[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 265 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 265
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 11, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
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 fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other
purposes, namely:
TITLE I
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS
Processing, Research, and Marketing
Office of the Secretary
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, $46,532,000,
of which not to exceed $5,051,000 shall be available for the immediate
Office of the Secretary; not to exceed $800,000 shall be available for
the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development:
Provided, That funds made available by this Act to an agency in the
Rural Development mission area for salaries and expenses are available
to fund up to one administrative support staff for the Office; not to
exceed $1,496,000 shall be available for the Office of Homeland
Security; not to exceed $4,711,000 shall be available for the Office of
Partnerships and Public Engagement; not to exceed $23,105,000 shall be
available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration,
of which $22,301,000 shall be available for Departmental Administration
to provide for necessary expenses for management support services to
offices of the Department and for general administration, security,
repairs and alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses
not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical and
efficient work of the Department: Provided further, That funds made
available by this Act to an agency in the Administration mission area
for salaries and expenses are available to fund up to one
administrative support staff for the Office; not to exceed $3,869,000
shall be available for the Office of 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; and not to exceed $7,500,000 shall be
available for the Office of Communications: Provided further, That the
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to transfer funds appropriated
for any office of the Office of the Secretary to any other office of
the Office of the Secretary: Provided further, That no appropriation
for any office shall be increased or decreased by more than 5 percent:
Provided further, That not to exceed $11,000 of the amount made
available under this paragraph for the immediate Office of the
Secretary shall be available for official reception and representation
expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the Secretary:
Provided further, That the amount made available under this heading for
Departmental Administration 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: Provided further, That
funds made available under this heading for the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Congressional Relations may be transferred to agencies of
the Department of Agriculture funded by this Act to maintain personnel
at the agency level: Provided further, That no funds made available
under this heading for the Office of Assistant Secretary for
Congressional Relations may be obligated after 30 days from the date of
enactment of this Act, unless the Secretary has notified the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the allocation of these
funds by USDA agency.
Executive Operations
office of the chief economist
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Economist,
$19,786,000, of which $4,000,000 shall be for grants or cooperative
agreements for policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155.
office of hearings and appeals
For necessary expenses of the Office of Hearings and Appeals,
$15,222,000.
office of budget and program analysis
For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program
Analysis, $9,525,000.
Office of the Chief Information Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Information
Officer, $63,950,000, of which not less than $38,000,000 is for
cybersecurity requirements of the department.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial
Officer, $6,028,000.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights, $901,000: Provided, That funds made available by this
Act to an agency in the Civil Rights mission area for salaries and
expenses are available to fund up to one administrative support staff
for the Office.
Office of Civil Rights
For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $24,206,000.
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities
(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. 121, for programs and activities of the
Department which are included in this Act, and for alterations and
other actions needed for the Department and its agencies to consolidate
unneeded space into configurations suitable for release to the
Administrator of General Services, and for the operation, maintenance,
improvement, and repair of Agriculture buildings and facilities, and
for related costs, $58,330,000, to remain available until expended.
Hazardous Materials Management
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to comply
with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), $3,503,000, to remain
available until expended: Provided, That appropriations and funds
available herein to the Department for Hazardous Materials 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.
Office of Inspector General
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General,
including employment pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978
(Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), $98,208,000, 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 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), and
including 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 the Inspector General
Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 1337 of the
Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-98).
Office of the General Counsel
For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel,
$45,146,000.
Office of Ethics
For necessary expenses of the Office of Ethics, $4,136,000.
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics, $800,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to an agency in the Research, Education, and
Economics mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund
up to one administrative support staff for the Office.
Economic Research Service
For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service,
$86,757,000.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics
Service, $174,767,000, of which up to $45,300,000 shall be available
until expended for the Census of Agriculture: Provided, That amounts
made available for the Census of Agriculture may be used to conduct
Current Industrial Report surveys subject to 7 U.S.C. 2204g(d) and (f).
Agricultural Research Service
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Research Service 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,
$1,300,966,000, of which $10,600,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be used to carry out the science program at the
National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility located in Manhattan, Kansas;
of which not less than $2,000,000 shall be available to carry out the
dryland agriculture research program; and of which not less than
$7,000,000 shall be available for purposes of entering into a
management, operations, and research support contract to expedite the
hiring of a capable workforce for the commissioning of the Central
Utility Plant and in support of operations and management of the
National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility: Provided, 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 $500,000, except for
headhouses or greenhouses which shall each be limited to $1,800,000,
except for 10 buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to
exceed $1,100,000 each, and except for two buildings to be constructed
at a cost not to exceed $3,000,000 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 $500,000, whichever is
greater: Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be
available for entering into lease agreements at any Agricultural
Research Service location for the construction of a research facility
by a non-Federal entity for use by the Agricultural Research Service
and a condition of the lease shall be that any facility shall be owned,
operated, and maintained by the non-Federal entity and shall be removed
upon the expiration or termination of the lease agreement: 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: 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
appropriations hereunder shall be available for granting easements at
any Agricultural Research Service location for the construction of a
research facility by a non-Federal entity for use by, and acceptable
to, the Agricultural Research Service and a condition of the easements
shall be that upon completion the facility shall be accepted by the
Secretary, subject to the availability of funds herein, if the
Secretary finds that acceptance of the facility is in the interest of
the United States: 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.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
research and education activities
For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative
forestry and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses,
$898,535,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts,
specified in the table titled ``National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, Research and Education Activities'' in the explanatory
statement described in section 769 of this Act: Provided, That funds
for research grants for 1994 institutions, education grants for 1890
institutions, capacity building for non-land-grant colleges of
agriculture, the agriculture and food research initiative, veterinary
medicine loan repayment, multicultural scholars, graduate fellowship
and institution challenge grants, and grants management systems shall
remain available until expended: Provided further, That each
institution eligible to receive funds under the Evans-Allen program
receives no less than $1,000,000: Provided further, That funds for
education grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving
institutions be made available to individual eligible institutions or
consortia of eligible institutions with funds awarded equally to each
of the States of Alaska and Hawaii: Provided further, That funds for
education grants for 1890 institutions shall be made available to
institutions eligible to receive funds under 7 U.S.C. 3221 and 3222:
Provided further, That not more than 5 percent of the amounts made
available by this or any other Act to carry out the Agriculture and
Food Research Initiative under 7 U.S.C. 450i(b) may be retained by the
Secretary of Agriculture to pay administrative costs incurred by the
Secretary in carrying out that authority.
native american institutions endowment fund
For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund authorized by
Public Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), $11,880,000, to remain
available until expended.
extension activities
For payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, the Northern Marianas, and
American Samoa, $486,692,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in
the amounts, specified in the table titled ``National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, Extension Activities'' in the explanatory statement
described in section 769 of this Act: Provided, That funds for
facility improvements at 1890 institutions shall remain available until
expended: Provided further, That institutions eligible to receive
funds under 7 U.S.C. 3221 for cooperative extension receive no less
than $1,000,000: Provided further, That funds for cooperative
extension under sections 3(b) and (c) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C.
343(b) and (c)) and section 208(c) of Public Law 93-471 shall be
available for retirement and employees' compensation costs for
extension agents.
integrated activities
For the integrated research, education, and extension grants
programs, including necessary administrative expenses, $38,000,000,
which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the
table titled ``National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Integrated
Activities'' in the explanatory statement described in section 769 of
this Act: Provided, That funds for the Food and Agriculture Defense
Initiative shall remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided
further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, indirect
costs shall not be charged against any Extension Implementation Program
Area grant awarded under the Crop Protection/Pest Management Program (7
U.S.C. 7626).
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs, $901,000: Provided, That funds made
available by this Act to an agency in the Marketing and Regulatory
Programs mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund
up to one administrative support staff for the Office.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, including up to $30,000 for representation allowances and for
expenses pursuant to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085),
$1,000,493,000, of which $470,000, to remain available until expended,
shall be available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant
diseases, animal diseases and for control of pest animals and birds
(``contingency fund'') to the extent necessary to meet emergency
conditions; of which $11,520,000, to remain available until expended,
shall be used for the cotton pests program for cost share purposes or
for debt retirement for active eradication zones; of which $37,857,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be for Animal Health
Technical Services; of which $705,000 shall be for activities under the
authority of the Horse Protection Act of 1970, as amended (15 U.S.C.
1831); of which $62,840,000, to remain available until expended, shall
be used to support avian health; of which $4,251,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be for information technology
infrastructure; of which $178,170,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be for specialty crop pests; of which, $11,826,000, to
remain available until expended, shall be for field crop and rangeland
ecosystem pests; of which $16,523,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be for zoonotic disease management; of which
$41,466,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for emergency
preparedness and response; of which $60,000,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be for tree and wood pests; of which $5,725,000,
to remain available until expended, shall be for the National
Veterinary Stockpile; of which up to $1,500,000, to remain available
until expended, shall be for the scrapie program for indemnities; of
which $2,500,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for the
wildlife damage management program for aviation safety: Provided, That
of amounts available under this heading for wildlife services methods
development, $1,000,000 shall remain available until expended:
Provided further, That of amounts available under this heading for the
screwworm program, $4,990,000 shall remain available until expended; of
which $13,600,000, to remain available until expended, shall be used to
carry out the science program at the National Bio- and Agro-defense
Facility located in Manhattan, Kansas: Provided further, 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
this appropriation shall be available for the operation and maintenance
of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed five, 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 the United States, 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 sections 10411 and 10417 of the Animal
Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8310 and 8316) and sections 431 and 442
of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7751 and 7772), and any
unexpended balances of funds transferred for such emergency purposes in
the 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 2019, 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 reimbursed to this account, to remain available until expended,
without further appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or
services.
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, $3,175,000, to
remain available until expended.
Agricultural Marketing Service
marketing services
For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service,
$155,845,000, of which $4,000,000 shall be available for the purposes
of section 12306 of Public Law 113-79; and of which $7,000,000 shall be
available for marketing activities authorized under section 204(b) of
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)) to provide to
State departments of agriculture, State cooperative extension services,
institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations grants to
carry out programs and provide technical assistance to promote
innovation, process improvement, and marketing relating to dairy
products: 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 $60,982,000 (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 Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress.
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 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.); (2) transfers
otherwise provided in this Act; and (3) not more than $20,489,000 for
formulation and administration of marketing agreements and orders
pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and the
Agricultural Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-128).
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)),
$1,235,000.
limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses
Not to exceed $55,000,000 (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
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Food Safety, $800,000: Provided, That funds made available by this Act
to an agency in the Food Safety mission area for salaries and expenses
are available to fund up to one administrative support staff for the
Office.
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, including not to exceed $10,000 for
representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the
Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $1,049,344,000; 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 1327 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 138f): Provided, That funds provided for the Public
Health Data Communication Infrastructure system shall remain available
until expended: Provided further, That no fewer than 148 full-time
equivalent positions shall be employed during fiscal year 2019 for
purposes dedicated solely to inspections and enforcement related to the
Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.): Provided
further, That the Food Safety and Inspection Service shall continue
implementation of section 11016 of Public Law 110-246 as further
clarified by the amendments made in section 12106 of Public Law 113-79:
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.
TITLE II
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Farm Production and Conservation, $901,000: Provided, That funds made
available by this Act to an agency in the Farm Production and
Conservation mission area for salaries and expenses are available to
fund up to one administrative support staff for the Office.
Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
For necessary expenses of the Farm Production and Conservation
Business Center, $1,028,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That $149,000 of amounts appropriated for the current fiscal
year pursuant to section 1241(a) of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) shall be transferred to and
merged with this account.
Farm Service Agency
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Farm Service Agency, $1,202,146,000:
Provided, That not more than 50 percent of the $44,691,000 made
available under this heading for information technology related to farm
program delivery, including the Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of
Agricultural Systems and other farm program delivery systems, may be
obligated until the Secretary submits to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, and receives written or
electronic notification of receipt from such Committees of, a plan for
expenditure that (1) identifies for each project/investment over
$25,000 (a) the functional and performance capabilities to be delivered
and the mission benefits to be realized, (b) the estimated lifecycle
cost, including estimates for development as well as maintenance and
operations, and (c) key milestones to be met; (2) demonstrates that
each project/investment is, (a) consistent with the Farm Service Agency
Information Technology Roadmap, (b) being managed in accordance with
applicable lifecycle management policies and guidance, and (c) subject
to the applicable Department's capital planning and investment control
requirements; and (3) has been reviewed by the Government
Accountability Office and approved by the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress: Provided further, That the agency shall
submit a report by the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 to
the Committees on Appropriations and the Government Accountability
Office, that identifies for each project/investment that is operational
(a) current performance against key indicators of customer
satisfaction, (b) current performance of service level agreements or
other technical metrics, (c) current performance against a pre-
established cost baseline, (d) a detailed breakdown of current and
planned spending on operational enhancements or upgrades, and (e) an
assessment of whether the investment continues to meet business needs
as intended as well as alternatives to the investment: Provided
further, 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 funds made available to county
committees shall remain available until expended: Provided further,
That none of the funds available to the Farm Service Agency shall be
used to close Farm Service Agency county offices: Provided further,
That none of the funds available to the Farm Service Agency shall be
used to permanently relocate county based employees that would result
in an office with two or fewer employees without prior notification and
approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress.
state mediation grants
For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural Credit
Act of 1987, as amended (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), $3,904,000.
grassroots source water protection program
For necessary expenses to carry out wellhead or groundwater
protection activities under section 1240O of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-2), $6,500,000, to remain available until
expended.
dairy indemnity program
(including transfer of funds)
For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity payments to
dairy farmers and manufacturers of dairy products under a dairy
indemnity program, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That such program is carried out by the
Secretary in the same manner as the dairy indemnity program described
in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration,
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-387, 114
Stat. 1549A-12).
agricultural credit insurance fund program account
(including transfers of funds)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and
guaranteed farm ownership (7 U.S.C. 1922 et seq.) and operating (7
U.S.C. 1941 et seq.) loans, emergency loans (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.),
Indian tribe land acquisition loans (25 U.S.C. 488), boll weevil loans
(7 U.S.C. 1989), guaranteed conservation loans (7 U.S.C. 1924 et seq.),
and Indian highly fractionated land loans (25 U.S.C. 488) to be
available from funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, as
follows: $2,750,000,000 for guaranteed farm ownership loans and
$1,500,000,000 for farm ownership direct loans; $1,960,000,000 for
unsubsidized guaranteed operating loans and $1,530,000,000 for direct
operating loans; emergency loans, $37,668,000; Indian tribe land
acquisition loans, $20,000,000; guaranteed conservation loans,
$150,000,000; Indian highly fractionated land loans, $10,000,000; and
for boll weevil eradication program loans, $60,000,000: Provided, That
the Secretary shall deem the pink bollworm to be a boll weevil for the
purpose of boll weevil eradication program loans.
For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans and grants, including
the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm operating loans,
$59,670,000 for direct operating loans, $21,168,000 for unsubsidized
guaranteed operating loans, emergency loans, $1,567,000 and $2,134,000
for Indian highly fractionated land loans to remain available until
expended.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $325,068,000: Provided, That of
this amount, $314,998,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the
appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses'', of
which $8,000,000 shall be available until September 30, 2020.
Funds appropriated by this Act to the Agricultural Credit Insurance
Program Account for farm ownership, operating and conservation direct
loans and guaranteed loans may be transferred among these programs:
Provided, That the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress are notified at least 15 days in advance of any transfer.
Risk Management Agency
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses of the Risk Management Agency, $74,829,000:
Provided, That not to exceed $1,000 shall be available for official
reception and representation expenses, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
1506(i).
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,
$879,107,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020: 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 of the amounts made available under this
heading, $5,600,000, shall remain available until expended for the
authorities under 16 U.S.C. 1001-1005 and 1007-1009 for authorized
ongoing watershed projects with a primary purpose of providing water to
rural communities.
watershed and flood prevention operations
For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, including
but not limited to surveys and investigations, engineering operations,
works of improvement, and changes in use of land, in accordance with
the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001-1005
and 1007-1009) and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating
to the activities of the Department, $150,000,000, to remain available
until expended: Provided, That for funds provided by this Act or any
other prior Act, the limitation regarding the size of the watershed or
subwatershed exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand acres in which
such activities can be undertaken shall only apply for activities
undertaken for the primary purpose of flood prevention (including
structural and land treatment measures): Provided further, That of the
amounts made available under this heading, $50,000,000 shall be
allocated to projects and activities that can commence promptly
following enactment; that address regional priorities for flood
prevention, agricultural water management, inefficient irrigation
systems, fish and wildlife habitat, or watershed protection; or that
address authorized ongoing projects under the authorities of section 13
of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944 (Public Law 78-534) with
a primary purpose of watershed protection by preventing floodwater
damage and stabilizing stream channels, tributaries, and banks to
reduce erosion and sediment transport.
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 (7 U.S.C. 1516), such sums as may be necessary, to remain
available until expended.
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund
reimbursement for net realized losses
(including transfers of funds)
For the current fiscal year, 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): Provided, That of the
funds available to the Commodity Credit Corporation under section 11 of
the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714i) for the
conduct of its business with the Foreign Agricultural Service, up to
$5,000,000 may be transferred to and used by the Foreign Agricultural
Service for information resource management activities of the Foreign
Agricultural Service that are not related to Commodity Credit
Corporation business.
hazardous waste management
(limitation on expenses)
For the current fiscal year, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall
not expend more than $5,000,000 for site investigation and cleanup
expenses, and operations and maintenance 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).
TITLE III
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Rural Development
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and
implementation of Rural Development programs, including activities with
institutions concerning the development and operation of agricultural
cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements; $232,835,000: Provided,
That notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated
under this heading may be used for advertising and promotional
activities that support Rural Development programs: Provided further,
That in addition to any other funds appropriated for purposes
authorized by section 502(i) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.
1472(i)), any amounts collected under such section will immediately be
credited to this account and will remain available until expended for
such purposes.
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: $1,100,000,000 shall be for direct loans and $24,000,000,000
shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $28,000,000 for section 504
housing repair loans; $40,000,000 for section 515 rental housing;
$230,000,000 for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans;
$10,000,000 for credit sales of single family housing acquired
property; $5,000,000 for section 523 self-help housing land development
loans; and $5,000,000 for section 524 site 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, $53,900,000 shall be for
direct loans; section 504 housing repair loans, $3,419,000; section 523
self-help housing land development loans, $431,000; section 524 site
development loans, $176,000; and repair, rehabilitation, and new
construction of section 515 rental housing, $9,484,000: Provided, That
to support the loan program level for section 538 guaranteed loans made
available under this heading the Secretary may charge or adjust any
fees to cover the projected cost of such loan guarantees pursuant to
the provisions of the Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.),
and the interest on such loans may not be subsidized: Provided
further, That applicants in communities that have a current rural area
waiver under section 541 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490q)
shall be treated as living in a rural area for purposes of section 502
guaranteed loans provided under this heading: Provided further, That
of the amounts available under this paragraph for section 502 direct
loans, no less than $5,000,000 shall be available for direct loans for
individuals whose homes will be built pursuant to a program funded with
a mutual and self-help housing grant authorized by section 523 of the
Housing Act of 1949 until June 1, 2019: Provided further, That the
Secretary shall implement provisions to provide incentives to nonprofit
organizations and public housing authorities to facilitate the
acquisition of Rural Housing Service (RHS) multifamily housing
properties by such nonprofit organizations and public housing
authorities that commit to keep such properties in the RHS multifamily
housing program for a period of time as determined by the Secretary,
with such incentives to include, but not be limited to, the following:
allow such nonprofit entities and public housing authorities to earn a
Return on Investment on their own resources to include proceeds from
low income housing tax credit syndication, own contributions, grants,
and developer loans at favorable rates and terms, invested in a deal;
and allow reimbursement of organizational costs associated with owner's
oversight of asset referred to as ``Asset Management Fee'' of up to
$7,500 per property.
In addition, for the cost of direct loans, grants, and contracts,
as authorized by sections 514 and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42
U.S.C. 1484, 1486), $14,281,000, to remain available until expended,
for direct farm labor housing loans and domestic farm labor housing
grants and contracts: Provided, That any balances available for the
Farm Labor Program Account shall be transferred to and merged with this
account.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $412,254,000 shall be transferred
to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries
and Expenses''.
rental assistance program
For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed pursuant
to the authority under section 521(a)(2) of the Housing Act of 1949 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, $1,331,400,000, of which $40,000,000 shall be
available until September 30, 2020; 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
rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed during the current
fiscal year shall be funded for a one-year period: Provided further,
That any unexpended balances remaining at the end of such one-year
agreements may be transferred and used for purposes of any debt
reduction; maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation of any existing
projects; preservation; and rental assistance activities authorized
under title V of the Act: Provided further, That rental assistance
provided under agreements entered into prior to fiscal year 2019 for a
farm labor multi-family housing project financed under section 514 or
516 of the Act may not be recaptured for use in another project until
such assistance has remained unused for a period of 12 consecutive
months, if such project has a waiting list of tenants seeking such
assistance or the project has rental assistance eligible tenants who
are not receiving such assistance: Provided further, That such
recaptured rental assistance shall, to the extent practicable, be
applied to another farm labor multi-family housing project financed
under section 514 or 516 of the Act: Provided further, That except as
provided in the third proviso under this heading and notwithstanding
any other provision of the Act, the Secretary may recapture rental
assistance provided under agreements entered into prior to fiscal year
2019 for a project that the Secretary determines no longer needs rental
assistance and use such recaptured funds for current needs.
multi-family housing revitalization program account
For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under section
542 of the Housing Act of 1949, but notwithstanding subsection (b) of
such section, and for additional costs to conduct a demonstration
program for the preservation and revitalization of multi-family rental
housing properties described in this paragraph, $50,000,000, to remain
available until expended: Provided, That of the funds made available
under this heading, $26,000,000, shall be available for rural housing
vouchers to any low-income household (including those not receiving
rental assistance) residing in a property financed with a section 515
loan which has been prepaid after September 30, 2005: Provided
further, That the amount of such voucher shall be the difference
between comparable market rent for the section 515 unit and the tenant
paid rent for such unit: Provided further, That funds made available
for such vouchers shall be subject to the availability of annual
appropriations: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, to the
maximum extent practicable, administer such vouchers with current
regulations and administrative guidance applicable to section 8 housing
vouchers administered by the Secretary of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development: Provided further, That if the Secretary determines
that the amount made available for vouchers in this or any other Act is
not needed for vouchers, the Secretary may use such funds for the
demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization of multi-
family rental housing properties described in this paragraph: Provided
further, That of the funds made available under this heading,
$24,000,000 shall be available for a demonstration program for the
preservation and revitalization of the sections 514, 515, and 516
multi-family rental housing properties to restructure existing USDA
multi-family housing loans, as the Secretary deems appropriate,
expressly for the purposes of ensuring the project has sufficient
resources to preserve the project for the purpose of providing safe and
affordable housing for low-income residents and farm laborers including
reducing or eliminating interest; deferring loan payments,
subordinating, reducing or reamortizing loan debt; and other financial
assistance including advances, payments and incentives (including the
ability of owners to obtain reasonable returns on investment) required
by the Secretary: Provided further, That the Secretary shall as part
of the preservation and revitalization agreement obtain a restrictive
use agreement consistent with the terms of the restructuring: Provided
further, That if the Secretary determines that additional funds for
vouchers described in this paragraph are needed, funds for the
preservation and revitalization demonstration program may be used for
such vouchers: Provided further, That if Congress enacts legislation
to permanently authorize a multi-family rental housing loan
restructuring program similar to the demonstration program described
herein, the Secretary may use funds made available for the
demonstration program under this heading to carry out such legislation
with the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress: Provided further, That in addition to any other
available funds, the Secretary may expend not more than $1,000,000
total, from the program funds made available under this heading, for
administrative expenses for activities funded under this heading.
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), $30,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
rural housing assistance grants
For grants for very low-income housing repair and rural housing
preservation made by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized by 42
U.S.C. 1474, and 1490m, $40,000,000, to remain available until
expended.
rural community facilities program account
(including transfers of funds)
For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and
guaranteed loans as authorized by section 306 and described in section
381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act,
$3,000,000,000 for direct loans and $148,287,000 for guaranteed loans.
For the cost of guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying
loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, $4,285,000, to remain available until expended.
For the cost of grants for rural community facilities programs as
authorized by section 306 and described in section 381E(d)(1) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $47,778,000, to remain
available until expended: Provided, That $6,000,000 of the amount
appropriated under this heading shall be available for a Rural
Community Development Initiative: Provided further, That such funds
shall be used solely to develop the capacity and ability of private,
nonprofit community-based housing and community development
organizations, low-income rural communities, and Federally Recognized
Native American Tribes to undertake projects to improve housing,
community facilities, community and economic development projects in
rural areas: Provided further, That such funds shall be made available
to qualified private, nonprofit and public intermediary organizations
proposing to carry out a program of financial and technical assistance:
Provided further, That such intermediary organizations shall provide
matching funds from other sources, including Federal funds for related
activities, in an amount not less than funds provided: Provided
further, That $5,778,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading
shall be to provide grants for facilities in rural communities with
extreme unemployment and severe economic depression (Public Law 106-
387), with up to 5 percent for administration and capacity building in
the State rural development offices: Provided further, That $4,000,000
of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be available for
community facilities grants to tribal colleges, as authorized by
section 306(a)(19) of such Act: Provided further, That sections 381E-H
and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not
applicable to the funds made available under this heading.
Rural Business--Cooperative Service
rural business program account
(including transfers of funds)
For the cost of loan guarantees and grants, for the rural business
development programs authorized by section 310B and described in
subsections (a), (c), (f) and (g) of section 310B of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act, $69,619,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That of the amount appropriated under this
heading, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made available for one grant
to a qualified national organization to provide technical assistance
for rural transportation in order to promote economic development and
$8,000,000 shall be for grants to the Delta Regional Authority (7
U.S.C. 2009aa et seq.), the Northern Border Regional Commission (40
U.S.C. 15101 et seq.), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (40
U.S.C. 14101 et seq.) for any Rural Community Advancement Program
purpose as described in section 381E(d) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act, of which not more than 5 percent may be used for
administrative expenses: Provided further, That $4,000,000 of the
amount appropriated under this heading shall be for business grants to
benefit Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, including $250,000
for a grant to a qualified national organization to provide technical
assistance for rural transportation in order to promote economic
development: Provided further, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to funds
made available under this heading.
intermediary relending program fund account
(including transfer of funds)
For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by the
Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account (7 U.S.C. 1936b),
$18,889,000.
For the cost of direct loans, $4,157,000, as authorized by the
Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account (7 U.S.C. 1936b), of which
$557,000 shall be available through June 30, 2019, for Federally
Recognized Native American Tribes; and of which $1,072,000 shall be
available through June 30, 2019, for Mississippi Delta Region counties
(as determined in accordance with Public Law 100-460): 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.
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct
loan programs, $4,468,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the
appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses''.
rural economic development loans program account
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,
$45,000,000.
The cost of grants authorized under section 313 of the Rural
Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural economic
development and job creation projects shall not exceed $10,000,000.
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), $30,050,000, of which $3,750,000 shall be for cooperative
agreements for the appropriate technology transfer for rural areas
program: Provided, That not to exceed $3,000,000 shall be for grants
for cooperative development centers, individual cooperatives, or groups
of cooperatives that serve socially disadvantaged groups and a majority
of the boards of directors or governing boards of which are comprised
of individuals who are members of socially disadvantaged groups; and of
which $17,500,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for
value-added agricultural product market development grants, as
authorized by section 231 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of
2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a), of which $2,500,000 shall be for Agriculture
Innovation Centers authorized pursuant to section 6402 of Public Law
107-171.
rural energy for america program
For the cost of a program of loan guarantees, under the same terms
and conditions as authorized by section 9007 of the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107), $338,000: Provided, That
the cost of loan guarantees, including the cost of modifying such
loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974.
Rural Utilities Service
rural water and waste disposal program account
(including transfers of funds)
For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for the
rural water, waste water, waste disposal, and solid waste management
programs authorized by sections 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 306E, and 310B
and described in sections 306C(a)(2), 306D, 306E, and 381E(d)(2) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $558,183,000, to remain
available until expended, of which not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be
available for the rural utilities program described in section
306(a)(2)(B) of such Act, and of which not to exceed $993,000 shall be
available for the rural utilities program described in section 306E of
such Act: Provided, That not to exceed $15,000,000 of the amount
appropriated under this heading shall be for grants authorized by
section 306A(i)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
in addition to funding authorized by section 306A(i)(1) of such Act and
such grants may not exceed $1,000,000 notwithstanding section
306A(f)(1) of such Act: Provided further, That $68,000,000 of the
amount appropriated under this heading shall be for loans and grants
including water and waste disposal systems grants authorized by section
306C(a)(2)(B) and section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act, and Federally Recognized Native American Tribes
authorized by 306C(a)(1) of such Act: Provided further, That funding
provided for section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act may be provided to a consortium formed pursuant to
section 325 of Public Law 105-83: Provided further, That not more than
2 percent of the funding provided for section 306D of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act may be used by the State of Alaska for
training and technical assistance programs and not more than 2 percent
of the funding provided for section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act may be used by a consortium formed pursuant to
section 325 of Public Law 105-83 for training and technical assistance
programs: Provided further, That not to exceed $40,000,000 of the
amount appropriated under this heading shall be for technical
assistance grants for rural water and waste systems pursuant to section
306(a)(14) of such Act, unless the Secretary makes a determination of
extreme need, of which $8,000,000 shall be made available for a grant
to a qualified nonprofit multi-State regional technical assistance
organization, with experience in working with small communities on
water and waste water problems, the principal purpose of such grant
shall be to assist rural communities with populations of 3,300 or less,
in improving the planning, financing, development, operation, and
management of water and waste water systems, and of which not less than
$800,000 shall be for a qualified national Native American organization
to provide technical assistance for rural water systems for tribal
communities: Provided further, That not to exceed $19,000,000 of the
amount appropriated under this heading shall be for contracting with
qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide
technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided further, That
not to exceed $4,000,000 shall be for solid waste management grants:
Provided further, That $10,000,000 of the amount appropriated under
this heading shall be transferred to, and merged with, the Rural
Utilities Service, High Energy Cost Grants Account to provide grants
authorized under section 19 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7
U.S.C. 918a): Provided further, That any prior year balances for high-
energy cost grants authorized by section 19 of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 918a) shall be transferred to and
merged with the Rural Utilities Service, High Energy Cost Grants
Account: Provided further, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to the
funds made available under this heading.
rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account
(including transfer of funds)
The principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized
by sections 305, 306, and 317 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936
(7 U.S.C. 935, 936, and 940g) shall be made as follows: loans made
pursuant to sections 305, 306, and 317, notwithstanding 317(c), of that
Act, rural electric, $5,500,000,000; guaranteed underwriting loans
pursuant to section 313A, $750,000,000; 5 percent rural
telecommunications loans, cost of money rural telecommunications loans,
and for loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, rural
telecommunications loans, $690,000,000: Provided, That up to
$2,000,000,000 shall be used for the construction, acquisition, design
and engineering or improvement of fossil-fueled electric generating
plants (whether new or existing) that utilize carbon subsurface
utilization and storage systems.
For the cost of direct loans as authorized by section 305 of the
Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), including the cost of
modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, cost of money rural telecommunications loans, $1,725,000.
In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the
direct and guaranteed loan programs, $33,270,000, which shall be
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural
Development, Salaries and Expenses''.
distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program
For the principal amount of broadband telecommunication loans,
$29,851,000.
For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural
areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $33,000,000, to remain
available until expended: Provided, That $3,000,000 shall be made
available for grants authorized by 379G of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act: Provided further, That funding provided under
this heading for grants under 379G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act may only be provided to entities that meet all of the
eligibility criteria for a consortium as established by this section.
For the cost of broadband loans, as authorized by section 601 of
the Rural Electrification Act, $5,830,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That the cost of direct loans shall be as defined
in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
In addition, $30,000,000, to remain available until expended, for a
grant program to finance broadband transmission in rural areas eligible
for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program benefits authorized by 7
U.S.C. 950aaa.
rural health and safety education programs
Any funds provided by this Act for rural health and safety
education programs authorized under section 502(i) of the Rural
Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662(i)) may be used under those
programs to address the opioid abuse epidemic and to combat opioid
abuse in rural communities.
TITLE IV
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer
Services
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, $800,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to an agency in the Food, Nutrition and
Consumer Services mission area for salaries and expenses are available
to fund up to one administrative support staff for the Office.
Food and Nutrition Service
child nutrition programs
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses to carry out the Richard B. Russell 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; $23,184,012,000 to remain available through September 30,
2020, of which such sums as are made available under section
14222(b)(1) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public
Law 110-246), as amended by this Act, shall be merged with and
available for the same time period and purposes as provided herein:
Provided, That of the total amount available, $17,004,000 shall be
available to carry out section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
(42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.): Provided further, That of the total amount
available, $30,000,000 shall be available to provide competitive grants
to State agencies for subgrants to local educational agencies and
schools to purchase the equipment, with a value of greater than $1,000,
needed to serve healthier meals, improve food safety, and to help
support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the school
breakfast program: Provided further, That of the total amount
available, $28,000,000 shall remain available until expended to carry
out section 749(g) of the Agriculture Appropriations Act of 2010
(Public Law 111-80): Provided further, That section 26(d) of the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769g(d)) is
amended in the first sentence by striking ``2010 through 2018'' and
inserting ``2010 through 2019'': Provided further, That section
9(h)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1758(h)(3)) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``for fiscal
year 2018'' and inserting ``for fiscal year 2019'': Provided further,
That section 9(h)(4) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(4)) is amended in the first sentence by striking
``for fiscal year 2018'' and inserting ``for fiscal year 2019''.
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), $6,150,000,000, to remain available
through September 30, 2020, of which $25,000,000 shall be placed in
reserve, to remain available until expended, to be allocated as the
Secretary deemed necessary, notwithstanding section 17(i) of such Act,
to support participation should cost or participation exceed budget
estimates: Provided, That notwithstanding section 17(h)(10) of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(10)), not less than
$67,500,000 shall be used for breastfeeding peer counselors and other
related activities, and $19,000,000 shall be used for infrastructure,
of which $5,000,000 shall be for competitive grants to promote
breastfeeding and improved nutritional health through technologies and
services, including telemedicine: 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 such Act:
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
such Act: Provided further, That upon termination of a federally
mandated vendor moratorium and subject to terms and conditions
established by the Secretary, the Secretary may waive the requirement
at 7 CFR 246.12(g)(6) at the request of a State agency.
supplemental nutrition assistance program
For necessary expenses to carry out the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $73,219,274,000, of which $3,000,000,000,
to remain available through December 31, 2020, 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 funds
provided herein shall be expended in accordance with section 16 of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008: Provided further, That of the funds
made available under this heading, $998,000 may be used to provide
nutrition education services to State agencies and Federally Recognized
Tribes participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian
Reservations: 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 heading shall remain available
through September 30, 2020: Provided further, That funds made
available under this heading for section 28(d)(1), section 4(b), and
section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 shall remain
available through September 30, 2020: Provided further, That none of
the funds made available under this heading may be obligated or
expended in contravention of section 213A of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1183A): Provided further, That funds made
available under this heading may be used to enter into contracts and
employ staff to conduct studies, evaluations, or to conduct activities
related to program integrity provided that such activities are
authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
commodity assistance program
For necessary expenses to carry out disaster assistance and 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; special assistance
for the nuclear affected islands, as authorized by section 103(f)(2) of
the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-
188); and the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by
section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, $322,139,000, to
remain available through September 30, 2020: Provided, That none of
these funds shall be available to reimburse the Commodity Credit
Corporation for commodities donated to the program: Provided further,
That notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective with funds
made available in fiscal year 2019 to support the Seniors Farmers'
Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by section 4402 of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, such funds shall remain
available through September 30, 2020: Provided further, That of the
funds made available under section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)), the Secretary may use up to 15 percent for
costs associated with the distribution of commodities.
nutrition programs administration
For necessary administrative expenses of the Food and Nutrition
Service for carrying out any domestic nutrition assistance program,
$164,688,000: Provided, That of the funds provided herein, $2,000,000
shall be used for the purposes of section 4404 of Public Law 107-171,
as amended by section 4401 of Public Law 110-246.
TITLE V
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural
Affairs
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for
Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, $875,000: Provided, That funds
made available by this Act to any agency in the Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs mission area for salaries and expenses are
available to fund up to one administrative support staff for the
Office.
office of codex alimentarius
For necessary expenses of the Office of Codex Alimentarius,
$3,976,000, including not to exceed $40,000 for official reception and
representation expenses.
Foreign Agricultural Service
salaries and expenses
(including transfers of funds)
For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service,
including not to exceed $250,000 for representation allowances and for
expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7
U.S.C. 1766), $212,230,000, of which no more than 6 percent shall
remain available until September 30, 2020, for overseas operations to
include the payment of locally employed staff: 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 funds made available
for middle-income country training programs, funds made available for
the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology
Fellowship program, and up to $2,000,000 of the Foreign Agricultural
Service appropriation solely for the purpose of offsetting fluctuations
in international currency exchange rates, subject to documentation by
the Foreign Agricultural Service, shall remain available until
expended.
food for peace title i direct credit and food for progress program
account
(including transfer of funds)
For administrative expenses to carry out the credit program of
title I, Food for Peace Act (Public Law 83-480) and the Food for
Progress Act of 1985, $142,000, shall be transferred to and merged with
the appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.
food for peace title ii grants
For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise
recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including interest
thereon, under the Food for Peace Act (Public Law 83-480), for
commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad under title
II of said Act, $1,716,000,000, to remain available until expended.
mcgovern-dole international food for education and child nutrition
program grants
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 3107
of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o-
1), $210,255,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That
the Commodity Credit Corporation is authorized to provide the services,
facilities, and authorities for the purpose of implementing such
section, subject to reimbursement from amounts provided herein:
Provided further, That of the amount made available under this heading,
$15,000,000, shall remain available until expended for necessary
expenses to carry out the provisions of section 3207 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 1726c).
commodity credit corporation export (loans) credit guarantee 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,
$8,845,000; 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 $6,382,000 shall
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Foreign
Agricultural Service, Salaries and Expenses'', and of which $2,463,000
shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Farm
Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.
TITLE VI
RELATED AGENCY 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; in addition to amounts appropriated
to the FDA Innovation Account, for carrying out the activities
described in section 1002(b)(4) of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public
Law 114-255); 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; and notwithstanding section 521 of Public Law 107-188;
$5,419,299,000: Provided, That of the amount provided under this
heading, $960,568,000 shall be derived from prescription drug user fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379h, and shall be credited to this account and
remain available until expended; $196,668,000 shall be derived from
medical device user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j, and shall be
credited to this account and remain available until expended;
$501,396,000 shall be derived from human generic drug user fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-42, and shall be credited to this account
and remain available until expended; $40,922,000 shall be derived from
biosimilar biological product user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-
52, and shall be credited to this account and remain available until
expended; $30,331,000 shall be derived from animal drug user fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-12, and shall be credited to this account
and remain available until expended; $18,336,000 shall be derived from
generic new animal drug user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-21, and
shall be credited to this account and remain available until expended;
$712,000,000 shall be derived from tobacco product user fees authorized
by 21 U.S.C. 387s, and shall be credited to this account and remain
available until expended: Provided further, That in addition to and
notwithstanding any other provision under this heading, amounts
collected for prescription drug user fees, medical device user fees,
human generic drug user fees, biosimilar biological product user fees,
animal drug user fees, and generic new animal drug user fees that
exceed the respective fiscal year 2019 limitations are appropriated and
shall be credited to this account and remain available until expended:
Provided further, That fees derived from prescription drug, medical
device, human generic drug, biosimilar biological product, animal drug,
and generic new animal drug assessments for fiscal year 2019, including
any such fees collected prior to fiscal year 2019 but credited for
fiscal year 2019, shall be subject to the fiscal year 2019 limitations:
Provided further, That the Secretary may accept payment during fiscal
year 2019 of user fees specified under this heading and authorized for
fiscal year 2020, prior to the due date for such fees, and that amounts
of such fees assessed for fiscal year 2020 for which the Secretary
accepts payment in fiscal year 2019 shall not be included in amounts
under this heading: 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) $1,052,315,000 shall be for the Center for
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and related field activities in the
Office of Regulatory Affairs, of which no less than $15,000,000 shall
be used for inspections of foreign seafood manufacturers and field
examinations of imported seafood; (2) $1,720,807,000 shall be for the
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and related field activities in
the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (3) $369,857,000 shall be for the
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and for related field
activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (4) $216,914,000 shall
be for the Center for Veterinary Medicine and for related field
activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (5) $495,988,000 shall
be for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and for related
field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (6) $65,531,000
shall be for the National Center for Toxicological Research; (7)
$662,043,000 shall be for the Center for Tobacco Products and for
related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (8) not
to exceed $174,751,000 shall be for Rent and Related activities, of
which $50,987,000 is for White Oak Consolidation, other than the
amounts paid to the General Services Administration for rent; (9) not
to exceed $240,887,000 shall be for payments to the General Services
Administration for rent; and (10) $420,206,000 shall be for other
activities, including the Office of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs,
the Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, the Office of Medical and
Tobacco Products, the Office of Global and Regulatory Policy, the
Office of Operations, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and central
services for these offices: Provided further, That not to exceed
$25,000 of this amount shall be for official reception and
representation expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by
the Commissioner: Provided further, That any transfer of funds
pursuant to section 770(n) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(21 U.S.C. 379dd(n)) shall only be from amounts made available under
this heading for other activities: Provided further, That of the
amounts that are made available under this heading for ``other
activities'', and that are not derived from user fees, $1,500,000 shall
be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Department of
Health and Human Services--Office of Inspector General'' for oversight
of the programs and operations of the Food and Drug Administration and
shall be in addition to funds otherwise made available for oversight of
the Food and Drug Administration: Provided further, That funds may be
transferred from one specified activity to another with the prior
approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress.
In addition, mammography user fees authorized by 42 U.S.C. 263b,
export certification user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 381, priority
review user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360n and 360ff, food and feed
recall fees, food reinspection fees, and voluntary qualified importer
program fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-31, outsourcing facility fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-62, prescription drug wholesale
distributor licensing and inspection fees authorized by 21 U.S.C.
353(e)(3), third-party logistics provider licensing and inspection fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360eee-3(c)(1), third-party auditor fees
authorized by 21 U.S.C. 384d(c)(8), and medical countermeasure priority
review voucher user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-4a, shall be
credited to this account, to remain available until expended.
buildings and facilities
For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension,
alteration, demolition, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities
of or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise
provided, $11,788,000, to remain available until expended.
fda innovation account, cures act
For necessary expenses to carry out the purposes described under
section 1002(b)(4) of the 21st Century Cures Act, in addition to
amounts available for such purposes under the heading ``Salaries and
Expenses'', $70,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided,
That amounts appropriated in this paragraph are appropriated pursuant
to section 1002(b)(3) of the 21st Century Cures Act, are to be derived
from amounts transferred under section 1002(b)(2)(A) of such Act, and
may be transferred by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to the
appropriation for ``Department of Health and Human Services--Food and
Drug Administration--Salaries and Expenses'' solely for the purposes
provided in such Act: Provided further, That upon a determination by
the Commissioner that funds transferred pursuant to the previous
proviso are not necessary for the purposes provided, such amounts may
be transferred back to the account: Provided further, That such
transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority
provided by law.
INDEPENDENT AGENCY
Farm Credit Administration
limitation on administrative expenses
Not to exceed $74,600,000 (from assessments collected from farm
credit institutions, including the Federal Agricultural Mortgage
Corporation) shall be obligated during the current fiscal year for
administrative expenses as authorized under 12 U.S.C. 2249: Provided,
That this limitation shall not apply to expenses associated with
receiverships: Provided further, That the agency may exceed this
limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the Committees on
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
TITLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(including rescissions and transfers of funds)
Sec. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law,
appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of
Agriculture for the current fiscal year under this Act shall be
available for the purchase, in addition to those specifically provided
for, of not to exceed 71 passenger motor vehicles of which 68 shall be
for replacement only, and for the hire of such vehicles: Provided,
That notwithstanding this section, the only purchase of new passenger
vehicles shall be for those determined by the Secretary to be necessary
for transportation safety, to reduce operational costs, and for the
protection of life, property, and public safety.
Sec. 702. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture may transfer unobligated balances of
discretionary funds appropriated by this Act or any other available
unobligated discretionary balances that are remaining available of the
Department of Agriculture to the Working Capital Fund for the
acquisition of plant and capital equipment necessary for the delivery
of financial, administrative, and information technology services of
primary benefit to the agencies of the Department of Agriculture, such
transferred funds to remain available until expended: Provided, That
none of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act shall be
transferred to the Working Capital Fund without the prior approval of
the agency administrator: Provided further, That none of the funds
transferred to the Working Capital Fund pursuant to this section shall
be available for obligation without written notification to and the
prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated by
this Act or made available to the Department's Working Capital Fund
shall be available for obligation or expenditure to make any changes to
the Department's National Finance Center without written notification
to and prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress as required by section 717 of this Act: Provided
further, That none of the funds appropriated by this Act or made
available to the Department's Working Capital Fund shall be available
for obligation or expenditure to initiate, plan, develop, implement, or
make any changes to remove or relocate any systems, missions, or
functions of the offices of the Chief Financial Officer or any
personnel from the National Finance Center prior to written
notification to and prior approval of the Committee on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress and in accordance with the requirements of
section 717 of this Act: Provided further, That the Secretary of
Agriculture and the offices of the Chief Financial Officer shall
actively market to existing and new Departments and other government
agencies National Finance Center shared services including, but not
limited to, payroll, financial management, and human capital shared
services and allow the National Finance Center to perform technology
upgrades: Provided further, That of annual income amounts in the
Working Capital Fund of the Department of Agriculture attributable to
the amounts in excess of the true costs of the shared services provided
by the National Finance Center and budgeted for the National Finance
Center, the Secretary shall reserve not more than 4 percent for the
replacement or acquisition of capital equipment, including equipment
for the improvement, delivery, and implementation of financial,
administrative, and information technology services, and other systems
of the National Finance Center or to pay any unforeseen, extraordinary
cost of the National Finance Center: Provided further, That none of
the amounts reserved shall be available for obligation unless the
Secretary submits written notification of the obligation to the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided
further, That the limitations on the obligation of funds pending
notification to Congressional Committees shall not apply to any
obligation that, as determined by the Secretary, is necessary to
respond to a declared state of emergency that significantly impacts the
operations of the National Finance Center; or to evacuate employees of
the National Finance Center to a safe haven to continue operations of
the National Finance Center.
Sec. 703. 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. 704. 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. 705. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the
cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in the current
fiscal year shall remain available until expended to disburse
obligations made in the current fiscal year for the following accounts:
the Rural Development Loan Fund program account, the Rural
Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program account, and the
Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account.
Sec. 706. 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 written notification to and the prior
approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress: Provided further, That, notwithstanding section 11319 of
title 40, United States Code, none of the funds available to the
Department of Agriculture for information technology shall be obligated
for projects, contracts, or other agreements over $25,000 prior to
receipt of written approval by the Chief Information Officer: Provided
further, That the Chief Information Officer may authorize an agency to
obligate funds without written approval from the Chief Information
Officer for projects, contracts, or other agreements up to $250,000
based upon the performance of an agency measured against the
performance plan requirements described in the explanatory statement
accompanying Public Law 113-235.
Sec. 707. Funds made available under section 524(b) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)) in the current fiscal year shall
remain available until expended to disburse obligations made in the
current fiscal year.
Sec. 708. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any former
RUS borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, direct or
guaranteed loan under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, or any
not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or direct
loan under such Act, shall be eligible for assistance under section
313(b)(2)(B) of such Act in the same manner as a borrower under such
Act.
Sec. 709. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, not
more than $20,000,000 in unobligated balances from appropriations made
available for salaries and expenses in this Act for the Farm Service
Agency shall remain available through September 30, 2020, for
information technology expenses: Provided, That except as otherwise
specifically provided by law, unobligated balances from appropriations
made available for salaries and expenses in this Act for the Rural
Development mission area shall remain available through September 30,
2020, for information technology expenses.
Sec. 710. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used for first-class travel by the
employees of agencies funded by this Act in contravention of sections
301-10.122 through 301-10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations.
Sec. 711. In the case of each program established or amended by
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79), other than by title I
or subtitle A of title III of such Act, or programs for which
indefinite amounts were provided in that Act, that is authorized or
required to be carried out using funds of the Commodity Credit
Corporation--
(1) such funds shall be available for salaries and related
administrative expenses, including technical assistance,
associated with the implementation of the program, without
regard to the limitation on the total amount of allotments and
fund transfers contained in section 11 of the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714i); and
(2) the use of such funds for such purpose shall not be
considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of
applying the limitation on the total amount of allotments and
fund transfers contained in such section.
Sec. 712. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more than
$2,900,000 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.
Sec. 713. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay
indirect costs charged against any agricultural research, education, or
extension grant awards issued by the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture that exceed 30 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 National Institute of Food and Agriculture shall
be available to pay full allowable indirect costs for each grant
awarded under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
Sec. 714. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be
used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network
blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement
agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations,
prosecution, or adjudication activities.
Sec. 715. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 14222 of
Public Law 110-246 (7 U.S.C. 612c-6; in this section referred to as
``section 14222''), 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 a program under section 32 of
the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c; in this section referred to
as ``section 32'') in excess of $1,299,600,000 (exclusive of carryover
appropriations from prior fiscal years), as follows: Child Nutrition
Programs Entitlement Commodities--$485,000,000; State Option
Contracts-- $5,000,000; Removal of Defective Commodities-- $2,500,000;
Administration of Section 32 Commodity Purchases--$35,853,000:
Provided, That of the total funds made available in the matter
preceding this proviso that remain unobligated on October 1, 2019, such
unobligated balances shall carryover into fiscal year 2020 and shall
remain available until expended for any of the purposes of section 32,
except that any such carryover funds used in accordance with clause (3)
of section 32 may not exceed $350,000,000 and may not be obligated
until the Secretary of Agriculture provides written notification of the
expenditures to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress at least two weeks in advance: Provided further, That, with
the exception of any available carryover funds authorized in any prior
appropriations Act to be used for the purposes of clause (3) of section
32, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this
or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries or expenses of any
employee of the Department of Agriculture to carry out clause (3) of
section 32.
Sec. 716. None of the funds appropriated by this 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 for programs under the jurisdiction of the
Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, 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 user fees proposals
are not enacted prior to the date of the convening of a committee of
conference for the fiscal year 2020 appropriations Act.
Sec. 717. (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 the current fiscal
year, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the
collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall
be available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming,
transfer of funds, or reimbursements as authorized by the Economy Act,
or in the case of the Department of Agriculture, through use of the
authority provided by section 702(b) of the Department of Agriculture
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2257) or section 8 of Public Law 89-106
(7 U.S.C. 2263), that--
(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 Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary of Health and
Human Services (as the case may be) notifies in writing and receives
approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress at least 30 days in advance of the reprogramming of such funds
or the use of such authority.
(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 the current fiscal year, or
provided from any accounts in the Treasury 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 or use of the authorities referred to in
subsection (a) involving 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
Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (as the case may be) notifies in writing and receives
approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses
of Congress at least 30 days in advance of the reprogramming or
transfer of such funds or the use of such authority.
(c) The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall notify in writing and receive approval from the
Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress before
implementing any program or activity not carried out during the
previous fiscal year unless the program or activity is funded by this
Act or specifically funded by any other Act.
(d) 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 the current fiscal year, or
provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of
fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available
for--
(1) modifying major capital investments funding levels,
including information technology systems, that involves
increasing or decreasing funds in the current fiscal year for
the individual investment in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent
of the total cost, whichever is less;
(2) realigning or reorganizing new, current, or vacant
positions or agency activities or functions to establish a
center, office, branch, or similar entity with five or more
personnel; or
(3) carrying out activities or functions that were not
described in the budget request; unless the agencies funded by
this Act notify, in writing, the Committees on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days in advance of using
the funds for these purposes.
(e) As described in this section, no funds may be used for any
activities unless the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of
Health and Human Services receives from the Committee on Appropriations
of both Houses of Congress written or electronic mail confirmation of
receipt of the notification as required in this section.
Sec. 718. Notwithstanding section 310B(g)(5) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)(5)), the Secretary may
assess a one-time fee for any guaranteed business and industry loan in
an amount that does not exceed 3 percent of the guaranteed principal
portion of the loan.
Sec. 719. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug
Administration, or the Farm Credit Administration shall be used to
transmit or otherwise make available reports, questions, or responses
to questions that are a result of information requested for the
appropriations hearing process to any non-Department of Agriculture,
non-Department of Health and Human Services, or non-Farm Credit
Administration employee.
Sec. 720. Unless otherwise authorized by existing law, none of the
funds provided in this Act, may be used by an executive branch agency
to produce any prepackaged news story intended for broadcast or
distribution in the United States unless the story includes a clear
notification within the text or audio of the prepackaged news story
that the prepackaged news story was prepared or funded by that
executive branch agency.
Sec. 721. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may be
detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by this Act or any
other Act to any other agency or office of the Department for more than
60 days in a fiscal year 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. 722. There is hereby appropriated $2,000,000 for a pilot
program to provide competitive grants to State departments of
agriculture, State cooperative extension services, and nonprofit
organizations to carry out programs to address farmer stress and
suicide.
Sec. 723. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of the Food
and Drug Administration, and the Chairman of the Farm Credit
Administration shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both
Houses of Congress a detailed spending plan by program, project, and
activity for all the funds made available under this Act including
appropriated user fees, as defined in Senate Report 115-259.
Sec. 724. Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available
for the supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), $501,000,000 are
hereby rescinded.
Sec. 725. The Secretary shall continue an intermediary loan
packaging program based on the pilot program in effect for fiscal year
2013 for packaging and reviewing section 502 single family direct
loans. The Secretary shall continue agreements with current
intermediary organizations and with additional qualified intermediary
organizations. The Secretary shall work with these organizations to
increase effectiveness of the section 502 single family direct loan
program in rural communities and shall set aside and make available
from the national reserve section 502 loans an amount necessary to
support the work of such intermediaries and provide a priority for
review of such loans.
Sec. 726. For loans and loan guarantees that do not require budget
authority and the program level has been established in this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture may increase the program level for such loans
and loan guarantees by not more than 25 percent: Provided, That prior
to the Secretary implementing such an increase, the Secretary notifies,
in writing, the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress
at least 15 days in advance.
Sec. 727. None of the credit card refunds or rebates transferred
to the Working Capital Fund pursuant to section 729 of the Agriculture,
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2235a; Public Law 107-76) shall be
available for obligation without written notification to, and the prior
approval of, the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of
Congress: Provided, That the refunds or rebates so transferred shall
be available for obligation only for the acquisition of plant and
capital equipment necessary for the delivery of financial,
administrative, and information technology services of primary benefit
to the agencies of the Department of Agriculture.
Sec. 728. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to implement, administer, or enforce the ``variety'' requirements of
the final rule entitled ``Enhancing Retailer Standards in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)'' published by the
Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on December 15, 2016
(81 Fed. Reg. 90675) until the Secretary of Agriculture amends the
definition of the term ``variety'' as de fined in section
278.1(b)(1)(ii)(C) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, and
``variety'' as applied in the definition of the term ``staple food'' as
defined in section 271.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, to
increase the number of items that qualify as acceptable varieties in
each staple food category so that the total number of such items in
each staple food category exceeds the number of such items in each
staple food category included in the final rule as published on
December 15, 2016: Provided, That until the Secretary promulgates such
regulatory amendments, the Secretary shall apply the requirements
regarding acceptable varieties and breadth of stock to Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program retailers that were in effect on the day
before the date of the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014
(Public Law 113-79).
Sec. 729. None of the funds made available by this Act or any
other Act may be used--
(1) in contravention of section 7606 of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940); or
(2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or
use of industrial hemp, or seeds of such plant, that is grown
or cultivated in accordance with subsection section 7606 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014, within or outside the State in which
the industrial hemp is grown or cultivated.
Sec. 730. Funds provided by this or any prior Appropriations Act
for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)
shall be made available without regard to section 7128 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 3371 note), under the matching
requirements in laws in effect on the date before the date of enactment
of such section: Provided, That the requirements of 7 U.S.C.
450i(b)(9) shall continue to apply.
Sec. 731. In carrying out subsection (h) of section 502 of the
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472), the Secretary of Agriculture
shall have the same authority with respect to loans guaranteed under
such section and eligible lenders for such loans as the Secretary has
under subsections (h) and (j) of section 538 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1490p-2) with respect to loans guaranteed under such section 538 and
eligible lenders for such loans.
Sec. 732. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to propose, promulgate, or implement any rule, or take any other action
with respect to, allowing or requiring information intended for a
prescribing health care professional, in the case of a drug or
biological product subject to section 503(b)(1) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 353(b)(1)), to be distributed to such
professional electronically (in lieu of in paper form) unless and until
a Federal law is enacted to allow or require such distribution.
Sec. 733. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to notify a sponsor or otherwise acknowledge receipt of a submission
for an exemption for investigational use of a drug or biological
product under section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) or section 351(a)(3) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(a)(3)) in research in which a human embryo
is intentionally created or modified to include a heritable genetic
modification. Any such submission shall be deemed to have not been
received by the Secretary, and the exemption may not go into effect.
Sec. 734. None of the funds made available by this or any other
Act may be used to carry out the final rule promulgated by the Food and
Drug Administration and put into effect November 16, 2015, in regards
to the hazard analysis and risk-based preventive control requirements
of the current good manufacturing practice, hazard analysis, and risk-
based preventive controls for food for animals rule with respect to the
regulation of the production, distribution, sale, or receipt of dried
spent grain byproducts of the alcoholic beverage production process.
Sec. 735. There is hereby appropriated $1,996,000 to carry out
section 1621 of Public Law 110-246.
Sec. 736. No partially hydrogenated oils as defined in the order
published by the Food and Drug Administration in the Federal Register
on June 17, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 34650 et seq.) shall be deemed unsafe
within the meaning of section 409(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 348(a)) and no food that is introduced or
delivered for introduction into interstate commerce that bears or
contains a partially hydrogenated oil shall be deemed adulterated under
sections 402(a)(1) or 402(a)(2)(C)(i) of this Act by virtue of bearing
or containing a partially hydrogenated oil until the compliance date as
specified in such order (June 18, 2018).
Sec. 737. There is hereby appropriated $10,000,000, to remain
available until expended, to carry out section 6407 of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107a): Provided,
That the Secretary may allow eligible entities to offer loans to
customers in any part of their service territory and to offer loans to
replace a manufactured housing unit with another manufactured housing
unit, if replacement would be more cost effective in saving energy.
Sec. 738. For fiscal years 2019 through 2025, the Administrators
of the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service may make not to exceed 50 appointments in any fiscal
year for employees of such agencies at the National Bio- and Agro-
defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas: Provided, That such
appointments may be made in the manner provided by 7 U.S.C.
7657(b)(4)(A)(i-v): Provided further, That such appointments may be
made at a rate of basic pay that exceeds the rate payable for such
positions under the General Schedule or the Executive Schedule, or
other applicable schedule, as appropriate.
Sec. 739. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000 for the
Secretary to carry out a pilot program that provides forestry inventory
analysis, forest management and economic outcomes modelling for certain
currently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program participants. The
Secretary shall allow the Commodity Credit Corporation to enter into
agreements with and provide grants to qualified non-profit
organizations dedicated to conservation, forestry and wildlife
habitats, that also have experience in conducting accurate forest
inventory analysis through the use of advanced, cost-effective
technology. The Secretary shall focus the analysis on lands enrolled
for at least eight years and located in areas with a substantial
concentration of acres enrolled under conservation practices devoted to
multiple bottomland hardwood tree species including CP03, CP03A, CP11,
CP22, CP31 and CP40.
Sec. 740. During fiscal year 2019, the Food and Drug
Administration shall not allow the introduction or delivery for
introduction into interstate commerce of any food that contains
genetically engineered salmon until the FDA publishes final labeling
guidelines for informing consumers of such content.
Sec. 741. In addition to amounts otherwise made available by this
Act and notwithstanding the last sentence of 16 U.S.C. 1310, there is
appropriated $4,000,000, to remain available until expended, to
implement non-renewable agreements on eligible lands, including flooded
agricultural lands, as determined by the Secretary, under the Water
Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301-1311).
Sec. 742. (a)(1) No Federal funds made available for this fiscal
year for the rural water, waste water, waste disposal, and solid waste
management programs authorized by sections 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 306E,
and 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926 et seq.) shall be used for a project for the construction,
alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public water or wastewater
system unless all of the iron and steel products used in the project
are produced in the United States.
(2) In this section, the term ``iron and steel products'' means the
following products made primarily of iron or steel: lined or unlined
pipes and fittings, manhole covers and other municipal castings,
hydrants, tanks, flanges, pipe clamps and restraints, valves,
structural steel, reinforced precast concrete, and construction
materials.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any case or category of cases
in which the Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as
the ``Secretary'') or the designee of the Secretary finds that--
(1) applying subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the
public interest;
(2) iron and steel products are not produced in the United
States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of
a satisfactory quality; or
(3) inclusion of iron and steel products produced in the
United States will increase the cost of the overall project by
more than 25 percent.
(c) If the Secretary or the designee receives a request for a
waiver under this section, the Secretary or the designee shall make
available to the public on an informal basis a copy of the request and
information available to the Secretary or the designee concerning the
request, and shall allow for informal public input on the request for
at least 15 days prior to making a finding based on the request. The
Secretary or the designee shall make the request and accompanying
information available by electronic means, including on the official
public Internet Web site of the Department.
(d) This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with
United States obligations under international agreements.
(e) The Secretary may retain up to 0.25 percent of the funds
appropriated in this Act for ``Rural Utilities Service--Rural Water and
Waste Disposal Program Account'' for carrying out the provisions
described in subsection (a)(1) for management and oversight of the
requirements of this section.
(f) Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a project for
which the engineering plans and specifications include use of iron and
steel products otherwise prohibited by such subsection if the plans and
specifications have received required approvals from State agencies
prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
(g) For purposes of this section, the terms ``United States'' and
``State'' shall include each of the several States, the District of
Columbia, and each federally recognized Indian tribe.
Sec. 743. The Secretary shall set aside for Rural Economic Area
Partnership (REAP) Zones, until August 15, 2019, an amount of funds
made available in title III under the headings of Rural Housing
Insurance Fund Program Account, Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants,
Rural Housing Assistance Grants, Rural Community Facilities Program
Account, Rural Business Program Account, Rural Development Loan Fund
Program Account, and Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account,
equal to the amount obligated in REAP Zones with respect to funds
provided under such headings in the most recent fiscal year any such
funds were obligated under such headings for REAP Zones.
Sec. 744. For the purposes of determining eligibility or level of
program assistance for Rural Development programs the Secretary shall
not include incarcerated prison populations.
Sec. 745. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, to remain
available until expended, for a pilot program for the Secretary to
provide grants to qualified non-profit organizations and public housing
authorities to provide technical assistance, including financial and
legal services, to RHS multi-family housing borrowers to facilitate the
acquisition of RHS multi-family housing properties in areas where the
Secretary determines a risk of loss of affordable housing, by non-
profit housing organizations and public housing authorities as
authorized by law that commit to keep such properties in the RHS multi-
family housing program for a period of time as determined by the
Secretary.
Sec. 746. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used
in any way, directly or indirectly, to influence congressional action
on any legislation or appropriation matters pending before Congress,
other than to communicate to Members of Congress as described in 18
U.S.C. 1913.
Sec. 747. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this
section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a pilot program during
fiscal year 2019 with respect to the 2018 crop year for county-level
agriculture risk coverage payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1)), that provides all or
some of the State Farm Service Agency offices in each State the
opportunity to provide agricultural producers in the State a
supplemental payment described in subsection (c) based on the alternate
calculation method described in subsection (b) for 1 or more counties
in a State if the office for that State determines that the alternate
calculation method is necessary to ensure that, to the maximum extent
practicable, there are not significant yield calculation disparities
between comparable counties in the State.
(b) The alternate calculation method referred to in subsection (a)
is a method of calculating the actual yield for the 2018 crop year for
county-level agriculture risk coverage payments under section
1117(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1)), under
which--
(1) county data of the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (referred to in this section as ``NASS data'') is used
for the calculations;
(2) if there is insufficient NASS data for a county (as
determined under standards of the Secretary in effect as of the
date of enactment of this Act) or the available NASS data
produces a substantially disparate result, the calculation of
the county yield is determined using comparable contiguous
county NASS data as determined by the Farm Service Agency
office in the applicable State; and
(3) if there is insufficient NASS data for a comparable
contiguous county (as determined under standards of the
Secretary in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act),
the calculation of the county yield is determined using
reliable yield data from other sources, such as Risk Management
Agency data, National Agricultural Statistics Service district
data, National Agricultural Statistics Service State yield
data, or other data as determined by the Farm Service Agency
office in the applicable State.
(c)(1) A supplemental payment made under the pilot program
established under this section may be made to an agricultural producer
who is subject to the alternate calculation method described in
subsection (b) if that agricultural producer would otherwise receive a
county-level agriculture risk coverage payment for the 2018 crop year
in an amount that is less than the payment that the agricultural
producer would receive under the alternate calculation method.
(2) The amount of a supplemental payment to an agricultural
producer under this section may not exceed the difference between--
(A) the payment that the agricultural producer would have
received without the alternate calculation method described in
subsection (b); and
(B) the payment that the agricultural producer would
receive using the alternate calculation method.
(d)(1) There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of funds of the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,000,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2020, to carry out the pilot program described in
this section.
(2) Of the funds appropriated, the Secretary shall use not more
than $5,000,000 to carry out the pilot program described in this
section.
(e)(1) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall
select States to participate in the pilot program under this section so
the cost of the pilot program equals the amount provided under
subsection (d).
(2) To the extent that the cost of the pilot program exceeds the
amount made available, the Secretary shall reduce all payments under
the pilot program on a pro rata basis.
(f) Nothing in this section affects the calculation of actual yield
for purposes of county-level agriculture risk coverage payments under
section 1117(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9017(b)(1)) other than payments made in accordance with the pilot
program under this section.
(g) A calculation of actual yield made using the alternate
calculation method described in subsection (b) shall not be used as a
basis for any agriculture risk coverage payment determinations under
section 1117 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017) other than
for purposes of the pilot program under this section.
Sec. 748. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary's
designees are hereby granted the same access to information and subject
to the same requirements applicable to the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development as provided in section 453 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 653) and section 6103(1)(7)(D)(ix) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 1603(1)(7)(D)(ix)) to verify the income for
individuals participating in sections 502, 504, 521, and 542 of the
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472, 1474, 1490a, and 1490r),
notwithstanding section 453(l)(1) of the Social Security Act.
Sec. 749. In addition to any other funds made available in this
Act or any other Act, there is appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out
section 18(g)(8) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1769(g)), to remain available until expended.
Sec. 750. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
by the Food and Drug Administration to develop, issue, promote, or
advance any regulations applicable to food manufacturers for
population-wide sodium reduction actions or to develop, issue, promote
or advance final guidance applicable to food manufacturers for long
term population-wide sodium reduction actions until the date on which a
dietary reference intake report with respect to sodium is completed.
Sec. 751. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2020, for the cost of loans and grants
that is consistent with section 4206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014,
for necessary expenses of the Secretary to support projects that
provide access to healthy food in underserved areas, to create and
preserve quality jobs, and to revitalize low-income communities.
Sec. 752. For an additional amount for ``Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service--Salaries and Expenses'', $7,500,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2020, for one-time control and management
and associated activities directly related to the multiple-agency
response to citrus greening.
Sec. 753. None of the funds made available by this or any other
Act may be used to enforce the final rule promulgated by the Food and
Drug Administration entitled ``Standards for the Growing, Harvesting,
Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption,'' and published
on November 27, 2015, with respect to the regulation of the production,
distribution, sale, or receipt of grape varietals that are grown,
harvested and used solely for wine and receive commercial processing
that adequately reduces the presence of microorganisms of public health
significance.
Sec. 754. There is hereby appropriated $20,000,000, to remain
available until expended, for an additional amount for telemedicine and
distance learning services in rural areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C.
950aaa et seq., to help address the opioid epidemic in rural America.
Sec. 755. There is hereby appropriated $5,000,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2020, for a pilot program for the
National Institute of Food and Agriculture to provide grants to
nonprofit organizations for programs and services to establish and
enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans.
Sec. 756. There is hereby appropriated $425,000,000, to remain
available until expended, for an additional amount for Sec. 779 of
Public Law 115-141.
Sec. 757. For an additional amount for the cost of direct loans
and grants made under the ``Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program
Account'', $400,000,000, to remain available until expended.
Sec. 758. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel--
(1) to inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603);
(2) to inspect horses under section 903 of the Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901
note; Public Law 104-127); or
(3) to implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code
of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
Sec. 759. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to revoke an exception made--
(1) pursuant to the final rule of the Department of
Agriculture entitled ``Exceptions to Geographic Areas for
Official Agencies Under the USGSA'' (68 Fed. Reg. 19137 (April
18, 2003)); and
(2) on a date before April 14, 2017.
Sec. 760. The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide to any State
or county impacted by a volcanic eruption covered by a major disaster
declared by the President in calendar year 2018 in accordance with
section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) technical assistance--
(1) to assess damage to agricultural production and rural
infrastructure; and
(2) to develop recovery plans for impacted farmers,
ranchers, and rural communities.
research on ocean agriculture
Sec. 761. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, shall establish a working group (referred to in this
section as the ``working group'')--
(1) to study how mangroves, kelp forests, tidal marshes,
and seagrass meadows could help deacidify the oceans;
(2) to study emerging ocean farming practices that use kelp
and seagrass to deacidify the oceans while providing feedstock
for agriculture and other commercial and industrial inputs; and
(3) to coordinate and conduct research to develop and
enhance pilot-scale research for farming of kelp and seagrass
in order--
(A) to deacidify ocean environments;
(B) to produce a feedstock for agriculture; and
(C) to develop other scalable commercial
applications for kelp, seagrass, or products derived
from kelp or seagrass.
(b) The working group shall include--
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(2) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration;
(3) representatives of any relevant offices within the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
(4) the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy.
(c) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act,
the working group shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
(1) the findings of the research described in subsection
(a);
(2) the results of the pilot-scale research described in
subsection (a)(3); and
(3) any policy recommendations based on those findings and
results.
Sec. 762. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a
report describing the ways in which conservation programs administered
by the Natural Resources Conservation Service may be better used for
the conservation of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and any action taken
by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service relating to
the conservation of ocelots.
Sec. 763. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Rural Housing Service of the Department of Agriculture
shall submit to Congress a report including--
(1) a description of--
(A) the number of properties assisted under title V
of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.)
that are reaching the end of their loan term;
(B) the location of each property described in
subparagraph (A);
(C) the number of units in each property described
in subparagraph (A); and
(D) the date on which each the loan for each
property described in subparagraph (A) is expected to
reach maturity;
(2) the strategy of the Rural Housing Service to preserve
the long-term affordability of the properties described in
paragraph (1)(A) when the loan matures; and
(3) a description of the resources and tools that the Rural
Housing Service needs from Congress in order to preserve the
long-term affordability of the properties described in
paragraph (1) (A).
Sec. 764. Out of amounts appropriated to the Food and Drug
Administration under title VI, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall, not
later than July 1, 2019, and following the review required under
Executive Order 12866 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; relating to regulatory
planning and review), issue advice revising the advice provided in the
notice of availability entitled ``Advice About Eating Fish, From the
Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration;
Revised Fish Advice; Availability'' (82 Fed. Reg. 6571 (January 19,
2017)), in a manner that is consistent with nutrition science
recognized by the Food and Drug Administration on the net effects of
seafood consumption.
Sec. 765. In administering the pilot program established by
section 779 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018
(Public Law 115-141), the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) ensure that applicants that are determined to be
ineligible for the pilot program have a means of appealing or
otherwise challenging that determination in a timely fashion;
and
(2) in determining whether an entity may overbuild or
duplicate broadband expansion efforts made by any entity that
has received a broadband loan from the Rural Utilities Service,
not consider loans that were rescinded or defaulted on, or
loans the terms and conditions of which were not met, if the
entity under consideration has not previously defaulted on, or
failed to meet the terms and conditions of, a Rural Utilities
Service loan or had a Rural Utilities Service loan rescinded.
1890 land-grant colleges, including tuskegee university
Sec. 767. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
amounts made available by this Act to carry out sections 1444 and 1445,
respectively, of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221, 3222) shall each be
increased by $3,000,000.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the amount
made available under the heading ``(including transfers of funds)''
under the heading ``Agriculture Buildings and Facilities'' under the
heading ``AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS'' in title I shall be decreased by
$6,000,000.
Sec. 768. None of the funds made available by this Act shall be
used to enforce the requirement in the final rule entitled ``Food
Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels'',
published in the Federal Register on May 27, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 33742),
that any single ingredient sugar, honey, agave, or syrup (including
maple syrup) that is packaged and offered for sale as a single
ingredient food bear the declaration ``Includes `X'g Added Sugars''.
Sec. 769. The explanatory statement regarding division C of H.R.
21, printed in the Congressional Record on January 3, 2019, and
submitted by the Chair of the Committee on Appropriations, shall have
the same effect with respect to allocation of funds and implementation
of this Act as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee
of conference.
Sec. 770. (a) Employees furloughed as a result of any lapse in
appropriations beginning on or about December 22, 2018 and ending on
the date of enactment of this Act shall be compensated at their
standard rate of compensation, for the period of such lapse in
appropriations, as soon as practicable after such lapse in
appropriations ends.
(b) For purposes of this section, ``employees'' means any Federal
employees whose salaries and expenses are provided in this Act.
(c) All obligations incurred in anticipation of the appropriations
made and authority granted by this Act for the purposes of maintaining
the essential level of activity to protect life and property and
bringing about orderly termination of Government functions, and for
purposes as otherwise authorized by law, are hereby ratified and
approved if otherwise in accord with the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 771. (a) If a State (or another Federal grantee) used State
funds (or the grantee's non-Federal funds) to continue carrying out a
Federal program or furloughed State employees (or the grantee's
employees) whose compensation is advanced or reimbursed in whole or in
part by the Federal Government--
(1) such furloughed employees shall be compensated at their
standard rate of compensation for such period;
(2) the State (or such other grantee) shall be reimbursed
for expenses that would have been paid by the Federal
Government during such period had appropriations been
available, including the cost of compensating such furloughed
employees, together with interest thereon calculated under
section 6503(d) of title 31, United States Code; and
(3) the State (or such other grantee) may use funds
available to the State (or the grantee) under such Federal
program to reimburse such State (or the grantee), together with
interest thereon calculated under section 6503(d) of title 31,
United States Code.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term ``State'' and the term
``grantee,'' including United States territories and possessions, shall
have the meaning given such terms under the applicable Federal program
under subsection (a). In addition, ``to continue carrying out a Federal
program'' means the continued performance by a State or other Federal
grantee, during the period of a lapse in appropriations, of a Federal
program that the State or such other grantee had been carrying out
prior to the period of the lapse in appropriations.
(c) The authority under this section applies with respect to any
period in fiscal year 2019 (not limited to periods beginning or ending
after the date of the enactment of this Act) during which there occurs
a lapse in appropriations with respect to any department or agency of
the Federal Government receiving funding in this Act which, but for
such lapse in appropriations, would have paid, or made reimbursement
relating to, any of the expenses referred to in this section with
respect to the program involved. Payments and reimbursements under this
authority shall be made only to the extent and in amounts provided in
advance in appropriations Acts.
This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2019''.
Passed the House of Representatives January 10, 2019.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.