[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5128 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5128

    To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
   Agriculture to make grants to facilitate the establishment of the 
      National Ag Science Center in Stanislaus County, California.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 6, 2006

 Mr. Cardoza (for himself, Mr. Radanovich, and Ms. Matsui) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
   Agriculture to make grants to facilitate the establishment of the 
      National Ag Science Center in Stanislaus County, California.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Ag Science Center Act of 
2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The State of California is a preeminent producer of 
        more than 350 different agricultural commodities, including 
        more than 90 percent of all of the tomatoes and grapes produced 
        in the United States, all of the commercial almonds, dates, 
        figs, olives, cling peaches, prunes and raisins produced in the 
        United States, and one out of every five glasses of milk 
        consumed in the United States.
            (2) California is the leading State in terms of 
        agricultural exports, annually shipping more than $7 billion 
        dollars worth of agricultural commodities around the world.
            (3) The total investment by California's 78,500 farms in 
        terms of direct and indirect economic impact is staggering, 
        and, if California is going to keep its agricultural industry 
        strong and vibrant, it must focus on the needs of farmers who 
        are valuable contributors to the economic, social, and cultural 
        life of the State and the United States.
            (4) Since 1945, agricultural land has been rapidly 
        disappearing across California, as soil erosion, urbanization, 
        the growth of deserts, and salinization have all contributed to 
        loss of productive farmland. If these trends continue, 
        California will no longer be able to supply food for its 
        population, let alone the United States, and will be unable to 
        export food to the rest of the world.
            (5) As Americans grow more and more detached from the great 
        agrarian history of the United States, fewer Americans 
        understand the fundamental importance of agriculture to 
        American society.
            (6) Educating young Americans about agriculture and its 
        importance to the United States nation is an investment that 
        will pay off in future benefits.
            (7) Greater public understanding and appreciation of the 
        importance of agriculture to California, the United States, and 
        the world is needed to secure a positive future, in which the 
        United States can rely on healthy food that is produced 
        domestically. Citizens of all ages, especially youth, must play 
        a meaningful, hands-on role in determining the future of 
        California agriculture.
            (8) As planners, conservationists, and other interested 
        persons around the State of California organize to help protect 
        agricultural resources, the proposed National Ag Science Center 
        in Stanislaus County, California, is preparing to educate and 
        alert future generations about the need to preserve 
        agricultural land and to foster an understanding of the 
        importance of agriculture. The mission of the National Ag 
        Science Center will be to provide exciting and fun agricultural 
        learning opportunities and resources in order for young people 
        to learn how a vibrant agricultural economy is necessary for a 
        vibrant society, and to assure a bright future for all aspects 
        of the agriculture industry. The National Ag Science Center 
        will prepare young Americans for career and leadership 
        opportunities in agriculture.
            (9) According to findings of the Center for Public Policy 
        Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, the 
        National Ag Science Center will create or support up to 359 new 
        local jobs, create or support up to $57,500,000 in economic 
        activity and $15,200,000 in labor income through construction 
        of the new facility, generate as much as $8,500,000 in total 
        annual economic activity, and result in as much as $3,400,000 
        in total annual labor income.
            (10) On September 14, 2005, the Yosemite Community College 
        District Board, in Stanislaus County, California, voted 
        unanimously to approve the dedication of a 3.5 acre site on the 
        West Campus of Modesto Community College for the National Ag 
        Science Center.
            (11) Establishment of the National Ag Science Center is in 
        the national interest, as the proposed Center will enable 
        future generations to help assure a healthy and profitable 
        place for agriculture in the economy of California and the 
        United States.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL AG SCIENCE CENTER, 
              STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--Using such funds as may be appropriated 
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (d), the 
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall make 
grants to the Ag Science Center, Inc., in Stanislaus County, 
California, to cover a portion of the costs of establishing the 
National Ag Science Center, including costs relating to the design, 
planning, construction, furnishing, equipping, and expansion of the 
Center.
    (b) Grant Proposal.--To receive a grant under subsection (a), the 
Ag Science Center, Inc. shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior 
or the Secretary of Agriculture, or to both Secretaries, a proposal for 
the use of the grant funds, which shall include detailed plans for the 
design, construction, furnishing, equipping, and expansion of the 
National Ag Science Center.
    (c) Limitation on Grant Amounts.--The portion of the costs 
described in subsection (a) covered by grants made under this section 
shall not exceed 33 percent of the total costs to establish the Center.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Agriculture $10,000,000 to make grants under this section. Amounts so 
appropriated shall remain available until expended.
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