 
        available to carry out subsections (b) and (c) during a fiscal 
        year shall be allotted to 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) Current expenditures on multistate 
                activities.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
                determine the percentage of Federal formula funds 
                described in paragraph (1) that each State expended for 
                fiscal year 1997 for multistate activities.
                    ``(B) Planned expenditures on multistate 
                activities.--For fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent 
                fiscal year, a State shall expend for multistate 
                activities a percentage of the Federal formula funds 
                described in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year 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 allotted 
                for multistate 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 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) In general.--Effective beginning October 1, 1998, 
        extension activity carried out under subsection (h) shall be 
        subject to merit review.
            ``(2) Other requirements.--An extension activity that is 
        merit reviewed under paragraph (1) shall be considered to have 
        been reviewed under section 103(e) of the Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1997.''.

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.''.
    (e) Priority Research.--The Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended in subsection (b)(2) by 
striking ``regional'' and inserting ``multistate''.

   TITLE II--OTHER REFORMS OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                               EDUCATION

 Subtitle A--Amendments to National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
                    and Teaching Policy Act of 1977

SEC. 201. ADVISORY 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.''.

SEC. 202. 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 authorized under this section, the 
Secretary may maintain a national food and agricultural education 
information system that contains information on enrollment, degrees 
awarded, faculty, and employment placement in the food and agricultural 
sciences and such other information as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.''.

SEC. 203. 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. 204. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING.

    (a) Teaching.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1458 of the National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
        3291) is amended--
                    (A) in the section heading, by striking ``research 
                and extension'' and inserting ``research, extension, 
                and teaching'';
                    (B) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) 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 initiatives addressing'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                        ``education'' and inserting ``teaching'';
                            (iii) in paragraph (4), by striking 
                        ``scientists and experts'' and inserting 
                        ``science and education experts'';
                            (iv) in paragraph (5), by inserting 
                        ``teaching,'' after ``development,'';
                            (v) in paragraph (6), by striking 
                        ``education'' and inserting ``teaching'';
                            (vi) in paragraph (7), by striking 
                        ``research and extension'' and inserting 
                        ``research, extension, and teaching''; and
                            (vii) in paragraph (8), by striking 
                        ``research capabilities'' and inserting 
                        ``research, extension, and teaching 
                        capabilities''; and
                    (C) in subsection (b), by striking ``counterpart 
                agencies'' and inserting ``counterpart research, 
                extension, and teaching agencies''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The subtitle heading of 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 ``Research and Extension'' and 
        inserting ``Research, Extension, and Teaching''.
    (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 to--
            ``(1) coordinate international agricultural research within 
        the Federal Government; and
            ``(2) more effectively link the activities of domestic and 
        international agricultural researchers, particularly 
        researchers of the Agricultural Research Service.''.

SEC. 205. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    (a) In General.--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. 1461. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    ``(a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in law, indirect 
costs charged against a grant described in subsection (b) shall not 
exceed 25 percent of the total Federal funds provided under the grant 
award, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall apply to--
            ``(1) a competitive research grant made under subsection 
        (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant 
        Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)); and
            ``(2) except as otherwise provided in law, a competitive 
        research, extension, or education grant made under--
                    ``(A) section 793 of the Federal Agriculture 
                Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f); or
                    ``(B) section 301 of the Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1997.''.
    (b) 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 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.''.

SEC. 206. 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 B--Amendments to Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
                              Act of 1990

SEC. 211. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEM.

    Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 is amended by striking subtitle D (7 U.S.C. 5851 et seq.) and 
inserting the following:

     ``Subtitle D--National Agricultural Weather Information System

``SEC. 1637. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Short Title.--This subtitle may be cited as the `National 
Agricultural Weather Information System Act of 1997'.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are--
            ``(1) to facilitate the management and coordination of a 
        national agricultural weather and climate station network for 
        Federal and State agencies, colleges and universities, and the 
        private sector;
            ``(2) to ensure that timely and accurate information is 
        obtained and disseminated; and
            ``(3) to aid research and education that requires a 
        comprehensive agricultural weather and climate database.

``SEC. 1638. AGRICULTURAL WEATHER SYSTEM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture may establish 
the National Agricultural Weather Information System (referred to in 
this subtitle as the `System'). The System shall be comprised of the 
operational and research activities of the Federal, State, and regional 
agricultural weather information systems.
    ``(b) Authority.--Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, United 
States Code, to carry out this subtitle, the Secretary may--
            ``(1) enter into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements 
        and interagency agreements without regard to competitive 
        requirements, except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, 
        with other Federal and State agencies to--
                    ``(A) support operational weather and climate data 
                observations, analysis, and derived products;
                    ``(B) preserve historical data records for research 
                studies useful in agriculture;
                    ``(C) jointly develop improved computer models and 
                computing capacity for storage, retrieval, 
                dissemination and analysis of agricultural weather and 
                climate information;
                    ``(D) enhance the quality and availability of 
                weather and climate information needed by the private 
                sector for value-added products and agriculturalists 
                for decisionmaking; and
                    ``(E) sponsor joint programs to train private 
                sector meteorologists and agriculturalists about the 
                optimum use of agricultural weather and climate data;
            ``(2) obtain standardized weather observation data 
        collected in near real time through regional and State 
        agricultural weather information systems;
            ``(3) coordinate the activities of the Chief Meteorologist 
        of the Department of Agriculture and weather and climate 
        research activities of the Department of Agriculture with other 
        Federal agencies and the private sector;
            ``(4) make grants to plan and administer State and regional 
        agricultural weather information systems, including research in 
        atmospheric sciences and climatology;
            ``(5) encourage private sector participation in the System 
        through cooperation with the private sector, including 
        cooperation in the generation of weather and climate data 
        useful for site-specific agricultural weather forecasting; and
            ``(6) make competitive grants to carry out research in all 
        aspects of atmospheric sciences and climatology regarding the 
        collection, retention, and dissemination of agricultural 
        weather and climate observations and information with priority 
        given to proposals that emphasize--
                    ``(A) techniques and processes that relate to--
                            ``(i) weather- or climate-induced 
                        agricultural losses; and
                            ``(ii) improvement of information on 
                        weather and climate extremes (such as drought, 
                        floods, freeze, and storms) well in advance of 
                        their occurrence;
                    ``(B) the improvement of site-specific weather data 
                collection and forecasting;
                    ``(C) the impact of weather on economic and 
                environmental costs in agricultural production; or
                    ``(D) the preservation and management of the 
                ecosystem.

``SEC. 1639. FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) National oceanic and atmospheric administration 
        work.--Not more than \2/3\ of the funds made available for a 
        fiscal year to carry out this subtitle shall be used for work 
        with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            ``(2) Administrative costs.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        may retain for administration of the System up to 4 percent of 
        the amounts made available to carry out this subtitle, 
        notwithstanding the availability of any appropriation for 
        administrative expenses to carry out this subtitle.
            ``(3) Limitations.--
                    ``(A) Buildings or facilities.--Funds made 
                available to carry out this subtitle shall not be used 
                for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, 
                or construction of a building or facility.
                    ``(B) Equipment purchases.--Of funds made available 
                under a grant award under this subtitle, a grantee may 
                use for equipment purchases not more than the lesser 
                of--
                            ``(i) $15,000; or
                            ``(ii) \1/3\ of the amount of the grant 
                        award.
    ``(b) Applicability of Other Laws.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not apply to a panel or board 
created for the purpose of reviewing applications or proposals 
submitted for grants under section 1638.

``SEC. 1640. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.''.

SEC. 212. NATIONAL FOOD GENOME STRATEGY.

    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. NATIONAL FOOD GENOME STRATEGY.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes 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 plant, animal, and 
        microbial genomics;
            ``(2) to focus on the species that will yield early, 
        scientifically important results that will enhance the 
        usefulness of many plant, animal, and microbial 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 crop species ranging from corn to 
        soybean to cotton and animal species ranging from cattle to 
        swine to poultry;
            ``(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 develop, within the National Food Genome Strategy 
        required under subsection (b) for agriculturally important 
        plants, animals, and microbes, a Plant Genome Initiative under 
        which--
                    ``(A) the Plant Genome Initiative will be an 
                interagency activity conducted with--
                            ``(i) the Department of Agriculture as the 
                        lead Federal agency; and
                            ``(ii) the National Science Foundation and 
                        the Department of Energy as participants; and
                    ``(B) the National Institutes of Health will 
                continue to invest in the underlying critical 
                technologies through its Human Genome Initiative and 
                other genetics research;
            ``(6) to establish, within the National Food Genome 
        Strategy, an Animal Genome Initiative--
                    ``(A) to address the obstacles limiting the 
                development and implementation of gene-based approaches 
                for animal improvement, such as high-resolution genomic 
                maps; and
                    ``(B) to take advantage of complementary work of 
                the Human Genome Initiative, the Agricultural Research 
                Service, and State agricultural experiment stations;
            ``(7) to encourage Federal Government participants to 
        maximize the utility of public and private partnerships for 
        food genome research;
            ``(8) 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
            ``(9) to encourage international partnerships with each 
        partner country responsible for financing its own strategy for 
        food genome research.
    ``(b) Duties of Secretary.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred 
to in this section as the `Secretary') shall develop and carry out a 
National Food Genome Strategy to--
            ``(1) study and map agriculturally significant genes to 
        achieve sustainable and secure agricultural production;
            ``(2) ensure that current gaps in existing agricultural 
        genetics knowledge are filled;
            ``(3) identify and develop a functional understanding of 
        genes responsible for economically important traits in plants, 
        animals, and microbes of importance to agriculture;
            ``(4) ensure future genetic improvement of agriculturally 
        important species;
            ``(5) support preservation of diverse germplasm;
            ``(6) ensure preservation of biodiversity to maintain 
        access to genes that may be of importance in the future; and
            ``(7) otherwise carry out the purposes of this section.
    ``(c) Contracts, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into or make 
        contracts, grants, or 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 under this subsection 
        shall be made on a competitive basis.
    ``(d) Administration.--
            ``(1) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate such 
        regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.
            ``(2) Consultation with the 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 National Food Genome Strategy without 
        regard to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee 
        Act (5 U.S.C. App.) or title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture 
        Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.).
            ``(3) Indirect costs.--Indirect costs under this section 
        shall be allowable at the rate indirect costs are allowable for 
        contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements entered into or 
        made by the National Science Foundation for genomic 
        research.''.

SEC. 213. IMPORTED FIRE ANT CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, AND ERADICATION.

    Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (a), (d), (e), and (f);
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (g) as 
        subsections (a), (b), and (c), respectively; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Imported Fire Ant Control, Management, and Eradication.--
            ``(1) National advisory and implementation board on 
        imported fire ant control, management, and eradication.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
                may establish a National Advisory and Implementation 
                Board on Imported Fire Ant Control, Management, and 
                Eradication (referred to in this subsection as the 
                `Board').
                    ``(B) Membership.--The Board shall consist of 12 
                members who are experts in entomology, ant ecology, 
                wildlife biology, electrical engineering, economics, or 
                agribusiness and who are appointed by the Secretary 
                from academia, research institutes, and the private 
                sector.
                    ``(C) Compensation.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A member of the Board 
                        shall not receive any compensation by reason of 
                        service on the Board.
                            ``(ii) Expenses.--A member of the Board 
                        shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, 
                        and other necessary expenses incurred by the 
                        member in the performance of a duty of the 
                        member.
                    ``(D) Termination.--The Board shall terminate 60 
                days after the date on which the national plan is 
                submitted to the Board under paragraph (4)(B).
            ``(2) Initial grants.--
                    ``(A) Request for proposals.--
                            ``(i) In general.--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.
                            ``(ii) Input from board.--In developing a 
                        request for proposals under clause (i), the 
                        Secretary shall solicit and consider input from 
                        the Board.
                    ``(B) Selection.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of publication of the request for proposals, the 
                Secretary shall evaluate and select meritorious 
                research or demonstration projects related to the 
                control, management, and possible eradication of 
                imported fire ants.
                    ``(C) Grants.--The Secretary may award a total of 
                $6,000,000 for each fiscal year in grants to colleges, 
                universities, research institutes, Federal 
                laboratories, or private entities selected under 
                subparagraph (B), for a term of not to exceed 5 years, 
                for the purpose of conducting research or demonstration 
                projects related to the control, management, and 
                possible eradication of imported fire ants. Each 
                project shall be completed not later than the end of 
                the term of the grant.
            ``(3) Subsequent grants.--
                    ``(A) Evaluation; selection.--If the Secretary 
                awards grants under paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary 
                shall--
                            ``(i) evaluate all of the research or 
                        demonstration projects conducted under 
                        paragraph (2)(C) 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; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) on the basis of the evaluation, 
                        select the projects the Secretary considers 
                        most promising for additional research or 
                        demonstration related to the control, 
                        management, and possible eradication of 
                        imported fire ants and notify the Board of the 
                        selection.
                    ``(B) Grants.--The Secretary may award a grant of 
                up to $4,000,000 for each fiscal year to each of the 
                colleges, universities, research institutes, Federal 
                laboratories, or private entities selected under 
                subparagraph (A)(ii) for the purpose of conducting 
                research or demonstration projects for the preparation 
                of a national plan for the control, management, and 
                possible eradication of imported fire ants. Each 
                project shall be completed not later than 2 years after 
the grant is made.
            ``(4) National plan.--
                    ``(A) Evaluation; selection.--If the Secretary 
                awards grants under paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary 
                shall--
                            ``(i) evaluate all of the research or 
                        demonstration projects conducted under 
                        paragraph (3)(B) 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; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) on the basis of the evaluation, 
                        select 1 project funded under paragraph (3)(B), 
                        or a combination of grant projects, as the 
                        basis for the plan and notify the Board of the 
                        selection.
                    ``(B) Grant.--The Secretary may award a grant of up 
                to $5,000,000 to the sponsor or sponsors of the grant 
                project selected under subparagraph (A)(ii) for the 
                purpose of the final preparation of the national plan 
                for the control, management, and possible eradication 
                of imported fire ants that is based on the project. If 
                the Secretary awards a grant under this subparagraph, 
                the national plan shall be completed, and submitted to 
                the Board, not later than 1 year after the grant is 
                made.
                    ``(C) Report to congress.--Not later than 60 days 
                after the plan is submitted to the Board under 
                subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall submit to 
                Congress the national plan for the control, management, 
                and possible eradication of imported fire ants.
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
        carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years 1998 through 
        2002.''.

SEC. 214. 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.--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. 215. 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) in 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 1998 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 C--Amendments to Other Laws

SEC. 221. 1994 INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Definition.--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 Institution is--
                    ``(A) 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 as to the quality 
                of training offered; or
                    ``(B) as determined by the agency or association, 
                making progress toward the accreditation.''.

SEC. 222. 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 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. 223. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FOR 
              EXTENSION FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is 
amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Funding of Extension Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall receive such amounts 
        as Congress shall determine for administrative, technical, and 
        other services and for coordinating the extension work of the 
        Department and the several States, territories, and possessions 
        of the United States.
            ``(2) Eligibility of certain colleges and universities for 
        extension funding.--
                    ``(A) Competitive awards.--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)), including a 
                foundation established by the colleges or universities, 
                shall be eligible for extension funding awarded under 
                paragraph (1) on a competitive basis.
                    ``(B) Noncompetitive awards.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An entity described in 
                        clause (ii) shall be eligible for extension 
                        funding awarded under paragraph (1) on a 
                        noncompetitive basis.
                            ``(ii) Applicability.--Clause (i) shall 
                        apply to--
                                    ``(I) 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.);
                                    ``(II) 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;
                                    ``(III) 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)); and
                                    ``(IV) a foundation established by 
                                a college, university, or Institution 
                                described in this clause.
            ``(3) Memoranda of understanding, cooperative agreements, 
        and reimbursable agreements.--To maximize the use of Federal 
        resources, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, to the maximum 
        extent practicable, enter into memoranda of understanding, 
        cooperative agreements, or reimbursable agreements with other 
        Federal agencies under which the agencies provide funds, 
        facilities, and other resources of the agencies to the 
        Department of Agriculture to assist the Department in carrying 
        out extension work.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 343) is amended--
            (1) in subsections (b)(1) and (c), by striking ``Federal 
        Extension Service'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``Secretary of Agriculture''; and
            (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``through the Federal 
        Extension Service''.

SEC. 224. INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.

    (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) 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 made available to carry out 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 allotted to activities that integrate cooperative 
research and extension (referred to in this subsection as `integrated 
activities').
            ``(2) Applicable percentages.--
                    ``(A) Current expenditures on integrated 
                activities.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
                determine the percentage of the Federal formula funds 
                described in paragraph (1) that each State expended for 
                fiscal year 1997 for integrated activities.
                    ``(B) Planned expenditures on integrated 
                activities.--For fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent 
                fiscal year, a State shall expend for integrated 
                activities a percentage of the Federal formula funds 
                described in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year 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 allotted 
                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) Compliance.--The State shall provide to the 
                Secretary 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) Other requirements.--Funds that are used in 
        accordance with paragraph (2)(B) may also be used to satisfy 
        the requirements of subsection (c)(3) and the requirements of 
        section 3(h) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(h)).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 343) (as amended by section 105(2)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(j) Reference to Other Law.--Section 3(h) of the Hatch Act of 
1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c(h)) shall apply to amounts made available to carry 
out this Act.''.

SEC. 225. COMPETITIVE, SPECIAL, AND FACILITIES RESEARCH GRANTS.

    (a) 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,''; and
            (2) 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''.
    (b) Special Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
        Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended by striking 
        subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Special Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
        grants, for periods not to exceed 3 years, to colleges, 
        universities, other research institutions and organizations, 
        Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and 
        individuals for the purpose of conducting research to address--
                    ``(A) agricultural research needs of immediate 
                importance, by themselves or in conjunction with 
                extension or education; or
                    ``(B) new or emerging areas of agricultural 
                research, by themselves or in conjunction with 
                extension or education.
            ``(2) Limitations.--The Secretary may not make a grant 
        under this subsection--
                    ``(A) for any purpose for which a grant may be made 
                under subsection (d); or
                    ``(B) for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, 
                acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.
            ``(3) Review requirements.--
                    ``(A) Research activities.--The Secretary shall 
                make a grant under this subsection for a research 
                activity only if--
                            ``(i) the activity has undergone scientific 
                        peer review arranged by the grantee in 
                        accordance with regulations promulgated by the 
                        Secretary; and
                            ``(ii) except in the case of a grant 
                        awarded competitively under this subsection, 
                        the grantee provides to the Secretary a 
                        proposed plan for graduation from 
                        noncompetitive Federal funding for grants under 
                        this subsection.
                    ``(B) Extension and education activities.--The 
                Secretary shall make a grant under this subsection for 
                an extension or education activity only if--
                            ``(i) the activity has undergone merit 
                        review arranged by the grantee in accordance 
                        with regulations promulgated by the Secretary; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) except in the case of a grant 
                        awarded competitively under this subsection, 
                        the grantee provides to the Secretary a 
                        proposed plan for graduation from 
                        noncompetitive Federal funding for grants under 
                        this subsection.
            ``(4) Partnerships.--
                    ``(A) Immediate needs.--Except in the case of a 
                grant awarded competitively under this subsection, to 
                receive a grant under paragraph (1)(A), a recipient of 
                a grant shall enter into a partnership to carry out the 
                grant with another entity referred to in paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) New and emerging areas.--Except in the case 
                of a grant awarded competitively under this subsection, 
                after a recipient has received a grant under paragraph 
                (1)(B) for 3 consecutive years, to receive such a grant 
                for an additional year, the recipient shall enter into 
                a partnership to carry out the grant with 2 or more 
                entities referred to in paragraph (1).
            ``(5) Reports.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A recipient of a grant under 
                this subsection shall--
                            ``(i) prepare on an annual basis a report 
                        describing the results of the research, 
                        extension, or education activity and the merit 
                        of the results; and
                            ``(ii) submit the report to the Secretary.
                    ``(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.
            ``(6) Set aside for administrative costs.--Of the amounts 
        made available for a fiscal year to carry out this subsection, 
        not more than 4 percent of the amounts may be retained by the 
        Secretary to pay administrative costs incurred by the Secretary 
        to carry out this subsection.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        takes effect on October 1, 1998.

SEC. 226. 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--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``January 1, 1997, 
        October 1, 1998, and October 1, 1999'' and inserting ``October 
        1, 1997, and each October 1 thereafter through October 1, 
        2001''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Purposes.--Subject to subsection (d), of the amounts 
        transferred to the Account for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
        shall make available--
                    ``(A) for activities described in subsection 
                (c)(1), not less than 50 percent, and not more than 67 
                percent, of the funds in the Account; and
                    ``(B) for activities described in subsection 
                (c)(2), all funds in the Account not made available 
                under subparagraph (A).''.

SEC. 227. 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 ``Sec. 2. The 
        Congress'' and inserting the following:

``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress''; and
            (2) in subsection (a) (as designated by paragraph (1)), by 
        adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) Research directed at improving the cost-effectiveness 
        and efficiency of beekeeping and developing better means of 
        dealing with pest and disease problems is essential to keeping 
        honey and honey product prices competitive, facilitating market 
        growth, and maintaining the financial well-being of the honey 
        industry.
            ``(9) 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.''.
    (b) Research Projects.--Section 7(f) of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(f)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(f) Funds'' and inserting the following:
    ``(f) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Funds'';
            (2) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(3) Reimbursement.--The Secretary shall''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as designated by 
        paragraph (1)) the following:
            ``(2) Research projects.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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 and honey 
                production.
                    ``(B) Subsequent availability.--If all funds 
                reserved under subparagraph (A) are not allocated to 
                approved research projects in a year, any unallocated 
                reserved funds shall be carried forward for allocation 
                and expenditure under subparagraph (A) in subsequent 
                years.''.

SEC. 228. OFFICE OF ENERGY POLICY AND NEW USES.

    Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6911 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

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

    ``An Office of Energy Policy and New Uses of the Department shall 
be established in the Office of the Secretary.''.

                        Subtitle D--New Programs

SEC. 231. BIOBASED PRODUCTS.

    (a) Definition of Biobased Product.--In this section, the term 
``biobased product'' means a product that is produced from a renewable 
agricultural or forestry product.
    (b) Coordination of Biobased Product Activities.--The Secretary 
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) Research and Cooperative Agreements for Biobased Products.--
            (1) Definition of eligible contractor.--In this subsection, 
        the term ``eligible contractor'' means--
                    (A) a party that has entered into a cooperative 
                research and development agreement with the Department 
                under section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
                Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a);
                    (B) 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);
                    (C) a recipient of funding from the Biotechnology 
                Research and Development Center; or
                    (D) a recipient of funding from the Department 
                under a Small Business Innovation Research Program 
                established under section 9 of the Small Business Act 
                (15 U.S.C. 638).
            (2) Research.--The Secretary may use the funds, facilities, 
        and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research Service, 
        cooperative research and development agreement funds, or other 
        funds--
                    (A) to enter into cooperative agreements with 
                eligible contractors to operate pilot plants and other 
                large-scale preparation facilities to promote the 
                practical application of biobased technologies; and
                    (B) to conduct--
                            (i) research on environmental impacts of 
                        the technologies;
                            (ii) research on lowering the cost of 
                        manufacturing biobased products; or
                            (iii) other appropriate research.
            (3) Sale of biobased products.--For the purpose of 
        determining the market potential for biobased products, an 
        eligible contractor who enters into a cooperative agreement may 
        sell biobased products produced at a pilot plant or other 
        large-scale preparation facility under paragraph (2).
    (d) Pilot Project.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Agricultural Research Service, shall establish and carry out a 
        pilot project under which grants are provided, on a competitive 
        basis, to scientists of the Agricultural Research Service to--
                    (A) encourage innovative and collaborative science; 
                and
                    (B) during each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001, 
                develop biobased products with promising commercial 
                potential.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

SEC. 232. 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, 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 agency;
                    (E) a national laboratory;
                    (F) a private organization or corporation; or
                    (G) an individual.
            (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 systems;
                    (B) gathering on-farm information pertaining to the 
                variation and interaction of site-specific spatial and 
                temporal factors affecting crop production;
                    (C) integrating the information with appropriate 
                data derived from remote sensing and other precision 
                agriculture technologies in a timely manner in order to 
                facilitate on-farm decisionmaking; or
                    (D) using the 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, including high bandwidth 
networks, distributed processing, spatial databasing, object 
technology, global positioning systems, data modeling, high performance 
image processing, high resolution satellite imagery, digital 
orthophotogrammetry simulation, geographic information systems, 
computer aided design, and digital cartography; or
                    (D) machines that deliver information based 
                management practices, including global positioning 
                satellites, digital field mapping, on-the-go yield 
                monitoring, automated pest scouting, and site-specific 
                agricultural input application to accomplish the 
                objectives of precision agriculture.
            (5) Systems research.--The term ``systems research'' means 
        an integrated, coordinated, and iterative investigative process 
        that considers the multiple interacting components and aspects 
        of precision agriculture systems, including synthesis of new 
        knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-biological processes 
        and complex interactions with cropping and natural resource 
        systems, precision agriculture technologies development and 
        implementation, data and information collection and 
        interpretation, production scale planning, production-scale 
        implementation, and farm production efficiencies, productivity, 
        and profitability.
    (b) Grants.--After consultation with the Advisory Board, the 
Secretary may make competitive grants, for periods not to exceed 5 
years, to eligible entities to carry out research, education, and 
information dissemination projects for the development and promotion of 
precision agriculture. The projects shall address 1 or more of the 
following:
            (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, and meteorological 
        variability.
            (3) The development, demonstration, and dissemination of 
        information regarding precision agriculture technologies and 
        systems into an integrated program.
            (4) 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.
            (5) The education of agricultural producers and consumers 
        regarding the benefits of precision agriculture as it relates 
        to increased long-term farm production efficiencies, 
        productivity, and profitability, as well as the maintenance of 
        the environment and improvements in international trade.
            (6) The provision of training and educational programs for 
        State cooperative extension services agents, agricultural 
        producers, agricultural input machinery, product, and service 
        providers, and certified crop advisers and other professionals 
        involved in agricultural production and the transfer of 
        integrated precision agriculture technology.
    (c) Education and Information Dissemination.--Of the funds 
allocated for grants under this section, the Secretary shall reserve a 
portion of the funds for education and information dissemination grants 
regarding precision agriculture.
    (d) Precision Agriculture Partnerships.--
            (1) Establishment.--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 among--
                    (A) land-grant colleges and universities;
                    (B) State agricultural experiment stations;
                    (C) State cooperative extension services;
                    (D) other colleges and universities with 
                demonstrable expertise regarding precision agriculture;
                    (E) agencies of the Department;
                    (F) national laboratories;
                    (G) agribusinesses;
                    (H) agricultural equipment and input manufacturers 
                and retailers;
                    (I) certified crop advisers;
                    (J) commodity organizations;
                    (K) other Federal or State government entities and 
                agencies;
                    (L) nonagricultural industries and nonprofit 
                organizations with demonstrable expertise regarding 
                precision agriculture; and
                    (M) agricultural producers and other land managers.
            (2) Agreement between secretary of energy and secretary of 
        agriculture.--The partnerships established pursuant to this 
        subsection may include the agreement entered into (before the 
date of enactment of this Act) by the Secretary of Energy (on behalf of 
the national laboratories of the Department of Energy) and the 
Secretary of Agriculture (on behalf of agencies of the Department) to 
promote cooperation and coordination between the national laboratories 
of the Department of Energy and agencies of the Department of 
Agriculture in the areas of systems research, technology research and 
development, and the transfer, utilization, and private-sector 
commercialization of technology.
            (3) Role of partnerships.--Partnerships described in 
        paragraph (1) shall be eligible grantees for conducting systems 
        research (including on-farm research) regarding precision 
        agriculture and precision agriculture technologies.
    (e) Limitation.--A grant made under this section may not be used 
for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction 
of a building or facility.
    (f) Matching Funds.--The Secretary may not take the offer or 
availability of matching funds into consideration in making a grant 
under this section.
    (g) Annual Report.--Not later than January 1 of each year, the 
Secretary shall transmit to Congress an annual report describing the 
policies, priorities, and operations of the grant program authorized by 
this section during the preceding fiscal year.
    (h) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations 
as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out this section.
    (i) Applicability of Other Laws.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not apply to a panel or board 
created for the purpose of reviewing applications or proposals 
submitted under this section.
    (j) 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 1998 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;
                    (B) not less than 40 percent shall be available to 
                make grants for research to be conducted by eligible 
                entities conducting mission-linked systems research; 
                and
                    (C) not more than 4 percent may be retained by the 
                Secretary to pay administrative costs incurred by the 
                Secretary in carrying out this section.
            (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. 233. FORMOSAN TERMITE ERADICATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Research Program.--The Secretary may make competitive research 
grants for terms of not to exceed 5 years 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.
    (b) Eradication Program.--
            (1) In general.--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.
            (2) Funding priority.--In allocating funds made available 
        to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall provide a 
        higher priority for regions or locations with the highest 
        historical rates of infestation of Formosan termites.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1998 through 2002.

SEC. 234. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION DATA.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary 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. 235. CONSOLIDATED ADMINISTRATIVE AND LABORATORY FACILITY.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the Federal Property and 
Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.), the Public 
Buildings Act of 1959 (40 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or section 5 of the 
Public Buildings Amendments of 1972 (40 U.S.C. 602a), the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Administrator of General Services, may enter into 
contracts for the design, construction, and operation of a consolidated 
administrative and laboratory facility of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service to be located in or near Ames, Iowa.
    (b) Awarding of Contract.--
            (1) Solicitation.--The Secretary may solicit contract 
        proposals from interested parties to carry out subsection (a).
            (2) Priority.--In awarding contracts under subsection (a), 
        the Secretary shall--
                    (A) review the proposals; and
                    (B) provide a higher priority to proposals that--
                            (i) are--
                                    (I) the most cost effective for the 
                                Federal Government; or
                                    (II) safer, based on the relative 
                                safety of the proposed facility in 
                                comparison to facilities of the Animal 
                                and Plant Health Inspection Service 
                                located in Ames, Iowa, in existence on 
                                the date of enactment of this Act; and
                            (ii) allow for the use of donated land, 
                        federally owned property, or lease-purchase 
                        arrangements.
    (c) Donations.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary may, in 
connection with real property, buildings, and facilities, accept on 
behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service such gifts or 
donations of services or property, real or personal, as the Secretary 
determines necessary.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for 
each of fiscal years 1998 through 2002, to remain available until 
expended.

SEC. 236. 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, acting through the 
Agricultural Research Service, may accept as a gift, and administer, 
the National Swine Research Center located in Ames, Iowa.

                 Subtitle E--Studies and Miscellaneous

SEC. 241. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
              EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Evaluation.--The Secretary 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.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract 
        with an expert 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.
            (2) Guidelines for performance measurement.--
                    (A) In general.--The contractor under paragraph (1) 
                shall develop and propose to the Secretary practical 
                guidelines for measuring performance of federally 
                funded agricultural research, extension, and education 
                programs.
                    (B) Consistency with gpra.--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. 242. STUDY OF FEDERALLY FUNDED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, 
              AND EDUCATION.

    (a) Study.--Not later than January 1, 1999, the Secretary 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 formulas for funding agricultural research 
        and extension; 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 
        any appropriate recommendations.

SEC. 243. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON STATE MATCH FOR 1890 INSTITUTIONS.

    It is the sense of Congress that States should provide matching 
funds for agricultural research and extension formula funds provided by 
the Federal Government to 1890 Institutions.

     TITLE III--INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS

SEC. 301. INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--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.--Out of any funds in the Treasury not 
        otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
        transfer to the Account--
                    (A) on October 1, 1997, $100,000,000; and
                    (B) on October 1, 1998, and each October 1 
                thereafter through October 1, 2001, $170,000,000.
            (2) Entitlement.--The Secretary--
                    (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 protection; 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.--
                    (A) Fiscal year 1998.--In making grants under this 
                section for fiscal year 1998, the Secretary shall 
                address priority mission areas related to--
                            (i) food genome;
                            (ii) food safety, food technology, and 
                        human nutrition;
                            (iii) new and alternative uses and 
                        production of agricultural commodities and 
                        products;
                            (iv) agricultural biotechnology; and
                            (v) natural resource management, including 
                        precision agriculture.
                    (B) Fiscal years 1999 through 2002.--In making 
                grants under this section for each of fiscal years 1999 
                through 2002, the Secretary shall address--
                            (i) priority mission areas described in 
                        subparagraph (A); or
                            (ii) after consultation with the Advisory 
                        Board, new or different priority mission areas.
    (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) Use of Grants.--
            (1) Smaller institutions.--The Secretary may award grants 
        under this section to ensure that the faculty of small and mid-
        sized institutions who have not previously been successful in 
        obtaining competitive grants awarded by the Secretary under 
        subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
        Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) receive a portion of the 
        grants.
            (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 stakeholders in 
                accordance with section 102(b)(1).
            (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.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall administer 
                this section through the Cooperative State Research, 
                Education, and Extension Service of the Department.
                    (B) Institutes.--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 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).

    TITLE IV--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES; TECHNICAL 
                               AMENDMENTS

SEC. 401. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITIES.

    (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 202(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 1425(c)(3) (7 U.S.C. 3175(c)(3)), by 
        striking ``and 1997'' and inserting ``through 2002'';
            (6) in the first sentence of section 1433(a) (7 U.S.C. 
        3195(a)), by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (7) in section 1434(a) (7 U.S.C. 3196(a)), by striking 
        ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (8) in section 1447(b) (7 U.S.C. 3222b(b)), by striking 
        ``and 1997'' and inserting ``through 2002'';
            (9) 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'';
            (10) in section 1455(c) (7 U.S.C. 3241(c)), by striking 
        ``fiscal year 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 1997 
        through 2002'';
            (11) in section 1463 (7 U.S.C. 3311), by striking ``1997'' 
        each place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting 
        ``2002'';
            (12) in section 1464 (7 U.S.C. 3312), by striking ``1997'' 
        and inserting ``2002'';
            (13) in section 1473D(a) (7 U.S.C. 3319d(a)), by striking 
        ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (14) in the first sentence of section 1477 (7 U.S.C. 3324), 
        by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''; and
            (15) 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''; and
            (4) in section 2412 (7 U.S.C. 6710), 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 (99 
Stat. 1566) 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) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act Amendments of 1981.--Section 1432(b)(5) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 
1981 (Public Law 97-98; 7 U.S.C. 3222 note) is amended by striking 
``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (h) 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''.
    (i) 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.''.
    (j) National Aquaculture Act of 1980.--Section 10 of the National 
Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2809) is amended in the first 
sentence by striking ``the fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993'' each 
place it appears and inserting ``fiscal years 1991 through 2002''.

SEC. 402. REPEAL OF AUTHORITIES.

    (a) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977.--Sections 1424A and 1476 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3174a, 
3323) are repealed.
    (b) Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.--
Subtitle G of title XIV and sections 1670, 1675, and 1676 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5501 et 
seq., 5923, 5928, 5929) are repealed.
    (c) Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.--
Subtitle E of title VIII of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 1184) is repealed.

SEC. 403. 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'.''.

SEC. 404. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO RESEARCH PROVISIONS OF FEDERAL 
              AGRICULTURE IMPROVEMENT AND REFORM ACT OF 1996.

    (a) Supplemental and Alternative Crops Research.--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) 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,''.
    (e) Grants To Upgrade 1890 Land-Grant College Extension 
Facilities.--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''.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on April 4, 1996.

                 TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM SAVINGS

SEC. 501. NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Food Stamps.--
            (1) In general.--Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
        (7 U.S.C. 2025) is amended--
                    (A) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by 
                striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``Subject to 
                subsection (k), the Secretary'';
                    (B) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by inserting 
                ``notwithstanding subsection (k),'' after ``(A)''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Administrative Cost Containment.--
            ``(1) Fiscal year 1998.--For fiscal year 1998, the amount 
        paid by the Secretary to a State under subsection (a) (except 
        for subsections (a)(6) and (c)(1)(A)) shall not exceed 110 
        percent of the amount the Secretary paid to the State under 
        subsection (a) (minus any amount paid under subsections (a)(6) 
        and (c)(1)(A)) for fiscal year 1996.
            ``(2) After fiscal year 1998.--For fiscal year 1999 and 
        each fiscal year thereafter, the amount paid by the Secretary 
        to a State under subsection (a) (except subsections (a)(6) and 
        (c)(1)(A)) shall not exceed 115 percent of--
                    ``(A)(i) the amount the Secretary paid to the State 
                under subsection (a) (minus any amount paid under 
                subsections (a)(6) and (c)(1)(A)) for fiscal year 1996, 
                adjusted to reflect any change in the Consumer Price 
                Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 
                all urban consumers for the period beginning July 1, 
                1997, and ending the June 30 preceding the fiscal year 
                for which the amount is being determined; divided by
                    ``(ii) the average monthly number of food stamp 
                households in the State during fiscal year 1996; 
                multiplied by
                    ``(B) the average monthly number of food stamp 
                households in the State during the applicable fiscal 
                year.''.
            (2) GAO report.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall submit a study to the Committee on Agriculture of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on the effect of section 
        16(k) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (as amended by paragraph 
        (1)) on the ability of State agencies to administer the food 
        stamp program.
    (b) Meals for Children of Working Families.--
            (1) Grants for low-income areas.--Section 4 of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
    ``(f) Low-Income Area Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible school.--The term `eligible school' 
                means a school--
                            ``(i) attended by children, a significant 
                        percentage of whom are members of low-income 
                        families, as determined by the Secretary; and
                            ``(ii)(I) as used with respect to a school 
                        breakfast program, that agrees to operate the 
                        school breakfast program established or 
                        expanded with the assistance provided under 
                        this subsection for a period of not less than 3 
                        years; and
                            ``(II) as used with respect to a summer 
                        food service program for children, that agrees 
                        to operate the summer food service program for 
                        children established or expanded with the 
                        assistance provided under this subsection for a 
                        period of not less than 3 years.
                    ``(B) Service institution.--The term `service 
                institution' means an institution or organization 
                described in paragraph (1)(B) or (7) of section 13(a) 
                of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)).
                    ``(C) Summer food service program for children.--
                The term `summer food service program for children' 
                means a program authorized by section 13 of the 
                National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761).
            ``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        program under this subsection to be known as the `Low-Income 
        Area Grant Program' (referred to in this subsection as the 
        `Program') to assist eligible schools and service institutions 
        through grants to initiate or expand programs under the school 
        breakfast program and the summer food service program for 
        children.
            ``(3) Payments.--
                    ``(A) Appropriation.--Out of any moneys in the 
                Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of 
                the Treasury shall provide to the Secretary $5,000,000 
                for fiscal year 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter.
                    ``(B) Entitlement to funds.--The Secretary shall be 
                entitled to receive the funds made available under 
                subparagraph (A) and shall accept the funds.
                    ``(C) Use of funds.--The Secretary shall use the 
                funds made available under subparagraph (A) to make 
                payments under the Program--
                            ``(i) in the case of the school breakfast 
                        program, to school food authorities for 
                        eligible schools; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of the summer food 
                        service program for children, to service 
                        institutions.
                    ``(D) Insufficient number of applicants.--The 
                Secretary may expend less than the amount described in 
                subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year to the extent that 
                there is an insufficient number of suitable applicants 
                to initiate or expand programs under this subsection 
                for the fiscal year.
            ``(4) Priority.--The Secretary shall make payments under 
        the Program on a competitive basis and in the following order 
        of priority (subject to the other provisions of this 
        subsection) to:
                    ``(A) School food authorities for eligible schools 
                to assist the schools with nonrecurring expenses 
                incurred in--
                            ``(i) initiating a school breakfast program 
                        under this section; or
                            ``(ii) expanding a school breakfast 
                        program.
                    ``(B) Service institutions to assist the 
                institutions with nonrecurring expenses incurred in--
                            ``(i) initiating a summer food service 
                        program for children; or
                            ``(ii) expanding a summer food service 
                        program for children.
            ``(5) Payments additional.--Payments under the Program 
        shall be in addition to payments under subsection (b) of this 
        section and section 13 of the National School Lunch Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1761).
            ``(6) Preferences.--Consistent with paragraph (4), in 
        making payments under the Program for any fiscal year to 
        initiate or expand school breakfast programs or summer food 
        service programs for children, the Secretary shall provide a 
        preference to a school food authority for an eligible school or 
        service institution that--
                    ``(A) in the case of a summer food service program 
                for children, is a public or private nonprofit school 
                food authority;
                    ``(B) has significant public or private resources 
                that will be used to carry out the initiation or 
                expansion of the programs during the year;
                    ``(C) serves an unmet need among low-income 
                children, as determined by the Secretary; or
                    ``(D) is not operating a school breakfast program 
                or summer food service program for children, as 
                appropriate.
            ``(7) Recovery and reallocation.--The Secretary shall act 
        in a timely manner to recover and reallocate to other school 
        food authorities for eligible schools or service institutions 
        any amounts under the Program that are not expended within a 
        reasonable period (as determined by the Secretary).
            ``(8) Maintenance of effort.--Expenditures of funds from 
        State, local, and private sources for the maintenance of the 
        school breakfast program and the summer food service program 
        for children shall not be diminished as a result of payments 
        received under the Program.''.
            (2) Meals and supplements.--Section 13(b)(2) of the 
        National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(b)(2)) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
                clauses (i) and (ii), respectively;
                    (B) by striking ``(2) Any service'' and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(2) Meals and supplements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any service'';
                    (C) by striking ``3 meals, or 2 meals and 1 
                supplement,'' and inserting ``4 meals''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Camps and migrant programs.--A camp or 
                migrant program may serve a breakfast, a lunch, a 
                supper, and meal supplements.''.
            (3) Number of meals and supplements.--Section 17(f)(2) of 
        the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(2)) is amended 
        by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Number of meals and supplements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), no reimbursement may be made to 
                        any institution under this paragraph, or to a 
                        family or group day care home sponsoring 
                        organization under paragraph (3), for more than 
                        2 meals and 1 supplement per day per child.
                            ``(ii) Child care.--A reimbursement may be 
                        made to an institution under this paragraph 
                        (but not a family or group day care home 
                        sponsoring organization) for 2 meals and 2 
                        supplements, or 3 meals and 1 supplement, per 
                        day per child for children that are maintained 
                        in a child care setting for 8 or more hours per 
                        day.''.
            (4) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraphs (2) 
        and (3) take effect on September 1, 1998.
    (c) Information Clearinghouse.--Section 26(d) of the National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769g(d)) is amended in the first sentence 
by striking ``$150,000'' and all that follows through ``1998'' and 
inserting ``$150,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $185,000 for each of 
fiscal years 1998 through 2002''.

SEC. 502. 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.

SEC. 503. HAYING AND GRAZING ON CONSERVATION RESERVE LAND.

    (a) In General.--Section 1232(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3832(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (7) and inserting 
the following:
            ``(7) not to conduct any harvesting or grazing, nor 
        otherwise make commercial use of the forage, on land that is 
        subject to the contract, nor adopt any similar practice 
        specified in the contract by the Secretary as a practice that 
        would tend to defeat the purposes of the contract, except 
        that--
                    ``(A) on application by an owner or operator who 
                has entered into the contract with the Secretary, the 
                Secretary shall permit harvesting and grazing on land 
                that the Secretary determines has a sufficiently 
                established cover to permit harvesting or grazing 
                without undue harm to the purposes of the contract if--
                            ``(i) not more than \1/3\ of the land under 
                        the contract is harvested or grazed in any 
                        calendar year;
                            ``(ii) no land under the contract will be 
                        harvested or grazed more than once in a 3-year 
                        period;
                            ``(iii) the owner or operator agrees to a 
                        payment reduction under this subchapter in an 
                        amount that the Secretary determines is 
                        commensurate with the value of the cover crop 
                        that is harvested or grazed; and
                            ``(iv) the owner or operator agrees to such 
                        other terms and conditions as the Secretary may 
                        establish to ensure that the harvesting or 
                        grazing is consistent with the purposes of the 
                        program established under this subchapter; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary may permit grazing on land 
                under the contract if--
                            ``(i) the grazing is incidental to the 
                        gleaning of crop residues;
                            ``(ii) the owner or operator agrees to a 
                        payment reduction in annual rental payments 
                        that would otherwise be payable under this 
                        subchapter in an amount that the Secretary 
                        determines is commensurate with the economic 
                        value of the forage that is subject to the 
                        incidental grazing; and
                            ``(iii) the owner or operator agrees to 
                        such other terms and conditions as the 
                        Secretary may establish to ensure that the 
                        grazing is consistent with the purposes of the 
                        program established under this subchapter;''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) takes 
effect on October 1, 1997.