[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1906 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]
In the Senate of the United States,
August 4, 1999.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R.
1906) entitled ``An Act making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other purposes.'', do
pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other
purposes, namely:
TITLE I
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Production, Processing, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of
Agriculture, and not to exceed $75,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C.
3109, $2,836,000: Provided, That not to exceed $11,000 of this amount,
along with any unobligated balances of representation funds in the
Foreign Agricultural Service, shall be available for official reception
and representation expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined
by the Secretary: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated
or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to pay the salaries
and expenses of personnel of the Department of Agriculture to carry out
section 793(c)(1)(C) of Public Law 104-127: Provided further, That none
of the funds made available by this Act may be used to enforce section
793(d) of Public Law 104-127.
Executive Operations
chief economist
For necessary expenses of the Chief Economist, including economic
analysis, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, energy and new uses,
and the functions of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, as
authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622g),
and including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section
706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to
exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $6,411,000.
national appeals division
For necessary expenses of the National Appeals Division, including
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $25,000 is
for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $11,718,000.
office of budget and program analysis
For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program
Analysis, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not
to exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $6,583,000.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Information
Officer, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not
to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $5,551,000.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer, including employment pursuant to the second sentence of
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not
to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $5,283,000:
Provided, That the Chief Financial Officer shall actively market cross-
servicing activities of the National Finance Center.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Administration to carry out the programs funded by this
Act, $613,000.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments
(including transfers of funds)
For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public
Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 delegation of
authority from the Administrator of General Services to the Department
of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 486, for programs and activities of the
Department which are included in this Act, and for the operation,
maintenance, and repair of Agriculture buildings, $140,364,000:
Provided, That in the event an agency within the Department should
require modification of space needs, the Secretary of Agriculture may
transfer a share of that agency's appropriation made available by this
Act to this appropriation, or may transfer a share of this
appropriation to that agency's appropriation, but such transfers shall
not exceed 5 percent of the funds made available for space rental and
related costs to or from this account. In addition, for construction,
repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed
equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the programs of the
Department, where not otherwise provided, $5,000,000, to remain
available until expended; making a total appropriation of $145,364,000.
Hazardous Waste Management
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to comply
with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.
9607(g), and section 6001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961, $15,700,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That appropriations and funds available herein to the
Department for Hazardous Waste Management may be transferred to any
agency of the Department for its use in meeting all requirements
pursuant to the above Acts on Federal and non-Federal lands.
Departmental Administration
(including transfers of funds)
For Departmental Administration, $34,738,000, to provide for
necessary expenses for management support services to offices of the
Department and for general administration and disaster management of
the Department, repairs and alterations, and other miscellaneous
supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for and necessary for the
practical and efficient work of the Department, including employment
pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of
1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment
under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided, That this appropriation shall be
reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for travel
expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C.
551-558.
outreach for socially disadvantaged farmers
For grants and contracts pursuant to section 2501 of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279),
$3,000,000, to remain available until expended.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Congressional Relations to carry out the programs funded
by this Act, including programs involving intergovernmental affairs and
liaison within the executive branch, $3,668,000: Provided, That no
other funds appropriated to the Department by this Act shall be
available to the Department for support of activities of congressional
relations: Provided further, That not less than $2,241,000 shall be
transferred to agencies funded by this Act to maintain personnel at the
agency level.
Office of Communications
For necessary expenses to carry on services relating to the
coordination of programs involving public affairs, for the
dissemination of agricultural information, and the coordination of
information, work, and programs authorized by Congress in the
Department, $8,138,000, including employment pursuant to the second
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225),
of which not to exceed $10,000 shall be available for employment under
5 U.S.C. 3109, and not to exceed $2,000,000 may be used for farmers'
bulletins.
Office of the Inspector General
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General,
including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a)
of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and the Inspector General
Act of 1978, $65,128,000, including such sums as may be necessary for
contracting and other arrangements with public agencies and private
persons pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of
1978, including a sum not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5
U.S.C. 3109; and including a sum not to exceed $125,000 for certain
confidential operational expenses, including the payment of informants,
to be expended under the direction of the Inspector General pursuant to
Public Law 95-452 and section 1337 of Public Law 97-98.
Office of the General Counsel
For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel,
$30,094,000.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Research, Education and Economics to administer the laws
enacted by the Congress for the Economic Research Service, the National
Agricultural Statistics Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and
the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
$540,000.
Economic Research Service
For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service in
conducting economic research and analysis, as authorized by the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and other laws,
$62,919,000: Provided, That $2,500,000 shall be transferred to and
merged with the appropriation for ``Food and Nutrition Service, Food
Program Administration'' for studies and evaluations: Provided further,
That not more than $500,000 of the amount transferred under the
preceding proviso shall be available to conduct, not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, a study based on all
available administrative data and onsite inspections conducted by the
Secretary of Agriculture of local food stamp offices in each State, of
(1) reasons for the decline in participation in the food stamp program,
and (2) any problems that households with eligible children have
experienced in obtaining food stamps, and to report the results of the
study to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress
and to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate:
Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available for
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225): Provided further, That university
research shall be reduced below the fiscal year 1999 level by
$2,000,000.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics
Service in conducting statistical reporting and service work, including
crop and livestock estimates, statistical coordination and
improvements, marketing surveys, and the Census of Agriculture, as
authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, the Census of
Agriculture Act of 1997, and other laws, $99,355,000, of which up to
$16,490,000 shall be available until expended for the Census of
Agriculture: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944, and not to exceed $40,000 shall be available for
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
Agricultural Research Service
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural Research Service
to perform agricultural research and demonstration relating to
production, utilization, marketing, and distribution (not otherwise
provided for); home economics or nutrition and consumer use including
the acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of agricultural
information; and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or
purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, and for land exchanges
where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value or shall be equalized
by a payment of money to the grantor which shall not exceed 25 percent
of the total value of the land or interests transferred out of Federal
ownership, $809,499,000: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall
be available for temporary employment pursuant to the second sentence
of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not
to exceed $115,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C.
3109: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be
available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the
purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only: Provided further,
That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C.
2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and
improvements, but unless otherwise provided, the cost of constructing
any one building shall not exceed $250,000, except for headhouses or
greenhouses which shall each be limited to $1,000,000, and except for
ten buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed
$500,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building during the
fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement
value of the building or $250,000, whichever is greater: Provided
further, That the limitations on alterations contained in this Act
shall not apply to modernization or replacement of existing facilities
at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That appropriations
hereunder shall be available for granting easements at the Beltsville
Agricultural Research Center, including an easement to the University
of Maryland to construct the Transgenic Animal Facility which upon
completion shall be accepted by the Secretary as a gift: Provided
further, That the foregoing limitations shall not apply to replacement
of buildings needed to carry out the Act of April 24, 1948 (21 U.S.C.
113a): Provided further, That funds may be received from any State,
other political subdivision, organization, or individual for the
purpose of establishing or operating any research facility or research
project of the Agricultural Research Service, as authorized by law.
None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be available to
carry out research related to the production, processing or marketing
of tobacco or tobacco products.
In fiscal year 2000, the agency is authorized to charge fees,
commensurate with the fair market value, for any permit, easement,
lease, or other special use authorization for the occupancy or use of
land and facilities (including land and facilities at the Beltsville
Agricultural Research Center) issued by the agency, as authorized by
law, and such fees shall be credited to this account and shall remain
available until expended for authorized purposes.
buildings and facilities
For acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement,
extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as
necessary to carry out the agricultural research programs of the
Department of Agriculture, where not otherwise provided, $53,000,000,
to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That
funds may be received from any State, other political subdivision,
organization, or individual for the purpose of establishing any
research facility of the Agricultural Research Service, as authorized
by law.
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
research and education activities
For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative
forestry and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses,
including $180,545,000 to carry into effect the provisions of the Hatch
Act (7 U.S.C. 361a-i); $21,932,000 for grants for cooperative forestry
research (16 U.S.C. 582a-a7); $30,676,000 for payments to the 1890
land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 3222), of
which $1,000,000 shall be made available to West Virginia State College
in Institute, West Virginia, which for fiscal year 2000 and thereafter
shall be designated as an eligible institution under section 1445 of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222); $56,901,000 for special grants for
agricultural research (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $13,721,000 for special
grants for agricultural research on improved pest control (7 U.S.C.
450i(c)); $114,125,000 for competitive research grants (7 U.S.C.
450i(b)); $5,109,000 for the support of animal health and disease
programs (7 U.S.C. 3195); $550,000 for supplemental and alternative
crops and products (7 U.S.C. 3319d); $650,000 for grants for research
pursuant to the Critical Agricultural Materials Act of 1984 (7 U.S.C.
178) and section 1472 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3318), to remain available until expended; $500,000 for the 1994
research program (7 U.S.C. 301 note); $3,000,000 for higher education
graduate fellowship grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)), to remain available
until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $4,350,000 for higher education
challenge grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)); $1,000,000 for a higher
education multicultural scholars program (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(5)), to
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $2,850,000 for an
education grants program for Hispanic-serving Institutions (7 U.S.C.
3241); $500,000 for a secondary agriculture education program and two-
year post-secondary education (7 U.S.C. 3152(h)); $4,000,000 for
aquaculture grants (7 U.S.C. 3322); $8,000,000 for sustainable
agriculture research and education (7 U.S.C. 5811); $9,200,000 for a
program of capacity building grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)) to colleges
eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C.
321-326 and 328), including Tuskegee University, to remain available
until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $1,552,000 for payments to the 1994
Institutions pursuant to section 534(a)(1) of Public Law 103-382; and
$14,216,000 for necessary expenses of Research and Education
Activities, of which not to exceed $100,000 shall be for employment
under 5 U.S.C. 3109; in all, $473,377,000, of which not less than
$250,000 shall be provided to carry out market analysis programs at the
Livestock Marketing Information Center in Lakewood, Colorado.
None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be available to
carry out research related to the production, processing or marketing
of tobacco or tobacco products.
native american institutions endowment fund
For establishment of a Native American institutions endowment fund,
as authorized by Public Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), $4,600,000.
extension activities
Payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam,
the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and American Samoa:
For payments for cooperative extension work under the Smith-Lever Act,
to be distributed under sections 3(b) and 3(c) of said Act, and under
section 208(c) of Public Law 93-471, for retirement and employees'
compensation costs for extension agents and for costs of penalty mail
for cooperative extension agents and State extension directors,
$276,548,000; payments for extension work at the 1994 Institutions
under the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)), $3,060,000; payments
for the nutrition and family education program for low-income areas
under section 3(d) of the Act, $58,695,000; payments for the pest
management program under section 3(d) of the Act, $10,783,000; payments
for the farm safety program under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,000,000;
payments to upgrade research, extension, and teaching facilities at the
1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University, as authorized
by section 1447 of Public Law 95-113 (7 U.S.C. 3222b), $12,000,000, to
remain available until expended; payments for the rural development
centers under section 3(d) of the Act, $908,000; payments for youth-at-
risk programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,000,000; payments for
carrying out the provisions of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of
1978, $3,192,000; payments for Indian reservation agents under section
3(d) of the Act, $1,714,000; payments for sustainable agriculture
programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,309,000; payments for rural
health and safety education as authorized by section 2390 of Public Law
101-624 (7 U.S.C. 2661 note, 2662), $2,628,000; payments for
cooperative extension work by the colleges receiving the benefits of
the second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328) and Tuskegee
University, $26,843,000, of which $1,000,000 shall be made available to
West Virginia State College in Institute, West Virginia, which for
fiscal year 2000 and thereafter shall be designated as an eligible
institution under section 1444 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221); and for
Federal administration and coordination including administration of the
Smith-Lever Act, and the Act of September 29, 1977 (7 U.S.C. 341-349),
and section 1361(c) of the Act of October 3, 1980 (7 U.S.C. 301 note),
and to coordinate and provide program leadership for the extension work
of the Department and the several States and insular possessions,
$10,940,000; in all, $422,620,000: Provided, That funds hereby
appropriated pursuant to section 3(c) of the Act of June 26, 1953, and
section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, shall not be paid to any
State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin
Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and American Samoa prior to
availability of an equal sum from non-Federal sources for expenditure
during the current fiscal year.
integrated activities
For the integrated research, education, and extension competitive
grants programs, including necessary administrative expenses,
$35,541,000, as follows: payments for the water quality program,
$13,000,000; payments for the food safety program, $15,000,000;
payments for the national agriculture pesticide impact assessment
program, $4,541,000; payments for the methyl bromide transition
program, $3,000,000, as authorized under section 406 of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7
U.S.C. 7626).
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs to administer programs
under the laws enacted by the Congress for the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Grain
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, $618,000.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For expenses, not otherwise provided for, including those pursuant
to the Act of February 28, 1947 (21 U.S.C. 114b-c), necessary to
prevent, control, and eradicate pests and plant and animal diseases; to
carry out inspection, quarantine, and regulatory activities; to
discharge the authorities of the Secretary of Agriculture under the Act
of March 2, 1931 (46 Stat. 1468; 7 U.S.C. 426-426b); and to protect the
environment, as authorized by law, $439,445,000, of which $4,105,000
shall be available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant
diseases, animal diseases and for control of pest animals and birds to
the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions: Provided, That no
funds shall be used to formulate or administer a brucellosis
eradication program for the current fiscal year that does not require
minimum matching by the States of at least 40 percent: Provided
further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, not
less than $24,970,000 shall be used for fruit fly exclusion and
detection (including at least $6,000,000 for fruit fly exclusion and
detection in the State of Florida): Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to the
second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C.
2225), and not to exceed $40,000 shall be available for employment
under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be
available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the
purchase of not to exceed four, of which two shall be for replacement
only: Provided further, That, in addition, in emergencies which
threaten any segment of the agricultural production industry of this
country, the Secretary may transfer from other appropriations or funds
available to the agencies or corporations of the Department such sums
as may be deemed necessary, to be available only in such emergencies
for the arrest and eradication of contagious or infectious disease or
pests of animals, poultry, or plants, and for expenses in accordance
with the Act of February 28, 1947, and section 102 of the Act of
September 21, 1944, and any unexpended balances of funds transferred
for such emergency purposes in the next preceding fiscal year shall be
merged with such transferred amounts: Provided further, That
appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C.
2250) for the repair and alteration of leased buildings and
improvements, but unless otherwise provided the cost of altering any
one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the
current replacement value of the building.
In fiscal year 2000, the agency is authorized to collect fees to
cover the total costs of providing technical assistance, goods, or
services requested by States, other political subdivisions, domestic
and international organizations, foreign governments, or individuals,
provided that such fees are structured such that any entity's liability
for such fees is reasonably based on the technical assistance, goods,
or services provided to the entity by the agency, and such fees shall
be credited to this account, to remain available until expended,
without further appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or
services.
Of the total amount available under this heading in fiscal year
2000, $90,000,000 shall be derived from user fees deposited in the
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fee Account.
buildings and facilities
For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance,
environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase
of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2250, and
acquisition of land as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 428a, $5,200,000, to
remain available until expended.
Agricultural Marketing Service
marketing services
For necessary expenses to carry on services related to consumer
protection, agricultural marketing and distribution, transportation,
and regulatory programs, as authorized by law, and for administration
and coordination of payments to States, including field employment
pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of
1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225) and not to exceed $90,000 for employment under 5
U.S.C. 3109, $51,229,000, including funds for the wholesale market
development program for the design and development of wholesale and
farmer market facilities for the major metropolitan areas of the
country: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant
to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and
improvements, but the cost of altering any one building during the
fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement
value of the building.
Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization activities,
as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 U.S.C. 9701).
limitation on administrative expenses
Not to exceed $60,730,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated
during the current fiscal year for administrative expenses: Provided,
That if crop size is understated and/or other uncontrollable events
occur, the agency may exceed this limitation by up to 10 percent with
notification to the Appropriations Committees.
funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply (section 32)
(including transfers of funds)
Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7
U.S.C. 612c) shall be used only for commodity program expenses as
authorized therein, and other related operating expenses, except for:
(1) transfers to the Department of Commerce as authorized by the Fish
and Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in
this Act; and (3) not more than $12,443,000 for formulation and
administration of marketing agreements and orders pursuant to the
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and the Agricultural Act
of 1961.
payments to states and possessions
For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and departments
of markets, and similar agencies for marketing activities under section
204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)),
$1,200,000.
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the United
States Grain Standards Act, for the administration of the Packers and
Stockyards Act, for certifying procedures used to protect purchasers of
farm products, and the standardization activities related to grain
under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, including field
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $25,000 for
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $26,287,000: Provided, That this
appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for
the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost
of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10
percent of the current replacement value of the building.
limitation on inspection and weighing service expenses
Not to exceed $42,557,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated
during the current fiscal year for inspection and weighing services:
Provided, That if grain export activities require additional
supervision and oversight, or other uncontrollable factors occur, this
limitation may be exceeded by up to 10 percent with notification to the
Appropriations Committees.
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Food Safety to administer the laws enacted by the
Congress for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, $446,000.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
For necessary expenses to carry out services authorized by the
Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and
the Egg Products Inspection Act, $638,404,000, and in addition,
$1,000,000 may be credited to this account from fees collected for the
cost of laboratory accreditation as authorized by section 1017 of
Public Law 102-237: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be
available for shell egg surveillance under section 5(d) of the Egg
Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1034(d)): Provided further, That
this appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant to
the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7
U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $75,000 shall be available for
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for
the alteration and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost
of altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10
percent of the current replacement value of the building.
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to administer the
laws enacted by Congress for the Farm Service Agency, the Foreign
Agricultural Service, the Risk Management Agency, and the Commodity
Credit Corporation, $572,000.
Farm Service Agency
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and
implementation of programs administered by the Farm Service Agency,
$794,839,000: Provided, That the Secretary is authorized to use the
services, facilities, and authorities (but not the funds) of the
Commodity Credit Corporation to make program payments for all programs
administered by the Agency: Provided further, That other funds made
available to the Agency for authorized activities may be advanced to
and merged with this account: Provided further, That these funds shall
be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section
706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed
$1,000,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
state mediation grants
For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural Credit
Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), $2,000,000.
dairy indemnity program
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity payments to
dairy farmers for milk or cows producing such milk and manufacturers of
dairy products who have been directed to remove their milk or dairy
products from commercial markets because it contained residues of
chemicals registered and approved for use by the Federal Government,
and in making indemnity payments for milk, or cows producing such milk,
at a fair market value to any dairy farmer who is directed to remove
his milk from commercial markets because of: (1) the presence of
products of nuclear radiation or fallout if such contamination is not
due to the fault of the farmer; or (2) residues of chemicals or toxic
substances not included under the first sentence of the Act of August
13, 1968 (7 U.S.C. 450j), if such chemicals or toxic substances were
not used in a manner contrary to applicable regulations or labeling
instructions provided at the time of use and the contamination is not
due to the fault of the farmer, $450,000, to remain available until
expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That none of the funds contained
in this Act shall be used to make indemnity payments to any farmer
whose milk was removed from commercial markets as a result of the
farmer's willful failure to follow procedures prescribed by the Federal
Government: Provided further, That this amount shall be transferred to
the Commodity Credit Corporation: Provided further, That the Secretary
is authorized to utilize the services, facilities, and authorities of
the Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of making dairy
indemnity disbursements.
agricultural credit insurance fund program account
(including transfers of funds)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and
guaranteed loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, to be available
from funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, as follows: farm
ownership loans, $559,422,000, of which $431,373,000 shall be for
guaranteed loans; operating loans, $2,397,842,000, of which
$1,697,842,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and
$200,000,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe
land acquisition loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $1,028,000; for
emergency insured loans, $25,000,000 to meet the needs resulting from
natural disasters; and for boll weevil eradication program loans as
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $100,000,000.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of
modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, as follows: farm ownership loans, $7,243,000, of which
$2,416,000, shall be for guaranteed loans; operating loans,
$70,860,000, of which $23,940,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed
loans and $17,620,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian
tribe land acquisition loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $21,000;
and for emergency insured loans, $3,882,000 to meet the needs resulting
from natural disasters.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $214,161,000, of which
$209,861,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation
for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.
Funds appropriated by this Act to the Agricultural Credit Insurance
Program Account for farm ownership and operating direct loans and
guaranteed loans may be transferred among these programs with the prior
approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
Risk Management Agency
For administrative and operating expenses, as authorized by the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 6933),
$64,000,000: Provided, That not to exceed $700 shall be available for
official reception and representation expenses, as authorized by 7
U.S.C. 1506(i).
CORPORATIONS
The following corporations and agencies are hereby authorized to
make expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority
available to each such corporation or agency and in accord with law,
and to make contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year
limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation
Control Act as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth
in the budget for the current fiscal year for such corporation or
agency, except as hereinafter provided.
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund
For payments as authorized by section 516 of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until
expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund
reimbursement for net realized losses
For fiscal year 2000, such sums as may be necessary to reimburse
the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized losses sustained, but
not previously reimbursed, pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August
17, 1961 (15 U.S.C. 713a-11).
operations and maintenance for hazardous waste management
For fiscal year 2000, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not
expend more than $5,000,000 for expenses to comply with the requirement
of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961: Provided,
That expenses shall be for operations and maintenance costs only and
that other hazardous waste management costs shall be paid for by the
USDA Hazardous Waste Management appropriation in this Act.
TITLE II
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment to administer the laws
enacted by the Congress for the Forest Service and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, $693,000.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
conservation operations
For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of the Act
of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), including preparation of
conservation plans and establishment of measures to conserve soil and
water (including farm irrigation and land drainage and such special
measures for soil and water management as may be necessary to prevent
floods and the siltation of reservoirs and to control agricultural
related pollutants); operation of conservation plant materials centers;
classification and mapping of soil; dissemination of information;
acquisition of lands, water, and interests therein for use in the plant
materials program by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost
not to exceed $100 pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C.
428a); purchase and erection or alteration or improvement of permanent
and temporary buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft,
$656,243,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b), of
which not less than $5,990,000 is for snow survey and water forecasting
and not less than $9,125,000 is for operation and establishment of the
plant materials centers: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall
be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement
of buildings and public improvements at plant materials centers, except
that the cost of alterations and improvements to other buildings and
other public improvements shall not exceed $250,000: Provided further,
That when buildings or other structures are erected on non-Federal
land, that the right to use such land is obtained as provided in 7
U.S.C. 2250a: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be
available for technical assistance and related expenses to carry out
programs authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the Colorado River
Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (43 U.S.C. 1592(c)): Provided
further, That this appropriation shall be available for employment
pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of
1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $25,000 shall be available for
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That qualified local
engineers may be temporarily employed at per diem rates to perform the
technical planning work of the Service (16 U.S.C. 590e-2).
watershed surveys and planning
For necessary expenses to conduct research, investigation, and
surveys of watersheds of rivers and other waterways, and for small
watershed investigations and planning, in accordance with the Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act approved August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C.
1001-1009), $10,368,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be
available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section
706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed
$110,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
watershed and flood prevention operations
For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, including
but not limited to research, engineering operations, methods of
cultivation, the growing of vegetation, rehabilitation of existing
works and changes in use of land, in accordance with the Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act approved August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C.
1001-1005 and 1007-1009), the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935
(16 U.S.C. 590a-f), and in accordance with the provisions of laws
relating to the activities of the Department, $99,443,000, to remain
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b) (of which up to $15,000,000
may be available for the watersheds authorized under the Flood Control
Act approved June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701 and 16 U.S.C. 1006a)):
Provided, That not to exceed $47,000,000 of this appropriation shall be
available for technical assistance: Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225),
and not to exceed $200,000 shall be available for employment under 5
U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That not to exceed $1,000,000 of this
appropriation is available to carry out the purposes of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-205), including cooperative efforts
as contemplated by that Act to relocate endangered or threatened
species to other suitable habitats as may be necessary to expedite
project construction: Provided further, That of the funds available for
Emergency Watershed Protection activities, $5,000,000 shall be
available for Mississippi and Wisconsin for financial and technical
assistance for pilot rehabilitation projects of small, upstream dams
built under the Watershed and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et
seq., section 13 of the Act of December 22, 1994; Public Law 78-534; 58
Stat. 905), and the pilot watershed program authorized under the
heading ``FLOOD PREVENTION'' of the Department of Agriculture
Appropriation Act, 1954 (Public Law 83-156; 67 Stat. 214).
resource conservation and development
For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out projects for
resource conservation and development and for sound land use pursuant
to the provisions of section 32(e) of title III of the Bankhead-Jones
Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010-1011; 76 Stat. 607), the Act of April
27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), and the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981
(16 U.S.C. 3451-3461), $35,000,000, to remain available until expended
(7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That this appropriation shall be available
for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $50,000 shall be
available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
forestry incentives program
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, to carry out
the program of forestry incentives, as authorized by the Cooperative
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101), including technical
assistance and related expenses, $6,325,000, to remain available until
expended, as authorized by that Act.
TITLE III
RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Rural Development to administer programs under the laws
enacted by the Congress for the Rural Housing Service, the Rural
Business-Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utilities Service of the
Department of Agriculture, $588,000.
rural community advancement program
(including transfers of funds)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, as
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and 1932, except for
sections 381E-H, 381N, and 381O of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), $718,006,000, to remain available
until expended, of which $23,150,000 shall be for rural community
programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of such Act; of which
$630,257,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs described in
section 381E(d)(2), 306C(a)(2), and 306D of such Act; and of which
$64,599,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative development
programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided, That of
the amount appropriated for the rural business and cooperative
development programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made available
for a grant to a qualified national organization to provide technical
assistance for rural transportation in order to promote economic
development: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated for
rural utilities programs, not to exceed $20,000,000 shall be for water
and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the United
States/Mexico borders, including grants pursuant to section 306C of
such Act; not to exceed $12,000,000 shall be for water and waste
disposal systems to benefit Federally Recognized Native American
Tribes, including grants pursuant to section 306C of such Act: Provided
further, That the Federally Recognized Native American Tribe is not
eligible for any other rural utilities programs set aside under the
Rural Community Advancement Program; not to exceed $20,000,000 shall be
for water and waste disposal systems for rural and native villages in
Alaska pursuant to section 306D of such Act; not to exceed $16,500,000
shall be for technical assistance grants for rural waste systems
pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act; and not to exceed
$7,300,000 shall be for contracting with qualified national
organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical
assistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That of the total
amount appropriated, not to exceed $1,500,000 shall be available to the
Grassroots project: Provided further, That of the total amount
appropriated, not to exceed $45,245,000 shall be available through June
30, 2000, for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as
authorized by Public Law 103-66, of which $2,106,000 shall be for rural
community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of such Act; of
which $34,704,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs described
in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act; of which $8,435,000 shall be for the
rural business and cooperative development programs described in
section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided further, That any obligated
and unobligated balances available from prior years for the ``Rural
Utilities Assistance Program'' account, shall be transferred to and
merged with this account.
Rural Housing Service
rural housing insurance fund program account
(including transfers of funds)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and
guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949,
to be available from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as
follows: $4,300,000,000 for loans to section 502 borrowers, as
determined by the Secretary, of which $3,200,000,000 shall be for
unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $32,396,000 for section 504 housing
repair loans; $100,000,000 for section 538 guaranteed multi-family
housing loans; $25,001,000 for section 514 farm labor housing;
$114,321,000 for section 515 rental housing; $5,152,000 for section 524
site loans; $12,824,000 for credit sales of acquired property, of which
up to $2,150,000 may be for multi-family credit sales; and $5,000,000
for section 523 self-help housing land development loans.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of
modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 loans, $113,350,000, of which
$19,520,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504
housing repair loans, $9,900,000; section 538 multi-family housing
guaranteed loans, $480,000; section 514 farm labor housing,
$11,308,000; section 515 rental housing, $45,363,000; section 524 site
loans, $4,000; credit sales of acquired property, $1,499,000, of which
up to $850,000 may be for multi-family credit sales; and section 523
self-help housing land development loans, $281,000: Provided, That of
the total amount appropriated in this paragraph, $11,180,000 shall be
for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by
Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if such funds are not
obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30,
2000, they shall remain available for other authorized purposes under
this head.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $360,785,000, which shall be
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Housing
Service, Salaries and Expenses''.
rental assistance program
For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed pursuant
to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements entered into in
lieu of debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as
authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949,
$640,000,000; and, in addition, such sums as may be necessary, as
authorized by section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred
prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance program
under section 521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of this amount, not
more than $5,900,000 shall be available for debt forgiveness or
payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D)
of the Act, and not to exceed $10,000 per project for advances to
nonprofit organizations or public agencies to cover direct costs (other
than purchase price) incurred in purchasing projects pursuant to
section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Provided further, That agreements
entered into or renewed during fiscal year 2000 shall be funded for a
five-year period, although the life of any such agreement may be
extended to fully utilize amounts obligated.
mutual and self-help housing grants
For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) of the
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $26,000,000, to remain available
until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That of the total amount
appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise
communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That
if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise
communities by June 30, 2000, they shall remain available for other
authorized purposes under this head.
rural housing assistance grants
For grants and contracts for housing for domestic farm labor, very
low-income housing repair, supervisory and technical assistance,
compensation for construction defects, and rural housing preservation
made by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474,
1479(c), 1486, 1490e, and 1490m, $41,000,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, $1,200,000
shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as
authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if such funds
are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by
June 30, 2000, they shall remain available for other authorized
purposes under this head.
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing Service, including
administering the programs authorized by the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act, title V of the Housing Act of 1949, and
cooperative agreements, $60,978,000: Provided, That this appropriation
shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to
exceed $520,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
rural development loan fund program account
(including transfers of funds)
For the cost of direct loans, $16,615,000, as authorized by the
Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)): Provided, That such
costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined
in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided
further, That these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations
for the principal amount of direct loans of $38,256,000: Provided
further, That through June 30, 2000, of the total amount appropriated,
$3,216,000 shall be available for the cost of direct loans for
empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by Public
Law 103-66, to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of
direct loans, $7,246,000: Provided further, That if such funds are not
obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by June 30,
2000, they shall remain available for other authorized purposes under
this head: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated under
this paragraph shall be available unless the Department of Agriculture
proposes a revised regulation to allow lenders to be charged a fee of
up to 3 percent on guaranteed business and industry loans.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
loan programs, $3,337,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the
appropriation for ``Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Salaries and
Expenses''.
rural economic development loans program account
(including rescission of funds)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under
section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of
promoting rural economic development and job creation projects,
$15,000,000.
For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of modifying loans
as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
$3,453,000.
Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit
payments in fiscal year 2000, as authorized by section 313 of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936, $3,453,000 shall not be obligated and
$3,453,000 are rescinded.
rural cooperative development grants
For rural cooperative development grants authorized under section
310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932), $5,500,000, of which $1,500,000 shall be available for
cooperative agreements for the appropriate technology transfer for
rural areas program: Provided, That at least twenty-five percent of the
total amount appropriated shall be made available to cooperatives or
associations of cooperatives that assist small, minority producers.
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service,
including administering the programs authorized by the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act; section 1323 of the Food Security Act
of 1985; the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926; for activities relating
to the marketing aspects of cooperatives, including economic research
findings, as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; for
activities with institutions concerning the development and operation
of agricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements;
$25,680,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $260,000 may be
used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation
Revolving Fund
For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative Agricultural
Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5901-5908),
$3,500,000 is appropriated to the Alternative Agricultural Research and
Commercialization Corporation Revolving Fund.
Rural Utilities Service
rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account
(including transfers of funds)
Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be made as follows: 5
percent rural electrification loans, $71,500,000; 5 percent rural
telecommunications loans, $75,000,000; cost of money rural
telecommunications loans, $300,000,000; municipal rate rural electric
loans, $295,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section 306 of that
Act, rural electric, $700,000,000 and rural telecommunications,
$120,000,000, to remain available until expended.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct and
guaranteed loans authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7
U.S.C. 935 and 936), as follows: cost of direct loans, $1,483,000; cost
of municipal rate loans, $10,826,000; cost of money rural
telecommunications loans, $2,370,000: Provided, That notwithstanding
section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower
interest rates may exceed 7 percent per year.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, which shall be
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Utilities
Service, Salaries and Expenses''.
rural telephone bank program account
(including transfers of funds)
The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such
expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such corporation
in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without
regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the
Government Corporation Control Act, as may be necessary in carrying out
its authorized programs. During fiscal year 2000 and within the
resources and authority available, gross obligations for the principal
amount of direct loans shall be $157,509,000.
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, including the cost of modifying loans, of direct loans
authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935),
$2,961,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
loan programs, $3,000,000, which shall be transferred to and merged
with the appropriation for ``Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and
Expenses''.
distance learning and telemedicine program
For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
950aaa et seq., $13,200,000, to remain available until expended, to be
available for loans and grants for telemedicine and distance learning
services in rural areas: Provided, That the costs of direct loans shall
be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service, including
administering the programs authorized by the Rural Electrification Act
of 1936, and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and for
cooperative agreements, $33,000,000: Provided, That this appropriation
shall be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to
exceed $105,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the Under
Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to administer the
laws enacted by the Congress for the Food and Nutrition Service,
$554,000.
Food and Nutrition Service
child nutrition programs
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses to carry out the National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section 21, and the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), except sections 17 and 21;
$9,560,028,000, to remain available through September 30, 2001, of
which $4,624,829,000 is hereby appropriated and $4,935,199,000 shall be
derived by transfer from funds available under section 32 of the Act of
August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Provided, That, except as specifically
provided under this heading, none of the funds made available under
this heading shall be used for studies and evaluations: Provided
further, That of the funds made available under this heading, up to
$13,000,000 shall be for school breakfast pilot projects, including the
evaluation required under section 18(e) of the National School Lunch
Act: Provided further, That up to $4,363,000 shall be available for
independent verification of school food service claims: Provided
further, That none of the funds under this heading shall be available
unless the value of bonus commodities provided under section 32 of the
Act of August 24, 1935 (49 Stat. 774, chapter 641; 7 U.S.C. 612c), and
section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431) is included
in meeting the minimum commodity assistance requirement of section 6(g)
of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(g)).
special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children
(wic)
For necessary expenses to carry out the special supplemental
nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), $4,038,107,000, to remain available
through September 30, 2001: Provided, That none of the funds made
available under this heading shall be used for studies and evaluations:
Provided further, That of the total amount available, the Secretary
shall obligate $10,000,000 for the farmers' market nutrition program
within 45 days of the enactment of this Act, and an additional
$5,000,000 for the farmers' market nutrition program from any funds not
needed to maintain current caseload levels: Provided further, That none
of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay administrative
expenses of WIC clinics except those that have an announced policy of
prohibiting smoking within the space used to carry out the program:
Provided further, That none of the funds provided in this account shall
be available for the purchase of infant formula except in accordance
with the cost containment and competitive bidding requirements
specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966: Provided
further, That none of the funds provided shall be available for
activities that are not fully reimbursed by other federal government
departments or agencies unless authorized by section 17 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966.
food stamp program
For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C.
2011 et seq.), $21,563,744,000, of which $100,000,000 shall be placed
in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become
necessary to carry out program operations: Provided, That none of the
funds made available under this head shall be used for studies and
evaluations: Provided further, That funds provided herein shall be
expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food Stamp Act: Provided
further, That this appropriation shall be subject to any work
registration or workfare requirements as may be required by law:
Provided further, That funds made available for Employment and Training
under this head shall remain available until expended, as authorized by
section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp Act.
commodity assistance program
For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity supplemental food
program as authorized by section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer
Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note); the Emergency Food
Assistance Act of 1983, $131,000,000, to remain available through
September 30, 2001: Provided, That none of these funds shall be
available to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities
donated to the program.
food donations programs
For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of the Agriculture
and Consumer Protection Act of 1973; special assistance for the nuclear
affected islands as authorized by section 103(h)(2) of the Compacts of
Free Association Act of 1985, as amended; and section 311 of the Older
Americans Act of 1965, $141,081,000, to remain available through
September 30, 2001.
food program administration
For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic food programs
funded under this Act, $111,561,000, of which $5,000,000 shall be
available only for simplifying procedures, reducing overhead costs,
tightening regulations, improving food stamp coupon handling, and
assistance in the prevention, identification, and prosecution of fraud
and other violations of law and of which not less than $3,000,000 shall
be available to improve integrity in the Food Stamp and Child Nutrition
programs: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $150,000 shall
be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.
TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service,
including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 1954 (7
U.S.C. 1761-1768), market development activities abroad, and for
enabling the Secretary to coordinate and integrate activities of the
Department in connection with foreign agricultural work, including not
to exceed $128,000 for representation allowances and for expenses
pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C.
1766), $136,203,000: Provided, That the Service may utilize advances of
funds, or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures made on behalf
of Federal agencies, public and private organizations and institutions
under agreements executed pursuant to the agricultural food production
assistance programs (7 U.S.C. 1737) and the foreign assistance programs
of the United States Agency for International Development: Provided
further, That of the total amount appropriated, up to $2,000,000 shall
remain available until expended solely for the purpose of offsetting
fluctuations in international currency exchange rates, subject to
documentation by the Foreign Agricultural Service.
None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be available to
promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco products, or alcoholic
beverages, including wine.
public law 480 program and grant accounts
(including transfers of funds)
For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise
recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including interest
thereon, under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of
1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691, 1701-1704, 1721-1726a, 1727-1727e, 1731-1736g-3,
and 1737), as follows: (1) $142,840,000 for Public Law 480 title I
credit, including Food for Progress programs; (2) $16,249,000 is hereby
appropriated for ocean freight differential costs for the shipment of
agricultural commodities pursuant to title I of said Act and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985; and (3) $787,000,000 is hereby appropriated
for commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad
pursuant to title II of said Act: Provided, That not to exceed 15
percent of the funds made available to carry out any title of said Act
may be used to carry out any other title of said Act: Provided further,
That such sums shall remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements as authorized by the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985, including the cost of modifying credit
agreements under said Act, $117,786,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the Public
Law 480 title I credit program, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985,
to the extent funds appropriated for Public Law 480 are utilized,
$1,850,000, of which $1,035,000 may be transferred to and merged with
the appropriation for ``Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales
Manager'' and $815,000 may be transferred to and merged with the
appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.
commodity credit corporation export loans program account
(including transfers of funds)
For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity Credit
Corporation's export guarantee program, GSM 102 and GSM 103,
$3,820,000; to cover common overhead expenses as permitted by section
11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and in conformity
with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, of which $3,231,000 may be
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Foreign
Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager'' and $589,000 may be
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Farm Service
Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.
TITLE VI
RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration,
including hire and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for payment of
space rental and related costs pursuant to Public Law 92-313 for
programs and activities of the Food and Drug Administration which are
included in this Act; for rental of special purpose space in the
District of Columbia or elsewhere; and for miscellaneous and emergency
expenses of enforcement activities, authorized and approved by the
Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary's
certificate, not to exceed $25,000; $1,180,972,000, of which not to
exceed $145,434,000 in fees pursuant to section 736 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this appropriation and
remain available until expended: Provided, That fees derived from
applications received during fiscal year 2000 shall be subject to the
fiscal year 2000 limitation: Provided further, That none of these funds
shall be used to develop, establish, or operate any program of user
fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701: Provided further, That of the total
amount appropriated: (1) $264,845,000 shall be for the Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition and related field activities in the Office
of Regulatory Affairs; (2) $309,026,000 shall be for the Center for
Drug Evaluation and Research and related field activities in the Office
of Regulatory Affairs, of which no less than $11,542,000 shall be
available for grants and contracts awarded under section 5 of the
Orphan Drug Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee); (3) $132,092,000 shall be for the
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and for related field
activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (4) $48,221,000 shall
be for the Center for Veterinary Medicine and for related field
activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (5) $154,271,000 shall
be for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and for related
field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs, of which
$1,000,000 shall be for premarket review, enforcement and oversight
activities related to users and manufacturers of all reprocessed
medical devices as authorized by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (21 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), and of which no less than $55,500,000 and
522 full-time equivalent positions shall be for premarket application
review activities to meet statutory review times; (6) $34,436,000 shall
be for the National Center for Toxicological Research; (7) $34,000,000
shall be for the Office of Tobacco; (8) $25,855,000 shall be for Rent
and Related activities, other than the amounts paid to the General
Services Administration; (9) $100,180,000 shall be for payments to the
General Services Administration for rent and related costs; and (10)
$78,046,000 shall be for other activities, including the Office of the
Commissioner; the Office of Policy; the Office of the Senior Associate
Commissioner; the Office of International and Constituent Relations;
the Office of Policy, Legislation, and Planning; and central services
for these offices: Provided further, That funds may be transferred from
one specified activity to another with the prior approval of the
Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
In addition, fees pursuant to section 354 of the Public Health
Service Act may be credited to this account, to remain available until
expended.
In addition, fees pursuant to section 801 of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this account, to remain
available until expended.
buildings and facilities
For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension,
alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of or used by
the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise provided,
$8,350,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
INDEPENDENT AGENCY
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Commodity
Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), including the purchase and hire of
passenger motor vehicles; the rental of space (to include multiple year
leases) in the District of Columbia and elsewhere; and not to exceed
$25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $61,000,000, including not
to exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation expenses:
Provided, That the Commission is authorized to charge reasonable fees
to attendees of Commission sponsored educational events and symposia to
cover the Commission's costs of providing those events and symposia,
and notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, said fees shall be credited to this
account, to be available without further appropriation.
TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law,
appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of
Agriculture for the fiscal year 2000 under this Act shall be available
for the purchase, in addition to those specifically provided for, of
not to exceed 365 passenger motor vehicles, of which 361 shall be for
replacement only, and for the hire of such vehicles.
Sec. 702. Funds in this Act available to the Department of
Agriculture shall be available for uniforms or allowances therefor as
authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902).
Sec. 703. Not less than $1,500,000 of the appropriations of the
Department of Agriculture in this Act for research and service work
authorized by the Acts of August 14, 1946, and July 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C.
427 and 1621-1629), and by chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code,
shall be available for contracting in accordance with said Acts and
chapter.
Sec. 704. The cumulative total of transfers to the Working Capital
Fund for the purpose of accumulating growth capital for data services
and National Finance Center operations shall not exceed $2,000,000:
Provided, That no funds in this Act appropriated to an agency of the
Department shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund without the
approval of the agency administrator.
Sec. 705. New obligational authority provided for the following
appropriation items in this Act shall remain available until expended
(7 U.S.C. 2209b): Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the
contingency fund to meet emergency conditions, fruit fly program,
integrated systems acquisition project, and up to $2,000,000 for costs
associated with collocating regional offices; Farm Service Agency,
salaries and expenses funds made available to county committees; and
Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income country training program.
New obligational authority for the boll weevil program; up to 10
percent of the screwworm program of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service; Food Safety and Inspection Service, field
automation and information management project; funds appropriated for
rental payments; funds for the Native American Institutions Endowment
Fund in the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service; and funds for the competitive research grants (7 U.S.C.
450i(b)), shall remain available until expended.
Sec. 706. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall
remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless
expressly so provided herein.
Sec. 707. Not to exceed $50,000 of the appropriations available to
the Department of Agriculture in this Act shall be available to provide
appropriate orientation and language training pursuant to Public Law
94-449.
Sec. 708. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to pay
negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements or similar
arrangements between the United States Department of Agriculture and
nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 percent of the total direct cost
of the agreement when the purpose of such cooperative arrangements is
to carry out programs of mutual interest between the two parties. This
does not preclude appropriate payment of indirect costs on grants and
contracts with such institutions when such indirect costs are computed
on a similar basis for all agencies for which appropriations are
provided in this Act.
Sec. 709. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to
restrict the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation to lease
space for its own use or to lease space on behalf of other agencies of
the Department of Agriculture when such space will be jointly occupied.
Sec. 710. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay
indirect costs charged against competitive agricultural research,
education, or extension grant awards issued by the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service that exceed 19 percent of
total Federal funds provided under each award: Provided, That
notwithstanding section 1462 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310), funds
provided by this Act for grants awarded competitively by the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service shall be
available to pay full allowable indirect costs for each grant awarded
under the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, Public Law
97-219 (15 U.S.C. 638).
Sec. 711. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, all
loan levels provided in this Act shall be considered estimates, not
limitations.
Sec. 712. Appropriations for the Rural Housing Insurance Fund
Program Account for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made
available in fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 shall
remain available until expended to cover obligations made in each of
those fiscal years respectively, in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1557.
Sec. 713. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the
cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in fiscal year 2000
shall remain available until expended to cover obligations made in
fiscal year 2000 for the following accounts: the rural development loan
fund program account; the Rural Telephone Bank program account; the
rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account; the
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account; and the rural economic
development loans program account.
Sec. 714. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000 pay
raises for programs funded by this Act shall be absorbed within the
levels appropriated by this Act.
Sec. 715. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative
Agreement Act, marketing services of the Agricultural Marketing
Service; Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; and
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may use cooperative
agreements to reflect a relationship between the Agricultural Marketing
Service; the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration;
or the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and a State or
Cooperator to carry out agricultural marketing programs, or to carry
out programs to protect the Nation's animal and plant resources.
Sec. 716. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative
Agreement Act, the Natural Resources Conservation Service may enter
into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with a State agency
or subdivision, or a public or private organization, for the
acquisition of goods or services, including personal services, to carry
out natural resources conservation activities: Provided, That Commodity
Credit Corporation funds obligated for such purposes shall not exceed
the level obligated by the Commodity Credit Corporation for such
purposes in fiscal year 1998.
Sec. 717. None of the funds in this Act may be used to retire more
than 5 percent of the Class A stock of the Rural Telephone Bank or to
maintain any account or subaccount within the accounting records of the
Rural Telephone Bank the creation of which has not specifically been
authorized by statute: Provided, That notwithstanding any other
provision of law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available in this Act may be used to transfer to the Treasury or to the
Federal Financing Bank any unobligated balance of the Rural Telephone
Bank telephone liquidating account which is in excess of current
requirements and such balance shall receive interest as set forth for
financial accounts in section 505(c) of the Federal Credit Reform Act
of 1990.
Sec. 718. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more than
$1,800,000 shall be used to cover necessary expenses of activities
related to all advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task
forces of the Department of Agriculture, except for panels used to
comply with negotiated rule makings and panels used to evaluate
competitively awarded grants: Provided, That interagency funding is
authorized to carry out the purposes of the National Drought Policy
Commission.
Sec. 719. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used to
carry out the provisions of section 918 of Public Law 104-127, the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act.
Sec. 720. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may be
detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by this Act to any
other agency or office of the Department for more than 30 days unless
the individual's employing agency or office is fully reimbursed by the
receiving agency or office for the salary and expenses of the employee
for the period of assignment.
Sec. 721. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Department of Agriculture shall be used to transmit or
otherwise make available to any non-Department of Agriculture employee
questions or responses to questions that are a result of information
requested for the appropriations hearing process.
Sec. 722. None of the funds made available to the Department of
Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire new information
technology systems or significant upgrades, as determined by the Office
of the Chief Information Officer, without the approval of the Chief
Information Officer and the concurrence of the Executive Information
Technology Investment Review Board: Provided, That notwithstanding any
other provision of law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be transferred to the Office of the
Chief Information Officer without the prior approval of the Committee
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 723. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided
by previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that
remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2000, or
provided from any accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived
by the collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act,
shall be available for obligation or expenditure through a
reprogramming of funds which: (1) creates new programs; (2) eliminates
a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel by
any means for any project or activity for which funds have been denied
or restricted; (4) relocates an office or employees; (5) reorganizes
offices, programs, or activities; or (6) contracts out or privatizes
any functions or activities presently performed by Federal employees;
unless the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are
notified fifteen days in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
(b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by previous
Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that remain
available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2000, or
provided from any accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived
by the collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act,
shall be available for obligation or expenditure for activities,
programs, or projects through a reprogramming of funds in excess of
$500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, that: (1) augments existing
programs, projects, or activities; (2) reduces by 10 percent funding
for any existing program, project, or activity, or numbers of personnel
by 10 percent as approved by Congress; or (3) results from any general
savings from a reduction in personnel which would result in a change in
existing programs, activities, or projects as approved by Congress;
unless the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are
notified fifteen days in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
Sec. 724. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act or any other Act may be used to pay the salaries
and expenses of personnel to carry out the transfer or obligation of
fiscal year 2000 funds under the provisions of section 793 of Public
Law 104-127.
Sec. 725. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of
personnel who carry out an environmental quality incentives program
authorized by sections 334-341 of Public Law 104-127 in excess of
$174,000,000.
Sec. 726. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise available to
the Department of Agriculture in fiscal year 2000 or thereafter may be
used to administer the provision of contract payments to a producer
under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.)
for contract acreage on which wild rice is planted unless the contract
payment is reduced by an acre for each contract acre planted to wild
rice.
Sec. 727. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of
personnel to enroll in excess of 180,000 acres in the fiscal year 2000
wetlands reserve program as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 3837.
Sec. 728. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of
personnel to carry out the emergency food assistance program authorized
by section 27(a) of the Food Stamp Act if such program exceeds
$97,000,000.
Sec. 729. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries
and expenses of personnel to carry out the transfer or obligation of
fiscal year 2000 funds under the provisions of section 401 of Public
Law 105-185 in excess of $50,000,000.
Sec. 730. Notwithstanding section 381A of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009), in fiscal year 2000 and
thereafter, the definitions of rural areas for certain business
programs administered by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service and the
community facilities programs administered by the Rural Housing Service
shall be those provided for in statute and regulations prior to the
enactment of Public Law 104-127.
Sec. 731. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act shall be used to carry out any commodity purchase
program that would prohibit eligibility or participation by farmer-
owned cooperatives.
Sec. 732. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of
personnel to carry out a conservation farm option program, as
authorized by section 335 of Public Law 104-127.
Sec. 733. None of the funds made available to the Food and Drug
Administration by this Act shall be used to close or relocate, or to
plan to close or relocate, the Food and Drug Administration Division of
Drug Analysis in St. Louis, Missouri, or the Food and Drug
Administration Detroit, Michigan, District Office Laboratory; or to
reduce the Detroit, Michigan, Food and Drug Administration District
Office below the operating and full-time equivalent staffing level of
July 31, 1999; or to change the Detroit District Office to a station,
residence post or similarly modified office; or to reassign residence
posts assigned to the Detroit District Office.
Sec. 734. None of the funds made available by this Act or any other
Act for any fiscal year may be used to carry out section 302(h) of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)) unless the
Secretary of Agriculture inspects and certifies agricultural processing
equipment, and imposes a fee for the inspection and certification, in a
manner that is similar to the inspection and certification of
agricultural products under that section, as determined by the
Secretary: Provided, That this provision shall not affect the authority
of the Secretary to carry out the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451
et seq.), or the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.).
Sec. 735. None of the funds appropriated by this Act or any other
Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel who
prepare or submit appropriations language as part of the President's
Budget submission to the Congress of the United States for programs
under the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Subcommittees on
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies that assumes
revenues or reflects a reduction from the previous year due to user
fees proposals that have not been enacted into law prior to the
submission of the Budget unless such Budget submission identifies which
additional spending reductions should occur in the event the users fees
proposals are not enacted prior to the date of the convening of a
committee of conference for the fiscal year 2001 appropriations Act.
Sec. 736. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act shall be used to establish an Office of Community
Food Security or any similar office within the United States Department
of Agriculture without the prior approval of the Committee on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Sec. 737. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this or any other Act may be used to carry out provision
of section 612 of Public Law 105-185.
Sec. 738. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal
year 2000 and thereafter, permanent employees of county committees
employed on or after October 1, 1998, pursuant to 8(b) of the Soil
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)) shall be
considered as having Federal Civil Service status only for the purpose
of applying for the United States Department of Agriculture Civil
Service vacancies.
Sec. 739. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used to declare excess or surplus all or
part of the lands and facilities owned by the Federal Government and
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture at Fort Reno, Oklahoma, or
to transfer or convey such lands or facilities, without the specific
authorization of Congress.
Sec. 740. The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
shall redistribute funds to apply toward a Public Law 566 watershed
project closeout using A-102 authority for settlement costs of this
project in Mississippi.
Sec. 741. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall offer to enter into an
agreement with the Governor of the State of Hawaii to conduct a pilot
program to inspect mail entering the State of Hawaii for any plant,
plant product, plant pest, or other organism that is subject to Federal
quarantine laws.
(b) The agreement described in subsection (a) shall contain the
same terms and conditions as are contained in the memorandum of
understanding entered into between the Secretary and the State of
California, dated February 1, 1999, unless the Secretary and the
Governor agree to different terms or conditions.
(c) Unless the Secretary and the Governor agree otherwise, the
agreement described in subsection (b) shall terminate on the later of--
(A) the date that is 1 year after the date the agreement
becomes effective; or
(B) the date that the February 1, 1999 memorandum of
understanding terminates.
Sec. 742. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary
is authorized under Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1926), to provide guaranteed
lines of credit, including working capital loans, for health care
facilities, to address Year 2000 computer conversion issues.
Sec. 743. After taking any action involving the seizure,
quarantine, treatment, destruction, or disposal of wheat infested with
karnal bunt, the Secretary of Agriculture shall compensate the
producers for economic losses incurred as the result of the action not
later than 45 days after receipt of a claim that includes all
appropriate paperwork.
Sec. 744. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, $3,000,000 is
appropriated for the purpose of providing Bill Emerson and Mickey
Leland Hunger Fellowships through the Congressional Hunger Center,
which is an organization described in subsection (c)(3) of section 501
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under
subsection (a) of such section.
Sec. 745. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there are
hereby appropriated $250,000 for the program authorized under Section
388 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996,
solely for use in the State of New Hampshire.
Sec. 746. The Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1188 et
seq.) is amended: (a) in Section 218(c)(1) by striking ``60 days'' and
inserting ``45 days'', and (b) in Section 218(c)(3)(A) by striking ``20
days'' and inserting ``30 days''.
Sec. 747. Successorship Provisions Relating to Bargaining Units and
Exclusive Representatives. (a) Voluntary Agreement.--
(1) In general.--If the exercise of the Secretary of
Agriculture's authority under this Act results in changes to an
existing bargaining unit that has been certified under chapter
71 of title 5, United States Code, the affected parties shall
attempt to reach a voluntary agreement on a new bargaining unit
and an exclusive representative for such unit.
(2) Criteria.--In carrying out the requirements of this
subsection, the affected parties shall use criteria set forth
in--
(A) sections 7103(a)(4), 7111(e), 7111(f)(1), and
7120 of title 5, United States Code, relating to
determining an exclusive representative; and
(B) section 7112 of title 5, United States Code
(disregarding subsections (b)(5) and (d) thereof),
relating to determining appropriate units.
(b) Effect of an Agreement.--
(1) In general.--If the affected parties reach agreement on
the appropriate unit and the exclusive representative for such
unit under subsection (a), the Federal Labor Relations
Authority shall certify the terms of such agreement, subject to
paragraph (2)(A). Nothing in this subsection shall be
considered to require the holding of any hearing or election as
a condition for certification.
(2) Restrictions.--
(A) Conditions requiring noncertification.--The
Federal Labor Relations Authority may not certify the
terms of an agreement under paragraph (1) if--
(i) it determines that any of the criteria
referred to in subsection (a)(2) (disregarding
section 7112(a) of title 5, United States Code)
have not been met; or
(ii) after the Secretary's exercise of
authority and before certification under this
section, a valid election under section 7111(b)
of title 5, United States Code, is held
covering any employees who would be included in
the unit proposed for certification.
(B) Temporary waiver of provision that would bar an
election after a collective bargaining agreement is
reached.--Nothing in section 7111(f)(3) of title 5,
United States Code, shall prevent the holding of an
election under section 7111(b) of such title that
covers employees within a unit certified under
paragraph (1), or giving effect to the results of such
an election (including a decision not to be represented
by any labor organization), if the election is held
before the end of the 12-month period beginning on the
date such unit is so certified.
(C) Clarification.--The certification of a unit
under paragraph (1) shall not, for purposes of the last
sentence of section 7111(b) of title 5, United States
Code, or section 7111(f)(4) of such title, be treated
as if it had occurred pursuant to an election.
(3) Delegation.--
(A) In general.--The Federal Labor Relations
Authority may delegate to any regional director (as
referred to in section 7105(e) of title 5, United
States Code) its authority under the preceding
provisions of this subsection.
(B) Review.--Any action taken by a regional
director under subparagraph (A) shall be subject to
review under the provisions of section 7105(f) of title
5, United States Code, in the same manner as if such
action had been taken under section 7105(e) of such
title, except that in the case of a decision not to
certify, such review shall be required if application
therefore is filed by an affected party within the time
specified in such provisions.
(c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``affected
party'' means--
(1) with respect to an exercise of authority by the
Secretary of Agriculture under this Act, any labor organization
affected thereby; and
(2) the Department of Agriculture.
Sec. 748. Emergency and Market Loss Assistance. (a) Market Loss
Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to
in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall use not more than
$5,544,453,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to
provide assistance to owners and producers on a farm that are
eligible for payments for fiscal year 1999 under a production
flexibility contract for the farm under the Agricultural Market
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.).
(2) Amount.--The amount of assistance made available to
owners and producers on a farm under this subsection shall be
proportionate to the amount of the contract payment received by
the owners and producers for fiscal year 1999 under a
production flexibility contract for the farm under the
Agricultural Market Transition Act.
(3) Time for payment.--The assistance made available under
this subsection for an eligible owner or producer shall be
provided not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(b) Specialty Crops.--
(1) Assistance to certain producers.--The Secretary shall
use not more than $50,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit
Corporation to provide assistance to producers of fruits and
vegetables in a manner determined by the Secretary.
(2) Payments to certain producers.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall use such
amounts as are necessary to provide payments to
producers of quota peanuts or additional peanuts to
partially compensate the producers for continuing low
commodity prices, and increasing costs of production,
for the 1999 crop year.
(B) Amount.--The amount of a payment made to
producers on a farm of quota peanuts or additional
peanuts under subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the
product obtained by multiplying--
(i) the quantity of quota peanuts or
additional peanuts produced or considered
produced by the producers under section 155 of
the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7
U.S.C. 7271); by
(ii) an amount equal to 5 percent of the
loan rate established for quota peanuts or
additional peanuts, respectively, under section
155 of that Act.
(3) Condition on payment of salaries and expenses.--None of
the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act
or any other Act may be used to pay the salaries and expenses
of personnel of the Department of Agriculture to carry out or
enforce section 156(f) of the Agricultural Market Transition
Act (7 U.S.C. 7272(f)) through fiscal year 2001, if the Federal
budget is determined by the Office of Management and Budget to
be in surplus for fiscal year 2000.
(c) Limitation on Marketing Loan Gains and Loan Deficiency
Payments.--Notwithstanding section 1001(2) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(1)), the total amount of the payments specified in
section 1001(3) of that Act that a person shall be entitled to receive
under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.)
for 1 or more contract commodities and oilseeds during the 1999 crop
year may not exceed $150,000.
(d) Upland Cotton Price Competitiveness.--
(1) In general.--Section 136(a) of the Agricultural Market
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7236(a)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or cash
payments'' and inserting ``or cash payments, at the
option of the recipient,'';
(B) by striking ``3 cents per pound'' each place it
appears and inserting ``1.25 cents per pound'';
(C) in the first sentence of paragraph (3)(A), by
striking ``owned by the Commodity Credit Corporation in
such manner, and at such price levels, as the Secretary
determines will best effectuate the purposes of cotton
user marketing certificates'' and inserting ``owned by
the Commodity Credit Corporation or pledged to the
Commodity Credit Corporation as collateral for a loan
in such manner, and at such price levels, as the
Secretary determines will best effectuate the purposes
of cotton user marketing certificates, including
enhancing the competitiveness and marketability of
United States cotton''; and
(D) by striking paragraph (4).
(2) Ensuring the availability of upland cotton.--Section
136(b) of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C.
7236(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) Establishment.--
``(A) In general.--The President shall carry out an
import quota program during the period ending July 31,
2003, as provided in this subsection.
``(B) Program requirements.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (C), whenever the Secretary determines and
announces that for any consecutive 4-week period, the
Friday through Thursday average price quotation for the
lowest-priced United States growth, as quoted for
Middling (M) 1\3/32\-inch cotton, delivered C.I.F.
Northern Europe, adjusted for the value of any
certificate issued under subsection (a), exceeds the
Northern Europe price by more than 1.25 cents per
pound, there shall immediately be in effect a special
import quota.
``(C) Tight domestic supply.--During any month for
which the Secretary estimates the season-ending United
States upland cotton stocks-to-use ratio, as determined
under subparagraph (D), to be below 16 percent, the
Secretary, in making the determination under
subparagraph (B), shall not adjust the Friday through
Thursday average price quotation for the lowest-priced
United States growth, as quoted for Middling (M) 1\3/
32\-inch cotton, delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe, for
the value of any certificates issued under subsection
(a).
``(D) Season-ending united states stocks-to-use
ratio.--For the purposes of making estimates under
subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall, on a monthly
basis, estimate and report the season-ending United
States upland cotton stocks-to-use ratio, excluding
projected raw cotton imports but including the quantity
of raw cotton that has been imported into the United
States during the marketing year.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Limitation.--The quantity of cotton entered into the
United States during any marketing year under the special
import quota established under this subsection may not exceed
the equivalent of 5 week's consumption of upland cotton by
domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate of the 3
months immediately preceding the first special import quota
established in any marketing year.''.
(e) Oilseed Payments.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary shall use not less than $475,000,000 of
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make payments to
producers of the 1999 crop of oilseeds that are eligible to
obtain a marketing assistance loan under section 131 of the
Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7231).
(2) Computation.--A payment to producers on a farm under
this subsection shall be computed by multiplying--
(A) a payment rate determined by the Secretary; by
(B) the quantity of oilseeds that the producers on
the farm are eligible to place under loan under section
131 of that Act.
(3) Limitation.--Payments made under this subsection shall
be considered to be contract payments for the purposes of
section 1001(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
1308(1)).
(f) Assistance to Livestock and Dairy Producers.--The Secretary
shall use $325,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to
provide assistance to livestock and dairy producers in a manner
determined by the Secretary.
(g) Tobacco.--The Secretary shall use $328,000,000 of funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation to make distributions to tobacco growers
in accordance with the formulas established under the National Tobacco
Grower Settlement Trust.
(h) Sense of Congress Regarding Fast-Track Authority and Future
World Trade Organization Negotiations.--It is the sense of Congress
that--
(1) the President should make a formal request for
appropriate fast-track authority for future United States trade
negotiations;
(2) regarding future World Trade Organization
negotiations--
(A) rules for trade in agricultural commodities
should be strengthened and trade-distorting import and
export practices should be eliminated or substantially
reduced;
(B) the rules of the World Trade Organization
should be strengthened regarding the practices or
policies of a foreign government that unreasonably--
(i) restrict market access for products of
new technologies, including products of
biotechnology; or
(ii) delay or preclude implementation of a
report of a dispute panel of the World Trade
Organization; and
(C) negotiations within the World Trade
Organization should be structured so as to provide the
maximum leverage possible to ensure the successful
conclusion of negotiations on agricultural products;
(3) the President should--
(A) conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all
existing export and food aid programs, including--
(i) the export credit guarantee program
established under section 202 of the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5622);
(ii) the market access program established
under section 203 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 5623);
(iii) the export enhancement program
established under section 301 of that Act (7
U.S.C. 5651);
(iv) the foreign market development
cooperator program established under section
702 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 5722); and
(v) programs established under the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance
Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.); and
(B) transmit to Congress--
(i) the results of the evaluation under
subparagraph (A); and
(ii) recommendations on maximizing the
effectiveness of the programs described in
subparagraph (A); and
(4) the Secretary should carry out a purchase and donation
or concessional sales initiative in each of fiscal years 1999
and 2000 to promote the export of additional quantities of
soybeans, beef, pork, poultry, and products of such commodities
(including soybean meal, soybean oil, textured vegetable
protein, and soy protein concentrates and isolates) using
programs established under--
(A) the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act
(15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.);
(B) section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7
U.S.C. 1431);
(C) titles I and II of the Agricultural Trade
Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.); and
(D) the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
1736o).
(i) Crop Insurance.--The Secretary shall use $400,000,000 of funds
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to assist agricultural producers in
purchasing additional coverage for the 2000 crop year under the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
(j) Emergency Requirement.--The entire amount necessary to carry
out this section and the amendments made by this section shall be
available only to the extent that an official budget request for the
entire amount, that includes designation of the entire amount of the
request as an emergency requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, is transmitted
by the President to the Congress: Provided, That the entire amount is
designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to
section 251(b)(2)(A) of such Act.
(k) Requirement of Congressional Approval of Any Unilateral
Agricultural or Medical Sanction.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Agricultural commodity.--The term
``agricultural commodity'' has the meaning given the
term in section 402 of the Agricultural Trade
Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1732).
(B) Agricultural program.--The term ``agricultural
program'' means--
(i) any program administered under the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance
Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691 et. seq.);
(ii) any program administered under section
416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C.
1431);
(iii) any commercial sale of agricultural
commodities, including a commercial sale of an
agricultural commodity that is prohibited under
a unilateral agricultural sanction that is in
effect on the date of enactment of this Act; or
(iv) any export financing (including
credits or credit guarantees) for agricultural
commodities.
(C) Joint resolution.--The term ``joint
resolution'' means--
(i) in the case of paragraph (2)(A)(ii),
only a joint resolution introduced within 10
session days of Congress after the date on
which the report of the President under
paragraph (2)(A)(i) is received by Congress,
the matter after the resolving clause of which
is as follows: ``That Congress approves the
report of the President pursuant to section
____(____)(2)(A)(i) of the __________ Act ____,
transmitted on ______________.'', with the
blank completed with the appropriate date; and
(ii) in the case of paragraph (5)(B), only
a joint resolution introduced within 10 session
days of Congress after the date on which the
report of the President under paragraph (5)(A)
is received by Congress, the matter after the
resolving clause of which is as follows: ``That
Congress approves the report of the President
pursuant to section ____(____)(5)(A) of the
__________ Act ____, transmitted on
______________.'', with the blank completed
with the appropriate date.
(D) Unilateral agricultural sanction.--The term
``unilateral agricultural sanction'' means any
prohibition, restriction, or condition on carrying out
an agricultural program with respect to a foreign
country or foreign entity that is imposed by the United
States for reasons of foreign policy or national
security, except in a case in which the United States
imposes the measure pursuant to a multilateral regime
and the other member countries of that regime have
agreed to impose substantially equivalent measures.
(E) Unilateral medical sanction.--The term
``unilateral medical sanction'' means any prohibition,
restriction, or condition on exports of, or the
provision of assistance consisting of, medicine or a
medical device with respect to a foreign country or
foreign entity that is imposed by the United States for
reasons of foreign policy or national security, except
in a case in which the United States imposes the
measure pursuant to a multilateral regime and the other
member countries of that regime have agreed to impose
substantially equivalent measures.
(2) Restriction.--
(A) New sanctions.--Except as provided in
paragraphs (3) and (4) and notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the President may not impose a
unilateral agricultural sanction or unilateral medical
sanction against a foreign country or foreign entity
for any fiscal year, unless--
(i) not later than 60 days before the
sanction is proposed to be imposed, the
President submits a report to Congress that--
(I) describes the activity proposed
to be prohibited, restricted, or
conditioned; and
(II) describes the actions by the
foreign country or foreign entity that
justify the sanction; and
(ii) Congress enacts a joint resolution
stating the approval of Congress for the report
submitted under clause (i).
(B) Existing sanctions.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), with respect to any unilateral
agricultural sanction or unilateral medical
sanction that is in effect as of the date of
enactment of this Act for any fiscal year, the
President shall immediately cease to implement
such sanction.
(ii) Exemptions.--Clause (i) shall not
apply to a unilateral agricultural sanction or
unilateral medical sanction imposed with
respect to an agricultural program or activity
described in clause (ii) or (iv) of paragraph
(1)(B).
(3) Exceptions.--The President may impose (or continue to
impose) a sanction described in paragraph (2) without regard to
the procedures required by that paragraph--
(A) against a foreign country or foreign entity
with respect to which Congress has enacted a
declaration of war that is in effect on or after the
date of enactment of this Act; or
(B) to the extent that the sanction would prohibit,
restrict, or condition the provision or use of any
agricultural commodity, medicine, or medical device
that is--
(i) controlled on the United States
Munitions List;
(ii) an item for which export controls are
administered by the Department of Commerce for
foreign policy or national security reasons; or
(iii) used to facilitate the development or
production of a chemical or biological weapon.
(4) Countries supporting international terrorism.--This
subsection shall not affect the current prohibitions on
providing, to the government of any country supporting
international terrorism, United States government assistance,
including United States foreign assistance, United States
export assistance, or any United States credits or credit
guarantees.
(5) Termination of sanctions.--Any unilateral agricultural
sanction or unilateral medical sanction that is imposed
pursuant to the procedures described in paragraph (2)(A) shall
terminate not later than 2 years after the date on which the
sanction became effective unless--
(A) not later than 60 days before the date of
termination of the sanction, the President submits to
Congress a report containing the recommendation of the
President for the continuation of the sanction for an
additional period of not to exceed 2 years and the
request of the President for approval by Congress of
the recommendation; and
(B) Congress enacts a joint resolution stating the
approval of Congress for the report submitted under
subparagraph (A).
(6) Congressional priority procedures.--
(A) Referral of report.--A report described in
paragraph (2)(A)(i) or (5)(A) shall be referred to the
appropriate committee or committees of the House of
Representatives and to the appropriate committee or
committees of the Senate.
(B) Referral of joint resolution.--
(i) In general.--A joint resolution shall
be referred to the committees in each House of
Congress with jurisdiction.
(ii) Reporting date.--A joint resolution
referred to in clause (i) may not be reported
before the eighth session day of Congress after
the introduction of the joint resolution.
(C) Discharge of committee.--If the committee to
which is referred a joint resolution has not reported
the joint resolution (or an identical joint resolution)
at the end of 30 session days of Congress after the
date of introduction of the joint resolution--
(i) the committee shall be discharged from
further consideration of the joint resolution;
and
(ii) the joint resolution shall be placed
on the appropriate calendar of the House
concerned.
(D) Floor consideration.--
(i) Motion to proceed.--
(I) In general.--When the committee
to which a joint resolution is referred
has reported, or when a committee is
discharged under subparagraph (C) from
further consideration of, a joint
resolution--
(aa) it shall be at any
time thereafter in order (even
though a previous motion to the
same effect has been disagreed
to) for any member of the House
concerned to move to proceed to
the consideration of the joint
resolution; and
(bb) all points of order
against the joint resolution
(and against consideration of
the joint resolution) are
waived.
(II) Privilege.--The motion to
proceed to the consideration of the
joint resolution--
(aa) shall be highly
privileged in the House of
Representatives and privileged
in the Senate; and
(bb) not debatable.
(III) Amendments and motions not in
order.--The motion to proceed to the
consideration of the joint resolution
shall not be subject to--
(aa) amendment;
(bb) a motion to postpone;
or
(cc) a motion to proceed to
the consideration of other
business.
(IV) Motion to reconsider not in
order.--A motion to reconsider the vote
by which the motion is agreed to or
disagreed to shall not be in order.
(V) Business until disposition.--If
a motion to proceed to the
consideration of the joint resolution
is agreed to, the joint resolution
shall remain the unfinished business of
the House concerned until disposed of.
(ii) Limitations on debate.--
(I) In general.--Debate on the
joint resolution, and on all debatable
motions and appeals in connection with
the joint resolution, shall be limited
to not more than 10 hours, which shall
be divided equally between those
favoring and those opposing the joint
resolution.
(II) Further debate limitations.--A
motion to limit debate shall be in
order and shall not be debatable.
(III) Amendments and motions not in
order.--An amendment to, a motion to
postpone, a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, a
motion to recommit the joint
resolution, or a motion to reconsider
the vote by which the joint resolution
is agreed to or disagreed to shall not
be in order.
(iii) Vote on final passage.--Immediately
following the conclusion of the debate on a
joint resolution, and a single quorum call at
the conclusion of the debate if requested in
accordance with the rules of the House
concerned, the vote on final passage of the
joint resolution shall occur.
(iv) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--An
appeal from a decision of the Chair relating to
the application of the rules of the Senate or
House of Representatives, as the case may be,
to the procedure relating to a joint resolution
shall be decided without debate.
(E) Coordination with action by other house.--If,
before the passage by 1 House of a joint resolution of
that House, that House receives from the other House a
joint resolution, the following procedures shall apply:
(i) No committee referral.--The joint
resolution of the other House shall not be
referred to a committee.
(ii) Floor procedure.--With respect to a
joint resolution of the House receiving the
joint resolution--
(I) the procedure in that House
shall be the same as if no joint
resolution had been received from the
other House; but
(II) the vote on final passage
shall be on the joint resolution of the
other House.
(iii) Disposition of joint resolutions of
receiving house.--On disposition of the joint
resolution received from the other House, it
shall no longer be in order to consider the
joint resolution originated in the receiving
House.
(F) Procedures after action by both the house and
senate.--If a House receives a joint resolution from
the other House after the receiving House has disposed
of a joint resolution originated in that House, the
action of the receiving House with regard to the
disposition of the joint resolution originated in that
House shall be deemed to be the action of the receiving
House with regard to the joint resolution originated in
the other House.
(G) Rulemaking power.--This paragraph is enacted by
Congress--
(i) as an exercise of the rulemaking power
of the Senate and House of Representatives,
respectively, and as such this paragraph--
(I) is deemed to be a part of the
rules of each House, respectively, but
applicable only with respect to the
procedure to be followed in that House
in the case of a joint resolution; and
(II) supersedes other rules only to
the extent that this paragraph is
inconsistent with those rules; and
(ii) with full recognition of the
constitutional right of either House to change
the rules (so far as the rules relate to the
procedure of that House) at any time, in the
same manner and to the same extent as in the
case of any other rule of that House.
(7) Guidelines with respect to state sponsors of
international terrorism.--(A) Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Act, the export of agricultural commodities or
medicine or medical devices to the government of a country that
has been determined by the Secretary of State to have
repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism
under section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2371) shall only be made--
(i) pursuant to one year licenses issued by the
United States Government for contracts entered into
during that one year period and completed within a
twelve month period after the signing of the contract;
and
(ii) without benefit of Federal financing, direct
export subsidies, Federal credit guarantees or other
Federal promotion assistance programs.
(B) Quarterly reports to the appropriate congressional
committees shall be submitted by the applicable agency charged
with issuing licenses in subparagraph (A)(i).
(8) Effective date.--This subsection takes effect 180 days
after the date of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 749. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that:
(1) The Clean Air Act requires that Federal reformulated
gasoline contain oxygen as a means of achieving air quality
benefits.
(2) While both renewable ethanol and methyl tertiary butyl
ether (MTBE) may be used to meet this Clean Air Act
requirement, MTBE is in substantially greater use than ethanol.
(3) MTBE is classified as a possible human carcinogen, and
when leaked into water causes water to take on the taste and
smell of turpentine, rendering it undrinkable.
(4) MTBE leaking from underground fuel storage tanks,
recreational watercraft and abandoned automobiles has led to
growing detections of MTBE in drinking water, and has
contaminated groundwater and drinking water throughout the
United States.
(5) Approximately 5 to 10 percent of drinking water
supplies in areas using reformulated gasoline now show
detectable levels of MTBE.
(6) MTBE poses a more pervasive threat to drinking water
than the other harmful constituents of gasoline because MTBE is
more soluble, more mobile and slower to degrade than those
other constituents.
(7) Renewable ethanol provides air quality and energy
security benefits without raising drinking water concerns.
(8) A substantial increase in renewable ethanol production
would enhance the energy security of the United States by
reducing dependence upon foreign oil.
(9) A substantial increase in renewable ethanol production
would help alleviate the financial crisis facing farmers.
(b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that the
United States should--
(1) phase out MTBE in order to address the threats MTBE
poses to public health and the environment;
(2) promote renewable ethanol to replace MTBE as a means of
enhancing energy security and supporting the farm economy;
(3) provide assistance to State and local governments to
treat drinking water supplies contaminated with MTBE;
(4) provide assistance to State and local governments to
protect lakes and reservoirs from MTBE contamination.
Sec. 750. Contracts for Procurement of Food for Peace Commodities.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) HUBZone sole source contract.--The term ``HUBZone sole
source contract'' means a sole source contract authorized by
section 31 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657a).
(2) HUBZone price evaluation preference.--The term
``HUBZone price evaluation preference'' means a price
evaluation preference authorized by section 31 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657a).
(3) Qualified HUBZone small business concern.--The term
``qualified HUBZone small business concern'' has the meaning
given the term in section 3(p) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 632(p)).
(4) Covered procurement.--The term ``covered procurement''
means a contract for the procurement or processing of a
commodity furnished under title II or III of the Agricultural
Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1721 et
seq.), section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C.
1431(b)), the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o),
or any other commodity procurement or acquisition by the
Commodity Credit Corporation under any other law.
(b) Prohibition of Use of Funds.--None of the funds made available
by this Act may be used to award a HUBZone sole source contract or a
contract awarded through full and open competition in combination with
a HUBZone price evaluation preference to any qualified HUBZone small
business concern in any covered procurement if performance of the
contract by the business concern would exceed the production capacity
of the business concern or would require the business concern to
subcontract to any other company or enterprise for the purchase of the
commodity being procured through the covered procurement.
Sec. 751. It is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of
Agriculture shall exercise reasonable treatment of producers in order
to avoid harmful consequences regarding the inadvertent planting of dry
beans on contract acres, up to and including the 1999 crop year.
Sec. 752. Redesignation of National School Lunch Act as Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act. (a) In General.--The first section
of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 note) is amended by
striking ``National School Lunch Act'' and inserting ``Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--The following provisions of law are
amended by striking ``National School Lunch Act'' each place it appears
and inserting ``Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act'':
(1) Sections 3 and 13(3)(A) of the Commodity Distribution
Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 612c note;
Public Law 100-237).
(2) Section 404 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C.
1424).
(3) Section 201(a) of the Act entitled ``An Act to extend
the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954,
and for other purposes'', approved September 21, 1959 (7 U.S.C.
1431c(a); 73 Stat. 610).
(4) Section 211(a) of the Agricultural Trade Suspension
Adjustment Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 4004(a)).
(5) Section 245A(h)(4)(A) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255a(h)(4)(A)).
(6) Sections 403(c)(2)(C), 422(b)(3), 423(d)(3), 741(a)(1),
and 742 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(c)(2)(C), 1632(b)(3),
1183a note, 42 U.S.C. 1751 note, 8 U.S.C. 1615; Public Law 104-
193).
(7) Section 2243(b) of title 10, United States Code.
(8) Sections 404B(g)(1)(A), 404D(c)(2), and 404F(a)(2) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-22(g)(1)(A),
1070a-24(c)(2), 1070a-26(a)(2); Public Law 105-244).
(9) Section 231(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Carl D. Perkins
Vocational Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2341(d)(3)(A)(i)).
(10) Section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)).
(11) Section 1397E(d)(4)(A)(iv)(II) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.
(12) Sections 254(b)(2)(B) and 263(a)(2)(C) of the Job
Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1633(b)(2)(B),
1643(a)(2)(C)).
(13) Section 3803(c)(2)(C)(xiii) of title 31, United States
Code.
(14) Section 602(d)(9)(A) of the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 474(d)(9)(A)).
(15) Sections 2(4), 3(1), and 301 of the Healthy Meals for
Healthy Americans Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 1751 note; Public Law
103-448).
(16) Sections 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16(b), 17, and 19(d) of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772, 1773, 1776, 1779,
1782, 1785(b), 1786, 1788(d)).
(17) Section 658O(b)(3) of the Child Care and Development
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858m(b)(3)).
(18) Subsection (b) of the first section of Public Law 87-
688 (48 U.S.C. 1666(b)).
(19) Section 10405(a)(2)(H) of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-239; 103 Stat.
2489).
Sec. 753. Public Law 105-199 (112 Stat. 641) is amended in section
3(b)(1)(G) by striking ``persons'', and inserting in lieu thereof
``governors, who may be represented on the Commission by their
respective designees,''.
Sec. 754. Sense of the Senate Concerning Action Plan on Food
Security. It is the sense of the Senate that the President should
include in the fiscal year 2001 budget request funding to implement the
United States Action Plan on Food Security.
Sec. 755. Financial Hardships Facing Apple Farmers. The Farm
Service Agency--
(1) in view of the financial hardship facing United States apple
farmers as a result of a loss of markets and excessive imports of apple
juice concentrate, shall review all programs that assist apple growers
in time of need;
(2) in view of the increased operating costs associated
with tree fruit production, shall review the limits currently
set on operating loan programs used by apple growers to
determine whether the current limits are insufficient to cover
those costs; and
(3) shall report to Congress its findings not later than
January 1, 2000.
Sec. 756. Section 889 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 is amended--
(1) in the heading, by inserting ``HARRY K. DUPREE'' before
``STUTTGART'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) in the heading, by inserting ``HARRY K.
DUPREE'' before ``STUTTGART''; and
(B) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by inserting
``Harry K. Dupree'' before ``Stuttgart National
Aquaculture Research Center'' each place it appears.
Sec. 757. Tobacco Leasing and Information. (a) Cross-County
Leasing.--Section 319(l) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7
U.S.C. 1314e(l)) is amended in the second sentence by inserting ``,
Kentucky,'' after ``Tennessee''.
(b) Tobacco Production and Marketing Information.--Part I of
subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7
U.S.C. 1311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 320D. TOBACCO PRODUCTION AND MARKETING INFORMATION.
``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary may, subject to subsection (b), release marketing information
submitted by persons relating to the production and marketing of
tobacco to State trusts or similar organizations engaged in the
distribution of national trust funds to tobacco producers and other
persons with interests associated with the production of tobacco, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(b) Limitations.--
``(1) In general.--Information may be released under
subsection (a) only to the extent that--
``(A) the release is in the interest of tobacco
producers, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(B) the information is released to a State trust
or other organization that is created to, or charged
with, distributing funds to tobacco producers or other
parties with an interest in tobacco production or
tobacco farms under a national or State trust or
settlement.
``(2) Exemption from release.--The Secretary shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, in advance of making a release of
information under subsection (a), allow, by announcement, a
period of at least 15 days for persons whose consent would
otherwise be required by law to effectuate the release, to
elect to be exempt from the release.
``(c) Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--In making a release under subsection
(a), the Secretary may provide such other assistance with
respect to information released under subsection (a) as will
facilitate the interest of producers in receiving the funds
that are the subject of a trust described in subsection (a).
``(2) Funds.--The Secretary shall use amounts made
available for salaries and expenses of the Department to carry
out paragraph (1).
``(d) Records.--
``(1) In general.--A person that obtains information
described in subsection (a) shall maintain records that are
consistent with the purposes of the release and shall not use
the records for any purpose not authorized under this section.
``(2) Penalty.--A person that knowingly violates this
subsection shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned not
more than 1 year, or both.
``(e) Application.--This section shall not apply to--
``(1) records submitted by cigarette manufacturers with
respect to the production of cigarettes;
``(2) records that were submitted as expected purchase
intentions in connection with the establishment of national
tobacco quotas; or
``(3) records that aggregate the purchases of particular
buyers.''.
Sec. 758. That notwithstanding section 306(a)(7) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(7)), the
city of Berlin, New Hampshire, shall be eligible during fiscal year
2000 for a rural utilities grant or loan under the Rural Community
Advancement Program.
Sec. 759. Cranberry Marketing Orders. (a) Paid Advertising for
Cranberries and Cranberry Products.--Section 8c(6)(I) of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(6)(I)), reenacted with
amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is
amended in the first proviso--
(1) by striking ``or Florida grown strawberries'' and
inserting ``, Florida grown strawberries, or cranberries''; and
(2) by striking ``and Florida Indian River grapefruit'' and
inserting ``Florida Indian River grapefruit, and cranberries''.
(b) Collection of Cranberry Inventory Data.--Section 8d of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608d), reenacted with amendments
by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(3) Collection of cranberry inventory data.--
``(A) In general.--If an order is in effect with respect to
cranberries, the Secretary of Agriculture may require persons
engaged in the handling or importation of cranberries or
cranberry products (including producer-handlers, second
handlers, processors, brokers, and importers) to provide such
information as the Secretary considers necessary to effectuate
the declared policy of this title, including information on
acquisitions, inventories, and dispositions of cranberries and
cranberry products.
``(B) Delegation to committee.--The Secretary may delegate
the authority to carry out subparagraph (A) to any committee
that is responsible for administering an order covering
cranberries.
``(C) Confidentiality.--Paragraph (2) shall apply to
information provided under this paragraph.
``(D) Violations.--Any person that violates this paragraph
shall be subject to the penalties provided under section
8c(14).''.
Sec. 760. Beginning in fiscal year 2001 and thereafter, the Food
Stamp Act (Public Law 95-113, section 16(a)) is amended by inserting
after the phrase ``Indian reservation under section 11(d) of this Act''
the following new phrase: ``or in a Native village within the State of
Alaska identified in section 11(b) of Public Law 92-203, as amended.''.
Sec. 761. It is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of
Agriculture shall periodically review the Food Packages listed at 7
C.F.R. 246.10(c)(1996) and consider including additional nutritious
foods for women, infants and children.
Sec. 762. Education Grants to Alaska Native Serving Institutions
and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions. (a) Education Grants Program
for Alaska Native Serving Institutions.--
(1) Grant authority.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make
competitive grants (or grants without regard to any requirement
for competition) to Alaska Native serving institutions for the
purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of Alaska
Native serving institutions to carry out education, applied
research, and related community development programs.
(2) Use of grant funds.--Grants made under this section
shall be used--
(A) to support the activities of consortia of
Alaska Native serving institutions to enhance
educational equity for under represented students;
(B) to strengthen institutional educational
capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty,
scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery
systems, and student recruitment and retention, in
order to respond to identified State, regional,
national, or international educational needs in the
food and agriculture sciences;
(C) to attract and support undergraduate and
graduate students from under represented groups in
order to prepare them for careers related to the food,
agricultural, and natural resource systems of the
United States, beginning with the mentoring of students
at the high school level including by village elders
and continuing with the provision of financial support
for students through their attainment of a doctoral
degree; and
(D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between
two or more Alaska Native serving institutions, or
between Alaska Native serving institutions and units of
State government or the private sector, to maximize the
development and use of resources, such as faculty,
facilities, and equipment, to improve food and
agricultural sciences teaching programs.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to make grants under this subsection
$10,000,000 in fiscal years 2001 through 2006.
(b) Education Grants Program for Native Hawaiian Serving
Institutions.--
(1) Grant authority.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make
competitive grants (or grants without regard to any requirement
for competition) to Native Hawaiian serving institutions for
the purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of
Native Hawaiian serving institutions to carry out education,
applied research, and related community development programs.
(2) Use of grant funds.--Grants made under this section
shall be used--
(A) to support the activities of consortia of
Native Hawaiian serving institutions to enhance
educational equity for under represented students;
(B) to strengthen institutional educational
capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty,
scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery
systems, and student recruitment and retention, in
order to respond to identified State, regional,
national, or international educational needs in the
food and agriculture sciences;
(C) to attract and support undergraduate and
graduate students from under represented groups in
order to prepare them for careers related to the food,
agricultural, and natural resource systems of the
United States, beginning with the mentoring of students
at the high school level and continuing with the
provision of financial support for students through
their attainment of a doctoral degree; and
(D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between
two or more Native Hawaiian serving institutions, or
between Native Hawaiian serving institutions and units
of State government or the private sector, to maximize
the development and use of resources, such as faculty,
facilities, and equipment, to improve food and
agricultural sciences teaching programs.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to make grants under this subsection
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2006.
Sec. 763. Smith-Lever Act Allocations in States with
Congressionally-Authorized Cost-of-Living Adjustments. Beginning in
fiscal year 2001 and thereafter, a State in which Federal employees
receive a special allowance because of the high cost of living or
conditions of environment which differ substantially from conditions in
other parts of the country as provided under section 1 of title IV of
Public Law 102-141 (105 Stat. 861) shall receive an allotment of no
less than $2,000,000 under the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, as amended (7
U.S.C. 343).
Sec. 764. Hatch Act Allocations in States with Congressionally-
Authorized Cost-of-Living Adjustments. Beginning in fiscal year 2001
and thereafter, a State in which Federal employees receive a special
allowance because of the high cost of living or conditions of
environment which differ substantially from conditions in other parts
of the country as provided under section 1 of title IV of Public Law
102-141 (105 Stat. 861) shall receive an allotment of no less than
$2,000,000 under 7 U.S.C. 361c(c).
Sec. 765. It is the sense of the Senate that the Food and Drug
Administration, to the maximum extent possible, when conducting an
Import Food Survey under the President's Food Safety Initiative, ensure
timely testing of produce imports by conducting survey tests at the
United States Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug
Administration laboratory closest to the port of entry if testing
results are not provided within twenty-four hours of collection.
Sec. 766. Deregulation of Producer Milk Prices in Clark County,
Nevada. Effective October 1, 1999, section 8c(11) of the Agricultural
Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(11)), reenacted with amendments by the
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(D) Producer milk prices in clark county,
nevada.--The price of milk received by producers
located in Clark County, Nevada--
``(i) shall not be subject to any order
issued under this section or any other
regulation by the Secretary; and
``(ii) shall solely be regulated by the
State of Nevada and the Nevada State Dairy
Commission.''.
Sec. 767. (a) The Senate finds that--
(1) agricultural producers in the United States compete
effectively when world markets are not distorted by government
intervention;
(2) the elimination of barriers to competition in world
markets for agricultural commodities is in the interest of
producers and consumers in the United States;
(3) the United States must provide leadership on the
opening of the agricultural markets in upcoming multilateral
World Trade Organization negotiations;
(4) countries that import agricultural commodities are more
likely to liberalize practices if they are confident that their
trading partners will not curtail the availability of
agricultural commodities on world markets for foreign policy
purposes; and
(5) a multilateral commitment to use the open market,
rather than government intervention, to guarantee food security
would advance the interests of the farm community of the United
States.
(b) It is the sense of the Senate that members of the World Trade
Organization should undertake multilateral negotiations to eliminate
policies and programs that distort world markets for agricultural
commodities.
This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2000''.
Attest:
Secretary.
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1906
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