[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3828 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3828

 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 to provide for an equitable distribution of formula 
   funds between land-grant colleges and universities, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2015

  Ms. Brown of Florida (for herself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. 
 Norton, Ms. Adams, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Eddie 
  Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Sewell of Alabama, Mrs. Beatty, Mrs. 
 Watson Coleman, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Fattah, Ms. Fudge, Mr. 
Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. 
Cleaver, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Richmond, 
  Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Clyburn, Ms. Clarke of New 
York, Ms. Bass, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Maxine Waters of 
California, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Lee, Mr. Rush, Mr. Clay, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. 
  Cummings) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 to provide for an equitable distribution of formula 
   funds between land-grant colleges and universities, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``The Land-Grant Opportunity Act''.

SEC. 2. EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FORMULA FUNDS TO LAND-GRANT COLLEGES 
              AND UNIVERSITIES.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle G of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sections:

``SEC. 1449A. FORMULA FOR DISTRIBUTION OF EXTENSION FUNDS TO LAND-GRANT 
              COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) 1862-institution; 1890-institution.--The terms `1862-
        institution' and `1890-institution' have the meanings given 
        such terms in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, 
        Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
            ``(2) Distribution formula state.--The term `distribution 
        formula State' means a State--
                    ``(A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at 
                least one 1890-institution are located;
                    ``(B) that provides matching funds in an amount 
                equal to more than 50 percent of the extension funds to 
                be distributed to such land-grant colleges and 
                universities; and
                    ``(C)(i) with respect to any 1890-institution in 
                such State, that does not provide matching funds in an 
                amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available 
                to be distributed to such institution under section 
                1444; or
                    ``(ii) with respect to any 1862-institution in such 
                State, that does not provide matching funds in an 
                amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available 
                to be distributed to such institution under the Act of 
                May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly known as 
                the Smith-Lever Act).
            ``(3) Extension funds.--The term `extension funds' means 
        funds distributed--
                    ``(A) in the case of an 1890-institution, under 
                section 1444; and
                    ``(B) in the case of an 1862-institution, under the 
                Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly 
                known as the Smith-Lever Act).
            ``(4) Fully matched ratio.--The term `fully matched ratio' 
        means--
                    ``(A) in the case of an 1862-institution, if the 
                State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the 
                amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to 
                the institution under the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 
                341 et seq.; commonly known as the Smith-Lever Act), 
                for a fiscal year, the ratio that the sum of the amount 
                of funds that would be distributed to such institution 
                under such Act for such fiscal year and the amount of 
                matching funds the State would provide to such 
                institution for such fiscal year would bear to, with 
                respect to each other land-grant college or university 
                in the State, the sum of the amount of funds that would 
                be distributed to such land-grant college or university 
                in the State under such Act or under section 1444, as 
                the case may be, for such fiscal year and the amount of 
                matching funds the State would provide to such college 
                or university for such fiscal year; or
                    ``(B) in the case of an 1890-institution, if the 
                State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the 
                amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to 
                the institution under section 1444 for a fiscal year, 
                the ratio that the sum of the amount of funds that 
                would be distributed to such institution under such Act 
                for such fiscal year and the amount of matching funds 
                the State would provide to such institution for such 
                fiscal year would bear to, with respect to each other 
                land-grant college or university in the State, the sum 
                of the amount of funds that would be distributed to 
                such land-grant college or university in the State 
                under section 1444 or under the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 
                U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly known as the Smith-Lever 
                Act), as the case may be, for such fiscal year and the 
                amount of matching funds the State would provide to 
                such college or university for such fiscal year.
            ``(5) Shortfall percentage.--The term `shortfall 
        percentage' means, with respect to a shortfall State, the 
        percentage that equals 100 percentage points minus the number 
        of percentage points by which a shortfall State is deficient in 
        providing matching funds below 50 percentage points, as 
        described in paragraph (6)(B).
            ``(6) Shortfall state.--The term `shortfall State' means a 
        State--
                    ``(A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at 
                least one 1890-institution are located; and
                    ``(B) that provides matching funds in an amount 
                equal to 50 percent or less of the extension funds to 
                be distributed to such land-grant colleges and 
                universities.
    ``(b) Determination of Non-Federal Sources of Funds.--Beginning not 
later than September 30, 2016, and each September 30 thereafter, each 
land-grant college or university in a distribution formula State shall 
submit to the Secretary a report describing for the preceding fiscal 
year--
            ``(1) the sources of non-Federal funds made available by 
        the State to the land-grant college or university for 
        agricultural extension and education to meet the requirement of 
        section 1449; and
            ``(2) the amount of such funds generally available from 
        each source.
    ``(c) Distribution Formula.--
            ``(1) In general.--Beginning with fiscal year 2016, in the 
        case of a distribution formula State, the amount of extension 
        funds to be distributed to land-grant colleges and universities 
        in such State shall be distributed for a fiscal year in 
        accordance with paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Formula.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the extension funds available 
                to be distributed to a land-grant college or university 
                in a distribution formula State for a fiscal year, such 
                funds shall be distributed such that the ratio 
                described in subparagraph (B) for land-grant colleges 
                and universities in the State is made to equal the 
                fully matched ratio for land-grant colleges and 
                universities in the State.
                    ``(B) Adjusted distribution ratio.--The ratio 
                described in this subparagraph is--
                            ``(i) the ratio that, in the case of an 
                        1862-institution in a State, the sum of the 
                        amount of funds to be distributed to such 
                        institution under the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 
                        U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly known as the 
                        Smith-Lever Act), for a fiscal year and the 
                        amount of matching funds the State provides to 
                        such institution for such fiscal year bears to, 
                        with respect to each other land-grant college 
                        or university in the State, the sum of the 
                        amount of funds to be distributed to such land-
                        grant college or university in the State under 
                        such Act or under section 1444, as the case may 
                        be, for such fiscal year and the amount of 
                        matching funds the State provides to such 
                        college or university for such fiscal year; or
                            ``(ii) the ratio that, in the case of an 
                        1890-institution in a State, the sum of the 
                        amount of funds to be distributed to such 
                        institution under section 1444 for a fiscal 
                        year and the amount of matching funds the State 
                        provides to such institution for such fiscal 
                        year bears to, with respect to each other land-
                        grant college or university in the State, the 
                        sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to 
                        such other land-grant college or university in 
                        the State under section 1444 or under the Act 
                        of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.; commonly 
                        known as the Smith-Lever Act), as the case may 
                        be, for such fiscal year and the amount of 
                        matching funds the State provides to such 
                        college or university for such fiscal year.
            ``(3) Treatment of shortfall states.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                formula described in paragraph (2)(A) shall apply with 
                respect to the distribution of extension funds to land-
                grant colleges and universities in a shortfall State in 
                the same manner as such formula applies to the 
                distribution of extension funds to land-grant colleges 
                and universities in a distribution formula State for a 
                fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Amount of federal funds available for 
                distribution.--In the case of a shortfall State, the 
                total amount of extension funds available to be 
                distributed to the land-grant colleges and universities 
                in such State shall equal the product of--
                            ``(i) the total amount which such colleges 
                        and universities are eligible to receive under 
                        the Act of May 8, 1914 (7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.; 
                        commonly known as the Smith-Lever Act), and 
                        section 1444 for a fiscal year; and
                            ``(ii) the shortfall percentage for such 
                        State and such fiscal year.

``SEC. 1449B. FORMULA FOR DISTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH FUNDS TO LAND-GRANT 
              COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) 1862-institution; 1890-institution.--The terms `1862-
        institution' and `1890-institution' have the meanings given 
        such terms in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, 
        Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
            ``(2) Distribution formula state.--The term `distribution 
        formula State' means a State--
                    ``(A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at 
                least one 1890-institution are located;
                    ``(B) that provides matching funds in an amount 
                equal to more than 50 percent of the research funds to 
                be distributed to such land-grant colleges and 
                universities; and
                    ``(C)(i) with respect to any 1890-institution in 
                such State, that does not provide matching funds in an 
                amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available 
                to be distributed to such institution under section 
                1445; or
                    ``(ii) with respect to any 1862-institution in such 
                State, that does not provide matching funds in an 
                amount equal to the amount of Federal funds available 
                to be distributed to such institution under the Act of 
                March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly known as 
                the Hatch Act of 1887).
            ``(3) Fully matched ratio.--The term `fully matched ratio' 
        means--
                    ``(A) in the case of an 1862-institution, if the 
                State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the 
                amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to 
                the institution under the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 
                U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly known as the Hatch Act of 
                1887), for a fiscal year, the ratio that the sum of the 
                amount of funds that would be distributed to such 
                institution under such Act for such fiscal year and the 
                amount of matching funds the State would provide to 
                such institution for such fiscal year would bear to, 
                with respect to each other land-grant college or 
                university in the State, the sum of the amount of funds 
                that would be distributed to such other land-grant 
                college or university in the State under such Act or 
                under section 1445, as the case may be, for such fiscal 
                year and the amount of matching funds the State would 
                provide to such college or university for such fiscal 
                year; or
                    ``(B) in the case of an 1890-institution, if the 
                State provided matching funds in an amount equal to the 
                amount of Federal funds available to be distributed to 
                the institution under section 1445 for a fiscal year, 
                the ratio that the sum of the amount of funds that 
                would be distributed to such institution under such Act 
                for such fiscal year and the amount of matching funds 
                the State would provide to such institution for such 
                fiscal year would bear to, with respect to each other 
                land-grant college or university in the State, the sum 
                of the amount of funds that would be distributed to 
                such land-grant college or university in the State 
                under section 1445 or under the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 
                U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly known as the Hatch Act of 
                1887), as the case may be, for such fiscal year and the 
                amount of matching funds the State would provide to 
                such college or university for such fiscal year.
            ``(4) Research funds.--The term `research funds' means 
        funds distributed--
                    ``(A) in the case of an 1890-institution, under 
                section 1445; and
                    ``(B) in the case of an 1862-institution, under the 
                Act of March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly 
                known as the Hatch Act of 1887).
            ``(5) Shortfall percentage.--The term `shortfall 
        percentage' means, with respect to a shortfall State, the 
        percentage that equals 100 percentage points minus the number 
        of percentage points by which a shortfall State is deficient in 
        providing matching funds below 50 percentage points, as 
        described in paragraph (6)(B).
            ``(6) Shortfall state.--In this section, the term 
        `shortfall State' means a State--
                    ``(A) in which at least one 1862-institution and at 
                least one 1890-institution are located; and
                    ``(B) that provides matching funds in an amount 
                equal to 50 percent or less of the research funds to be 
                distributed to such land-grant colleges and 
                universities.
    ``(b) Determination of Non-Federal Sources of Funds.--Beginning not 
later than September 30, 2016, and each September 30 thereafter, each 
land-grant college or university in a distribution formula State shall 
submit to the Secretary a report describing for the preceding fiscal 
year--
            ``(1) the sources of non-Federal funds made available by 
        the State to the land-grant college or university for 
        agricultural research to meet the requirement of section 1449; 
        and
            ``(2) the amount of such funds generally available from 
        each source.
    ``(c) Distribution Formula.--
            ``(1) In general.--Beginning with fiscal year 2016, in the 
        case of a distribution formula State, the amount of research 
        funds to be distributed to land-grant colleges and universities 
        in such State shall be distributed in accordance with paragraph 
        (2).
            ``(2) Formula.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the research funds available 
                to be distributed to a land-grant college or university 
                in a distribution formula State for a fiscal year, such 
                funds shall be distributed such that the ratio 
                described in subparagraph (B) for land-grant colleges 
                and universities in the State is made to equal the 
                fully matched ratio for land-grant colleges and 
                universities in the State.
                    ``(B) Adjusted distribution ratio.--The ratio 
                described in this subparagraph is--
                            ``(i) the ratio that, in the case of an 
                        1862-institution in a State, the sum of the 
                        amount of funds to be distributed to such 
                        institution under the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 
                        U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly known as the 
                        Hatch Act of 1887), for a fiscal year and the 
                        amount of matching funds the State provides to 
                        such institution for such fiscal year bears to, 
                        with respect to each other land-grant college 
                        or university in the State, the sum of the 
                        amount of funds to be distributed to such other 
                        land-grant college or university in the State 
                        under such Act or under section 1445, as the 
                        case may be, for such fiscal year and the 
                        amount of matching funds the State provides to 
                        such college or university for such fiscal 
                        year; or
                            ``(ii) the ratio that, in the case of an 
                        1890-institution in a State, the sum of the 
                        amount of funds to be distributed to such 
                        institution under section 1445 for a fiscal 
                        year and the amount of matching funds the State 
                        provides to such institution for such fiscal 
                        year bears to, with respect to each other land-
                        grant college or university in the State, the 
                        sum of the amount of funds to be distributed to 
                        such land-grant college or university in the 
                        State under section 1445 or under the Act of 
                        March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.; commonly 
                        known as the Hatch Act of 1887), as the case 
                        may be, for such fiscal year and the amount of 
                        matching funds the State provides to such 
                        college or university for such fiscal year.
            ``(3) Treatment of shortfall states.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                formula described in paragraph (2)(A) shall apply with 
                respect to the distribution of extension funds to land-
                grant colleges and universities in a shortfall State in 
                the same manner as such formula applies to the 
                distribution of extension funds to land-grant colleges 
                and universities in a distribution formula State for a 
                fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Amount of federal funds available for 
                distribution.--In the case of a shortfall State, the 
                total amount of extension funds available to be 
                distributed to the land-grant colleges and universities 
                in such State shall equal the product of--
                            ``(i) the total amount which such colleges 
                        and universities are eligible to receive under 
                        the Act of March 2, 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a et 
                        seq.; commonly known as the Hatch Act of 1887), 
                        and section 1445 for a fiscal year; and
                            ``(ii) the shortfall percentage for such 
                        State and such fiscal year.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1449 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3222d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``subtitle, the State 
        shall provide'' and inserting ``subtitle, the State shall 
        provide to eligible institutions, with respect to the maximum 
        amount such institutions are eligible to receive under sections 
        1444 and 1445,'';
            (2) by striking subsection (d); and
            (3) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively.
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