[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3746 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3746

    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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 27 (legislative day, July 26), 2006

 Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein) introduced the following 
      bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                  Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 that--
            (1) the State of California (referred to in this Act as the 
        ``State'') is a preeminent producer of more than 350 different 
        agricultural commodities, including--
                    (A) more than 90 percent of all of the tomatoes and 
                grapes produced in the United States;
                    (B) all of the commercial almonds, dates, figs, 
                olives, cling peaches, prunes, and raisins produced in 
                the United States; and
                    (C) 1 out of every 5 glasses of milk consumed in 
                the United States;
            (2) California is the leading State in terms of 
        agricultural exports, annually shipping more than 
        $7,000,000,000 worth of agricultural commodities around the 
        world;
            (3) the direct and indirect economic impact of the total 
        investment by the 78,500 farms in the State is staggering;
            (4) if the State is going to keep the agricultural industry 
        of the State strong and vibrant, the State must focus on the 
        needs of agricultural producers who are valuable contributors 
        to the economic, social, and cultural life of the State and the 
        United States.
            (5) since 1945, agricultural land has been rapidly 
        disappearing across the State, with soil erosion, urbanization, 
        the growth of deserts, and salinization all contributing to the 
        loss of productive farmland in the State;
            (6) if the trends described in paragraph (5) continue, the 
        State will be unable--
                    (A) to supply food for the population of the State, 
                let alone the United States; or
                    (B) to export food to the rest of the world;
            (7) as people in the United States grow more and more 
        detached from the great agrarian history of the United States, 
        fewer people in the United States understand the fundamental 
        importance of agriculture to the society of the United States;
            (8) educating young people in the United States about 
        agriculture and the importance of agriculture to the United 
        States is an investment that would pay off in future benefits;
            (9) greater public understanding and appreciation of the 
        importance of agriculture to the State, 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;
            (10) citizens of all ages, especially youth, must play a 
        meaningful, hands-on role in determining the future of 
        agriculture in the State;
            (11) as planners, conservationists, and other interested 
        persons throughout the State organize to help protect 
        agricultural resources, the proposed National Ag Science Center 
        (referred to in this Act as the ``Center'') in Stanislaus 
        County, California, is preparing--
                    (A) to educate and alert future generations about 
                the need to preserve agricultural land; and
                    (B) to foster an understanding of the importance of 
                agriculture;
            (12) the mission of the National Ag Science Center would be 
        to--
                    (A) 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
                    (B) ensure a bright future for all aspects of the 
                agriculture industry;
            (13) the Center would prepare young people in the United 
        States for career and leadership opportunities in agriculture;
            (14) according to findings of the Center for Public Policy 
        Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, the Center 
        would--
                    (A) create or support up to 359 new local jobs;
                    (B) create or support up to $57,500,000 in economic 
                activity and $15,200,000 in labor income through 
                construction of the new facility;
                    (C) generate as much as $8,500,000 in total annual 
                economic activity; and
                    (D) result in as much as $3,400,000 in total annual 
                labor income;
            (15) 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 Center; and
            (16) establishment of the Center is in the national 
        interest, because the proposed Center would enable future 
        generations to help ensure a healthy and profitable place for 
        agriculture in the economy of the State and the United States.

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

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--Using amounts made available under 
subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall provide to the entity known as ``Ag Science Center, 
Inc.,'' in Stanislaus County, California, grants to pay not more than a 
total of 33 percent of the total costs of establishing the National Ag 
Science Center, including any costs relating to the design, planning, 
construction, furnishing, equipping, and expansion of the Center.
    (b) Grant Proposal.--
            (1) In general.--To receive a grant under subsection (a), 
        Ag Science Center, Inc., shall submit to the Secretary of the 
        Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary of the 
        Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, a proposal for the 
        use of the grant funds.
            (2) Inclusions.--A grant proposal submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include detailed plans for the design, construction, 
        furnishing, equipping, and expansion of the Center.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Agriculture to make grants under subsection (a) $10,000,000, to remain 
available until expended.
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