[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10354-H10371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
1997
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2534) to reform, extend, and repeal certain
agricultural research, extension, and education programs, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2534
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the
``Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reauthorization Act of 1997''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
Sec. 101. Priorities and management principles for federally supported
and conducted agricultural research, education, and
extension.
Sec. 102. Principal definitions regarding agricultural research,
education, and extension.
Sec. 103. Consultation with National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board.
Sec. 104. Relevance and merit of federally funded agricultural
research, extension, and education.
Sec. 105. Expansion of authority to enter into cost-reimbursable
agreements.
Sec. 106. Evaluation and assessment of agricultural research,
extension, and education programs.
TITLE II--REFORM OF EXISTING RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
AUTHORITIES
Subtitle A--Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887
Sec. 201. Adoption of short titles for Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of
1887.
Sec. 202. Consistent matching funds requirements under Hatch Act of
1887 and Smith-Lever Act.
Sec. 203. Plans of work to address critical research and extension
issues and use of protocols to measure success of plans.
Subtitle B--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977
Sec. 211. Plans of work for 1890 land-grant colleges to address
critical research and extension issues and use of
protocols to measure success of plans.
Sec. 212. Matching funds requirement for research and extension
activities at 1890 land-grant colleges, including
Tuskegee University.
Sec. 213. International research, extension, and teaching.
Sec. 214. Task force on 10-year strategic plan for agricultural
research facilities.
Subtitle C--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
Sec. 231. Agricultural genome initiative.
Subtitle D--National Research Initiative
Sec. 241. Waiver of matching requirement for certain small colleges and
universities.
Subtitle E--Other Existing Laws
Sec. 251. Findings, authorities, and competitive research grants under
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of
1978.
TITLE III--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
INITIATIVES
Subtitle A--Extensions
Sec. 301. National Research Initiative under Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act.
Sec. 302. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.
Sec. 303. Education grants programs for Hispanic-serving institutions.
Sec. 304. General authorization for agricultural research programs.
Sec. 305. General authorization for extension education.
Sec. 306. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences
education.
Sec. 307. Grants for research on the production and marketing of
alcohols and industrial hydrocarbons from agricultural
commodities and forest products.
Sec. 308. Policy research centers.
Sec. 309. Human nutrition intervention and health promotion research
program.
Sec. 310. Pilot research program to combine medical and agricultural
research.
Sec. 311. Food and nutrition education program.
Sec. 312. Animal health and disease continuing research.
Sec. 313. Animal health and disease national or regional research.
Sec. 314. Grant program to upgrade agricultural and food sciences
facilities at 1890 land-grant colleges.
Sec. 315. National research and training centennial centers.
Sec. 316. Supplemental and alternative crops research.
Sec. 317. Aquaculture research and extension.
Sec. 318. Rangeland research.
Sec. 319. Federal agricultural research facilities.
Sec. 320. Water quality research, education, and coordination.
Sec. 321. National genetics resources program.
Sec. 322. Agricultural telecommunications program.
Sec. 323. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.
Sec. 324. National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse.
Sec. 325. Critical Agricultural Materials Act.
Subtitle B--Repeals
Sec. 341. Aquaculture research facilities.
Sec. 342. Agricultural research program under National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments
of 1981.
Sec. 343. Livestock product safety and inspection program.
Sec. 344. Generic authorization of appropriations.
TITLE IV--NEW RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES
Subtitle A--Partnerships for High-Value Agricultural Product Quality
Research.
Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Establishment and characteristics of partnerships.
Sec. 403. Elements of grant making process.
Sec. 404. Authorization of appropriations and related provisions.
Subtitle B--Precision Agriculture
Sec. 411. Definitions.
Sec. 412. Competitive grants to promote precision agriculture.
Sec. 413. Reservation of funds for education and information
dissemination projects.
Sec. 414. Precision agriculture partnerships.
Sec. 415. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 416. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C--Other Initiatives
Sec. 421. High-priority research and extension initiatives.
Sec. 422. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative.
Sec. 423. United States-Mexico joint agricultural research.
Sec. 424. Competitive grants for international agricultural science and
education programs.
Sec. 425. Food animal residue avoidance database program.
Sec. 426. Development and commercialization of new biobased products.
Sec. 427. Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification.
Sec. 428. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive
grants program.
Sec. 429. Research grants under Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status
Act of 1994.
TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 501. Role of Secretary of Agriculture regarding food and
agricultural sciences research, education, and extension.
Sec. 502. Office of Pest Management Policy.
Sec. 503. Food Safety Research Information Office and national
conference.
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Sec. 504. Nutrient composition data.
Sec. 505. Availability of funds received or collected on behalf of
National Arboretum.
Sec. 506. Retention and use of Agricultural Research Service patent
culture collection fees.
Sec. 507. Reimbursement of expenses incurred under Sheep Promotion,
Research, and Information Act of 1994.
Sec. 508. Designation of Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural
Research Center, Weslaco, Texas.
Sec. 509. Sense of Congress regarding Agricultural Research Service
emphasis on in field research regarding methyl bromide
alternatives.
Sec. 510. Sense of Congress regarding importance of school-based
agricultural education.
Sec. 511. Sense of Congress regarding designation of Department Crisis
Management Team.
TITLE I--COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
SEC. 101. PRIORITIES AND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR FEDERALLY
SUPPORTED AND CONDUCTED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH,
EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION.
(a) Priority Setting Process.--Section 1402 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) Purposes.--'' before ``The
purposes''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Priority Setting Process.--Consistent with subsection
(a), the Secretary shall establish priorities for
agricultural research, extension, and education activities
conducted or funded by the Department. In establishing such
priorities, the Secretary shall solicit and consider input
and recommendations from the Advisory Board and persons who
conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or
education.''.
(b) Management Principles.--Such section is further amended
by adding after subsection (b), as added by subsection
(a)(2), the following new subsection:
``(c) Management Principles.--To the maximum extent
practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that agricultural
research, education, and extension activities conducted or
funded by the Department are accomplished in a manner that--
``(1) integrates agricultural research, education, and
extension functions to better link research to technology
transfer and information dissemination activities;
``(2) encourages multi-State and multi-institutional
programs to address relevant issues of common concern and to
better leverage scarce resources; and
``(3) achieves agricultural research, education, and
extension objectives through multi-institutional and
multifunctional approaches and by conducting research at
facilities and institutions best equipped to achieve those
objectives.''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The heading of such section is
amended by inserting ``, PRIORITIES, AND MANAGEMENT
PRINCIPLES'' after ``PURPOSES''.
SEC. 102. PRINCIPAL DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION.
(a) Food and Agricultural Sciences.--Paragraph (8) of
section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103) is
amended to read as follows:
``(8) Food and agricultural sciences.--The term `food and
agricultural sciences' means basic, applied, and
developmental research, extension, and teaching activities in
food and fiber, agricultural, renewable natural resources,
forestry, and physical and social sciences, including (but
not limited to) activities relating to the following:
``(A) Animal health, production, and well-being.
``(B) Plant health and production.
``(C) Animal and plant germ plasm collection and
preservation.
``(D) Aquaculture.
``(E) Food safety.
``(F) Soil and water conservation and improvement.
``(G) Forestry, horticulture, and range management.
``(H) Nutritional sciences and promotion.
``(I) Farm enhancement, including financial management,
input efficiency, and profitability.
``(J) Home economics.
``(K) Rural human ecology.
``(L) Youth development and agricultural education,
including 4-H.
``(M) Expansion of domestic and international markets for
agricultural commodities and products, including agricultural
trade barrier identification and comprehension.
``(N) Information management and technology transfer
related to agriculture.
``(O) Biotechnology related to agriculture.''.
(b) References to Teaching or Education.--Paragraph (14) of
such section is amended by striking ``the term `teaching'
means'' and inserting ``Teaching and education.--The terms
`teaching' and `education' mean''.
(c) Application of Definitions to Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education.--Such section is further amended by
striking the section heading and all that follows through the
matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``SEC. 1404. PRINCIPAL DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION.
``When used in this title or any other law relating to any
research, extension, or education activities of the
Department of Agriculture regarding the food and agricultural
sciences (unless the context requires otherwise):''.
(d) In-Kind Support.--Such section is further amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(18) In-kind support.--The term `in-kind support', with
regard to a requirement that the recipient of funds provided
by the Secretary match all or some portion of the amount of
the funds, means contributions such as office space,
equipment, and staff support.''.
(e) Conforming Amendments.--Such section is further
amended--
(1) by striking ``the term'' in paragraphs (1), (2), (3),
(5), (6), (7), (10) through (13), and (15), (16), and (17)
and inserting ``The term'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the terms'' and
inserting ``The terms'';
(3) in paragraph (9), by striking ``the term'' the first
place it appears and inserting ``The term'';
(4) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraphs (1)
through (7) and (9) through (15) and inserting a period; and
(5) in paragraph (16)(F), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a period.
SEC. 103. CONSULTATION WITH NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH,
EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS ADVISORY
BOARD.
Subsection (d) of section 1408 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3123) is amended to read as follows:
``(d) Consultation.--
``(1) As affecting advisory board.--In carrying out this
section, the Advisory Board shall solicit opinions and
recommendations from persons who will benefit from and use
federally funded agricultural research, extension, education,
and economics.
``(2) As affecting secretary.--To comply with a provision
of this title or any other law that requires the Secretary to
consult or cooperate with the Advisory Board or that
authorizes the Advisory Board to submit recommendations to
the Secretary, the Secretary shall--
``(A) solicit the written opinions and recommendations of
the Advisory Board; and
``(B) provide a written response to the Advisory Board
regarding the manner and extent to which the Secretary will
implement recommendations submitted by the Advisory Board.''.
SEC. 104. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
EDUCATION.
(a) Review of Relevance and Merit.--Subtitle K of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting before section
1463 (7 U.S.C. 3311) the following new section:
``SEC. 1461. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
EDUCATION.
``(a) Review of Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service.--
``(1) Peer review of research grants.--The Secretary shall
establish procedures that provide for scientific peer review
of each agricultural research grant administered, on a
competitive basis, by the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service of the Department.
``(2) Merit review of extension and education.--The
Secretary shall establish procedures that provide for merit
review of each agricultural extension or education grant
administered, on a competitive basis, by the Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service. The
Secretary shall consult with the Advisory Board in
establishing such merit review procedures.
``(b) Requests for Proposals: Request and Consideration of
Input.--When formulating a request for proposals involving an
agricultural research, extension, or education activity to be
funded by the Secretary on a competitive basis, the Secretary
shall solicit and consider input from the Advisory Board and
users of agricultural research, extension, and education
regarding the request for proposals for the preceding year.
If an agricultural research, extension, or education activity
has not been the subject of a previous request for proposals,
the Secretary shall solicit and consider input from the
Advisory Board and users of agricultural research, extension,
and education before publication of the first request for
proposals regarding the activity.
``(c) Scientific Peer Review of Agricultural Research.--
``(1) Peer review procedures.--The Secretary shall
establish procedures that ensure scientific peer review of
all research activities conducted by the Department of
Agriculture.
``(2) Review panel required.--As part of the procedures
established under paragraph (1), a review panel shall verify,
at least once every three years, that each research activity
of the Department and research conducted under each research
program of the Department have scientific merit and
relevance. If the research activity or program
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to be reviewed is included in the research, educational, and
economics mission area of the Department, the review panel
shall consider--
``(A) the scientific merit and relevance of the activity or
research in light of the priorities established pursuant to
section 1402(b) ; and
``(B) the national or multi-State significance of the
activity or research.
``(3) Composition of review panel.--A review panel shall be
composed of individuals with scientific expertise, a majority
of whom are not employees of the agency whose research is
being reviewed. To the extent possible, the Secretary shall
use scientists from colleges and universities to serve on the
review panels.
``(4) Submission of results.--The results of the panel
reviews shall be submitted to the Advisory Board.
``(5) Applicability of other laws.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of this Act (7
U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not apply to a review panel.
``(d) Merit Review of College and University Research and
Extension Activities.--
``(1) Land-grant institutions.--Effective beginning October
1, 1998, to be eligible to obtain agricultural research or
extension funds from the Secretary for an activity, a land-
grant college or university shall--
``(A) establish a process for merit review of the activity;
and
``(B) review the activity in accordance with the process.
``(2) 1994 institutions.--Effective beginning October 1,
1998, to obtain agricultural extension funds from the
Secretary for an activity, each 1994 Institution (as defined
in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status
Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note)) shall--
``(A) establish a process for merit review of the activity;
and
``(B) review the activity in accordance with the
process.''.
(b) Repeal of Provisions for Withholding Funds.--
(1) Smith-lever act.--Section 6 of the Smith-Lever Act (7
U.S.C. 346) is repealed.
(2) Hatch act of 1887.--Section 7 of the Hatch Act of 1887
(7 U.S.C. 361g) is amended by striking the last paragraph.
(3) National agricultural research, extension, and teaching
policy act of 1977.--The National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended--
(A) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)--
(i) by striking subsection (f); and
(ii) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f);
(B) in section 1445(g) (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)), by striking
paragraph (3); and
(C) by striking section 1468 (7 U.S.C. 3314).
SEC. 105. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO COST-
REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENTS.
Section 1473A of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319a)
is amended in the first sentence by inserting ``or other
colleges and universities'' after ``institutions''.
SEC. 106. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH,
EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
(a) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct a performance
evaluation to determine whether agricultural research,
extension, and education programs conducted or funded by the
Department of Agriculture result in public benefits that have
national or multi-State significance.
(b) Guidelines for Performance Measurement.--The Secretary
shall develop practical guidelines for measuring the
performance of agricultural research, extension and education
programs evaluated under subsection (a).
TITLE II--REFORM OF EXISTING RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
AUTHORITIES
Subtitle A--Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887
SEC. 201. ADOPTION OF SHORT TITLES FOR SMITH-LEVER ACT AND
HATCH ACT OF 1887.
(a) Smith-Lever Act.--The Act of May 8, 1914 (commonly
known as the Smith-Lever Act; 7 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 11. SHORT TITLE.
``This Act may be cited as the `Smith-Lever Act'.''.
(b) Hatch Act of 1887.--The Act of March 2, 1887 (commonly
known as the Hatch Act of 1887; 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.), is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 10. SHORT TITLE.
``This Act may be cited as the `Hatch Act of 1887'.''.
(c) Coordination With Other Amendments.--For purposes of
executing amendments made by provisions of this Act (other
than this section), this section shall be treated as having
been enacted immediately before the other provisions of this
Act.
SEC. 202. CONSISTENT MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS UNDER HATCH
ACT OF 1887 AND SMITH-LEVER ACT.
(a) Hatch Act of 1887.--Subsection (d) of section 3 of the
Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended to read as
follows:
``(d) Matching Funds.--
``(1) Requirement.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), no
allotment shall be made to a State under subsections (b) and
(c), and no payments of such allotment shall be made to a
State, in excess of the amount which the State makes
available out of non-Federal funds for agricultural research
and for the establishment and maintenance of facilities for
the performance of such research.
``(2) Failure to provide matching funds.--If a State fails
to comply with the requirement to provide matching funds for
a fiscal year under paragraph (1), the Secretary of
Agriculture shall withhold from payment to the State for that
fiscal year an amount equal to the difference between--
``(A) the amount that would be allotted and paid to the
State under subsections (b) and (c) (if the full amount of
matching funds were provided by the State); and
``(B) the amount of matching funds actually provided by the
State.
``(3) Reapportionment.--The Secretary shall reapportion
amounts withheld under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year among
the States satisfying the matching requirement for that
fiscal year. Any reapportionment of funds under this
paragraph shall be subject to the matching requirement
specified in paragraph (1).
``(4) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to funds
provided to a State from the Regional research fund, State
agricultural experiment stations.''.
(b) Smith-Lever Act.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7
U.S.C. 343) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)2, by striking ``That payments'' and
all that follows through ``Provided further,''; and
(2) by striking subsections (e) and (f) and inserting the
following new subsections:
``(e) Matching Funds.--
``(1) Requirement.--No allotment shall be made to a State
under subsections (b) and (c), and no payments of such
allotment shall be made to a State, in excess of the amount
which the State makes available out of non-Federal funds for
cooperative extension work.
``(2) Failure to provide matching funds.--If a State fails
to comply with the requirement to provide matching funds for
a fiscal year under paragraph (1), the Secretary of
Agriculture shall withhold from payment to the State for that
fiscal year an amount equal to the difference between--
``(A) the amount that would be allotted and paid to the
State under subsections (b) and (c) (if the full amount of
matching funds were provided by the State); and
``(B) the amount of matching funds actually provided by the
State.
``(3) Reapportionment.--The Secretary shall reapportion
amounts withheld under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year among
the States satisfying the matching requirement for that
fiscal year. Any reapportionment of funds under this
paragraph shall be subject to the matching requirement
specified in paragraph (1).
``(f) Matching Funds Exception for 1994 Institutions.--
There shall be no matching requirement for funds made
available to 1994 Institutions pursuant to subsection
(b)(3).''.
(c) Technical Corrections.--
(1) Recognition of statehood of alaska and hawaii.--Section
1 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a) is amended by
striking ``Alaska, Hawaii,''.
(2) Role of secretary of agriculture.--Section 3 of the
Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``Federal Extension
Service'' and inserting ``Secretary of Agriculture'';
(B) in subsection (c)1, by striking ``Federal Extension
Service'' and inserting ``Secretary of Agriculture'';
(C) in subsection (d), by striking ``Federal Extension
Service'' and inserting ``Secretary of Agriculture''; and
(D) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``through the Federal
Extension Service''.
(3) References to regional research fund.--The Hatch Act of
1887 is amended--
(A) in section 3 (7 U.S.C. 361c)--
(i) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``subsection
3(c)(3)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)3''; and
(ii) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection 3(c)3''
and inserting ``subsection (c)3''; and
(B) in section 5 (7 U.S.C. 361e), by striking ``regional
research fund authorized by subsection 3(c)(3)'' and
inserting ``Regional research fund, State agricultural
experiment stations''.
SEC. 203. PLANS OF WORK TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE OF PROTOCOLS TO
MEASURE SUCCESS OF PLANS.
(a) Smith-Lever Act.--Section 4 of the Smith-Lever Act (7
U.S.C. 344) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Sec. 4.'' and inserting the following:
``SEC. 4. ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE TO FUNDS,
TIME AND MANNER OF PAYMENT, STATE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS, AND PLANS FOR WORK.
``(a) Ascertainment of Entitlement.--'';
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ``Such sums'' and
inserting the following:
``(b) Time and Manner of Payment; Related Reports.--The
amount to which a State is entitled''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(c) Requirements Related to Plan of Work.--Each extension
plan of work for a State required under subsection (a) shall
contain descriptions of the following:
``(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term
agricultural issues in the State and the current and planned
extension programs and projects targeted to address such
issues.
[[Page H10357]]
``(2) The process established to consult with extension
users regarding the identification of critical agricultural
issues in the State and the development of extension programs
and projects targeted to address such issues.
``(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with
other colleges and universities within the State and other
States that have unique capacity to address the identified
agricultural issues in the State and current and emerging
efforts to work with these other institutions and States.
``(4) The manner in which research and extension, including
research and extension activities funded other than through
formula funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues
in the State, including the activities to be carried out
separately, the activities to be carried out sequentially,
and the activities to be carried out jointly.
``(5) The education and outreach programs already underway
to convey currently available research results that are
pertinent to a critical agricultural issue, including efforts
to encourage multi-county cooperation in the dissemination of
research results.
``(d) Extension Protocols.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of
multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary
extension activities and joint research and extension
activities in addressing critical agricultural issues
identified in the plans of work submitted under subsection
(a). The Secretary shall develop the protocols in
consultation with the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and land-
grant colleges and universities.
``(e) Treatment of Plans of Work for Other Purposes.--To
the extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider plans of
work submitted under subsection (a) to satisfy other
appropriate Federal reporting requirements.''.
(b) Hatch Act of 1887.--Section 7 of the Hatch Act of 1887
(7 U.S.C. 361g), as amended by section 104(b), is further
amended--
(1) by striking ``Sec. 7.'' and inserting the following:
``SEC. 7. DUTIES OF SECRETARY, ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT
OF STATE TO FUNDS, AND PLANS FOR WORK.
``(a) Duties of Secretary.--'';
(2) by striking ``On or before'' and inserting the
following:
``(b) Ascertainment of Entitlement.--On or before'';
(3) by striking ``Whenever it shall appear'' and inserting
the following:
``(c) Effect of Failure to Expend Full Allotment.--Whenever
it shall appear''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(d) Plan of Work Required.--Before funds may be provided
to a State under this Act for any fiscal year, plans for the
work to be carried on under this Act shall be submitted by
the proper officials of the State and approved by the
Secretary of Agriculture.
``(e) Requirements Related to Plan of Work.--Each research
plan of work for a State required under subsection (d) shall
contain descriptions of the following:
``(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term
agricultural issues in the State and the current and planned
research programs and projects targeted to address such
issues.
``(2) The process established to consult with users of
agricultural research regarding the identification of
critical agricultural issues in the State and the development
of research programs and projects targeted to address such
issues.
``(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with
other colleges and universities within the State and other
States that have unique capacity to address the identified
agricultural issues in the State and current and emerging
efforts (including regional efforts) to work with these other
institutions and States.
``(4) The manner in which research and extension, including
research and extension activities funded other than through
formula funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues
in the State, including the activities to be carried out
separately, the activities to be carried out sequentially,
and the activities to be carried out jointly.
``(f) Research Protocols.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of
multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary
research activities and joint research and extension
activities in addressing critical agricultural issues
identified in the plans of work submitted under subsection
(d). The Secretary shall develop the protocols in
consultation with the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and land-
grant colleges and universities.
``(g) Treatment of Plans of Work for Other Purposes.--To
the extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider plans of
work submitted under subsection (d) to satisfy other
appropriate Federal reporting requirements.''.
(c) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
take effect on October 1, 1998.
(2) Delayed applicability.--With respect to a particular
State, the Secretary of Agriculture may delay the
applicability of the requirements imposed by the amendments
made by this section until not later than October 1, 1999, if
the Secretary finds that the State will be unable to meet
such requirements by October 1, 1998, despite the good faith
efforts of the State.
Subtitle B--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977
SEC. 211. PLANS OF WORK FOR 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES TO
ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ISSUES
AND USE OF PROTOCOLS TO MEASURE SUCCESS OF
PLANS.
(a) Extension At 1890 Institutions.--Section 1444(d) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(d)'' and inserting the following:
``(d) Ascertainment of Entitlement to Funds; Time and
Manner of Payment; State Reporting Requirements; and Plans
for Work.--
``(1) Ascertainment of entitlement.--'';
(2) in the last sentence, by striking ``Such sums'' and
inserting the following:
``(2) Time and manner of payment; related reports.--The
amount to which an eligible institution is entitled''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(3) Requirements related to plan of work.--Each extension
plan of work for an eligible institution required under this
section shall contain descriptions of the following:
``(A) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term
agricultural issues in the State in which the eligible
institution is located and the current and planned extension
programs and projects targeted to address such issues.
``(B) The process established to consult with extension
users regarding the identification of critical agricultural
issues in the State and the development of extension programs
and projects targeted to address such issues.
``(C) The efforts made to identify and collaborate with
other colleges and universities within the State and other
States that have unique capacity to address the identified
agricultural issues in the State and current and emerging
efforts (including regional research efforts) to work with
these other institutions and States.
``(D) The manner in which research and extension, including
research and extension activities funded other than through
formula funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues
in the State, including the activities to be carried out
separately, the activities to be carried out sequentially,
and the activities to be carried out jointly.
``(E) The education and outreach programs already underway
to convey currently available research results that are
pertinent to a critical agricultural issue, including efforts
to encourage multi-county cooperation in the dissemination of
research results.
``(4) Extension protocols.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of
multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary
extension activities and joint research and extension
activities in addressing critical agricultural issues
identified in the plans of work submitted under this section.
The Secretary shall develop the protocols in consultation
with the Advisory Board and land-grant colleges and
universities.
``(5) Treatment of plans of work for other purposes.--To
the extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider plans of
work submitted under this section to satisfy other
appropriate Federal reporting requirements.''.
(b) Agricultural Research At 1890 Institutions.--Section
1445(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 3222(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(c)'' and inserting the following:
``(c) Program and Plans for Work.--
``(1) Initial comprehensive program of agricultural
research.--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2) Plan of work required.--Before funds may be provided
to an eligible institution under this section for any fiscal
year, plans for the work to be carried on under this section
shall be submitted by the research director specified in
subsection (d) and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
``(3) Requirements related to plan of work.--Each research
plan of work required under paragraph (2) shall contain
descriptions of the following:
``(A) The critical short-term, intermediate, and long-term
agricultural issues in the State in which the eligible
institution is located and the current and planned research
programs and projects targeted to address such issues.
``(B) The process established to consult with users of
agricultural research regarding the identification of
critical agricultural issues in the State and the development
of research programs and projects targeted to address such
issues.
``(C) Other colleges and universities in the State and
other States that have unique capacity to address the
identified agricultural issues in the State.
``(D) The current and emerging efforts to work with these
other institutions and States to build on each other's
experience and take advantage of each institution's unique
capacities.
``(E) The manner in which research and extension, including
research and extension activities funded other than through
formula funds, will cooperate to address the critical issues
in the State, including the activities to be carried out
separately, the activities to
[[Page H10358]]
be carried out sequentially, and the activities to be carried
out jointly.
``(4) Research protocols.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the success of
multi-State, multi-institutional, and multidisciplinary
research activities and joint research and extension
activities in addressing critical agricultural issues
identified in the plans of work submitted under paragraph
(2). The Secretary shall develop the protocols in
consultation with the Advisory Board and land-grant colleges
and universities.''.
(c) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
take effect on October 1, 1998.
(2) Delayed applicability.--With respect to a particular
eligible institution (as described in sections 1444(a) and
1445(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(a), 3222(a))), the
Secretary of Agriculture may delay the applicability of the
requirements imposed by the amendments made by this section
until not later than October 1, 1999, if the Secretary finds
that the eligible institution will be unable to meet such
requirements by October 1, 1998, despite the good faith
efforts of the eligible institution.
SEC. 212. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT 1890 LAND-GRANT
COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.
(a) Imposition of Requirement.--Subtitle G of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 is amended by inserting after section 1448 (7 U.S.C.
3222c) the following new section:
``SEC. 1449. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means a college eligible to receive funds under
the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.) (commonly
known as the Second Morrill Act), including Tuskegee
University.
``(2) Formula funds.--The term `formula funds' means the
formula allocation funds distributed to eligible institutions
under sections 1444 and 1445.
``(b) Determination of Non-Federal Sources of Funds.--Not
later than September 30, 1999, each eligible institution
shall submit to the Secretary a report describing for fiscal
year 1999 the sources of non-Federal funds available to the
eligible institution and the amount of funds generally
available from each such source.
``(c) Matching Formula.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this subtitle, the distribution of formula funds
to an eligible institution shall be subject to the following
matching requirements:
``(1) In fiscal year 2000, the institution shall provide
matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to
not less than 30 percent of the formula funds to be
distributed to the eligible institution.
``(2) In fiscal year 2001, the institution shall provide
matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to
not less than 45 percent of the formula funds to be
distributed to the eligible institution.
``(3) In fiscal year 2002, and each fiscal year thereafter,
the institution shall provide matching funds from non-Federal
sources in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the
formula funds to be distributed to the eligible institution.
``(d) Limited Waiver Authority.--Notwithstanding subsection
(f), the Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement
under subsection (c)(1) for fiscal year 2000 if the Secretary
determines with regard to a particular eligible institution,
based on the report received under subsection (b), that the
eligible institution will be unlikely to satisfy the matching
requirement. The waiver of the matching requirements for
subsequent fiscal years is not permitted.
``(e) Use of Matching Funds.--Under terms and conditions
established by the Secretary, matching funds provided as
required by subsection (c) may be used by an eligible
institution for research, education, and extension
activities.
``(f) Redistribution of Funds.--Federal funds that are not
matched by an eligible institution in accordance with
subsection (c) for a fiscal year shall be redistributed by
the Secretary to eligible institutions satisfying the
matching funds requirement for that fiscal year. Any
redistribution of funds under this subsection shall be
subject to the applicable matching requirement specified in
subsection (c) and shall be made in a manner consistent with
sections 1444 and 1445, as determined by the Secretary.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1445(g) of such Act (7
U.S.C. 3222(g)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2).
(c) References to Tuskegee University.--Such Act is further
amended--
(1) in section 1404 (7 U.S.C. 3103), by striking ``Tuskegee
Institute'' in paragraphs (10) and (16)(B) and inserting
``Tuskegee University'';
(2) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)--
(A) by striking the section heading and ``Sec. 1444.'' and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 1444. EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.''; AND
(B) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ``Tuskegee
Institute'' both places it appears and inserting ``Tuskegee
University''; and
(3) in section 1445 (7 U.S.C. 3222)--
(A) by striking the section heading and ``Sec. 1445.'' and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 1445. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT
COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.''; AND
(B) in subsections (a) and (b)(2)(B), by striking
``Tuskegee Institute'' both places it appears and inserting
``Tuskegee University''.
SEC. 213. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING.
(a) Inclusion of Teaching.--Section 1458 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``RESEARCH AND
EXTENSION'' and inserting ``RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND
TEACHING'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``related research and extension'' and
inserting ``related research, extension, and teaching''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``research and
extension on'' and inserting ``research, extension, and
teaching activities addressing'';
(B) in paragraphs (2) and (6), by striking ``education''
and inserting ``teaching'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``scientists and
experts'' and inserting ``science and education experts'';
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``teaching,'' after
``development,'';
(E) in paragraph (7), by striking ``research and extension
that is'' and inserting ``research, extension, and teaching
programs''; and
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking ``research capabilities''
and inserting ``research, extension, and teaching
capabilities''; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``counterpart agencies''
and inserting ``counterpart research, extension, and teaching
agencies''.
(b) Full Payment of Funds Made Available for Certain
Binational Project.--Such section is further amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Full Payment of Funds Made Available for Certain
Binational Projects.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the full amount of any funds appropriated or otherwise
made available to carry out cooperative projects under the
arrangement entered into between the Secretary and the
Government of Israel to support the Israel-United States
Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund shall
be paid directly to the Fund.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--The subtitle heading of subtitle
I of title XIV of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291 et
seq.) is amended to read as follows:
``Subtitle I--International Research, Extension, and Teaching''.
SEC. 214. TASK FORCE ON 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) Transfer of Existing Provision.--Section 4 of the
Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b)--
(1) is transferred to the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.);
(2) is redesignated as section 1473B;
(3) is inserted after section 1473A of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319a); and
(4) is amended in subsection (f), by striking
``Notwithstanding section 2(1), in'' and inserting ``In''.
(b) Conforming Repeal.--The Research Facilities Act (7
U.S.C. 390 et seq.) is repealed.
Subtitle C--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
SEC. 231. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.
(a) Establishment and Purpose of Initiative.--Section 1671
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
(7 U.S.C. 5924) is amended by striking the section heading
and subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``SEC. 1671. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.
``(a) Program Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
conduct a research initiative for the purpose of--
``(1) supporting basic and applied research and technology
development in the area of genome structure and function in
support of agriculturally important species, with a
particular focus on research projects that will yield
scientifically important results that will enhance the
usefulness of many agriculturally important species;
``(2) studying and mapping agriculturally significant genes
to achieve sustainable and secure agricultural production;
``(3) ensuring that current gaps in existing agricultural
genetics knowledge are filled;
``(4) identifying and developing a functional understanding
of genes responsible for economically important traits in
agriculturally important species, including emerging plant
and animal diseases causing economic hardship;
``(5) ensuring the future genetic improvement of
agriculturally important species;
``(6) supporting the preservation of diverse germplasm; and
``(7) ensuring the preservation of biodiversity to maintain
access to genes that may be of importance in the future.''.
[[Page H10359]]
(b) Competitive Grants.--Subsection (b) of such section is
amended by striking ``subsection (c)'' and inserting
``subsection (a)''.
(c) Grant Types and Process; Prohibition on Construction.--
Subsection (c) of such section is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Grant Types and Process; Prohibition on
Construction.--Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of subsection
(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the
making of grants under this section.''.
(d) Matching Funds.--Subsection (d) of such section is
amended to read as follows:
``(d) Matching of Funds.--
``(1) General requirement.--If a grant under this section
is to the particular benefit of a specific agricultural
commodity, the Secretary shall require the recipient of the
grant to provide funds or in-kind support to match the amount
of funds provided by the Secretary in the grant.
``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching funds
requirement specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a
research project if the Secretary determines that--
``(A) the results of the project, while of particular
benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to
be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
``(B) the project involves a minor commodity, deals with
scientifically important research, and the grant recipient
would be unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.''.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (g) of
such section is amended by striking ``fiscal years 1996 and
1997'' and inserting ``fiscal years 1998 through 2002''.
Subtitle D--National Research Initiative
SEC. 241. WAIVER OF MATCHING REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN SMALL
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
Subsection (b)(8)(B) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended--
(1) by striking ``the cost'' and inserting ``the cost of'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The
Secretary may waive all or a portion of the matching
requirement under this subparagraph in the case of a smaller
college or university (as described in subsection
(c)(2)(C)(ii) of section 793 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f)) if the
equipment to be acquired costs not more than $25,000 and has
multiple uses within a single research project or is usable
in more than one research project.''.
Subtitle E--Other Existing Laws
SEC. 251. FINDINGS, AUTHORITIES, AND COMPETITIVE RESEARCH
GRANTS UNDER FOREST AND RANGELAND RENEWABLE
RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT OF 1978.
(a) Findings.--Section 2 of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641) is
amended by striking ``Sec. 2.'' and subsection (a) and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
``(1) Forests and rangelands, and the resources of forests
and rangelands, are of strategic economic and ecological
importance to the United States, and the Federal Government
has an important and substantial role in ensuring the
continued health, productivity, and sustainability of the
Nation's forests and rangelands.
``(2) Over 75 percent of the productive commercial forest
land in the United States is in private ownership, with some
60 percent owned by small nonindustrial private owners. These
10,000,000 nonindustrial private owners are critical to
providing both commodity and noncommodity values to the
citizens of the United States.
``(3) The National Forest System manages only 17 percent of
the Nation's commercial timberlands, with over half of the
standing softwoods inventory located on those lands. Dramatic
changes in Federal agency policy during the early 1990's have
significantly curtailed the management of this vast timber
resource, causing abrupt shifts in the supply of timber from
public to private ownership. As a result of these shifts in
supply, some 60 percent of total wood production in the
United States is now coming from private forest lands in the
southern United States.
``(4) At the same time that pressures are building for the
removal of even more land from commercial production, the
Federal Government is significantly reducing its commitment
to productivity-related research regarding forests and
rangelands, which is critically needed by the private sector
for the sustained management of remaining available timber
and forage resources for the benefit of all species.
``(5) Uncertainty over the availability of the United
States timber supply, increasing regulatory burdens, and the
lack of Federal Government support for research is causing
domestic wood and paper producers to move outside the United
States to find reliable sources of wood supplies, which in
turns results in a worsening of the United States trade
balance, the loss of employment and infrastructure
investments, and an increased risk of infestations of exotic
pests and diseases from imported wood products.
``(6) Wood and paper producers in the United States are
being challenged not only by shifts in Government policy, but
also by international competition from tropical countries
where growth rates of trees far exceed those in the United
States. Wood production per acre will need to quadruple from
1996 levels for the United States forestry sector to remain
internationally competitive on an ever decreasing forest land
base.
``(7) Better and more frequent forest inventorying and
analysis is necessary to identify productivity-related
forestry research needs and to provide forest managers with
the current data necessary to make timely and effective
management decisions.''.
(b) High Priority Forestry Research and Education.--
Subsection (d) of section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is
amended to read as follows:
``(d) High Priority Forestry and Rangelands Research and
Education.--The Secretary may conduct, support, and cooperate
in forestry and rangelands research and education that is of
the highest priority to the United States and to users of
public and private forest lands and rangelands in the United
States. Such research and education priorities include the
following:
``(1) The biology of forest organisms and rangeland
organisms.
``(2) Functional characteristics and cost-effective
management of forest and rangeland ecosystems.
``(3) Interactions between humans and forests and
rangelands.
``(4) Wood and forage as a raw material.
``(5) International trade, competition, and cooperation.''.
(c) Forest Inventory and Analysis.--Section 3 of the Forest
and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 1642) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
``(e) Forest Inventory and Analysis.--
``(1) Program required.--In compliance with existing
statutory authority, the Secretary shall establish a program
to inventory and analyze, in a timely manner, public and
private forests and their resources in the United States.
``(2) Annual state inventory.--Not later than the end of
each full fiscal year beginning after the date of the
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall prepare for
each State, in cooperation with the State forester for the
State, an inventory of forests and their resources in the
State. For purposes of preparing the inventory for a State,
the Secretary shall measure annually 20 percent of all sample
plots that are included in the inventory program for that
State. Upon completion of the inventory for a year, the
Secretary shall make available to the public a compilation of
all data collected for that year from measurements of sample
plots as well as any analysis made of such samples.
``(3) Five-year reports.--At intervals not greater than
every five full fiscal years after the date of the enactment
of this subsection, the Secretary shall prepare, publish, and
make available to the public a report, prepared in
cooperation with State foresters, that--
``(A) contains a description of each State inventory of
forests and their resources, incorporating all sample plot
measurements conducted during the five years covered by the
report;
``(B) displays and analyzes on a nationwide basis the
results of the annual reports required by paragraph (2); and
``(C) contains an analysis of forest health conditions and
trends over the previous two decades, with an emphasis on
such conditions and trends during the period subsequent to
the immediately preceding report under this paragraph.
``(4) National standards and definitions.--To ensure
uniform and consistent data collection for all public and
private forest ownerships and each State, the Secretary shall
develop, in consultation with State foresters and Federal
land management agencies not under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary, and publish national standards and definitions to
be applied in inventorying and analyzing forests and their
resources under this subsection. The standards shall include
a core set of variables to be measured on all sample plots
under paragraph (2) and a standard set of tables to be
included in the reports under paragraph (3).
``(5) Protection for private property rights.--The
Secretary shall obtain written authorization from property
owners prior to collecting data from sample plots located on
private property pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3).
``(6) Strategic plan.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall
prepare and submit to Congress a strategic plan to implement
and carry out this subsection, including the annual updates
required by paragraph (2) and the reports require by
paragraph (3), that shall describe in detail--
``(A) the financial resources required to implement and
carry out this subsection, including the identification of
any resources required in excess of the amounts provided for
forest inventorying and analysis in recent appropriations
Acts;
``(B) the personnel necessary to implement and carry out
this subsection, including any personnel in addition to
personnel currently performing inventorying and analysis
functions;
``(C) the organization and procedures necessary to
implement and carry out this subsection, including proposed
coordination with Federal land management agencies and State
foresters;
[[Page H10360]]
``(D) the schedules for annual sample plot measurements in
each State inventory required by paragraph (2) within the
first five-year interval after the date of the enactment of
this subsection;
``(E) the core set of variables to be measured in each
sample plot under paragraph (2) and the standard set of
tables to be used in each State and national report under
paragraph (3); and
``(F) the process for employing, in coordination with the
Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, remote sensing, global positioning systems,
and other advanced technologies to carry out this subsection,
and the subsequent use of such technologies.''.
(d) Forestry and Rangelands Competitive Research Grants.--
Section 5 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 16442) is amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and ``Sec. 5.'' and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 5. FORESTRY AND RANGELANDS COMPETITIVE RESEARCH
GRANTS.
``(a) Competitive Grant Authority.--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(b) Emphasis on Certain High Priority Forestry
Research.--The Secretary may use up to five percent of the
amounts made available for research under section 3 to make
competitive grants regarding forestry research in the high
priority research areas identified in section 3(d).
``(c) Emphasis on Certain High Priority Rangelands
Research.--The Secretary may use up to five percent of the
amounts made available for research under section 3 to make
competitive grants regarding rangelands research in the high
priority research areas identified in section 3(d).
``(d) Priorities.--In making grants under subsections (b)
and (c), the Secretary shall give priority to research
proposals in which--
``(1) the proposed research will be collaborative research
organized through a center of scientific excellence;
``(2) the applicant agrees to provide matching funds (in
the form of direct funding or in-kind support) in an amount
equal to not less than 50 percent of the grant amount; and
``(3) the proposed research will be conducted as part of an
existing private and public partnership or cooperative
research effort and involves several interested research
partners.''.
TITLE III--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION
INITIATIVES
Subtitle A--Extensions
SEC. 301. NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE UNDER COMPETITIVE,
SPECIAL, AND FACILITIES RESEARCH GRANT ACT.
Subsection (b)(10) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)) is
amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 302. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS ACT OF
1994.
Sections 533(b) and 535 of the Equity in Educational Land-
Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301
note) are amended by striking ``2000'' each place it appears
and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 303. EDUCATION GRANTS PROGRAMS FOR HISPANIC-SERVING
INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1455(c) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3241(c))
is amended by striking ``fiscal year 1997'' and inserting
``each of the fiscal years 1997 through 2002''.
SEC. 304. GENERAL AUTHORIZATION FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
PROGRAMS.
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3311) is
amended in subsections (a) and (b) by striking ``1997'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 305. GENERAL AUTHORIZATION FOR EXTENSION EDUCATION.
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3312) is
amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 306. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCES EDUCATION.
Section 1417(j) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152(j))
is amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 307. GRANTS FOR RESEARCH ON THE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING
OF ALCOHOLS AND INDUSTRIAL HYDROCARBONS FROM
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND FOREST PRODUCTS.
Section 1419(d) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3154(d))
is amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 308. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.
Section 1419A(d) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3155(d))
is amended by striking ``fiscal years 1996 and 1997'' and
inserting ``each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002''.
SEC. 309. HUMAN NUTRITION INTERVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION
RESEARCH PROGRAM.
Section 1424(d) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3174(d))
is amended by striking ``fiscal years 1996 and 1997'' and
inserting ``each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002''.
SEC. 310. PILOT RESEARCH PROGRAM TO COMBINE MEDICAL AND
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.
Section 1424A(d) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3174a(d)) is amended by striking ``fiscal year 1997'' and
inserting ``each of fiscal years 1997 through 2002''.
SEC. 311. FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 1425(c)(3) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3175(c)(3)) is amended by striking ``and 1997'' and inserting
``through 2002''.
SEC. 312. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTINUING RESEARCH.
Section 1433(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195(a))
is amended in the first sentence by striking ``1997'' and
inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 313. ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE NATIONAL OR REGIONAL
RESEARCH.
Section 1434(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(a))
is amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 314. GRANT PROGRAM TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD
SCIENCES FACILITIES AT 1890 LAND-GRANT
COLLEGES.
Section 1447(b) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3222b(b)) is amended by striking ``and 1997'' and inserting
``through 2002''.
SEC. 315. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTENNIAL CENTERS.
Section 1448 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222c)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``and 1997'' and
inserting ``through 2002''; and
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ``1997'' and inserting
``2002''.
SEC. 316. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS RESEARCH.
Section 1473D(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3319d(a)) is amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting
``2002''.
SEC. 317. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.
Section 1477 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3324) is
amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 318. RANGELAND RESEARCH.
Section 1483(a) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3336(a))
is amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 319. FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1431 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 (Public
Law 99-198; 99 Stat. 1566) is amended by striking ``1997''
and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 320. WATER QUALITY RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND
COORDINATION.
Section 1481(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5501(d)) is amended by striking
``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 321. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM.
Section 1635(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)) is amended by striking
``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 322. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM.
Section 1673(h) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926(h)) is amended by striking
``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 323. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WITH
DISABILITIES.
Section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(6)(B), by striking ``1997'' and
inserting ``2002''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``1997'' and
inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 324. NATIONAL RURAL INFORMATION CENTER CLEARINGHOUSE.
Section 2381(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)) is amended by striking
``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
SEC. 325. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS ACT.
Section 16(a) of the Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7
U.S.C. 178n(a)) is amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting
``2002''.
Subtitle B--Repeals
SEC. 341. AQUACULTURE RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1476 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3323) is
repealed.
SEC. 342. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAM UNDER NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING
POLICY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1981.
Subsection (b) of section 1432 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of
1981 (Public Law 97-98; 7 U.S.C. 3222 note) is repealed.
SEC. 343. LIVESTOCK PRODUCT SAFETY AND INSPECTION PROGRAM.
Section 1670 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5923) is repealed.
[[Page H10361]]
SEC. 344. GENERIC AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Sections 897 and 898 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 110 Stat. 1184)
are repealed.
TITLE IV--NEW RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES
Subtitle A--Partnerships for High-Value Agricultural Product Quality
Research
SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this subtitle:
(1) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible
partnership'' means a partnership consisting of a land-grant
college or university and other entities specified in
paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of section 402 that satisfies
the eligibility criteria contained in such subsection.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
SEC. 402. ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTNERSHIPS.
(a) Establishment by Grant.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants to an
eligible partnership to coordinate and manage research and
extension activities to enhance the quality of high-value
agricultural products.
(2) Awarding of grants.--Grants under paragraph (1) shall
be awarded on a competitive basis.
(b) Criteria for an Eligible Partnership.--
(1) Primary institutions in partnership.--The primary
institution involved in an eligible partnership shall be a
land-grant college or university, acting in partnership with
other colleges or universities, nonprofit research and
development entities, and Federal laboratories.
(2) Prioritization of research activities.--An eligible
partnership shall prioritize research and extension
activities in order to--
(A) enhance the competitiveness of United States
agricultural products;
(B) increase exports of such products; and
(C) substitute such products for imported products.
(3) Coordination.--An eligible partnership shall coordinate
among the entities comprising the partnership the activities
supported by the eligible partnership, including the
provision of mechanisms for sharing resources between
institutions and laboratories and the coordination of public
and private sector partners to maximize cost-effectiveness.
(c) Types of Research and Extension Activities.--Research
or extension supported by an eligible partnership may address
the full spectrum of production, processing, packaging,
transportation, and marketing issues related to a high-value
agricultural product. Such issues include--
(1) environmentally responsible--
(A) pest management alternatives and biotechnology;
(B) sustainable farming methods; and
(C) soil conservation and enhanced resource management;
(2) genetic research to develop improved agricultural-based
products;
(3) refinement of field production practices and technology
to improve quality, yield, and production efficiencies;
(4) processing and package technology to improve product
quality, stability, or flavor intensity;
(5) marketing research regarding consumer perceptions and
preferences;
(6) economic research, including industry characteristics,
growth, competitive analysis; and
(7) research to facilitate diversified, value-added
enterprises in rural areas.
SEC. 403. ELEMENTS OF GRANT MAKING PROCESS.
(a) Period of Grant.--The Secretary may award a grant under
this subtitle for a period not to exceed five years.
(b) Preferences.--In making grants under this subtitle, the
Secretary shall give preference to proposals that--
(1) demonstrate linkages with--
(A) agencies of the Department of Agriculture;
(B) other related Federal research laboratories and
agencies;
(C) colleges and universities; and
(D) private industry; and
(2) guarantee matching funds in excess of the amounts
required by subsection (c).
(c) Matching Funds.--An eligible partnership shall
contribute an amount of non-Federal funds for the operation
of the partnership that is at least equal to the amount of
grant funds received under this subtitle.
(d) Limitation on Use of Grant Funds.--Funds provided under
this subtitle may not be used for the planning, repair,
rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or
facility.
SEC. 404. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS AND RELATED
PROVISIONS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry
out this subtitle for each of the fiscal years 1998 through
2002.
(b) Limitation on Administrative Costs.--Not more than four
percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this subtitle
may be retained by the Secretary to pay administrative costs
incurred by the Secretary to carry out this subtitle.
Subtitle B--Precision Agriculture
SEC. 411. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this subtitle:
(1) Precision agriculture.--The term ``precision
agriculture'' means an integrated information- and
production-based farming system that is designed to increase
long-term, site specific and whole farm production
efficiencies, productivity, and profitability while
minimizing unintended impacts on wildlife and the environment
by--
(A) combining agricultural sciences, agricultural inputs
and practices, agronomic production databases, and precision
agriculture technologies to efficiently manage agronomic and
livestock production systems;
(B) gathering on-farm information pertaining to the
variation and interaction of site-specific spatial and
temporal factors affecting crop and livestock production;
(C) integrating such information with appropriate data
derived from field scouting, remote sensing, and other
precision agriculture technologies in a timely manner in
order to facilitate on-farm decisionmaking; or
(D) using such information to prescribe and deliver site-
specific application of agricultural inputs and management
practices in agricultural production systems.
(2) Precision agriculture technologies.--The term
``precision agriculture technologies'' includes--
(A) instrumentation and techniques ranging from
sophisticated sensors and software systems to manual sampling
and data collection tools that measure, record, and manage
spatial and temporal data;
(B) technologies for searching out and assembling
information necessary for sound agricultural production
decision making;
(C) open systems technologies for data networking and
processing that produce valued systems for farm management
decisionmaking; or
(D) machines that deliver information based management
practices.
(3) Advisory board.--The term ``Advisory Board'' means the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board established under section 1408 of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123).
(4) Agricultural inputs.--The term ``agricultural inputs''
includes all farm management, agronomic, and field applied
agricultural production inputs, such as machinery, labor,
time, fuel, irrigation water, commercial nutrients, feed
stuffs, veterinary drugs and vaccines, livestock waste, crop
protection chemicals, agronomic data and information,
application and management services, seed, and other inputs
used in agriculture production.
(5) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State agricultural experiment station;
(B) a college or university;
(C) a research institution or organization;
(D) a Federal or State government entity or agency;
(E) a national laboratory;
(F) a private organization or corporation;
(G) an agricultural producer or other land manager; or
(H) a precision agriculture partnership referred to in
section 414.
(6) Systems research.--The term ``systems research'' means
an integrated, coordinated, and iterative investigative
process, which considers the multiple interacting components
and aspects of precision agriculture systems, including
synthesis of new knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-
biological processes and complex interactions with cropping,
livestock production practices, and natural resource systems,
precision agriculture technologies development and
implementation, data and information collection and
interpretation, production scale planning, production-scale
implementation, and farm production efficiencies,
productivity, and profitability.
SEC. 412. COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRECISION
AGRICULTURE.
(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may
make competitive grants, for periods not to exceed five
years, to eligible entities to conduct research, education,
or information dissemination projects for the development and
advancement of precision agriculture. Such grants shall be
limited to those projects that the Secretary determines are
unlikely to be financed by the private sector in the absence
of a grant under this section. The Secretary shall make such
grants in consultation with the Advisory Board.
(b) Purpose of Projects.--Research, education, or
information dissemination projects supported by a grant under
subsection (a) shall address one or more of the following:
(1) The study and promotion of components of precision
agriculture technologies using a systems research approach
that would increase long-term, site-specified and whole farm
production efficiencies, productivity, profitability.
(2) The improvement in the understanding of agronomic
systems, including, soil, water, land cover (including
grazing lands), pest management systems, and meteorological
variability.
(3) The provision of training and educational programs for
State cooperative extension services agents, and other
professionals involved in the agricultural production and
transfer of integrated precision agriculture technology.
(4) The development, demonstration, and dissemination of
information regarding precision agriculture technologies and
systems
[[Page H10362]]
and the potential benefits of precision agriculture as it
relates to increased long-term farm production efficiencies,
productivity, profitability, and the maintenance of the
environment, and improvements in international trade into an
integrated program to educate agricultural producers and
consumers, including family owned and operated farms.
(c) Grant Priorities.--In making grants to eligible
entities under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation
with the Advisory Board, shall give priority to research,
education, or information dissemination projects designed to
accomplish the following:
(1) Evaluate the use of precision agriculture technologies
using a systems research approach to increase long-term site-
specific and whole farm production efficiencies,
productivity, profitability.
(2) Integrate research, education, and information
dissemination components in a practical and readily available
manner so that the findings of the project will be made
readily usable by farmers.
(3) Demonstrate the efficient use of agricultural inputs,
rather than the uniform reduction in the use of agricultural
inputs.
(4) Maximize the involvement and cooperation of precision
agriculture producers, certified crop advisers, State
cooperative extension services agents, agricultural input
machinery, product and service providers, nonprofit
organizations, agribusiness, veterinarians, land-grant
colleges and universities, and Federal agencies in precision
agriculture systems research projects involving on-farm
research, education, and information dissemination of
precision agriculture.
(5) Maximize collaboration with multiple agencies and other
partners that include leveraging of funds and resources.
(d) Matching Funds.--The amount of a grant under this
section to an eligible entity (other than a Federal agency)
may not exceed the amount which the eligible entity makes
available out of non-Federal funds for precision agriculture
research and for the establishment and maintenance of
facilities necessary for conducting precision agriculture
research.
SEC. 413. RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
DISSEMINATION PROJECTS.
Of the funds made available for grants under section 412,
the Secretary of Agriculture shall reserve a portion of such
funds for grants for projects regarding precision agriculture
related to education or information dissemination.
SEC. 414. PRECISION AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIPS.
In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary of
Agriculture, in consultation with the Advisory Board, shall
encourage the establishment of appropriate multi-state and
national partnerships or consortia between--
(1) land-grant colleges and universities, State
agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension
services, other colleges and universities with demonstrable
expertise regarding precision agriculture, agencies of the
Department of Agriculture, national laboratories,
agribusinesses, agricultural equipment and input
manufacturers and retailers, certified crop advisers,
commodity organizations, veterinaries, other Federal or State
government entities and agencies, or nonagricultural
industries and nonprofit organizations with demonstrable
expertise regarding precision agriculture; and
(2) agricultural producers or other land managers.
SEC. 415. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
(a) Prohibition on Use of Funds for Certain Purposes.--The
Secretary of Agriculture may not make a grant under section
412 for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or
construction of a building or facility.
(b) Application of Other Laws.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of the Food and
Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not
apply to a panel or board created for the purpose of
reviewing applications or proposals submitted under this
subtitle.
SEC. 416. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are hereby
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle
$40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(b) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 3 percent of the
amount appropriated under this subtitle may be retained by
the Secretary to pay the administrative costs incurred by the
Secretary in carrying out this subtitle.
(c) Availability of Funds.--Funds made available under
paragraph (a) shall be available for obligation for a two-
year period beginning on October 1 of the fiscal year for
which the funds are made available.
Subtitle C--Other Initiatives
SEC. 421. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES.
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 1672. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
INITIATIVES.
``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants
Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation
with the National Agricultural Research, Education,
Extension, and Economics Advisory Board, may make competitive
grants to support research and extension activities in the
high-priority research and extension areas specified in
subsection (e).
``(b) Grant Types and Process; Prohibition on
Construction.--Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of subsection
(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the
making of grants under this section.
``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the
recipient of a grant under this section to provide funds or
in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an amount at
least equal to the amount provided by the Federal Government.
``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the
matching funds requirement specified in paragraph (1) with
respect to a research project if the Secretary determines
that--
``(A) the results of the project, while of particular
benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to
be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
``(B) the project involves a minor commodity, deals with
scientifically important research, and the grant recipient
would be unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this
section, the Secretary may give priority to those grant
proposals found to be scientifically meritorious that involve
the cooperation of multiple institutions.
``(e) High-Priority Research and Extension Areas.--
``(1) Brown citrus aphid and citrus tristeza virus research
and extension.--Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of--
``(A) developing methods to control or eradicate the brown
citrus aphid and the citrus tristeza virus from citrus crops
grown in the United States; or
``(B) adapting citrus crops grown in the United States to
the brown citrus aphid and the citrus tristeza virus.
``(2) Ethanol research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of carrying on or enhancing research on ethanol
derived from agricultural crops as an alternative fuel
source.
``(3) Aflatoxin research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of identifying and controlling aflatoxin in the food
and feed chains.
``(4) Mesquite research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of developing enhanced production methods and
commercial uses of mesquite.
``(5) Prickly pear research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of investigating enhanced genetic selection and
processing techniques of prickly pears.
``(6) Deer tick ecology research and extension.--Research
and extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of studying the population ecology of deer ticks and
other insects and pests which transmit Lyme disease.
``(7) Red meat safety research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of developing--
``(A) intervention strategies that reduce microbial
contamination on carcass surfaces;
``(B) microbiological mapping of carcass surfaces; and
``(C) model hazard analysis and critical control point
plans.
``(8) Grain sorghum ergot research and extension.--Research
and extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of developing techniques for the eradication of
sorghum ergot.
``(9) Animal waste and odor management research and
extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of--
``(A) identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating innovative
technologies for animal waste management and odor control;
and
``(B) conducting information workshops to disseminate the
results of such research.
``(10) Fire ant research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of control, management, and eradication of fire ants.
``(11) Wheat scab research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section to a
consortium of land-grant colleges and universities for the
purpose of understanding and combating diseases of wheat and
barley caused by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi
(commonly known as wheat scab).
``(12) Peanut market enhancement research and extension.--
Research and extension grants may be made under this section
for the purpose of evaluating the economics of applying
innovative technologies for peanut processing in a commercial
environment.
``(13) Dairy financial risk management research and
extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of providing research,
development, or education materials, information, and
outreach programs regarding risk management strategies for
dairy producers and for dairy cooperatives and other
processors and marketers of milk.
``(14) Cotton research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made
[[Page H10363]]
under this section for the purpose of improving pest
management, fiber quality enhancement, economic assessment,
textile production, and optimized production systems for
short staple cotton.
``(15) Methyl bromide research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of--
``(A) developing and evaluating chemical and nonchemical
alternatives, and use and emission reduction strategies, for
pre-planting and post-harvest uses of methyl bromide; and
``(B) transferring the results of such research for
agricultural producer use.
``(16) Water quality and aquatic ecosystem research and
extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of investigating the impact on
aquatic food webs, especially commercially important aquatic
species and their habitats, of microorganisms of the genus
Pfiesteria and other microorganisms that are a threat to
human or animal health.
``(17) Potato research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of developing and evaluating new strains of potatoes
which are resistant to blight and other diseases, as well as
insects. Emphasis may be placed on developing potato
varieties that lend themselves to innovative marketing
approaches.
``(18) Wood utilization research and extension.--Research
and extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of developing new uses for wood from underutilized
tree species as well as investigating methods of modifying
wood and wood fibers to produce better building materials.
``(19) Low-bush blueberry research and extension.--Research
and extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of evaluating methods of propagating and developing
low-bush blueberry as a marketable crop.
``(20) Formosan termite eradication research and
extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of--
``(A) conducting research for the control, management, and
possible eradication of Formosan termites in the United
States; and
``(B) collecting data on the effectiveness of research
projects conducted under this paragraph.
``(21) Swine waste management and odor control research and
extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of investigating the
microbiology of swine waste and developing improved methods
to effectively manage air and water quality in animal
husbandry.
``(22) Wetlands utilization research and extension.--
Research and extension grants may be made under this section
for the purpose of better utilizing wetlands in diverse ways
to provide various economic, agricultural, and environmental
benefits.
``(23) Wild pampas grass control and eradication research
and extension.--Research and extension grants may be made
under this section for the purpose of control, management,
and eradication of wild pampas grass.
``(24) Pathogen detection and limitation research and
extension.--Research and extension grants may be made under
this section for the purpose of identifying advanced
detection and processing methods to limit the presence of
pathogens, including hepatitis A and E. coli 0157:H7, in
domestic and imported foods.
``(25) Financial risk management research and extension.--
Research and extension grants may be made under this section
for the purpose of providing research, development, or
education materials, information, and outreach programs
regarding financial risk management strategies for
agricultural producers and for cooperatives and other
processors and marketers of any agricultural commodity.
``(26) Ornamental tropical fish research and extension.--
Research and extension grants may be made under this section
for the purpose of meeting the needs of commercial producers
of ornamental tropical fish and aquatic plants for
improvements in the areas of fish reproduction, health,
nutrition, predator control, water use, water quality
control, and farming technology.
``(27) Sheep scrapie research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of investigating the genetic aspects of scrapie in
sheep.
``(28) Animal waste management at rural/urban interfaces.--
Research and extension grants may be made under this section
for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating
innovative technologies to be used for animal waste
management (including odor control) in rural areas adjacent
to urban or suburban areas in connection with waste
management activities undertaken in urban or suburban areas.
``(29) Gypsy moth research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of developing biological control, management, and
eradication methods against nonnative insects, including
Lymantria dispar (commonly known as the Gypsy Moth), that
contribute to significant agricultural, economical, or
environmental harm.
``(30) Dairy efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness
research and extension.--Research and extension grants may be
made under this section for the purpose of improving the
efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness of dairy
production on farms that are heavily dependent on
manufacturing uses of milk.
``(31) Animal feed research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of maximizing nutrition management for livestock,
while limiting risks, such as mineral bypass, associated with
livestock feeding practices.
``(32) Forestry research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section to develop
and distribute new, high-quality, science-based information
for the purpose of improving the long-term productivity of
forest resources and contributing to forest-based economic
development by addressing such issues as forest land use
policies, multiple-use forest management, including wildlife
habitat development, improved forest regeneration systems,
and timber supply, and improved development, manufacturing,
and marketing of forest products.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years
1998 through 2002 such sums as may be necessary to make
grants under this section in each of the high-priority
research and extension areas specified in subsection (e).
``(g) Use of Task Forces.--
``(1) Establishment.--To facilitate the making of research
and extension grants under this section in a high-priority
research and extension area specified in subsection (e), the
Secretary may appoint a task force to make recommendations to
the Secretary.
``(2) Limitation on costs.--The Secretary may not incur
costs in excess of $1,000 in any fiscal year in connection
with each task force established under this subsection.
``(3) Application of other laws.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title XVIII of the Food and
Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.) shall not
apply to a task force established under this subsection.''.
SEC. 422. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
INITIATIVE.
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
is amended by inserting after section 1672 (7 U.S.C. 5925)
the following new section:
``SEC. 1672A. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
INITIATIVE.
``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants
Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation
with the National Agricultural Research, Education,
Extension, and Economics Advisory Board, may make competitive
grants to support research and extension activities regarding
organically grown and processed agricultural commodities for
the purpose of--
``(1) facilitating the development of organic agriculture
production and processing methods;
``(2) evaluating the potential economic benefits to
producers and processors who use organic methods; and
``(3) exploring international trade opportunities for
organically grown and processed agricultural commodities.
``(b) Grant Types and Process, Prohibition on
Construction.--Paragraphs (6), (7), and (11) of subsection
(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the
making of grants under this section.
``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the
recipient of a grant under this section to provide funds or
in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an amount at
least equal to the amount provided by the Federal Government.
``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the
matching funds requirement specified in paragraph (1) with
respect to a research project if the Secretary determines
that--
``(A) the results of the project, while of particular
benefit to a specified agricultural commodity, are likely to
be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
``(B) the project involves a minor commodity, deals with
scientifically important research, and grant recipient would
be unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this
section, the Secretary may give priority to those grant
proposals found to be scientifically meritorious that
involved the cooperation of multiple institutions.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years
1998 through 2002 such sums as may be necessary to make
grants under this section.''.
SEC. 423. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by
inserting after section 1458 (7 U.S.C. 3291) the following
new section:
``SEC. 1459. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH.
``(a) Research and Development Program.--The Secretary may
provide for an agricultural research and development program
with the United States/Mexico Foundation for Science, which
will focus on binational problems facing agricultural
producers and consumers in the two countries, in particular
pressing problems in the areas of food safety, plant and
animal pest control,
[[Page H10364]]
and the natural resources base on which agriculture depends.
``(b) Administration.--Grants under the research and
development program shall be awarded competitively through
the Foundation.
``(c) Matching Requirements.--The provision of funds to the
Foundation by the United States Government shall be subject
to the condition that the Government of Mexico match, on at
least an equal ratio, any funds provided by the United States
Government.
``(d) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Funds provided under
this section may not be used for the planning, repair,
rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or
facility.''.
SEC. 424. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291 et
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1459, as added by
section 423, the following new section:
``SEC. 1459A. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
``(a) Competitive Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may
make competitive grants to colleges and universities in order
to strengthen United States economic competitiveness and to
promote international market development.
``(b) Purpose of Grants.--Grants under this section shall
be directed to agricultural research, extension, and teaching
activities that will--
``(1) enhance the international content of the curricula in
colleges and universities so as to ensure that United States
students acquire an understanding of the international
dimensions and trade implications of their studies;
``(2) ensure that United States scientists, extension
agents, and educators involved in agricultural research and
development activities outside of the United States have the
opportunity to convey the implications of their activities
and findings to their peers and students in the United States
and to the users of agricultural research, extension, and
teaching;
``(3) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities
to do collaborative research with other countries, in
cooperation with other Federal agencies, on issues relevant
to United States agricultural competitiveness;
``(4) enhance the capabilities of colleges and universities
to provide cooperative extension education to promote the
application of new technology developed in foreign countries
to United States agriculture; and
``(5) enhance the capability of United States colleges and
universities, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to
provide leadership and educational programs that will assist
United States natural resources and food production,
processing, and distribution businesses and industries to
compete internationally, including product market
identification, international policies limiting or enhancing
market production, development of new or enhancement of
existing markets, and production efficiencies.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
to carry out this section.''.
SEC. 425. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE PROGRAM.
(a) Continuation of Program.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall continue operation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance
Database program (referred to in this section as the ``FARAD
program'') through appropriate colleges or universities.
(b) Activities.--In carrying out the FARAD program, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) provide livestock producers, extension specialists,
scientists, and veterinarians with information to prevent
drug, pesticide, and environmental contaminant residues in
food animal products;
(2) maintain up-to-date information concerning--
(A) withdrawal times on FDA-approved food animal drugs and
appropriate withdrawal intervals for drugs used in food
animals in the United States, as established under section
512(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
360b(a));
(B) official tolerances for drugs and pesticides in
tissues, eggs, and milk;
(C) descriptions and sensitivities of rapid screening tests
for detecting residues in tissues, eggs, and milk; and
(D) data on the distribution and fate of chemicals in food
animals;
(3) publish periodically a compilation of food animal drugs
approved by the Food and Drug Administration;
(4) make information on food animal drugs available to the
public through handbooks and other literature, computer
software, a telephone hotline, and the Internet;
(5) furnish producer quality-assurance programs with up-to-
date data on approved drugs;
(6) maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date, residue
avoidance database;
(7) provide professional advice for determining the
withdrawal times necessary for food safety in the use of
drugs in food animals; and
(8) engage in other activities designed to promote food
safety.
(c) Grants.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation
with the National Agricultural Research, Education,
Extension, and Economics Advisory Board, may make grants to
colleges and universities to operate the FARAD program. The
term of a grant shall be three years, with options to extend
the term of the grant triennially.
SEC. 426. DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF NEW BIOBASED
PRODUCTS.
(a) Biobased Product Defined.--For purposes of this
section, the term ``biobased product'' means a product
suitable for food or nonfood use that is derived in whole or
in part from renewable agricultural and forestry materials.
(b) Cooperative Agreements for Biobased Products.--The
Secretary of Agriculture may enter into cooperative
agreements with private entities described in subsection (c),
under which the facilities and technical expertise of the
Agricultural Research Service may be made available to
operate pilot plants and other large-scale preparative
facilities for the purpose of bringing technologies necessary
for the development and commercialization of new biobased
products to the point of practical application. Cooperative
activities may include research on potential environmental
impacts of a biobased product, methods to reduce the cost of
manufacturing a biobased product, and other appropriate
research.
(c) Eligible Partners.--The following entities shall be
eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement under this
section:
(1) A party that has entered into a cooperative research
and development agreement with the Secretary under section 12
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15
U.S.C. 3710a).
(2) A recipient of funding from the Alternative
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation
established under section 1658 of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5902).
(3) A recipient of funding from the Biotechnology Research
and Development Corporation.
(4) A recipient of funding from the Secretary under a Small
Business Innovation Research Program established under
section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
(d) Source of Funds.--To carry out this section, the
Secretary may use--
(1) funds appropriated to carry out this section; and
(2) funds available for cooperative research and
development agreements (as described in subsection (b)).
(e) Sale of Developed Products.--The Secretary shall
authorize the private partner or partners in a cooperative
agreement consistent with this section to sell new biobased
products produced at a pilot plant under the agreement for
the purpose of determining the market potential for the
products.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out
this section.
SEC. 427. THOMAS JEFFERSON INITIATIVE FOR CROP
DIVERSIFICATION.
(a) Initiative Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall provide for a research initiative (to be known as the
``Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification'') for
the purpose of conducting research and development, in
cooperation with other public and private entities, on the
production and marketing of new and nontraditional crops
needed to strengthen and diversify the agricultural
production base of the United States. The initiative shall
include research and education efforts regarding new and
nontraditional crops designed--
(1) to identify and overcome agronomic barriers to
profitable production;
(2) to identify and overcome other production and marketing
barriers; and
(3) to develop processing and utilization technologies for
new and nontraditional crops.
(b) Purposes.--The initiative is established--
(1) to develop a focused program of research and
development at the regional and national level to overcome
barriers to development of new crop opportunities for farmers
and related value-added enterprise development in rural
communities; and
(2) to ensure a broad-based effort encompassing research,
education, market development, and support of entrepreneurial
activity leading to increased agricultural diversification.
(c) Establishment of Initiative.--The Secretary shall
coordinate the initiative through a nonprofit center or
institute that will coordinate research and education
programs in cooperation with other public and private
entities. The Secretary shall administer research and
education grants made under this section.
(d) Regional Emphasis.--The Secretary shall support
development of multi-State regional efforts in crop
diversification. Of funding made available to carry out the
initiative, 50 percent shall be used for regional efforts
centered at land-grant colleges and universities in order to
facilitate site-specific crop development efforts.
(e) Eligible Grantee.--The Secretary may award funds under
this section to colleges or universities, nonprofit
organizations, or public agencies.
(f) Administration.--
(1) Grants and contracts.--Grants awarded through the
initiative shall be selected on a competitive basis. The
recipient of a grant may use a portion of the grant funds for
standard contracts with private businesses, such as for test
processing of a new or nontraditional crop.
[[Page H10365]]
(2) Terms.--The term of a grant awarded through the
initiative may not exceed five years.
(3) Matching funds.--The Secretary shall require the
recipient of a grant awarded through the initiative to
contribute an amount of funds from non-Federal sources at
least equal to the amount provided by the Federal Government.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out
this section.
SEC. 428. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION
COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an
integrated research, education, and extension competitive
grant program to provide funding for integrated, multi-
functional research, education, and extension activities.
(b) Competitive Grants Authorized.--Subject to the
appropriation of funds to carry out this section, the
Secretary may award grants to colleges and universities (as
defined in section 1404(4) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3103(4))) on a competitive basis for integrated
research, education, and extension projects in accordance
with the provisions of this section.
(c) Criteria for Grants.--Grants under this section shall
be awarded to address priorities in United States
agriculture, determined by the Secretary in consultation with
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board, which involve integrated research,
education, and extension activities.
(d) Matching of Funds.--
(1) General requirement.--If a grant under this section is
to the particular benefit of a specific agricultural
commodity, the Secretary shall require the recipient of the
grant to provide funds or in-kind support to match the amount
of funds provided by the Secretary in the grant.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching funds
requirement specified in paragraph (1) with respect to a
grant if the Secretary determines that--
(A) the results of the project, while of particular benefit
to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be
applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
(B) the project involves a minor commodity, deals with
scientifically important research, and the grant recipient
would be unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of
the fiscal years 1998 through 2002 to carry out this section.
SEC. 429. RESEARCH GRANTS UNDER EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-
GRANT STATUS ACT OF 1994.
The Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
(Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended by adding
at the end the following new section--
``SEC. 536. RESEARCH GRANTS.
``(a) Research Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of
Agriculture may make grants under this section on the basis
of a competitive application process (and in accordance with
such regulations that the Secretary may promulgate) to a 1994
Institution to assist the 1995 Institution to conduct
agricultural research that addresses high priority concerns
of tribal, national, or multi-state significance.
``(b) Requirements.--Grant applications submitted under
this section shall certify that the research to be conducted
will be performed under a cooperative agreement with at least
one other land-grant college or university (exclusive of
another 1994 Institution).
``(c) Authorization of Appropriation.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out
this section for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
Amounts appropriated shall remain available until
expended.''.
TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 501. ROLE OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE REGARDING FOOD AND
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND
EXTENSION.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall be the principal
official in the executive branch responsible for coordinating
all Federal research and extension activities related to food
and agricultural sciences.
SEC. 502. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY.
(a) Objective.--The establishment of an Office of Pest
Management Policy pursuant to this section is intended to
provide for the effective coordination of agricultural
policies and activities within the Department of Agriculture
related to pesticides and of the development and use of pest
management tools, while taking into account the effects of
regulatory actions of other government agencies.
(b) Establishment of Office; Principal Responsibilities.--
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish in the
Department of Agriculture an Office of Pest Management
Policy, which shall be responsible for--
(1) the development and coordination of Department of
Agriculture policy on pest management and pesticides;
(2) the coordination of activities and services of the
Department, including research, extension, and education
activities, regarding the development, availability, and use
of economically and environmentally sound pest management
tools and practices;
(3) assisting the Department in fulfilling its
responsibilities related to pest management or pesticides
under the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law
104-170; 110 Stat. 1489), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or other law;
and
(4) performing such other functions as may be required by
law or prescribed by the Secretary.
(c) Interagency Coordination.--In support of its
responsibilities under subsection (a), the Office of Pest
Management Policy shall provide leadership to ensure
coordination of interagency activities with the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and
other Federal and State agencies.
(d) Outreach.--The Office of Pest Management Policy shall
consult with agricultural producers that may be affected by
pest management or pesticide-related activities or actions of
the Department or other agencies as necessary in carrying out
the Office's responsibilities under this section.
(e) Director.--The Office of Pest Management Policy shall
be under the direction of a Director appointed by the
Secretary who shall report directly to the Secretary or a
designee of the Secretary.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out
this section.
SEC. 503. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE AND
NATIONAL CONFERENCE.
(a) Food Safety Research Information Office.--
(1) Establishment and purpose.--The Secretary of
Agriculture shall establish a Food Safety Research
Information Office at the National Agricultural Library. The
Office shall provide to the research community and the
general public information on publicly funded, and to the
extent possible, privately funded food safety research
initiatives for the purpose of--
(A) preventing unintended duplication of food safety
research; and
(B) assisting the executive and legislative branches of the
Government and private research entities to assess food
safety research needs and priorities.
(2) Cooperation.--The Office shall carry out paragraph (1)
in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health, the
Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, public institutions, and on a voluntary
basis, private research interests.
(b) National Conference.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
sponsor a conference to be known as the ``National Conference
on Food Safety Research'', for the purpose of beginning the
task of food safety research prioritization. The Secretary
shall sponsor annual workshops in each of the subsequent four
years after the conference so that priorities can be updated
or adjusted to reflect changing food safety concerns.
(c) Food Safety Report.--With regard to the study and
report to be prepared by the National Academy of Sciences on
the scientific and organizational needs for an effective food
safety system, the study shall include recommendations to
ensure that the food safety inspection system, within the
resources traditionally available to existing food safety
agencies, protects the public health.
SEC. 504. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION DATA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall update,
on a periodic basis, nutrient composition data.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report that describes--
(1) the method the Secretary will use to update nutrient
composition data, including the quality assurance criteria
that will be used and the method for generating the data; and
(2) the timing for updating the data.
SEC. 505. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS RECEIVED OR COLLECTED ON
BEHALF OF NATIONAL ARBORETUM.
Section 6(b) of the Act of March 4, 1927 (20 U.S.C.
196(b)), is amended by striking ``Treasury'' and inserting
``Treasury. Amounts in the special fund shall be available to
the Secretary of Agriculture, without further
appropriation,''.
SEC. 506. RETENTION AND USE OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
PATENT CULTURE COLLECTION FEES.
All funds collected by the Agricultural Research Service of
the Department of Agriculture in connection with the
acceptance of microorganisms for deposit in, or the
distribution of microorganisms from, the Patent Culture
Collection maintained and operated by the Agricultural
Research Service shall be credited to the appropriation
supporting the maintenance and operation of the Patent
Culture Collection. The collected funds shall be available to
the Agricultural Research Service, without further
appropriation or fiscal-year limitation, to carry out its
responsibilities under law (including international treaty)
with respect to the Patent Culture Collection.
[[Page H10366]]
SEC. 507. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED UNDER SHEEP
PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ACT OF
1994.
Using funds available to the Agricultural Marketing
Service, the Service may reimburse the American Sheep
Industry Association for expenses incurred by American Sheep
Industry Association between February 6, 1996, and May 17,
1996, in preparation for the implementation of a sheep and
wool promotion, research, education, and information order
under the Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).
SEC. 508. DESIGNATION OF KIKA DE LA GARZA SUBTROPICAL
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, WESLACO, TEXAS.
(a) Designation.--The Federal facilities located at 2413
East Highway 83, and 2301 South International Boulevard, in
Weslaco, Texas, and known as the Subtropical Agricultural
Research Center, shall be known and designated as the ``Kika
de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
Federal facilities referred to in subsection (a) shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``Kika de la Garza
Subtropical Agricultural Research Center''.
SEC. 509. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
SERVICE EMPHASIS ON IN FIELD RESEARCH REGARDING
METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES.
It is the sense of Congress that, of the Agricultural
Research Service funds made available for a fiscal year for
research regarding the development for agricultural use of
alternatives to methyl bromide, the Secretary of Agriculture
should use a substantial portion of such funds for research
to be conducted in real field conditions, in particular pre-
planting and post-harvest conditions, so as to expedite the
development and commercial use of methyl bromide
alternatives.
SEC. 510. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL-
BASED AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of Education should collaborate
and cooperate in providing both instructional and technical
support for school-based agricultural education.
SEC. 511. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DESIGNATION OF
DEPARTMENT CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Department of Agriculture plays a crucial role in
ensuring that the United States is a world leader in
maintaining the most affordable, abundant, wholesome, and
safe food supply for its citizens.
(2) It is in the best interest of consumers, producers,
processors, retailers, government officials, and other
interested parties to ensure that any crisis that may affect
the operation of the Department or the production of a safe
and wholesome food supply is addressed in an effective
manner.
(3) Unforeseen circumstances, including natural disaster,
personnel management problems, threats to public health, and
trade disruptions, have the potential to undermine the
operation of the Department and the Nation's ability to
efficiently provide a safe, affordable, abundant, and
wholesome food supply.
(4) Department of Agriculture employees, consumer
confidence, and the food production sector have been
adversely impacted as a result of the challenges associated
with Federal agencies' ability to respond to incidents in a
coordinated and timely fashion.
(5) An effective response to crises, emergencies, and
similar situations depends upon the timely and efficient
coordination of Federal, State, and local government
agencies.
(6) It is in the best interests of the Nation to ensure
that whenever a crisis occurs the appropriate Federal
agencies coordinate their activities.
(7) The Department of Agriculture should take the lead in
ensuring a safe and wholesome supply of food for the Nation
because of its broad and diverse relationship with consumers
and the food production sector.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of Agriculture should--
(1) designate a Crisis Management Team within the
Department of Agriculture, which would be composed of senior
departmental personnel with strong subject matter expertise
selected from each relevant agency of the Department and
would be headed by a team leader with strong management and
communications skills;
(2) upon establishment of such a Crisis Management Team,
direct that the Crisis Management Team--
(A) develop a department-wide crisis management plan,
taking into account similar plans developed by other
government agencies and other large organizations;
(B) develop detailed written procedures for implementing
the crisis management plan;
(C) conduct periodic reviews and revisions of the crisis
management plan and procedures;
(D) ensure compliance with crisis management procedures by
departmental personnel;
(E) coordinate the Department's information gathering and
dissemination activities concerning issues managed by the
Crisis Management Team;
(F) ensure that all employees of the Department are
familiar with the crisis management plan and procedures and
are encouraged to bring information regarding crises or
potential crises to the attention of team members;
(G) ensure that departmental spokespersons convey accurate,
timely, and scientifically sound information that is easily
understood by the target audience; and
(H) cooperate and coordinate with other Federal agencies,
States, local governments, industry, and public interest
groups; and
(3) seek to enter into cooperative agreements with other
Federal departments and agencies that have related programs
or activities to help ensure consistent, accurate, and
coordinated dissemination of information throughout the
executive branch in the event of a crisis.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oregon [Mr. Smith] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stenholm] each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2534, the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reauthorization Act of 1997. In
doing so I would like to offer my gratitude and congratulations to
three of my colleagues who serve on the Committee on Agriculture;
first, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Combest], who chairs the
Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource Conservation and Research; the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stenholm], the committee's ranking minority
member; and the gentleman from California [Mr. Dooley], the ranking
Democrat on the Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource Conservation and
Research. These three gentleman have shown a deep commitment to the
importance of agricultural research and to America's farmers and
ranchers, and we would not be here today, Mr. Speaker, were it not for
their fine efforts.
After several subcommittee hearings, this bill, which passed the
Committee on Agriculture by unanimous vote on Wednesday, October 29, is
the first comprehensive overhaul of agricultural research programs
since 1977. The last 2 decades have brought sweeping changes to
agricultural trade, production and Government's approach to
agriculture, culminating in the reforms accomplished in the last
session of Congress commonly called the freedom to farm bill.
Today agricultural research is more important than ever in
transforming to a market economy, in securing new markets for American
farm products overseas, and ensuring that we continue to produce the
world's highest quality food and fiber at competitive prices.
Consider for a moment the tremendous successes we have achieved as a
result of agricultural research. The boll weevil has been virtually
eliminated throughout the American South as a result of highly
successful research programs. Throughout the Southern States, cotton
production has been restored to profitability benefiting not just
farmers who grow cotton, but American textile manufacturers and
consumers who depend upon high-quality American cotton.
Agricultural research is also yielding new genetically modified
organisms with great potential for American farmers, consumers and our
environment. BT corn, which incorporates pesticide properties at
genetic levels, allows farmers to combat corn root rot and corn borers
without applying additional pesticides. Round-Up ready soybeans, which
are resistant to common herbicide, allow Round-Up to be applied to the
plant.
In each instance agricultural research has yielded better crops that
save farmers and consumers money and allow for less application of
pesticides and herbicides on the farm.
As I have the pleasure to recount to many foreign government
officials with whom I met recently, these genetically modified
organisms, which are the result of agricultural research, give the
United States a real and distinct competitive advantage in the
international marketplace. These and other advances indicate
agricultural research's enormous potential for the farmer, the consumer
and the environment.
H.R. 2534 lives up to this challenge. In addition to reauthorizing
numerous agricultural research programs through the year 2002, the bill
includes reform provisions to ensure peer and
[[Page H10367]]
merit review of all USDA and U.S. research programs, provides for
greater accountability in the development of Federal research
priorities, and greater dependence on cost-sharing through requirements
for matching funds.
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to bring the Agricultural Research,
Extension and Education Reauthorization to the full House with two
technical amendments. First, as a result of jurisdictional concerns,
section 231 of the bill is removed, which would have authorized the
Secretary to establish a national agricultural weather information
system. Second, a new section which has been added to the bill which
names the Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco, TX,
after our former colleague and chairman of the House Committee on
Agriculture, the Honorable Kika de la Garza.
I urge my colleagues to support this very worthwhile bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill, H.R. 2534, as
amended, the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education
Reauthorization Act of 1997. I am pleased to report that this bill is
the result of a bipartisan effort in the House Committee on Agriculture
and incorporates suggestions from both the providers and the users of
agricultural research.
The bill, as amended, will provide for the continuation of our
Nation's historic commitment to agricultural research and productivity.
It was through this commitment that our Nation developed an
agricultural sector that is the undisputed technological leader of the
world. Our commitment to agricultural research has allowed us to
produce more food on less land. As a result producers have the option
of devoting environmentally sensitive land to other uses.
Among the provisions of this bill, as amended, is language to do the
following: Increase merit review of federally funded agricultural
research and extension, improve mechanisms for feedback from users of
agricultural technology, and expand open competition for grant funds.
In addition, we have included in the committee reported bill a
provision that was inadvertently left out in the committee which would
rename the Weslaco Agricultural Research Station as the Kika de la
Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center.
H.R. 2534, as amended, stretches every Federal dollar by directing
many grant programs to require matching funds from non-Federal sources.
Additionally, this legislation places new emphasis on genetics and
biotechnology, research cooperation and the development of new crops.
As we look toward a future with greater reliance on international
competition and exports, it is even more critical that we maintain our
Nation's leadership in agricultural research. The modest reforms and
the priorities in this legislation will help to ensure continued U.S.
leadership in both agricultural research and production well into the
next century.
I urge all Members to support H.R. 2534, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Texas [Mr. Combest], who is chairman of the Subcommittee on
Forestry, Resource Conservation and Research of the Committee on
Agriculture.
Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2534, the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reauthorization Act of
1997, and I, as the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith], would like to
thank several of my colleagues as well, certainly beginning with the
chairman of the committee Mr. Smith, the gentleman from Texas [Mr.
Stenholm], the ranking member of the full committee, and the gentleman
from California [Mr. Dooley], ranking member on the subcommittee, for
their work and cooperation in bringing this bill to the floor. This
bill has been a bipartisan effort from the start, and I have enjoyed
working with all parties involved.
As chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over ag research
programs, I held four hearings this summer to hear testimony from
researchers who are involved in ag research, and farmers and others who
the research is intended to benefit. We attempted to craft this bill to
reflect some of their recommendations. This bill also reflects many
recommendations of the Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Speaker, I believe it is critical that we maintain a strong
public and private research effort in order for American agriculture to
continue to be profitable and competitive in the global economy of the
future. It is not by accident that Americans enjoy the most abundant
and affordable supply of food and fiber of any country in the world.
More people are fed and clothed today from crops grown with increased
efficiency and limited resources. Research efforts have led to a
sixfold increase in agricultural productivity over the last 4 decades.
Almost 50 years ago the number of people fed by 1 farmer was 15. Today
1 farmer is able to feed 96 other people. Research into farming
techniques and improved seed nutrition and nutrients have underwritten
the success story of American agriculture.
Further, agricultural research is even more critical to support
growing populations in the areas of the world which suffer from
malnutrition. World demand for food is expected to double by the year
2025.
I have said from the start that all the components of our ag research
system do an excellent job and are to be commended for their hard work.
However, in today's farm policy and budget environment, it is very
critical that we ensure that the Government maintains a strong role in
ag research to support our farmers and ranchers. I have approached this
reauthorization effort with a goal of striving to improve current
research efforts and accomplish more with the same or fewer dollars
than we have had in the past. This will require research to be
conducted in the most efficient manner possible and avoid any
duplication of efforts.
{time} 1315
This bill accomplishes some good and necessary reforms. Frankly, I
would have liked to have accomplished even more reform in some of our
research programs, but this bill represents the will of our
subcommittee and the will of the full committee, and I urge my
colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California [Mr. Dooley].
(Mr. DOOLEY of California asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Combest], the chairman of the subcommittee
which had jurisdiction, and thank him for his work and his willingness
to work with myself and other members of the minority to putting forth,
I think, a research bill, H.R. 2334, which really is going to position
this country to move forward to ensure that the U.S. agriculture is on
the leading edge of technology.
Just last year when we modified and made major changes in our farm
programs, where we were moving Government more and more out of the
business of farming, we are going to be requiring our farmers to be
relying more on the marketplace in order to achieve their financial
benefits.
This change in our farm policy is going to require an even greater
investment in research, because all of us in agriculture fully
understand that we are, in fact, in an international marketplace and
the only way we can be competitive is by being on the leading edge of
technology.
Thus, the investments that we make in agriculture research are
ensuring that our farmers will have the tools to assure they can be
competitive, to assure they can be profitable.
This bill embodies what I think are some modest reforms in our
agriculture research program. It ensures we will have greater
participation by stakeholders to participate. It will ensure that the
research grants that are being offered will be subject to greater peer
review and merit review. It will ensure that we maintain an
infrastructure through our land grant colleges and other educational
institutions that can provide us with the highest quality in
agriculture research.
Importantly also, it moves forward in a new area of providing the
authorization for funding for the plant genome research program. I
think all of us understand the benefits that can be derived not only to
agriculture but to
[[Page H10368]]
consumers and our economy by further understanding the intricacies and
opportunities with plant genome research.
There is more that can be done though, and I hope we will find a way
that we can ensure that even greater competition on the allocation of
our Federal dollars occurs so we can assure that our taxpayers get the
greatest return from the Federal investment they are making in
agriculture research.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from New Mexico [Mr. Skeen] the chairman of the Subcommittee on
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and
Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.
Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I
appreciate the time.
What I am rising to say is, this is a good bill coming out of the
House of Representatives. I appreciate the fact that we have had a lot
of cooperation and the ability to work together with the gentleman from
Oregon [Mr. Smith].
However, I do want to say that the companion bill in the Senate is a
problem. It creates $1.2 billion in entitlement spending, and we will
certainly want to watch what happens. What the outcome of the
conference will be is important, because I think this is a misuse of
the process and it is an abuse of this particular category of bill.
Mr. Speaker, we will take a long hard look and see what the Senate
comes up with. Maybe we can twist a few ears over there.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton].
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
time.
I also want to compliment the bipartisan leadership that brought this
bill forward, and particularly the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith],
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the gentleman from Texas [Mr.
Combest], and the gentleman from California [Mr. Dooley].
I also want to speak to the value of the research components, both in
the research area and the extension area, and some of the expansion of
education programs, not only those that are reauthorized, but some of
the new initiatives and new ways of ensuring not only that we have a
new reform but that we include new research items.
Particularly I am interested in bringing to your attention the
inclusion of pfisteria. That has indeed been a troublesome bacteria
that has plagued our waterways, both our fish and human areas. I am
also appreciative in the land grant colleges, that there was the
opportunity for the 1890 colleges to participate.
However, I have a concern. I have the concern that there is the
potential, not through the bill we have passed, indeed, I voted for
that bill and will encourage people to vote for this one as well, but
in the conference activity. I hope that we do not attempt to use that
savings, all of that savings, not to go for food needs of hungry
people, particularly those persons for food stamps who were denied food
stamps through the welfare reform. A lot of people are suffering out
there; also food stamp mothers who need those programs.
The potential of using $1.3 billion away from that, I think, is far
too much. So I am urging the conferees not to allow that to happen. I
support this bill, and I look forward to voting for the bill, I look
forward to voting for the conference report that certainly has a better
distribution of moneys coming from food stamps, savings from food
stamps. It should not be dissipated out of that area; it should be
included in that area.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Illinois [Mr. Ewing], who is also the chairman of the Subcommittee
on Risk Management and Speciality Crops of the Committee on
Agriculture.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2534, the Agricultural
Research Extension and Education Reauthorization Act of 1997.
Mr. Speaker, this is the first comprehensive overhaul of agricultural
research programs in 20 years. I think that is quite an achievement.
The legislation is a critical step forward in meeting the increased
demand for food in our world.
The bill improves the ability and capacity of participants in the
U.S. food and agricultural sector to meet consumer needs for high-
quality, safe, nutritious, affordable, and convenient food and other
agricultural products and services.
The bill also will help American producers, the farmers of America,
produce in a global market and compete. Innovative and meaningful
research is vital to ensure that the United States remains at the
forefront of producing the world's highest quality food.
This bill creates many exciting new programs; for instance, the Food
Genome Research Initiative, which is fundamental in developing new and
improved uses of crops, improving their productivity and efficiency,
and generating high-quality, safe, and more affordable food products.
H.R. 2534 also establishes an Animal Waste Management Research
Initiative, which will help address waste disposal issues faced by both
the farm community and urban interests as well. Agricultural research
continues to play a critical role in spurring our Nation's expanding
economy. This legislation will help keep it that way for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the gentleman from Oregon
[Mr. Smith], our chairman; the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas
[Mr. Stenholm]; the gentleman from California [Mr. Dooley]; and, of
course, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Combest], for the fine work they
have done on this legislation.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from California [Mr. Farr].
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2534, the Agricultural
Research Extension and Education Reauthorization Act. I would like to
thank the hard work that others have mentioned of the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Combest], the subcommittee chair; of the gentleman from
California [Mr. Dooley] on our side; of the gentleman from Texas [Mr.
Stenholm]; and our chairman, the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith]. It
is a great day for Willamette, Mr. Chairman.
Frankly, if you thank these people, you have got to thank their
staffs, because they are the ones that have done such hard work on this
important piece of legislation. It is not only important to America,
but it is certainly important to California agriculture.
The farmers in my district are the most productive specialty crop
growers in the world. They produce $2.5 billion worth of fresh row
crops, vegetables, and horticultural crops each year. Mr. Speaker, I
represent not only the salad bowl, but the flower bowl of the country.
The agriculture industry is the backbone of the communities in my
district, and they do this without Federal price supports.
This is a highly competitive field of agriculture. Research is one of
the few ways that the Federal Government can help my farmers. I feel
this legislation will help not just my farmers but all the farmers to
be competitive into the next century.
I especially want to bring to your attention the language that I
offered that was adopted in the markup that will greatly affect some of
the farmers in my district and others in other parts of the country.
A high priority in the field of research is in the form of extension
grants which will expedite the development of alternatives to methyl
bromide. A fundamental change in the manner research is conducted in
the Agricultural Research Service will help to avert the possible
negative impacts on the American production as research will be
directed to areas of greatest need as the phaseout date gets closer.
Mr. Speaker, the bill also contains an initiative for organic farming
that will help this niche market continue to grow. We have barely begun
to tap the full potential of the organic farming systems. This
initiative will provide grants to facilitate the development of organic
agriculture production, processing, and potential economic benefits
associated with both domestic and foreign markets.
[[Page H10369]]
As we go to conference, I would like to echo the words stated earlier
on the issue of the food stamps. We need to restore the food stamps,
particularly to the children that have been affected and cut off by
them. I am confident my colleagues will recognize the merit of this
issue, and I look forward to their support.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Ohio [Mr. Hall].
Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for
yielding me time, and certainly his great work in the whole agriculture
field across this country; and the chairman of the committee, the
gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith], for his wonderful work; and the
other members and staff.
I have no objection to this bill, certainly, going forward at this
point, but I just want to say that I hope we are all perfectly clear
that this budget-neutral bill will go to a conference with the Senate
measure, S. 1150, that contains over $1.2 billion in new spending,
offset by savings from prohibiting States from double-billing the
Federal Government for food stamp administrative costs.
I do not have a problem with the offset, but it is, nevertheless, a
huge amount of money coming out of the food stamp program. I understand
that some of these funds may be needed for agriculture programs.
However, in the final conference agreement, it is imperative that a
substantial amount of savings be used to address what is perhaps the
most pressing hunger problem facing the country today, and that is the
need to restore food stamp benefits to the very poor refugees and legal
immigrant families with children, especially those not receiving any
SSI.
There is a strong consensus on this point among the religious
community, the antihunger community, and the immigrant community. So it
will be difficult to support a final conference agreement that does not
put a substantial amount of the Senate bill's administrative savings
back into feeding hungry people, in particular vulnerable groups of
legal immigrants and refugees who lost access to food stamps and now
face real hardship.
I think many of my colleagues will be with me, hopefully, in sharing
this view. I do know just in food in general, being at an emergency
food bank in my hometown of Dayton, OH, food is down across the country
in almost every food bank and warehouse across this land. We really
need to address this issue in a better way, and I hope we can do it
through this bill.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Kentucky [Mr. Lewis], a member of the committee.
Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
2534, the agricultural research reauthorization bill. I would like to
thank the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith]; the gentleman from Texas,
[Chairman Combest]; and the ranking member, the gentleman from
California [Mr. Dooley], and the committee staff for their hard work on
this important bill.
I am particularly pleased that this bill includes the essential part
of legislation that I authored, the Precision Agricultural Research
Education and Information Dissemination Act.
Several new technologies make up precision agriculture. These include
global positioning satellites, digital field mapping, grid soil
sampling, and the list continues to grow as technology develops. If our
farmers are to remain the most productive and most efficient growers
and producers in the world, precision technology must be made available
to them. This technology is just as revolutionary as moving from the
horse to the tractor or from the plow to conservation tillage.
{time} 1330
Let us not deny our farmers the opportunity to remain the best in the
world, and I urge my colleagues to bring our farmers into the 21st
century by voting yes on this bill.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New
York [Mr. Serrano].
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for
his excellent work in this area.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of a growing number of folks on both
sides of the aisle who are caught in a very delicate situation. We feel
good about the bill before us and terrified of what may be coming out
of the Senate in a conference report, and trying to figure out how best
to deal with this situation and how best to begin to send a message
here today that that has to be dealt with and dealt with carefully.
We are concerned about the food stamp issue, and that is an issue
that makes us the most nervous.
With that in mind, I would like to respectfully inform my colleagues
that I will be calling for a recorded vote on this bill in the hope
that that will begin a conversation to ensure that our fears will not
be founded when it comes back from the Senate.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Illinois [Mr. LaHood] a member of the committee.
(Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I stand in the well today to encourage my
colleagues to support H.R. 2534, the Research and Extension
Reauthorization Act. The bill fulfills a commitment the Republican
Congress made over 2 years ago to our Nation's farmers and ranchers. In
return for a more market-oriented Federal farm policy, Congress would
enact a more farmer-friendly Tax Code and increase our investment in
agriculture research as we head into the 21st century.
The Federal Government must continue to lead the way in market
developments and in finding new ways to utilize America's grown
products.
Mr. Speaker, upon passage today, we will have delivered on our
promises.
I want to thank the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Combest], the chairman
of the subcommittee, who I know was here earlier, and the gentleman
from California [Mr. Dooley], the ranking member, who I also see in the
Chamber, for their leadership on this important issue, and also the
gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith], the chairman of the committee,.
Strong agricultural research programs have enabled America's farmers
and ranchers to produce the highest quality food and fiber in the world
at competitive prices. H.R. 2534 updates and modernizes our research
programs so that American farmers will maintain their competitive edge
in an increasingly global market. From the start, I was committed to
passing an agricultural research bill that does more with our research
dollars in an ever-increasing tight budget environment.
This country has for many years been referred to as the
``breadbasket'' to the world. We could not talk about America and her
greatness without first acknowledging the role that the family farm has
played, and we are the most productive country in the world. The family
farm is largely responsible for these unprecedented accomplishments.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill. We had
the good fortune of having folks from our community in the agriculture
research lab testify and offer testimony, and our home community of
Peoria has an agriculture research lab and benefits immensely, as well
as the University of Illinois, and I encourage all Members to support
this important legislation.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Minnesota [Mr. Peterson].
Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I too rise in strong support today of the Agriculture
Research Extension and Education Reauthorization Act of 1997. As has
been said by others, we are moving into a new era in agriculture, and
research is going to be a more and more important component of our
agriculture policy in this country. We in the upper Midwest and
particularly in the northern part which I represent are very concerned
about some specific issues with scab on wheat and barley where we have
a cooperative effort in this bill to start putting more of a focus on
that particular issue, and that is something we are very interested in,
along with all of the other parts of this legislation.
I, too, want to commend the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Combest], the
subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from California [Mr. Dooley], the
ranking member of the subcommittee, and also the gentleman from Oregon
[Mr. Smith], the chairman of the
[[Page H10370]]
full committee, and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Stenholm], the
ranking member of the full committee, and I urge my colleagues to
support this legislation so that we can move it ahead and see if we can
get a conference on this and pass this into law.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Georgia [Mr. Kingston].
Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee on
Agriculture for allowing me to speak on a bill that they have worked
very hard on and has lots of good merits. I think the House bill should
be passed, as is, by both bodies. I do not feel that way about the
potential Senate bill, and even though I have not seen or read the
Senate bill in its entirety, I have a lot of concerns about what is
coming out of the Senate side of this bill.
Making research mandatory, for example, puts research funding at the
tune of $780 million on the same level with Social Security, VA
payments, Medicare and Medicaid, and unlike making a decision to
postpone research on certain kinds of plants and animals, one cannot
postpone payments on Social Security, and I do not think that the
Senate bill is right in trying to make research mandatory.
I also have concerns about the $300 million Fund for America, which
would allow the Secretary of Agriculture to have a pot of money that
could be used to reward or punish friends and enemies accordingly. I do
not think that is a proper thing, that we need to put more politics in
it.
I am also concerned about what this bill could do in terms of an
unfunded mandates to Medicaid to our States. I have a lot of concerns
about it, but I do want to emphasize, Mr. Speaker, I think the House
bill is the model which we need to pass. I do not think the Senate bill
is. I am very concerned that the Senate took a good and proper
fundamental use of taxpayers' money and a fundamental jurisdiction of
the Committee on Agriculture, and they have politicized it.
What I urge our Members to do as this bill goes to conference is to
stick to our guns; do not accept the Senate bill, do not accept the
Senate amendments, do not increase spending, do not increase unfunded
mandates, and do not create more mandatory entitlement programs.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California [Mr. Brown].
Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding this time to me.
I want to say, just in a general way, that I appreciate the work that
the chairman of the committee has done on this bill in moving it
forward. I think it is basically a good bill and I would like to see it
enacted.
Now, I have heard, as apparently others have, that there are some
problems having to do with the Senate bill, and I am sure the gentleman
has heard some of these; in fact, I think I heard some remarks just as
I was walking in with regard to that, and I would earnestly like to ask
the chairman to give full consideration to this, because if we have a
situation in which the Governors, as I understand they have continued
to find objections to this, and a large number of our welfare agencies
have objections to the Senate language, it is going to cause some
difficulty, as the gentleman would know, for many of the Democrats to
vote for the bill. I want to see this bill passed very solidly, as the
gentleman knows.
So I would just call that to the gentleman's attention, and if he can
in any way ameliorate the impact of that Senate language, why, it would
be very much appreciated by me and I am sure by many others on this
side, and we will see if we cannot emerge with a bill that we can all
support and which I know will be good for agriculture.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers on this
side, and I yield myself the remainder of the time.
The controversy that has been talked about on both sides of the aisle
concerning the Senate bill will have to be resolved in conference, as
all legislation is resolved in conference. Getting us to the floor
today was not an easy endeavor, and the gentleman from Texas [Mr.
Combest], the chairman of the subcommittee, and the gentleman from
California [Mr. Dooley], the ranking member, and all members of their
subcommittee did an excellent job of resolving some very, very strong
differences; and as they have stated, they were not totally satisfied
with their work, as I would agree with them, but they have done the
best they could do. I commend the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith],
chairman of the full committee, for his leadership in bringing us to
this point.
Now we are asking our colleagues in the House to join with us in
passing this bill so that we might go to the Senate and resolve those
issues, of which there are several. But one of which I would speak
particularly to is the administrative cost of the food stamp program of
$1.25 billion. Those moneys, and the Senate has agreed, those dollars
should be reserved for the Committee on Agriculture to be spent on
food, hunger, nutrition.
I happen to agree very strongly myself with the comments of the
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hall] and the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Serrano], but there are differences of opinion in this, and I believe
we can work them out in a conference.
Yes, the States are very opposed to this. They would much rather
control the expenditure of those funds, if there are any funds there,
which also has yet to be resolved. I understand that. But I would hope
that all of our colleagues in this body would stay with the House
Committee on Agriculture and with the Senate on this provision and work
it out in a satisfactory way.
I particularly want to acknowledge, as the gentleman from Oregon [Mr.
Smith] did earlier, and the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Skeen], that
we have had a very good working relationship on this bill between the
appropriators on the House side and the House Committee on Agriculture.
That is something that we have not had as good a relationship in years
past as we now have.
I will just say in concluding that this Member will do everything on
our part, working with Members on my side on appropriations and on the
Committee on Agriculture, to work in the conference to see that we
satisfy a majority of the House Members in resolving this issue. I
would hope that all of our colleagues would join with us today in
passing this legislation at this moment today so that we might get to
that conference and work those out in the same spirit of cooperation
that has brought us here today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about this. This bill has nothing to do
with the criticism that we have heard from several Members. This bill,
as we call it, is a very clean reauthorization bill of the research
title, which has not been reauthorized for some many years now. The
subcommittee and the full committee I think found that there were few
differences on this bill, but when there were, we resolved them so that
we will have unanimous support from both Democrats and Republicans from
the Committee on Agriculture, and as we should from this House of
Representatives, because we were very careful to make sure that
Members' concerns were answered in committee, as we have always done.
This committee, my colleagues will find, if they have not found
already, is very concerned about its bipartisanship, and it is very
concerned about bringing regions of this great Nation together on
agriculture, which we have been very successful in doing. And here
again, we come before the House with a unanimous effort.
Now, the issues that have been discussed indeed are very difficult
issues. Any time there is $1.25 billion at stake, Members become very
anxious about where they are spent, how they are spent, and on which
priorities they may be spent. We hear all of those concerns.
The conference committee will be made up of Republicans and
Democrats, most of whom we see here today. So Members' concerns have
been heard, and our job now is to try to sit down in this very short
time with the Senate and see if there is any way that we can take care
of the concerns that we have in the House and complement them with the
Senate.
So I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is an important
position that we take now. There is about 2.8
[[Page H10371]]
billion dollars' worth of research here that is authorized,
reauthorized. It is essential to this Nation if we are indeed going to
be competitive throughout the world.
Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2534, the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reauthorization Act for 1997.
I have had the opportunity to meet with farmers, producers, and
processors from northeast Indiana, as well as Dean Vic Lechtenberg of
Purdue University's School of Agriculture. They have emphasized that
the excellent research and extension education system of our land grant
universities and the USDA has allowed U.S. agriculture to provide the
lowest cost and highest quality food supply in the world.
As you know, agriculture is an extremely important industry, not only
to my home State of Indiana, but many other parts of the country as
well.
In the 1996 farm bill, we made great strides in bringing agriculture
production into a new era of technological competitiveness. As American
agriculture relies more on world markets, it is imperative that its
technology and human resources continue to be strong.
Without superb technology and an outstanding education system, U.S.
producers and processors will be unable to compete effectively with
other nations where labor and other costs are less.
There is little doubt that our agricultural industry will need the
necessary tools to compete in the global market with technology based
research.
The passage of this legislation will provide State cooperative
extension service systems and State university agricultural research
programs the necessary tools to help direct this country in the future
and allow it to continue to be a world leader in agriculture.
As we work toward making sure that our Nation's books are balanced,
we must not do so at the expense of a safe, dependable, and abundant
food supply.
We simply must maintain agricultural research and funding at adequate
levels to ensure that American agriculture can remain competitive. For
these reasons, I encourage my colleagues to support this very important
bill.
Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith] that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2534, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________