[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8516-S8532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

  The text of the bill (H.R. 4101), as amended and passed by the Senate 
on July 16, 1998, is as follows:

       Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives 
     (H.R. 4101) entitled ``An Act to making appropriations for 
     Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, 
     and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 1999, and for other purposes.'', do pass with 
     the following amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
     That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, 
     Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1999, and for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                         AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, and not to exceed $75,000 for employment under 5 
     U.S.C. 3109, $2,836,000: Provided, That not to exceed $11,000 
     of this amount, along with any unobligated balances of 
     representation funds in the Foreign Agricultural Service, 
     shall be available for official reception and representation 
     expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the 
     Secretary.

                          Executive Operations


                            chief economist

       For necessary expenses of the Chief Economist, including 
     economic analysis, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, 
     and the functions of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, as 
     authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
     U.S.C. 1622g), and including employment pursuant to the 
     second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 
     (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $5,000 is for 
     employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $5,048,000.


                       national appeals division

       For necessary expenses of the National Appeals Division, 
     including employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
     section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of 
     which not to exceed $25,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
     3109, $11,718,000.

                 Office of Budget and Program Analysis

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program 
     Analysis, including employment pursuant to the second 
     sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $5,000 is for employment 
     under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $5,986,000.

                Office of the Chief Information Officer

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief 
     Information Officer, including employment pursuant to the 
     second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 
     (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for 
     employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $5,551,000.

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial 
     Officer, including employment pursuant to the second sentence 
     of section

[[Page S8517]]

     706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which 
     not to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, 
     $4,283,000: Provided, That the Chief Financial Officer shall 
     actively market cross-servicing activities of the National 
     Finance Center.

          Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Administration to carry out the 
     programs funded by this Act, $613,000.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to 
     Public Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 
     delegation of authority from the Administrator of General 
     Services to the Department of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 
     486, for programs and activities of the Department which are 
     included in this Act, and for the operation, maintenance, and 
     repair of Agriculture buildings, $132,184,000: Provided, That 
     in the event an agency within the Department should require 
     modification of space needs, the Secretary of Agriculture may 
     transfer a share of that agency's appropriation made 
     available by this Act to this appropriation, or may transfer 
     a share of this appropriation to that agency's appropriation, 
     but such transfers shall not exceed 5 percent of the funds 
     made available for space rental and related costs to or from 
     this account. In addition, for construction, repair, 
     improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed 
     equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the 
     programs of the Department, where not otherwise provided, 
     $5,000,000, to remain available until expended; making a 
     total appropriation of $137,184,000.

                       Hazardous Waste Management


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to 
     comply with the requirement of section 107(g) of the 
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
     Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the 
     Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961, 
     $15,700,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That appropriations and funds available herein to the 
     Department for Hazardous Waste Management may be transferred 
     to any agency of the Department for its use in meeting all 
     requirements pursuant to the above Acts on Federal and non-
     Federal lands.

                      Departmental Administration


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For Departmental Administration, $27,034,000, to provide 
     for necessary expenses for management support services to 
     offices of the Department and for general administration and 
     disaster management of the Department, repairs and 
     alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses 
     not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical 
     and efficient work of the Department, including employment 
     pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the 
     Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed 
     $10,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided, That 
     this appropriation shall be reimbursed from applicable 
     appropriations in this Act for travel expenses incident to 
     the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C. 551-558.


              Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

       For grants and contracts pursuant to section 2501 of the 
     Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
     U.S.C. 2279), $3,000,000, to remain available until expended.

     Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations to carry out 
     the programs funded by this Act, including programs involving 
     intergovernmental affairs and liaison within the executive 
     branch, $3,668,000: Provided, That no other funds 
     appropriated to the Department by this Act shall be available 
     to the Department for support of activities of congressional 
     relations: Provided further, That not less than $2,241,000 
     shall be transferred to agencies funded by this Act to 
     maintain personnel at the agency level.

                        Office of Communications

       For necessary expenses to carry on services relating to the 
     coordination of programs involving public affairs, for the 
     dissemination of agricultural information, and the 
     coordination of information, work, and programs authorized by 
     Congress in the Department, $8,138,000, including employment 
     pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the 
     Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed 
     $10,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
     3109, and not to exceed $2,000,000 may be used for farmers' 
     bulletins.

                    Office of the Inspector General


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector 
     General, including employment pursuant to the second sentence 
     of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), 
     and the Inspector General Act of 1978, $63,128,000, including 
     such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other 
     arrangements with public agencies and private persons 
     pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 
     1978, including a sum not to exceed $50,000 for employment 
     under 5 U.S.C. 3109; and including a sum not to exceed 
     $125,000, for certain confidential operational expenses, 
     including the payment of informants, to be expended under the 
     direction of the Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95-
     452 and section 1337 of Public Law 97-98: Provided, That 
     funds transferred to the Office of the Inspector General 
     through forfeiture proceedings or from the Department of 
     Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund or the Department of the 
     Treasury Forfeiture Fund, as a participating agency, as an 
     equitable share from the forfeiture of property in 
     investigations in which the Office of the Inspector General 
     participates, or through the granting of a Petition for 
     Remission or Mitigation, shall be deposited to the credit of 
     this account for law enforcement activities authorized under 
     the Inspector General Act of 1978, to remain available until 
     expended.

                     Office of the General Counsel

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the General 
     Counsel, $28,759,000.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics to 
     administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Economic 
     Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics 
     Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and the 
     Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
     $540,000.

                       Economic Research Service

       For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service in 
     conducting economic research and analysis, as authorized by 
     the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) 
     and other laws, $53,109,000: Provided, That this 
     appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to 
     the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 
     1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225).

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

       For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural 
     Statistics Service in conducting statistical reporting and 
     service work, including crop and livestock estimates, 
     statistical coordination and improvements, marketing surveys, 
     and the Census of Agriculture, as authorized by the 
     Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), the 
     Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-113), and 
     other laws, $103,964,000, of which up to $23,599,000 shall be 
     available until expended for the Census of Agriculture: 
     Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for 
     employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) 
     of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
     $40,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
     3109.

                     Agricultural Research Service


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural Research 
     Service to perform agricultural research and demonstration 
     relating to production, utilization, marketing, and 
     distribution (not otherwise provided for); home economics or 
     nutrition and consumer use including the acquisition, 
     preservation, and dissemination of agricultural information; 
     and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or 
     purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, and for land 
     exchanges where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value 
     or shall be equalized by a payment of money to the grantor 
     which shall not exceed 25 percent of the total value of the 
     land or interests transferred out of Federal ownership, 
     $768,221,000: Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall 
     be available for temporary employment pursuant to the second 
     sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $115,000 shall be available 
     for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That 
     appropriations hereunder shall be available for the operation 
     and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed 
     one for replacement only: Provided further, That 
     appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 
     U.S.C. 2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of 
     buildings and improvements, but unless otherwise provided, 
     the cost of constructing any one building shall not exceed 
     $250,000, except for headhouses or greenhouses which shall 
     each be limited to $1,000,000, and except for ten buildings 
     to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed 
     $500,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building 
     during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the 
     current replacement value of the building or $250,000, 
     whichever is greater: Provided further, That the limitations 
     on alterations contained in this Act shall not apply to 
     modernization or replacement of existing facilities at 
     Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That appropriations 
     hereunder shall be available for granting easements at the 
     Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, including an 
     easement to the University of Maryland to construct the 
     Transgenic Animal Facility which upon completion shall be 
     accepted by the Secretary as a gift: Provided further, That 
     the foregoing limitations shall not apply to replacement of 
     buildings needed to carry out the Act of April 24, 1948 (21 
     U.S.C. 113a): Provided further, That funds may be received 
     from any State, other political subdivision, organization, or 
     individual for the purpose of establishing or operating any 
     research facility or research project of the Agricultural 
     Research Service, as authorized by law.
       None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
     available to carry out research related to the production, 
     processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products.
       In the fiscal year 1999, the agency is authorized to charge 
     fees, commensurate with the fair market value, for any 
     permit, easement, lease, or other special use authorization 
     for the occupancy or use of land and facilities (including 
     land and facilities at the Beltsville Agricultural Research 
     Center) issued by the agency, as authorized by law, and such 
     fees shall be credited to this account, and remain available 
     until expended, for authorized purposes.


                        Buildings and Facilities

       For acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, 
     extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or 
     facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural 
     research

[[Page S8518]]

     programs of the Department of Agriculture, where not 
     otherwise provided, $31,930,000, to remain available until 
     expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That funds may be 
     received from any State, other political subdivision, 
     organization, or individual for the purpose of establishing 
     any research facility of the Agricultural Research Service, 
     as authorized by law, and an additional $13,500,000 is 
     provided to be available on October 1, 1999 under the 
     provisions of this paragraph.

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


                   Research and Education Activities

       For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for 
     cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and 
     for other expenses, including $173,796,000 to carry into 
     effect the provisions of the Hatch Act (7 U.S.C. 361a-i); 
     $21,112,000 for grants for cooperative forestry research (16 
     U.S.C. 582a-a7); $28,567,000 for payments to the 1890 land-
     grant colleges, including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 
     3222); $51,400,000 for special grants for agricultural 
     research (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $15,048,000 for special grants 
     for agricultural research on improved pest control (7 U.S.C. 
     450i(c)); $92,200,000 for competitive research grants (7 
     U.S.C. 450i(b)); $4,918,000 for the support of animal health 
     and disease programs (7 U.S.C. 3195); $550,000 for 
     supplemental and alternative crops and products (7 U.S.C. 
     3319d); $600,000 for grants for research pursuant to the 
     Critical Agricultural Materials Act of 1984 (7 U.S.C. 178) 
     and section 1472 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 
     U.S.C. 3318), to remain available until expended; $3,000,000 
     for higher education graduate fellowship grants (7 U.S.C. 
     3152(b)(6)), to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 
     2209b); $4,350,000 for higher education challenge grants (7 
     U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)); $1,000,000 for a higher education 
     multicultural scholars program (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(5)), to 
     remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $2,500,000 
     for an education grants program for Hispanic-serving 
     Institutions (7 U.S.C. 3241); $1,000,000 for a secondary 
     agriculture education program (7 U.S.C. 3152 (h)); $4,000,000 
     for aquaculture grants (7 U.S.C. 3322); $8,000,000 for 
     sustainable agriculture research and education (7 U.S.C. 
     5811); $9,200,000 for a program of capacity building grants 
     (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)) to colleges eligible to receive funds 
     under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328), 
     including Tuskegee University, to remain available until 
     expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $1,494,000 for payments to the 
     1994 Institutions pursuant to section 534(a)(1) of Public Law 
     103-382; and $10,247,000 for necessary expenses of Research 
     and Education Activities, of which not to exceed $100,000 
     shall be for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; in all, 
     $432,982,000: Provided, That of the $2,000,000 made available 
     for a food safety competitive research program at least 
     $550,000 shall be available for research on E.coli:0157H7.
       None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
     available to carry out research related to the production, 
     processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products.

              Native American Institutions Endowment Fund

       For establishment of a Native American institutions 
     endowment fund, as authorized by Public Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 
     301 note), $4,600,000.

                          Extension Activities

       Payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
     Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and 
     American Samoa: For payments for cooperative extension work 
     under the Smith-Lever Act, to be distributed under sections 
     3(b) and 3(c) of said Act, and under section 208(c) of Public 
     Law 93-471, for retirement and employees' compensation costs 
     for extension agents and for costs of penalty mail for 
     cooperative extension agents and State extension directors, 
     $276,548,000; payments for extension work at the 1994 
     Institutions under the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)), 
     $2,060,000; payments for the nutrition and family education 
     program for low-income areas under section 3(d) of the Act, 
     $58,695,000; payments for the pest management program under 
     section 3(d) of the Act, $10,783,000; payments for the farm 
     safety program under section 3(d) of the Act, $2,855,000; 
     payments for the pesticide impact assessment program under 
     section 3(d) of the Act, $3,214,000; payments to upgrade 1890 
     land-grant college research, extension, and teaching 
     facilities as authorized by section 1447 of Public Law 95-113 
     (7 U.S.C. 3222b), $8,304,000, to remain available until 
     expended; payments for the rural development centers under 
     section 3(d) of the Act, $908,000; payments for a groundwater 
     quality program under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,061,000; 
     payments for the agricultural telecommunications program, as 
     authorized by Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 5926), $900,000; 
     payments for youth-at-risk programs under section 3(d) of the 
     Act, $9,554,000; payments for a food safety program under 
     section 3(d) of the Act, $2,365,000; payments for carrying 
     out the provisions of the Renewable Resources Extension Act 
     of 1978, $3,192,000; payments for Indian reservation agents 
     under section 3(d) of the Act, $1,756,000; payments for 
     sustainable agriculture programs under section 3(d) of the 
     Act, $3,309,000; payments for rural health and safety 
     education as authorized by section 2390 of Public Law 101-624 
     (7 U.S.C. 2661 note, 2662), $2,628,000; payments for 
     cooperative extension work by the colleges receiving the 
     benefits of the second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328) 
     and Tuskegee University, $25,843,000; and for Federal 
     administration and coordination including administration of 
     the Smith-Lever Act, and the Act of September 29, 1977 (7 
     U.S.C. 341-349), and section 1361(c) of the Act of October 3, 
     1980 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), and to coordinate and provide 
     program leadership for the extension work of the Department 
     and the several States and insular possessions, $10,206,000; 
     in all, $432,181,000: Provided, That funds hereby 
     appropriated pursuant to section 3(c) of the Act of June 26, 
     1953, and section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, shall not 
     be paid to any State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
     Guam, or the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, 
     and American Samoa prior to availability of an equal sum from 
     non-Federal sources for expenditure during the current fiscal 
     year.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs to 
     administer programs under the laws enacted by the Congress 
     for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the 
     Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Grain Inspection, 
     Packers and Stockyards Administration, $618,000.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service


                         Salaries and Expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For expenses, not otherwise provided for, including those 
     pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1947 (21 U.S.C. 114b-c), 
     necessary to prevent, control, and eradicate pests and plant 
     and animal diseases; to carry out inspection, quarantine, and 
     regulatory activities; to discharge the authorities of the 
     Secretary of Agriculture under the Act of March 2, 1931 (46 
     Stat. 1468; 7 U.S.C. 426-426b); and to protect the 
     environment, as authorized by law, $419,473,000, of which 
     $3,099,000 shall be available for the control of outbreaks of 
     insects, plant diseases, animal diseases and for control of 
     pest animals and birds to the extent necessary to meet 
     emergency conditions: Provided, That no funds shall be used 
     to formulate or administer a brucellosis eradication program 
     for the current fiscal year that does not require minimum 
     matching by the States of at least 40 percent: Provided 
     further, That this appropriation shall be available for field 
     employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) 
     of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
     $40,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
     3109: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be 
     available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and 
     the purchase of not to exceed four, of which two shall be for 
     replacement only: Provided further, That, in addition, in 
     emergencies which threaten any segment of the agricultural 
     production industry of this country, the Secretary may 
     transfer from other appropriations or funds available to the 
     agencies or corporations of the Department such sums as may 
     be deemed necessary, to be available only in such emergencies 
     for the arrest and eradication of contagious or infectious 
     disease or pests of animals, poultry, or plants, and for 
     expenses in accordance with the Act of February 28, 1947, and 
     section 102 of the Act of September 21, 1944, and any 
     unexpended balances of funds transferred for such emergency 
     purposes in the next preceding fiscal year shall be merged 
     with such transferred amounts: Provided further, That 
     appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to law 
     (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the repair and alteration of leased 
     buildings and improvements, but unless otherwise provided, 
     the cost of altering any one building during the fiscal year 
     shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value 
     of the building: Provided further, That, of the amounts made 
     available under this heading, not less than $22,970,000 shall 
     be used for fruit fly exclusion and detection.
       In fiscal year 1999, the agency is authorized to collect 
     fees to cover the total costs of providing technical 
     assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other 
     political subdivisions, domestic and international 
     organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided 
     that such fees are structured such that any entity's 
     liability for such fees is reasonably based on the technical 
     assistance, goods, or services provided to the entity by the 
     agency, and such fees shall be credited to this account, to 
     remain available until expended, without further 
     appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or 
     services.
        Of the total amount available under this heading in fiscal 
     year 1999, $88,000,000 shall be derived from user fees 
     deposited in the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fee 
     Account.


                        Buildings and Facilities

       For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, 
     environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, 
     and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized 
     by 7 U.S.C. 2250, and acquisition of land as authorized by 7 
     U.S.C. 428a, $4,200,000, to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
     shall enter into a cooperative agreement for construction of 
     a Federal large animal biosafety level-3 containment facility 
     in Iowa.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           Marketing Services

       For necessary expenses to carry on services related to 
     consumer protection, agricultural marketing and distribution, 
     transportation, and regulatory programs, as authorized by 
     law, and for administration and coordination of payments to 
     States; including field employment pursuant to the second 
     sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $90,000 for employment under 
     5 U.S.C. 3109, $45,567,000, including funds for the wholesale 
     market development program for the design and development of 
     wholesale and farmer market facilities for the major 
     metropolitan areas of the country: Provided, That this 
     appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 
     2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and 
     improvements, but the cost of altering any one building 
     during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the 
     current replacement value of the building.

[[Page S8519]]

       Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization 
     activities, as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 
     U.S.C. 9701).


                 limitation on administrative expenses

       Not to exceed $59,521,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
     obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative 
     expenses: Provided, That if crop size is understated and/or 
     other uncontrollable events occur, the agency may exceed this 
     limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the 
     Appropriations Committees.


    Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply (Section 32)

                     (including transfers of funds)

       Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 
     1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) shall be used only for commodity program 
     expenses as authorized therein, and other related operating 
     expenses, except for: (1) transfers to the Department of 
     Commerce as authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 
     8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in this Act; and 
     (3) not more than $10,998,000 for formulation and 
     administration of marketing agreements and orders pursuant to 
     the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and the 
     Agricultural Act of 1961.


                   Payments to States and Possessions

       For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and 
     departments of markets, and similar agencies for marketing 
     activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing 
     Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)), $1,200,000.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
     United States Grain Standards Act, for the administration of 
     the Packers and Stockyards Act, for certifying procedures 
     used to protect purchasers of farm products, and the 
     standardization activities related to grain under the 
     Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, including field 
     employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) 
     of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
     $25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $26,390,000: 
     Provided, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant 
     to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of 
     buildings and improvements, but the cost of altering any one 
     building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent 
     of the current replacement value of the building.


                    Inspection and Weighing Services

         limitation on inspection and weighing service expenses

       Not to exceed $42,557,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
     obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and 
     weighing services: Provided, That if grain export activities 
     require additional supervision and oversight, or other 
     uncontrollable factors occur, this limitation may be exceeded 
     by up to 10 percent with notification to the Appropriations 
     Committees.


             Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Food Safety to administer the laws 
     enacted by the Congress for the Food Safety and Inspection 
     Service, $446,000.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses to carry on services authorized by 
     the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products 
     Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, 
     $605,149,000, and in addition, $1,000,000 may be credited to 
     this account from fees collected for the cost of laboratory 
     accreditation as authorized by section 1017 of Public Law 
     102-237: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be 
     available for shell egg surveillance under section 5(d) of 
     the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1034(d)): Provided 
     further, That this appropriation shall be available for field 
     employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) 
     of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
     $75,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
     3109: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be 
     available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration 
     and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of 
     altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not 
     exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the 
     building.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to 
     administer the laws enacted by Congress for the Farm Service 
     Agency, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Risk Management 
     Agency, and the Commodity Credit Corporation, $572,000.

                          Farm Service Agency


                         Salaries and Expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration 
     and implementation of programs administered by the Farm 
     Service Agency, $710,842,000: Provided, That the Secretary is 
     authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities 
     (but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
     make program payments for all programs administered by the 
     Agency: Provided further, That other funds made available to 
     the Agency for authorized activities may be advanced to and 
     merged with this account: Provided further, That these funds 
     shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
     sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be available 
     for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.


                         State Mediation Grants

       For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural 
     Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), $2,000,000.


                        Dairy Indemnity Program

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity 
     payments to dairy farmers for milk or cows producing such 
     milk and manufacturers of dairy products who have been 
     directed to remove their milk or dairy products from 
     commercial markets because it contained residues of chemicals 
     registered and approved for use by the Federal Government, 
     and in making indemnity payments for milk, or cows producing 
     such milk, at a fair market value to any dairy farmer who is 
     directed to remove his milk from commercial markets because 
     of: (1) the presence of products of nuclear radiation or 
     fallout if such contamination is not due to the fault of the 
     farmer; or (2) residues of chemicals or toxic substances not 
     included under the first sentence of the Act of August 13, 
     1968 (7 U.S.C. 450j), if such chemicals or toxic substances 
     were not used in a manner contrary to applicable regulations 
     or labeling instructions provided at the time of use and the 
     contamination is not due to the fault of the farmer, 
     $450,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 
     2209b): Provided, That none of the funds contained in this 
     Act shall be used to make indemnity payments to any farmer 
     whose milk was removed from commercial markets as a result of 
     the farmer's willful failure to follow procedures prescribed 
     by the Federal Government: Provided further, That this amount 
     shall be transferred to the Commodity Credit Corporation: 
     Provided further, That the Secretary is authorized to utilize 
     the services, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation for the purpose of making dairy indemnity 
     disbursements.


           Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
     and guaranteed loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, to 
     be available from funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance 
     Fund, as follows: farm ownership loans, $510,649,000, of 
     which $425,000,000 shall be for guaranteed loans; operating 
     loans, $1,788,378,000, of which $992,906,000 shall be for 
     unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $235,000,000 shall be for 
     subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition 
     loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $1,000,000; for 
     emergency insured loans, $25,000,000 to meet the needs 
     resulting from natural disasters; and for boll weevil 
     eradication program loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, 
     $40,000,000.
       For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the 
     cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm ownership 
     loans, $19,580,000, of which $6,758,000 shall be for 
     guaranteed loans; operating loans, $70,337,000, of which 
     $11,518,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and 
     $20,539,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian 
     tribe land acquisition loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, 
     $153,000; for emergency insured loans, $5,900,000 to meet the 
     needs resulting from natural disasters; and for boll weevil 
     eradication program loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, 
     $576,000.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $219,861,000, of 
     which $209,861,000 shall be transferred to and merged with 
     the appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.

                         Risk Management Agency


                 Administrative and Operating Expenses

       For administrative and operating expenses, as authorized by 
     the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 
     U.S.C. 6933), $64,000,000: Provided, That not to exceed $700 
     shall be available for official reception and representation 
     expenses, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1506(i).

                              CORPORATIONS

       The following corporations and agencies are hereby 
     authorized to make expenditures, within the limits of funds 
     and borrowing authority available to each such corporation or 
     agency and in accord with law, and to make contracts and 
     commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
     provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control 
     Act as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set 
     forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for such 
     corporation or agency, except as hereinafter provided.


                Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund

       For payments as authorized by section 516 of the Federal 
     Crop Insurance Act, such sums as may be necessary, to remain 
     available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund


                 reimbursement for net realized losses

       For fiscal year 1999, such sums as may be necessary to 
     reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized 
     losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed (estimated to 
     be $8,439,000,000 in the President's fiscal year 1999 Budget 
     Request (H. Doc. 105-177)), but not to exceed $8,439,000,000, 
     pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 17, 1961 (15 
     U.S.C. 713a-11).


       operations and maintenance for hazardous waste management

       For fiscal year 1999, the Commodity Credit Corporation 
     shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for expenses to comply 
     with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive 
     Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 
     U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the Resource Conservation 
     and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961: Provided, That expenses 
     shall be for operations and maintenance costs only and that 
     other hazardous waste management costs shall be paid for by 
     the USDA Hazardous Waste Management appropriation in this 
     Act.

[[Page S8520]]

                          DISASTER ASSISTANCE

       For necessary expenses to provide assistance to 
     agricultural producers in a county with respect to which a 
     disaster or emergency was declared by the President or the 
     Secretary of Agriculture by July 15, 1998, as a result of 
     drought and fire, through--
       (1) the forestry incentives program established under the 
     Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 
     et seq.), $9,000,000;
       (2) a livestock indemnity program carried out in accordance 
     with part 1439 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     $300,000;
       (3) the emergency conservation program authorized under 
     sections 401, 402, and 404 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 
     1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201, 2202, 2204), $2,000,000; and
       (4) the disaster reserve assistance program established 
     under section 813 of the Agricultural Act of 1970 (7 U.S.C. 
     1427a), $10,000,000;

     to remain available until expended: Provided, That the entire 
     amount shall be available only to the extent that the 
     President submits to Congress an official budget request for 
     a specific dollar amount that includes designation of the 
     entire amount of the request as an emergency requirement for 
     the purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.): Provided further, 
     That the entire amount of funds necessary to carry out this 
     paragraph is designated by Congress as an emergency 
     requirement under section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 
     901(b)(2)(A)).

                          Reserve Inventories

       For the reserve established under section 813 of the 
     Agricultural Act of 1970 (7 U.S.C. 1427a), $500,000,000: 
     Provided, That the entire amount shall be available only to 
     the extent that the President submits to Congress an official 
     budget request for a specific dollar amount that includes 
     designation of the entire amount of the request as an 
     emergency requirement for the purposes of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et 
     seq.): Provided further, That the entire amount of funds 
     necessary to carry out this paragraph is designated by 
     Congress as an emergency requirement under section 
     251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)).

                                TITLE II

                         CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment to 
     administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Forest 
     Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
     $693,000.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                        Conservation Operations

       For necessary expenses for carrying out the programs 
     administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
     including the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 
     U.S.C. 590a-f), including preparation of conservation plans 
     and establishment of measures to conserve soil and water 
     (including farm irrigation and land drainage and such special 
     measures for soil and water management as may be necessary to 
     prevent floods and the siltation of reservoirs and to control 
     agricultural related pollutants); operation of conservation 
     plant materials centers; classification and mapping of soil; 
     dissemination of information; acquisition of lands, water, 
     and interests therein for use in the plant materials program 
     by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to 
     exceed $100 pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 
     428a); purchase and erection or alteration or improvement of 
     permanent and temporary buildings; and operation and 
     maintenance of aircraft, $638,664,000, to remain available 
     until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b), of which not less than 
     $5,835,000 is for snow survey and water forecasting and not 
     less than $9,025,000 is for operation and establishment of 
     the plant materials centers: Provided, That, of the total 
     amount appropriated, $433,000 shall be used, along with prior 
     year appropriations provided for this project, to complete 
     construction of the Alderson Plant Materials Center, 
     Alderson, West Virginia: Provided, further, That 
     appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 
     U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of buildings and 
     public improvements at plant materials centers, except that 
     the cost of alterations and improvements to other buildings 
     and other public improvements shall not exceed $250,000: 
     Provided further, That when buildings or other structures are 
     erected on non-Federal land, that the right to use such land 
     is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a: Provided further, 
     That this appropriation shall be available for technical 
     assistance and related expenses to carry out programs 
     authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the Colorado 
     River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (43 U.S.C. 1592(c)): 
     Provided further, That no part of this appropriation may be 
     expended for soil and water conservation operations under the 
     Act of April 27, 1935 in demonstration projects: Provided 
     further, That this appropriation shall be available for 
     employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) 
     of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
     $25,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
     3109: Provided further, That qualified local engineers may be 
     temporarily employed at per diem rates to perform the 
     technical planning work of the Service (16 U.S.C. 590e-2).


                     Watershed Surveys and Planning

       For necessary expenses to conduct research, investigation, 
     and surveys of watersheds of rivers and other waterways, and 
     for small watershed investigations and planning, in 
     accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 
     Act approved August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1001-1009), 
     $11,190,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
     available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
     section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), 
     and not to exceed $110,000 shall be available for employment 
     under 5 U.S.C. 3109.


               Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations

       For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, 
     including but not limited to research, engineering 
     operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of 
     vegetation, rehabilitation of existing works and changes in 
     use of land, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and 
     Flood Prevention Act approved August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1001-
     1005, 1007-1009), the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 
     (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), and in accordance with the provisions of 
     laws relating to the activities of the Department, 
     $101,036,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 
     2209b) (of which up to $15,000,000 may be available for the 
     watersheds authorized under the Flood Control Act approved 
     June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701, 16 U.S.C. 1006a)): Provided, 
     That this appropriation shall be available for employment 
     pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the 
     Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
     $200,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
     3109: Provided further, That not to exceed $1,000,000 of this 
     appropriation is available to carry out the purposes of the 
     Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-205), including 
     cooperative efforts as contemplated by that Act to relocate 
     endangered or threatened species to other suitable habitats 
     as may be necessary to expedite project construction.


                 Resource Conservation and Development

       For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out 
     projects for resource conservation and development and for 
     sound land use pursuant to the provisions of section 32(e) of 
     title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1010-1011; 76 Stat. 607), the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 
     U.S.C. 590a-f), and the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (16 
     U.S.C. 3451-3461), $34,377,000, to remain available until 
     expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That this appropriation 
     shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
     sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $50,000 shall be available 
     for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.


                      Forestry Incentives Program

       For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, to 
     carry out the program of forestry incentives, as authorized 
     by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
     2101), including technical assistance and related expenses, 
     $6,325,000, to remain available until expended, as authorized 
     by that Act.

                               TITLE III

           RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Rural Development to administer programs 
     under the laws enacted by the Congress for the Rural Housing 
     Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the 
     Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture, 
     $588,000.


                  Rural Community Advancement Program

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, 
     as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, and 1932, 
     except for sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated Farm 
     and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), $702,601,000, to 
     remain available until expended, of which $29,786,000 shall 
     be for rural community programs described in section 
     381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
     Act; of which $622,522,000 shall be for the rural utilities 
     programs described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act; and of 
     which $47,893,000 shall be for the rural business and 
     cooperative development programs described in section 
     381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided, That of the amount 
     appropriated for the rural business and cooperative 
     development programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made 
     available for a grant to a qualified national organization to 
     provide technical assistance for rural transportation in 
     order to promote economic development: Provided further, That 
     of the total amount appropriated, 3 percent shall be reserved 
     for federally recognized Indian tribes through July 31, 1999, 
     and if not used by Indian tribes shall be available for use 
     by other qualified applicants: Provided further, That of the 
     total amount appropriated, not to exceed $70,000 shall be 
     available under 7 U.S.C. 381O and shall be used only for 
     demonstration programs: Provided further, That of the amount 
     appropriated for rural utilities programs, not to exceed 
     $20,000,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems to 
     benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico border, 
     including grants pursuant to section 306C of such Act; not to 
     exceed $25,000,000 shall be for water and waste disposal 
     systems for rural and native villages in Alaska pursuant to 
     section 306D of such Act; not to exceed $16,215,000 shall be 
     for technical assistance grants for rural waste systems 
     pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act; and not to exceed 
     $5,200,000 shall be for contracting with qualified national 
     organizations for a circuit rider program to provide 
     technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided 
     further, That of the total amount appropriated, $2,800,000 
     shall be available for a community improvement project in 
     Arkansas: Provided further, That of the total amount 
     appropriated, not to exceed $33,926,000 shall be available 
     through June 30, 1999, for empowerment zones and enterprise 
     communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66, of which 
     $1,844,000 shall be for rural community programs described in 
     section

[[Page S8521]]

     381E(d)(1) of such Act; of which $24,900,100 shall be for the 
     rural utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2) of 
     such Act; of which $8,134,000 shall be for the rural business 
     and cooperative development programs described in section 
     381E(d)(3) of such Act.


                         Rural Housing Service

              Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
     and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing 
     Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing 
     insurance fund, as follows: $4,000,000,000 for loans to 
     section 502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of 
     which $3,000,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed 
     loans; $30,000,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; 
     $75,000,000 for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing 
     loans; $15,758,000 for section 514 farm labor housing; 
     $128,640,000 for section 515 rental housing; $5,000,000 for 
     section 524 site loans; $25,000,000 for credit sales of 
     acquired property, of which up to $4,000,000 may be for 
     multi-family credit sales; and $5,000,000 for section 523 
     self-help housing land development loans.
       For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the 
     cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 
     loans, $120,900,000, of which $2,700,000 shall be for 
     unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair 
     loans, $10,569,000; section 538 multi-family housing 
     guaranteed loans, $1,740,000; section 514 farm labor housing, 
     $8,199,000; section 515 rental housing, $62,069,000; section 
     524 site loans, $16,000; credit sales of acquired property, 
     $3,826,000, of which up to $1,932,000 may be for multi-family 
     credit sales; and section 523 self-help housing land 
     development loans, $282,000: Provided, That of the total 
     amount appropriated in this paragraph, $10,380,100 shall be 
     for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as 
     authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if 
     such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and 
     enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, they shall remain 
     available for other authorized purposes under this head.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $360,785,000, 
     which shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Rural Housing Service, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.


                       Rental Assistance Program

       For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed 
     pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or 
     agreements entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or 
     payments for eligible households as authorized by section 
     502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, $583,397,000; and, 
     in addition, such sums as may be necessary, as authorized by 
     section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior 
     to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance 
     program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of 
     this amount, not more than $5,900,000 shall be available for 
     debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as 
     authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to 
     exceed $10,000 per project for advances to nonprofit 
     organizations or public agencies to cover direct costs (other 
     than purchase price) incurred in purchasing projects pursuant 
     to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Provided further, That 
     agreements entered into or renewed during fiscal year 1999 
     shall be funded for a five-year period, although the life of 
     any such agreement may be extended to fully utilize amounts 
     obligated.


                  Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants

       For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) 
     of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $26,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, 
     That of the total amount appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be 
     for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as 
     authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if 
     such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and 
     enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, they shall remain 
     available for other authorized purposes under this head.


                    Rural Housing Assistance Grants

       For grants and contracts for housing for domestic farm 
     labor, very low-income housing repair, supervisory and 
     technical assistance, compensation for construction defects, 
     and rural housing preservation made by the Rural Housing 
     Service, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474, 1479(c), 1486, 
     1490e, and 1490m, $45,720,000, to remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, 
     $1,372,000 shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise 
     communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided 
     further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment 
     zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, they shall 
     remain available for other authorized purposes under this 
     head.


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing Service, 
     including administering the programs authorized by the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, title V of the 
     Housing Act of 1949, and cooperative agreements, $60,978,000: 
     Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for 
     employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) 
     of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
     $520,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: 
     Provided futher, That the Administrator may expend not more 
     than $10,000 to provide modest nonmonetary awards to non-USDA 
     employees.

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service


              Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the cost of direct loans, $16,615,000, as authorized by 
     the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)): 
     Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying 
     such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That 
     these funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for 
     the principal amount of direct loans of $33,000,000: Provided 
     further, That through June 30, 1999, of the total amount 
     appropriated, $3,215,520 shall be available for the cost of 
     direct loans for empowerment zones and enterprise 
     communities, as authorized by title XIII of the Omnibus 
     Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, to subsidize gross 
     obligations for the principal amount of direct loans, 
     $7,246,000: Provided further, That if such funds are not 
     obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by 
     June 30, 1999, they shall remain available for other 
     authorized purposes under this head.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     direct loan programs, $3,482,000 shall be transferred to and 
     merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Business-
     Cooperative Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


            Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized 
     under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the 
     purpose of promoting rural economic development and job 
     creation projects, $23,000,000.
       For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of 
     modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $5,801,000.
       Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit 
     payments in fiscal year 1999, as authorized by section 313 of 
     the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $3,783,000 shall not 
     be obligated and $3,783,000 are rescinded.


                  Rural Cooperative Development Grants

       For rural cooperative development grants authorized under 
     section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $3,000,000, of which 
     $1,300,000 shall be available for cooperative agreements for 
     the appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program 
     and $250,000 shall be available for an agribusiness and 
     cooperative development program.


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Rural Business-Cooperative 
     Service, including administering the programs authorized by 
     the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; section 1323 
     of the Food Security Act of 1985; the Cooperative Marketing 
     Act of 1926; for activities relating to the marketing aspects 
     of cooperatives, including economic research findings, as 
     authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; for 
     activities with institutions concerning the development and 
     operation of agricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative 
     agreements; $25,680,000: Provided, That this appropriation 
     shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
     sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $260,000 may be used for 
     employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

  Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation 
                             Revolving Fund

       For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative 
     Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 
     U.S.C. 5901-5908), $7,000,000 are appropriated to the 
     Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization 
     Corporation Revolving Fund.

                        Rural Utilities Service


   Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of 
     the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be 
     made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, 
     $71,500,000; 5 percent rural telecommunications loans, 
     $75,000,000; cost of money rural telecommunications loans, 
     $250,000,000; municipal rate rural electric loans, 
     $295,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section 306 of that 
     Act, rural electric, $700,000,000 and rural 
     telecommunications, $120,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended.
       For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
     modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by 
     the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935 and 936), 
     as follows: cost of direct loans, $16,667,000; cost of 
     municipal rate loans, $25,842,000; cost of money rural 
     telecommunications loans, $675,000: Provided, That 
     notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural 
     Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may 
     exceed 7 percent per year.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, 
     which shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.


                  Rural Telephone Bank Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such 
     expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such 
     corporation in accord with law, and to make such contracts 
     and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
     provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control 
     Act, as may be necessary in carrying out its authorized 
     programs. During fiscal year 1999 and within the resources 
     and authority available, gross obligations for the principal 
     amount of direct loans shall be $140,000,000.
       For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the

[[Page S8522]]

     cost of modifying loans, of direct loans authorized by the 
     Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), $3,710,000.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the loan programs, $3,000,000, which shall be transferred 
     to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Utilities 
     Service, Salaries and Expenses''.

               Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program

       For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized by 7 
     U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $12,680,000, to remain available until 
     expended, to be available for loans and grants for 
     telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas: 
     Provided, That the costs of direct loans shall be as defined 
     in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service, 
     including administering the programs authorized by the Rural 
     Electrification Act of 1936, and the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act, and for cooperative agreements, 
     $33,000,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
     available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
     section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), 
     and not to exceed $105,000 may be used for employment under 5 
     U.S.C. 3109.

                                TITLE IV

                         DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to 
     administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food and 
     Nutrition Service, $554,000.

                        Child Nutrition Programs


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses to carry out the National School 
     Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section 21, and 
     the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), 
     except sections 17 and 21; $9,219,897,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2000, of which $4,171,747,000 
     are hereby appropriated and $5,048,150,000 shall be derived 
     by transfer from funds available under section 32 of the Act 
     of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Provided, That up to 
     $4,300,000 shall be available for independent verification of 
     school food service claims: Provided further, That none of 
     the funds under this heading shall be available unless the 
     value of bonus commodities provided under section 32 of the 
     Act of August 24, 1935 (49 Stat. 774, chapter 641; 7 U.S.C. 
     612c), and section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 
     U.S.C. 1431) is included in meeting the minimum commodity 
     assistance requirement of section 6(g) of the National School 
     Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(g)).

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children 
                                 (WIC)

       For necessary expenses to carry out the special 
     supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of 
     the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), 
     $3,948,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 
     2000: Provided, That up to $15,000,000 may be used to carry 
     out the farmers' market nutrition program: Provided further, 
     That none of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay 
     administrative expenses of WIC clinics, except those that 
     have an announced policy of prohibiting smoking within the 
     space used to carry out the program: Provided further, That 
     none of the funds provided in this account shall be available 
     for the purchase of infant formula except in accordance with 
     the cost containment and competitive bidding requirements 
     specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.


                           Food Stamp Program

       For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 
     U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $23,781,806,000, of which $100,000,000 
     shall be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and 
     at such times as may become necessary to carry out program 
     operations: Provided, That not to exceed $5,700,000 of the 
     funds made available under this head shall be used for 
     studies and evaluations: Provided further, That funds 
     provided herein shall be expended in accordance with section 
     16 of the Food Stamp Act: Provided further, That this 
     appropriation shall be subject to any work registration or 
     workfare requirements as may be required by law: Provided 
     further, That funds made available for Employment and 
     Training under this head shall remain available until 
     expended, as authorized by section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp 
     Act.

                      Commodity Assistance Program

       For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity 
     supplemental food program as authorized by section 4(a) of 
     the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 
     612c note) and the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, 
     $141,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2000: 
     Provided, That none of these funds shall be available to 
     reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities 
     donated to the program.


              Food Donations Programs for Selected Groups

       For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of the 
     Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 
     612c note), and section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 
     1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030a), $141,081,000, to remain available 
     through September 30, 2000.


                      Food Program Administration

       For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic food 
     programs funded under this Act, $109,069,000, of which 
     $5,000,000 shall be available only for simplifying 
     procedures, reducing overhead costs, tightening regulations, 
     improving food stamp coupon handling, and assistance in the 
     prevention, identification, and prosecution of fraud and 
     other violations of law: Provided, That this appropriation 
     shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
     sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $150,000 shall be available 
     for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

                                TITLE V

                FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

         Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, 
     including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 
     1954 (7 U.S.C. 1761-1768), market development activities 
     abroad, and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and 
     integrate activities of the Department in connection with 
     foreign agricultural work, including not to exceed $128,000 
     for representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to 
     section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), 
     $131,795,000: Provided, That of the total amount 
     appropriated, up to $2,000,000 is available solely for the 
     purpose of offsetting fluctuations in international currency 
     exchange rates and these funds and any other funds that are 
     deposited into the overseas exchange rate account shall be 
     available until expended: Provided further, That the Service 
     may utilize advances of funds, or reimburse this 
     appropriation for expenditures made on behalf of Federal 
     agencies, public and private organizations and institutions 
     under agreements executed pursuant to the agricultural food 
     production assistance programs (7 U.S.C. 1736) and the 
     foreign assistance programs of the International Development 
     Cooperation Administration (22 U.S.C. 2392).
       None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
     available to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco 
     products.


               Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise 
     recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including 
     interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade Development 
     and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691, 1701-1704, 1721-
     1726a, 1727-1727e, 1731-1736g-3, and 1737), as follows: (1) 
     $203,475,000 for Public Law 480 title I credit, including 
     Food for Progress programs; (2) $17,608,000 is hereby 
     appropriated for ocean freight differential costs for the 
     shipment of agricultural commodities pursuant to title I of 
     said Act and the Food for Progress Act of 1985; (3) 
     $837,000,000 is hereby appropriated for commodities supplied 
     in connection with dispositions abroad pursuant to title II 
     of said Act; and (4) $30,000,000 is hereby appropriated for 
     commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad 
     pursuant to title III of said Act: Provided, That not to 
     exceed 15 percent of the funds made available to carry out 
     any title of said Act may be used to carry out any other 
     title of said Act: Provided further, That such sums shall 
     remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
       For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements 
     as authorized by the Agricultural Trade Development and 
     Assistance Act of 1954, and the Food for Progress Act of 
     1985, including the cost of modifying credit agreements under 
     said Act, $176,596,000.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     Public Law 480 title I credit program, and the Food for 
     Progress Act of 1985, to the extent funds appropriated for 
     Public Law 480 are utilized, $1,850,000, of which $1,035,000 
     may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for 
     ``Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager'' 
     and $815,000 may be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.


       Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation's export guarantee program, GSM 102 and 
     GSM 103, $3,820,000; to cover common overhead expenses as 
     permitted by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
     Charter Act and in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform 
     Act of 1990, of which $3,231,000 may be transferred to and 
     merged with the appropriation for ``Foreign Agricultural 
     Service and General Sales Manager'' and $589,000 may be 
     transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Farm 
     Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.

                                TITLE VI

           RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration, 
     including hire and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for 
     payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public 
     Law 92-313 for programs and activities of the Food and Drug 
     Administration which are included in this Act; for rental of 
     special purpose space in the District of Columbia or 
     elsewhere; and for miscellaneous and emergency expenses of 
     enforcement activities, authorized and approved by the 
     Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary's 
     certificate, not to exceed $25,000; $1,072,640,000, of which 
     not to exceed $132,273,000 in fees pursuant to section 736 of 
     the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to 
     this appropriation and remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That fees derived from applications received during 
     fiscal

[[Page S8523]]

     year 1999 shall be subject to the fiscal year 1999 
     limitation: Provided further, That none of these funds shall 
     be used to develop, establish, or operate any program of user 
     fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701.
       In addition, fees pursuant to section 354 of the Public 
     Health Service Act may be credited to this account, to remain 
     available until expended.
       In addition, fees pursuant to section 801 of the Federal 
     Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this account, 
     to remain available until expended.


                        Buildings and Facilities

       For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, 
     alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of 
     or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not 
     otherwise provided, $12,350,000, to remain available until 
     expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

                      Financial Management Service


  Payments to the Farm Credit System Financial Assistance Corporation

       For necessary payments to the Farm Credit System Financial 
     Assistance Corporation by the Secretary of the Treasury, as 
     authorized by section 6.28(c) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, 
     for reimbursement of interest expenses incurred by the 
     Financial Assistance Corporation on obligations issued 
     through 1994, as authorized, $2,565,000.

                           INDEPENDENT AGENCY

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
     Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), including the 
     purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; the rental of 
     space (to include multiple year leases) in the District of 
     Columbia and elsewhere; and not to exceed $25,000 for 
     employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; $61,000,000, including not to 
     exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation 
     expenses: Provided, That the Commission is authorized to 
     charge reasonable fees to attendees of Commission sponsored 
     educational events and symposia to cover the Commission's 
     costs of providing those events and symposia, and 
     notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, said fees shall be credited 
     to this account, to be available without further 
     appropriation.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

       Sec. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law, 
     appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of 
     Agriculture for the fiscal year 1999 under this Act shall be 
     available for the purchase, in addition to those specifically 
     provided for, of not to exceed 440 passenger motor vehicles, 
     of which 437 shall be for replacement only, and for the hire 
     of such vehicles.
       Sec. 702. Funds in this Act available to the Department of 
     Agriculture shall be available for uniforms or allowances 
     therefor as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902).
       Sec. 703. Not less than $1,500,000 of the appropriations of 
     the Department of Agriculture in this Act for research and 
     service work authorized by the Acts of August 14, 1946, and 
     July 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C. 427, 1621-1629), and by chapter 63 of 
     title 31, United States Code, shall be available for 
     contracting in accordance with said Acts and chapter.
       Sec. 704. The cumulative total of transfers to the Working 
     Capital Fund for the purpose of accumulating growth capital 
     for data services and National Finance Center operations 
     shall not exceed $2,000,000: Provided, That no funds in this 
     Act appropriated to an agency of the Department shall be 
     transferred to the Working Capital Fund without the approval 
     of the agency administrator.
       Sec. 705. New obligational authority provided for the 
     following appropriation items in this Act shall remain 
     available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Animal and Plant 
     Health Inspection Service, the contingency fund to meet 
     emergency conditions, fruit fly program, integrated systems 
     acquisition project, and up to $2,000,000 for costs 
     associated with collocating regional offices; Farm Service 
     Agency, salaries and expenses funds made available to county 
     committees; and Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income 
     country training program.
       New obligational authority for the boll weevil program; up 
     to 10 percent of the screwworm program of the Animal and 
     Plant Health Inspection Service; Food Safety and Inspection 
     Service, field automation and information management project; 
     funds appropriated for rental payments; funds for the Native 
     American Institutions Endowment Fund in the Cooperative State 
     Research, Education, and Extension Service; and funds for the 
     competitive research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), shall remain 
     available until expended.
       Sec. 706. No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
     fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
       Sec. 707. Not to exceed $50,000 of the appropriations 
     available to the Department of Agriculture in this Act shall 
     be available to provide appropriate orientation and language 
     training pursuant to Public Law 94-449.
       Sec. 708. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to 
     pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements 
     or similar arrangements between the United States Department 
     of Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 
     percent of the total direct cost of the agreement when the 
     purpose of such cooperative arrangements is to carry out 
     programs of mutual interest between the two parties. This 
     does not preclude appropriate payment of indirect costs on 
     grants and contracts with such institutions when such 
     indirect costs are computed on a similar basis for all 
     agencies for which appropriations are provided in this Act.
       Sec. 709. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
     commodities acquired by the Department in connection with 
     Commodity Credit Corporation and section 32 price support 
     operations may be used, as authorized by law (15 U.S.C. 714c 
     and 7 U.S.C. 612c), to provide commodities to individuals in 
     cases of hardship as determined by the Secretary of 
     Agriculture.
       Sec. 710. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
     to restrict the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
     to lease space for its own use or to lease space on behalf of 
     other agencies of the Department of Agriculture when such 
     space will be jointly occupied.
       Sec. 711. With the exception of grants awarded under the 
     Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, Public Law 
     97-219 (15 U.S.C. 638), none of the funds in this Act shall 
     be available to pay indirect costs on research grants awarded 
     competitively by the Cooperative State Research, Education, 
     and Extension Service that exceed 14 percent of total Federal 
     funds provided under each award.
       Sec. 712. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, 
     all loan levels provided in this Act shall be considered 
     estimates, not limitations.
       Sec. 713. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture 
     for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in 
     fiscal year 1999 shall remain available until expended to 
     cover obligations made in fiscal year 1999 for the following 
     accounts: the rural development loan fund program account; 
     the Rural Telephone Bank program account; the rural 
     electrification and telecommunications loans program account; 
     and the rural economic development loans program account.
       Sec. 714. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
     1999 pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be 
     absorbed within the levels appropriated by this Act.
       Sec. 715. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative 
     Agreement Act, marketing services of the Agricultural 
     Marketing Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
     Service may use cooperative agreements to reflect a 
     relationship between the Agricultural Marketing Service or 
     the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and a State or 
     Cooperator to carry out agricultural marketing programs or to 
     carry out programs to protect the Nation's animal and plant 
     resources.
       Sec. 716. None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
     retire more than 5 percent of the Class A stock of the Rural 
     Telephone Bank or to maintain any account or subaccount 
     within the accounting records of the Rural Telephone Bank the 
     creation of which has not specifically been authorized by 
     statute: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available in this Act may be used to transfer to the Treasury 
     or to the Federal Financing Bank any unobligated balance of 
     the Rural Telephone Bank telephone liquidating account which 
     is in excess of current requirements and such balance shall 
     receive interest as set forth for financial accounts in 
     section 505(c) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
       Sec. 717. Hereafter, none of the funds made available to 
     the Department of Agriculture may be used to provide 
     assistance to, or to pay the salaries of personnel who carry 
     out a market promotion/market access program pursuant to 
     section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
     5623) that provides assistance to the United States Mink 
     Export Development Council or any mink industry trade 
     association.
       Sec. 718. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more 
     than $1,350,000 shall be used to cover necessary expenses of 
     activities related to all advisory committees, panels, 
     commissions, and task forces of the Department of 
     Agriculture, except for panels used to comply with negotiated 
     rule makings and panels used to evaluate competitively 
     awarded grants.
       Sec. 719. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be 
     used to carry out the provisions of section 918 of Public Law 
     104-127, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act.
       Sec. 720. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may 
     be detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by 
     this Act to any other agency or office of the Department for 
     more than 30 days unless the individual's employing agency or 
     office is fully reimbursed by the receiving agency or office 
     for the salary and expenses of the employee for the period of 
     assignment.
       Sec. 721. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available to the Department of Agriculture shall be used to 
     transmit or otherwise make available to any non-Department of 
     Agriculture employee questions or responses to questions that 
     are a result of information requested for the appropriations 
     hearing process.
       Sec. 722. None of the funds made available to the 
     Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire 
     new information technology systems or significant upgrades, 
     as determined by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
     without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the 
     concurrence of the Executive Information Technology 
     Investment Review Board.
       Sec. 723. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, or 
     provided by previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies 
     funded by this Act that remain available for obligation or 
     expenditure in fiscal year 1999, or provided from any 
     accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived by the 
     collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this 
     Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure through 
     a reprogramming of funds which: (1) creates new programs; (2) 
     eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases 
     funds or personnel by any means for any project or activity 
     for which funds have been denied or restricted; (4) relocates 
     an office or employees; (5) reorganizes offices, programs, or 
     activities; or (6) contracts out or privatizes any functions 
     or activities presently performed

[[Page S8524]]

     by Federal employees; unless the Appropriations Committees of 
     both Houses of Congress are notified fifteen days in advance 
     of such reprogramming of funds.
       (b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by 
     previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this 
     Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in 
     fiscal year 1999, or provided from any accounts in the 
     Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of 
     fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be 
     available for obligation or expenditure for activities, 
     programs, or projects through a reprogramming of funds in 
     excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, that: 
     (1) augments existing programs, projects, or activities; (2) 
     reduces by 10 percent funding for any existing program, 
     project, or activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent 
     as approved by Congress; or (3) results from any general 
     savings from a reduction in personnel which would result in a 
     change in existing programs, activities, or projects as 
     approved by Congress; unless the Appropriations Committees of 
     both Houses of Congress are notified fifteen days in advance 
     of such reprogramming of funds.
       Sec. 724. Hereafter, none of the funds appropriated or 
     otherwise available to the Department of Agriculture may be 
     used to administer the provision of contract payments to a 
     producer under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
     U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) for contract acreage on which wild rice 
     is planted unless the contract payment is reduced by an acre 
     for each contract acre planted to wild rice.
       Sec. 725. The Federal facility located in Stuttgart, 
     Arkansas, and known as the ``United States National Rice 
     Germplasm Evaluation and Enhancement Center'', shall be known 
     and designated as the ``Dale Bumpers National Rice Research 
     Center'': Provided, That any reference in law, map, 
     regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United 
     States to such federal facility shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Dale Bumpers National Rice Research 
     Center''.
       Sec. 726. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the reprogramming 
     requirements established by this Act, may transfer up to 
     $26,000,000 in discretionary funds made available by this Act 
     among programs of the Department, not otherwise appropriated 
     for a specific purpose or a specific location, for 
     distribution to or for the benefit of the Lower Mississippi 
     Delta Region, as defined in Public Law 100-460, prior to 
     normal state or regional allocation of funds: Provided, That 
     any funds made available through Chapter Four of Title III, 
     Subtitle D of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform 
     Act of 1996 may be included in any amount reprogrammed under 
     this section if such funds are used for a purpose authorized 
     by such Chapter.
       Sec. 727. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used to pay the salaries and 
     expenses of personnel to carry out section 793 of Public Law 
     104-127.
       Sec. 728. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used to pay the salaries and 
     expenses of personnel to enroll in excess of 120,000 acres in 
     the fiscal year 1999 wetlands reserve program as authorized 
     by 16 U.S.C. 3837.
       Sec. 729. Notwithstanding section 27(a) of the Food Stamp 
     Act, the amount specified for allocation under such section 
     for fiscal year 1999 shall be $80,000,000.
       Sec. 730. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and 
     expenses of personnel to carry out a conservation farm option 
     program, as authorized by section 335 of Public Law 104-127.
       Sec. 731. Public Law 102-237, Title X, Section 1013(a) and 
     (b) (7 U.S.C. 426 note) is amended by striking ``, to the 
     extent practicable,'' in each instance in which it appears.
       Sec. 732. Funds made available for conservation operations 
     by this or any other Act, including prior-year balances, 
     shall be available for financial assistance and technical 
     assistance for Franklin County, Mississippi, in the amounts 
     earmarked in appropriations report language.
       Sec. 733. Notwithstanding section 381A of Public Law 104-
     127, the definitions of rural areas for certain business 
     programs administered by the Rural Business-Cooperative 
     Service and the community facilities programs administered by 
     the Rural Housing Service shall be those provided for in 
     statute and regulations prior to the enactment of Public Law 
     104-127.
       Sec. 734. Section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926d) is amended by inserting ``25 
     percent in'' in lieu of ``equal'' in subsection (b), and by 
     inserting ``$25,000,000'' in lieu of ``$15,000,000'' in 
     subsection (d).
       Sec. 735. None of the funds made available to the Food and 
     Drug Administration by this Act shall be used to close or 
     relocate, or to plan to close or relocate, the Food and Drug 
     Administration Division of Drug Analysis in St. Louis, 
     Missouri.
       Sec. 736. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act shall be used to carry out any 
     commodity purchase program which would prohibit participation 
     by a farmer-owned cooperative.
       Sec. 737. None of the funds made available by this Act or 
     any other Act for any fiscal year may be used to carry out 
     section 302(h) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
     U.S.C. 1622(h)) unless the Secretary of Agriculture inspects 
     and certifies agricultural processing equipment, and imposes 
     a fee for the inspection and certification, in a manner that 
     is similar to the inspection and certification of 
     agricultural products under that section, as determined by 
     the Secretary: Provided, That this provision shall not affect 
     the authority of the Secretary to carry out the Federal Meat 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), or the Egg Products 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.).
       Sec. 738. (a) Amendment of the Arms Export Control Act.--
     Section 102(b)(2)(D) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
     U.S.C. 2799aa-1(b)(2)(D)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (i) by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (ii) by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``, or''; and
       (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
       ``(iii) to any credit, credit guarantee, or other financial 
     assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture for the 
     purchase or other provision of food or other agricultural 
     commodities.''.
       (b) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to 
     any credit, credit guarantee, or other financial assistance 
     approved by the Department of Agriculture before, on, or 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (c) Amounts made available by this section are designated 
     by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: Provided, That such 
     amounts shall be available only to the extent that an 
     official budget request that includes designation of the 
     entire amount of the request as an emergency requirement as 
     defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
     Act of 1985, as amended, is transmitted by the President to 
     the Congress.
       Sec. 739. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used to require any producer to 
     pay an administrative fee for catastrophic risk protection 
     under section 508(b)(5)(A) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
     (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)(5)(A)) in an amount that is greater than 
     $50 per crop per county.
       Sec. 740. Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted or 
     construed to alter the current implementation of the Wetlands 
     Reserve Program, unless expressly provided herein.
       Sec. 741. That notwithstanding section 4703(d)(1) of title 
     5, United States Code, the personnel management demonstration 
     project established in the Department of Agriculture, as 
     described at 55 FR 9062 and amended at 61 FR 9507 and 61 FR 
     49178, shall be continued indefinitely and become effective 
     upon enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 742. (a) The first sentence of section 509(f)(4)(A) of 
     the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1479(f)(4)(A)) is amended 
     by striking ``fiscal year 1998'' and inserting ``fiscal year 
     1999''.
       (b) Section 515(b)(4) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
     1485(b)(4)) is amended by striking ``September 30, 1998'' and 
     inserting ``September 30, 1999''.
       (c) The first sentence of section 515(w)(1) of the Housing 
     Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(w)(1)) is amended by striking 
     ``fiscal year 1998'' and inserting ``fiscal year 1999''.
       (d) Section 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
     1490p-2) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (t), by striking ``fiscal year 1998'' and 
     inserting ``fiscal year 1999''; and
       (2) in subsection (u), by striking ``September 30, 1998'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 1999''.
       Sec. 743. Methyl Bromide Alternatives Research. (a) 
     Review.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
     Agricultural Research Service, shall conduct a review of the 
     methyl bromide alternatives research conducted by the 
     Secretary that describes--
       (1) the amount of funds expended by the Secretary since 
     January 1, 1990, on methyl bromide alternatives research, 
     including a description of the amounts paid for salaries, 
     expenses, and actual research;
       (2) plot and field scale testing of methyl bromide 
     alternatives conducted by the Secretary since January 1, 
     1990, including a description of--
       (A) the total amount of funds expended for the testing;
       (B) the amount of funds expended for the testing as a 
     portion of a larger project or independently of other 
     projects; and
       (C) the results of the testing and the impact of the 
     results on future research; and
       (3) variables that impact the effectiveness of methyl 
     bromide alternatives, including a description of--
       (A) the individual variables; and
       (B) the plan of the Secretary for addressing each of the 
     variables during the plot and field scale testing conducted 
     by the Secretary.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriations committees of both Houses of Congress a report 
     that describes the results of the review conducted under 
     subsection (a).
       Sec. 744. Sense of Senate on Disaster Assistance for Texas 
     Agricultural Producers. (a) Findings.--The Senate finds 
     that--
       (1) the statewide economic impact of the drought on 
     agriculture in the State of Texas could be more than 
     $4,600,000,000 in losses, according to the Agricultural 
     Extension Service of the State;
       (2) the direct loss of income to agricultural producers in 
     the State is $1,500,000,000;
       (3) the National Weather Service has reported that all 10 
     climatic regions in the State have received below-average 
     rainfall from March through May of 1998, a critical time in 
     the production of corn, cotton, sorghum, wheat, and forage;
       (4) the total losses for cotton producers in the State have 
     already reached an estimated $500,000,000;
       (5) nearly half of the rangeland in the State (as of May 
     31, 1998) was rated as poor or very poor as a result of the 
     lack of rain;
       (6) the value of lost hay production in the State will 
     approach an estimated $175,000,000 statewide, leading to an 
     economic impact of $582,000,000;
       (7) dryland fruit and vegetable production losses in East 
     Texas have already been estimated at $33,000,000;

[[Page S8525]]

       (8) the early rains in many parts of the State produced a 
     large quantity of forage that is now extremely dry and a 
     dangerous source of fuel for wildfires; and
       (9) the Forest Service of the State has indicated that over 
     half the State is in extreme or high danger of wildfires due 
     to the drought conditions.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that 
     the Secretary of Agriculture should--
       (1) streamline the drought declaration process to provide 
     necessary relief to the State of Texas as quickly as is 
     practicable;
       (2) ensure that local Farm Service Agency offices in the 
     State are equipped with full-time and emergency personnel in 
     drought-stricken areas to assist agricultural producers with 
     disaster loan applications;
       (3) direct the Forest Service, and request the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency, to assist the State in 
     prepositioning fire fighting equipment and other appropriate 
     resources in affected counties of the State;
       (4) authorize haying and grazing on acreage in the State 
     that is enrolled in the conservation reserve program carried 
     out under section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
     U.S.C. 3831); and
       (5) convene experts within the Department of Agriculture to 
     develop and implement an emergency plan for the State to help 
     prevent wildfires and to overcome the economic impact of the 
     continuing drought by providing assistance from the 
     Department in a rapid and efficient manner for producers that 
     are suffering from drought conditions.
       Sec. 745. Section 1237D(c)(1) of subchapter C of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after 
     ``perpetual'' the following ``or 30-year''.
       Sec. 746. Section 1237(b)(2) of subchapter C of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 is amended by adding the following:
       ``(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), to the maximum 
     extent practicable should be interpreted to mean that 
     acceptance of wetlands reserve program bids may be in 
     proportion to landowner interest expressed in program 
     options.''.
       Sec. 747. Technical Corrections to Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. (a) Forest and 
     Rangeland Renewable Resources Research.--Section 3(d)(3) of 
     the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 
     1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642(d)(3)) (as amended by section 253(b) of 
     the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform 
     Act of 1998) is amended by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
     inserting ``At the request of the Governor of the State of 
     Maine, New Hampshire, New York, or Vermont, the Secretary''.
       (b) Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information.--
     Section 7(e)(2) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
     Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(e)(2)) (as amended by 
     section 605(f)(3) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
     and Education Reform Act of 1998) is amended by striking 
     ``$0.0075'' each place it appears and inserting ``$0.01''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     take effect on the date of enactment of the Agricultural 
     Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998.
       Sec. 748. None of the funds appropriated by this Act or any 
     other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of 
     personnel who prepare or submit appropriations language as 
     part of the President's Budget submission to the Congress of 
     the United States for programs under the jurisdiction of the 
     Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, and Related Agencies that assumes revenues or 
     reflects a reduction from the previous year due to user fees 
     proposals that have not been enacted into law prior to the 
     submission of the Budget unless such Budget submission 
     identifies which additional spending reductions should occur 
     in the event the users fees proposals are not enacted prior 
     to the date of the convening of a committee of conference for 
     the fiscal year 2000 appropriations Act.
       Sec. 749. Pilot Program to Permit Haying and Grazing on 
     Conservation Reserve Land. (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible state.--The term ``eligible State'' means any 
     State that is approved by the Secretary for inclusion in the 
     pilot program under subsection (b), except that the term 
     shall not apply to more than 7 States.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture.
       (3) State technical committee.--The term ``State technical 
     committee'' means the State technical committee for a State 
     established under section 1261 of the Food Security Act of 
     1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861).
       (b) Pilot Program.--Notwithstanding section 1232(a)(7) of 
     the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832(a)(7)), during 
     the 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
     Act, on application by an owner or operator of a farm or 
     ranch located in an eligible State who has entered into a 
     contract with the Secretary under subchapter B of chapter 1 
     of subtitle D of title XII of that Act (16 U.S.C. 3831 et 
     seq.)--
       (1) the Secretary shall permit harvesting and grazing on 
     land on the farm or ranch that the Secretary determines has a 
     sufficiently established cover to permit harvesting or 
     grazing without undue harm to the purposes of the contract 
     if--
       (A) no land under the contract will be harvested or grazed 
     more than once in a 4-year period;
       (B) the owner or operator agrees to a payment reduction 
     under that subchapter in an amount determined by the 
     Secretary; and
       (C) the owner or operator agrees to such other terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary, in consultation with the State 
     technical committee for the State, may establish to ensure 
     that the harvesting or grazing is consistent with the 
     purposes of the program established under that subchapter;
       (2) the Secretary may permit grazing on land under the 
     contract if--
       (A) the grazing is incidental to the gleaning of crop 
     residues;
       (B) the owner or operator agrees to a payment reduction in 
     annual rental payments that would otherwise be payable under 
     that subchapter in an amount determined by the Secretary; and
       (C) the owner or operator agrees to such other terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary, in consultation with the State 
     technical committee for the State, may establish to ensure 
     that the grazing is consistent with the purposes of the 
     program established under that subchapter; and
       (3) the Secretary shall permit harvesting on land on the 
     farm or ranch that the Secretary determines has a 
     sufficiently established cover to permit harvesting without 
     undue harm to the purposes of the contract if--
       (A) land under the contract will be harvested not more than 
     once annually for recovery of biomass used in energy 
     production;
       (B) the owner or operator agrees to a payment reduction 
     under that subchapter in an amount determined by the 
     Secretary; and
       (C) the owner or operator agrees to such other terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary, in consultation with the State 
     technical committee for the State, may establish to ensure 
     that the harvesting is consistent with the purposes of the 
     program established under that subchapter.
       (c) Relationship to Other Haying and Grazing Authority.--
     During the 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment 
     of this Act, land that is located in an eligible State shall 
     not be eligible for harvesting or grazing under section 
     1232(a)(7) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
     3832(a)(7)).
       (d) Conservation Practices and Timing Restrictions.--Not 
     later than March 1 of each year, the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the State technical committee for an 
     eligible State, shall determine any conservation practices 
     and timing restrictions that apply to land in the State that 
     is harvested or grazed under subsection (b).
       (e) Study.--The Secretary shall make available not more 
     than $100,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
     contract with the game, fish, and parks department of an 
     eligible State to conduct an analysis of the program 
     conducted under this section (based on information provided 
     by all eligible States).
       (f) Regulations.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such 
     regulations as are necessary to implement this Act.
       (2) Procedure.--The issuance of the regulations shall be 
     made without regard to--
       (A) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of 
     title 5, United States Code;
       (B) the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture 
     effective July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 13804), relating to 
     notices of proposed rulemaking and public participation in 
     rulemaking; or
       (C) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
       Sec. 750. Egg Grading and Safety. (a) Prohibition on 
     Previous Shipment of Shell Eggs Under Voluntary Grading 
     Program.--Section 203(h) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
     1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Shell eggs packed under the voluntary grading 
     program of the Department of Agriculture shall not have been 
     shipped for sale previous to being packed under the program, 
     as determined under a regulation promulgated by the 
     Secretary.''.
       (b) Report on Egg Safety and Repackaging.--Not later than 
     90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, shall submit a joint status report to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate that describes actions taken by the Secretary 
     of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services--
       (1) to enhance the safety of shell eggs and egg products;
       (2) to prohibit the grading, under the voluntary grading 
     program of the Department of Agriculture, of shell eggs 
     previously shipped for sale; and
       (3) to assess the feasibility and desirability of applying 
     to all shell eggs the prohibition on repackaging to enhance 
     food safety, consumer information, and consumer awareness.
       Sec. 751. (a) Findings.--
       (1) In contrast to our Nation's generally strong economy, 
     in a number of States, agricultural producers and rural 
     communities are experiencing serious economic hardship.
       (2) Increased supplies of agricultural commodities in 
     combination with weakened demand have caused prices of 
     numerous farm commodities to decline dramatically.
       (3) Demand for imported agricultural commodities has fallen 
     in some regions of the world, due in part to world economic 
     conditions, and United States agricultural exports have 
     declined from their record level of $60,000,000,000 in 1996.
       (4) Prolonged periods of weather disasters and crop disease 
     have devastated agricultural producers in a number of States.
       (5) Certain States experienced declines in personal farm 
     income between 1996 and 1997.
       (6) June estimates by the Department of Agriculture 
     indicate that net farm income for 1998 will fall to 
     $45,500,000,000, down 13 percent from the $52,200,000,000 for 
     1996.
       (7) Total farm debt for 1998 is expected to reach 
     $172,000,000,000, the highest level since 1985.
       (8) Thousands of farm families are in danger of losing 
     their livelihoods and life savings.

[[Page S8526]]

       (b) Sense of Senate.--Now, therefore, it is the sense of 
     the Senate that immediate action by the President and 
     Congress is necessary to respond to the economic hardships 
     facing agricultural producers and their communities.
       Sec. 752. Eligibility of State Agricultural Experiment 
     Stations for Certain Agricultural Research Programs. (a) Fund 
     for Rural America.--Section 793(c)(2)(B) of the Federal 
     Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
     2204f(c)(2)(B)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (iii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(v) a State agricultural experiment station.''.
       (b) Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems.--
     Section 401(d) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
     Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7621(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) a State agricultural experiment station.''.
       Sec. 753. Exemption of Certain Products from United States 
     Sanctions. (a) Findings.--(1) Prohibiting or otherwise 
     restricting the donations or sales of food, other 
     agricultural products, medicines or medical equipment in 
     order to sanction a foreign government for actions or 
     policies that the United States finds objectionable, 
     unnecessarily harms innocent populations in the targeted 
     country and rarely causes the sanctioned government to alter 
     its actions or policies.
       (2) For the United States as a matter of United States 
     policy to deny access to United States food, other 
     agricultural products, medicines and medical equipment by 
     innocent men, women and children in other countries weakens 
     the international leadership and moral authority of the 
     United States.
       (3) Sanctions on the sale or donations of American food, 
     other agricultural products, medicine or medical equipment 
     needlessly harm American farmers and workers employed in 
     these sectors by foreclosing markets for these United States 
     products.
       (b)(1) Exclusion from sanctions.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the President shall not restrict or 
     otherwise prohibit any exports (including financing) of food, 
     other agricultural products (including fertilizer), medicines 
     or medical equipment as part of any policy of existing or 
     future unilateral economic sanctions imposed against a 
     foreign government.
       (2) Exceptions.--Subsection (b)(1) of this section shall 
     not apply to any regulations or restrictions with respect to 
     such products for health or safety purposes or during periods 
     of domestic shortages of such products.
       (c) Impose Sanctions.--The President may retain or impose 
     sanctions covered under subsection (b)(1) if he determines 
     that retaining or imposing such sanctions would further 
     United States national security interests.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect one day 
     after the date of enactment of this section into law.
       (e) Exclusion of Certain Countries.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of this section, subsection (b)(2) shall read 
     as follows:
       ``(2) Exceptions.--Subsection (b)(1) of this section shall 
     not apply to any country that--
       ``(A) repeatedly provided support for acts of international 
     terrorism, within the meaning of section 6(j)(1)(A) of the 
     Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 
     2405(j)(1)(A)); or
       ``(B) systematically denies access to food, medicine, or 
     medical care to persons on the basis of political beliefs or 
     as a means of coercion or punishment.''.
       Sec. 754. Livestock Industry Improvement. (a) Domestic 
     Market Reporting.--
       (1) In general.--Section 203(g) of the Agricultural 
     Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(g)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``(g) To'' and inserting the following:
       ``(g) Collection and Dissemination of Marketing 
     Information.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Domestic market reporting.--
       ``(A) Mandatory reporting pilot program.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a 3-year 
     pilot program under which the Secretary shall require any 
     person or class of persons engaged in the business of buying, 
     selling, or marketing livestock, livestock products, meat, or 
     meat products in an unmanufactured form to report to the 
     Secretary in such manner as the Secretary shall require, such 
     information relating to prices and the terms of sale for the 
     procurement of livestock, livestock products, meat, or meat 
     products in an unmanufactured form as the Secretary 
     determines is necessary to carry out this subsection.
       ``(ii) Noncompliance.--It shall be unlawful for a person 
     engaged in the business of buying, selling, or marketing 
     livestock, livestock products, meat, or meat products in an 
     unmanufactured form to knowingly fail or refuse to provide to 
     the Secretary information required to be reported under 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(iii) Cease and Desist and Civil Penalty.--

       ``(I) In general.--If the Secretary has reason to believe 
     that a person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or 
     marketing livestock, livestock products, meat, or meat 
     products in an unmanufactured form is violating the 
     provisions of subparagraph (A) (or regulation promulgated 
     under subparagraph (A)), the Secretary after notice and 
     opportunity for hearing, may make an order to cease and 
     desist from continuing the violation and assess a civil 
     penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation.
       ``(II) Considerations.--In determining the amount of a 
     civil penalty to be assessed under clause (i), the Secretary 
     shall consider the gravity of the offense, the size of the 
     business involved, and the effect of the penalty on the 
     ability of the person to continue in business.

       ``(iv) Referral to attorney general.--If, after expiration 
     of the period for appeal or after the affirmance of a civil 
     penalty assessed under clause (iii), the person against whom 
     the civil penalty is assessed fails to pay the civil penalty, 
     the Secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General, 
     who may recover the amount of the civil penalty in a civil 
     action in United States district court.
       ``(B) Voluntary reporting.--The Secretary shall encourage 
     voluntary reporting by persons engaged in the business of 
     buying, selling, or marketing livestock, livestock products, 
     meats, or meat products in an unmanufactured form that are 
     not subjected to a mandatory reporting requirement under 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) Availability of information.--The Secretary shall 
     make information received under this paragraph available to 
     the public only in a form that ensures that--
       ``(i) the identity of the person submitting a report is not 
     disclosed; and
       ``(ii) the confidentiality of proprietary business 
     information is otherwise protected.
       ``(D) Effect on other laws.--Nothing in this paragraph 
     restricts or modifies the authority of the Secretary to 
     collect voluntary reports in accordance with other provisions 
     of law.''.
       (2) Technical amendment.--Section 203 of the Agricultural 
     Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``The Secretary is directed and 
     authorized:''; and
       (B) in the first sentence of each of subsections (a) 
     through (f) and subsections (h) through (n), by striking 
     ``To'' and inserting ``The Secretary shall''.
       (b) Prohibition on Noncompetitive Practices.--Section 202 
     of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 192), is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (g), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) Engage in any practice or device that the Secretary 
     by regulation, after consultation with producers of cattle, 
     lamb, and hogs, and other persons in the cattle, lamb, and 
     hog industries, determines is a detrimental noncompetitive 
     practice or device relating to the price or a term of sale 
     for the procurement of livestock or the sale of meat or other 
     byproduct of slaughter.''.
       (c) Protection of Livestock Producers Against Retaliation 
     by Packers.--
       (1) Retaliation prohibited.--Section 202(b) of the Packers 
     and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 192(b)), is amended--
       (A) by striking ``or subject'' and inserting ``subject''; 
     and
       (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
     following: ``, or retaliate against any livestock producer on 
     account of any statement made by the producer (whether made 
     to the Secretary or a law enforcement agency or in a public 
     forum) regarding an action of any packer''.
       (2) Special requirements regarding allegations of 
     retaliation.--Section 203 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 
     1921 (7 U.S.C. 193), is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(e) Special Procedures Regarding Allegations of 
     Retaliation.--
       ``(1) Consideration by special panel.--The President shall 
     appoint a special panel consisting of 3 members to receive 
     and initially consider a complaint submitted by any person 
     that alleges prohibited packer retaliation under section 
     202(b) directed against a livestock producer.
       ``(2) Complaint; hearing.--If the panel has reason to 
     believe from the complaint or resulting investigation that a 
     packer has violated or is violating the retaliation 
     prohibition under section 202(b), the panel shall notify the 
     Secretary who shall cause a complaint to be issued against 
     the packer, and a hearing conducted, under subsection (a).
       ``(3) Evidentiary standard.--In the case of a complaint 
     regarding retaliation prohibited under section 202(b), the 
     Secretary shall find that the packer involved has violated or 
     is violating section 202(b) if the finding is supported by a 
     preponderance of the evidence.''.
       (3) Damages for producers suffering retaliation.--Section 
     203 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 193) 
     (as amended by subsection (b)), is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(f) Damages for Producers Suffering Retaliation.--
       ``(1) In general.--If a packer violates the retaliation 
     prohibition under section 202(b), the packer shall be liable 
     to the livestock producer injured by the retaliation for not 
     more than 3 times the amount of damages sustained as a result 
     of the violation.
       ``(2) Enforcement.--The liability may be enforced either by 
     complaint to the Secretary, as provided in subsection (e), or 
     by suit in any court of competent jurisdiction.
       ``(3) Other remedies.--This subsection shall not abridge or 
     alter a remedy existing at common law or by statute. The 
     remedy provided by this subsection shall be in addition to 
     any other remedy.''.
       (d) Review of Federal Agriculture Credit Policies.--The 
     Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary 
     of the Treasury, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of 
     the Federal Reserve System, and the Chairman of the Board of 
     the Farm Credit Administration, shall establish an 
     interagency working group to study--
       (1) the extent to which Federal lending practices and 
     policies have contributed, or are contributing, to market 
     concentration in the livestock and dairy sectors of the 
     national economy; and
       (2) whether Federal policies regarding the financial system 
     of the United States adequately take account of the weather 
     and price volatility risks inherent in livestock and dairy 
     enterprises.
       Sec. 755. Metered-dose Inhalers. (a) Findings.--Congress 
     finds that--

[[Page S8527]]

       (1) the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the 
     Ozone Layer (referred to in this section as the ``Montreal 
     Protocol'') requires the phaseout of products containing 
     ozone-depleting substances, including chloroflourocarbons;
       (2) the primary remaining legal use in the United States of 
     newly produced chloroflourocarbons is in metered-dose 
     inhalers;
       (3) treatment with metered-dose inhalers is the preferred 
     treatment for many patients with asthma and chronic 
     obstructive pulmonary disease;
       (4) the incidence of asthma and chronic obstructive 
     pulmonary disease is increasing in children and is most 
     prevalent among low-income persons in the United States;
       (5) the Parties to the Montreal Protocol have called for 
     development of national transition strategies to non-
     chloroflourocarbon metered-dose inhalers;
       (6) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs published an advance 
     notice of proposed rulemaking that suggested a tentative 
     framework for how to phase out the use of metered-dose 
     inhalers that contain chloroflourocarbons in the Federal 
     Register on March 6, 1997, 62 Fed. Reg. 10242 (referred to in 
     this section as the ``proposal''); and
       (7) the medical and patient communities, while calling for 
     a formal transition strategy issued by the Food and Drug 
     Administration by rulemaking, have expressed serious concerns 
     that the proposal, if implemented without change, could 
     potentially place some patients at risk by causing the 
     removal of metered-dose inhalers containing 
     chloroflourocarbons from the market before adequate non-
     chlorofluorocarbon replacements are available.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Food and Drug Administration should, in 
     consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, assess 
     the risks and benefits to the environment and to patient 
     health of the proposal and any alternatives;
       (2) in conducting such assessments, the Food and Drug 
     Administration should consult with patients, physicians, 
     other health care providers, manufacturers of metered-dose 
     inhalers, and other interested parties;
       (3) using the results of these assessments, and the 
     information contained in the comments the Food and Drug 
     Administration has received on the proposal, the Food and 
     Drug Administration should promptly issue a rule ensuring 
     that a range of non-chloroflourocarbon metered-dose inhaler 
     alternatives is available for users, comparable to existing 
     treatments in terms of safety, efficacy, and other 
     appropriate parameters necessary to meet patient needs, which 
     rule should not be based on a therapeutic class phaseout 
     approach; and
       (4) the Food and Drug Administration should issue a 
     proposed rule described in paragraph (3) not later than May 
     1, 1999.
       Sec. 756. Report on Market Access Program. (a) In 
     General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
     of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation 
     with the Comptroller General of the United States, shall 
     submit to the committees of Congress specified in subsection 
     (c) a report that, as determined by the Secretary--
       (1)(A) analyzes the costs and benefits of programs carried 
     out under that section in compliance with the cost-benefit 
     analysis guidelines established by the Office of Management 
     and Budget in Circular A-94, dated October 29, 1992; and
       (B) in any macroeconomic studies, treats resources in the 
     United States as if the resources were likely to be fully 
     employed;
       (2) considers all potential costs and benefits of the 
     programs carried out under that section, specifically noting 
     potential distortions in the economy that could lower 
     national output of goods and services and employment;
       (3) estimates the impact of programs carried out under that 
     section on the agricultural sector and on consumers and other 
     sectors of the economy in the United States;
       (4) considers costs and benefits of operations relating to 
     alternative uses of the budget for the programs under that 
     section;
       (5)(A) analyzes the relation between the priorities and 
     spending levels of programs carried out under that section 
     and the privately funded market promotion activities 
     undertaken by participants in the programs; and
       (B) evaluates the spending additionality for participants 
     resulting from the program;
       (6) conducts an analysis of the amount of export 
     additionality for activities financed under programs carried 
     out under that section in sponsored countries, controlling 
     for relevant variables, including--
       (A) information on the levels of private expenditures for 
     promotion;
       (B) government promotion by competitor nations;
       (C) changes in foreign and domestic supply conditions;
       (D) changes in exchange rates; and
       (E) the effect of ongoing trade liberalization;
       (7) provides an evaluation of the sustainability of 
     promotional effort in sponsored markets for recipients in the 
     absence of government subsidies.
       (b) Evaluation by Comptroller General.--The Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall submit an evaluation of 
     the report to the committees specified in subsection (c).
       (c) Committees of Congress.--The committees of Congress 
     referred to in subsection (a) are--
       (1) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
     and Forestry of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate.
       Sec. 757. Sense of the Senate Concerning Appropriate 
     Actions to be Taken to Alleviate the Economic Effect of Low 
     Commodity Prices. It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) Congress should pass and the President should sign 
     S.1269, which would reauthorize fast-track trading authority 
     for the President;
       (2) Congress should pass and the President should sign 
     S.2078, the Farm and Ranch Risk Management Act, which would 
     allow farmers and ranchers to better prepare for fluctuations 
     in the agricultural economy;
       (3) the House of Representatives should follow the Senate 
     and provide full funding for the International Monetary Fund;
       (4) Congress should pass and the President should sign 
     sanctions reform legislation so that the agricultural economy 
     of the United States is not harmed by sanctions on foreign 
     trade;
       (5) Congress should uphold the Presidential waiver of the 
     Jackson-Vanik amendment to the 1974 Trade Act providing 
     normal trade relations status for China and continue to 
     pursue normal trade relations with China;
       (6) the House and Senate should continue to pursue a 
     package of capital gains and estate tax reforms;
       (7) the President should pursue stronger oversight on all 
     international trade agreements affecting agriculture and 
     commerce dispute settlement procedures when countries are 
     found to be violating such trade agreements;
       (8) the President should sign legislation providing full 
     deductibility of health care insurance for self-employed 
     individuals;
       (9) the Congress and the administration should pursue 
     efforts to reduce regulations on farmers; and
       (10) the President should use the administrative tools 
     available to him to use Commodity Credit Corporation and 
     unused Export Enhancement Program funds for humanitarian 
     assistance.
       Sec. 758. Reserve Inventories. Section 813 of the 
     Agricultural Act of 1970 (7 U.S.C. 1427a) is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by inserting 
     ``of agricultural producers'' after ``distress'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``the Secretary or'' 
     after ``President or''; and
       (3) in subsection (h)--
       (A) by striking ``(h) There is hereby'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--There are''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Use of funds for cash payments.--The Secretary may 
     use funds made available under this section to make, in a 
     manner consistent with this section, cash payments that don't 
     go for crop disasters, but for income loss to carry out the 
     purposes of this section.''.
       Sec. 759. Food Safety Initiative. (a) In General.--In 
     addition to the amounts made available under other provisions 
     of this Act, there are appropriated, out of any money in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to carry out activities 
     described in the Food Safety Initiative submitted by the 
     President for fiscal year 1999--
       (1) $98,000 to the Chief Economist;
       (2) $906,000 to the Economic Research Service;
       (3) $8,920,000 to the Agricultural Research Service;
       (4) $11,000,000 to the Cooperative State Research, 
     Education, and Extension Service;
       (5) $8,347,000 to the Food Safety and Inspection Service; 
     and
       (6) $37,000,000 to the Food and Drug Administration.
       (b) Amendment of the No Net Cost Fund Assessments to 
     Provide for Collection of All Administrative Costs Not 
     Previously Covered and All Crop Insurance Costs for 
     Tobacco.--Section 106A of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as 
     amended (7 U.S.C. 1445-1(c)), is hereby amended by--in 
     subsection (d)(7) changing ``the Secretary'' to ``the 
     Secretary; and'' and by adding a new subsection (d)(8) to 
     read as follows:
       ``(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
     subsection or other law, that with respect to the 1999 and 
     subsequent crops of tobacco for which price support is made 
     available and for which a fund is maintained under this 
     section, an additional assessment shall be remitted over and 
     above that otherwise provided for in this subsection. Such 
     additional assessment shall be equal to--(1) the 
     administrative costs within the Department of Agriculture 
     that is not otherwise covered under another assessment under 
     this section or under another provision of law; and (2) any 
     and all net losses in Federal crop insurance programs for 
     tobacco, whether those losses be on price-supported tobacco 
     or on other tobaccos. The Secretary shall estimate those 
     administrative and insurance costs in advance. The Secretary 
     may make such adjustments in the assessment under this 
     paragraph for future crops as are needed to cover shortfalls 
     or over-collections. The assessment shall be applied so that 
     the additional amount to be collected under this paragraph 
     shall be the same for all price support tobaccos (and 
     imported tobacco of like kind) which are marketed or imported 
     into the United States during the marketing year for the 
     crops covered by this paragraph. For each domestically 
     produced pound of tobacco the assessment amount to be 
     remitted under this paragraph shall be paid by the purchaser 
     of the tobacco. On imported tobacco, the assessment shall be 
     paid by the importer. Monies collected pursuant to this 
     section shall be commingled with other monies in the No Net 
     Cost Fund maintained under this section. The administrative 
     and crop insurance costs that are taken into account in 
     fixing the amount of the assessment shall be a claim on the 
     Fund and shall be transferred to the appropriate account for 
     the payment of administrative costs and insurance costs at a 
     time determined appropriate by the Secretary. Collections 
     under this paragraph shall not affect the amount of any other 
     collection established under this section or under another 
     provision of law but shall be enforceable

[[Page S8528]]

     in the same manner as other assessments under this section 
     and shall be subject to the same sanctions for nonpayment.''.
       (c) Amendment of the No Net Cost Account Assessments to 
     Provide for Collection of All Administrative Cost Not 
     Previously Covered and All Crop Insurance Costs.--Section 
     106B of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
     1445-2), is amended by renumbering subsections ``(i)'' and 
     ``(j)'' as ``(j)'' and ``(k)'' respectively, and by adding a 
     new subsection ``(i)'' to read as follows:
       ``(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section 
     or other law, the Secretary shall require with respect to the 
     1999 and subsequent crops of tobacco for which price support 
     is made available and for which an account is maintained 
     under this section, that an additional assessment shall be 
     remitted over and above that otherwise provided for in this 
     subsection. Such additional assessment shall be equal to--(1) 
     the administrative costs within the Department of Agriculture 
     that are not otherwise covered under another assessment under 
     this section or under another provision of law; and (2) any 
     and all net losses in Federal crop insurance programs for 
     tobacco, whether those losses be on price-supported tobacco 
     or on other tobaccos. The Secretary shall estimate those 
     administrative and insurance costs in advance. The Secretary 
     may make such adjustments in the assessments under this 
     subsection for future crops as are needed to cover shortfalls 
     or over-collections. The assessment shall be applied so that 
     the additional amount to be collected under this subsection 
     shall be the same for all price support tobaccos (and 
     imported tobacco of like kind) which are marketed or imported 
     into the United States during the marketing year for the 
     crops covered by this subsection. For each domestically 
     produced pound of tobacco the assessment amount to be 
     remitted under this subsection shall be paid by the purchaser 
     of the tobacco. On imported tobacco, the assessment shall be 
     paid by the importer. Monies collected pursuant to this 
     section shall be commingled with other monies in the No Net 
     Cost Account maintained under this section. The 
     administrative and crop insurance costs that are taken into 
     account in fixing the amount of the assessment shall be a 
     claim on the account and shall be transferred to the 
     appropriate account for the payment of administrative costs 
     and insurance costs at a time determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary. Collections under this subsection shall not effect 
     the amount of any other collection established under this 
     section or under another provision of law but shall be 
     enforceable in the same manner as other assessments under 
     this section and shall be subject to the same sanctions for 
     nonpayment.''.
       (d) Elimination of the Tobacco Budget Assessment.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of 
     section 106(g) of the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended (7 
     U.S.C. 1445(g)), shall not apply or be extended to the 1999 
     crops of tobacco and shall not, in any case, apply to any 
     tobacco for which additional assessments have been rendered 
     under sections 1 and 2 of this Act.
       (e) Amendment of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter 
     Act.--Section 4(g) of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
     Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714b(g)) is amended in the first 
     sentence by striking ``$193,000,000'' and inserting 
     ``$178,000,000''.
       Sec. 760. Expenses for computer-related activities of the 
     Department of Agriculture funded through the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation pursuant to section 161(b)(1)(A) of Public Law 
     104-127 in fiscal year 1999 shall not exceed $50,000,000: 
     Provided, That section 4(g) of the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation Charter Act is amended by striking $178,000,000 
     and inserting $173,000,000.
       Sec. 761. Waiver of Statute of Limitations for Certain 
     Discrimination Claims. (a) Definition of Eligible Claim.--In 
     this section, the term ``eligible claim'' means a 
     nonemployment-related claim that was filed with the 
     Department of Agriculture on or before July 1, 1997 and 
     alleges discrimination by the Department of Agriculture at 
     any time during the period beginning on January 1, 1981, and 
     ending on December 31, 1996--
       (1) in violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) in administering--
       (A) a farm ownership, farm operating, or emergency loan 
     funded from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Program 
     Account; or
       (B) a housing program established under title V of the 
     Housing Act of 1949; or
       (2) in the administration of a commodity program or a 
     disaster assistance program.
       (b) Waiver.--To the extent permitted by the Constitution, 
     an eligible claim, if commenced not later than 2 years after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, shall not be barred by 
     any statute of limitations.
       (c) Administrative Proceedings.--
       (1) In general.--In lieu of bringing a civil action, a 
     claimant may seek a written determination on the merits of an 
     eligible claim by the Secretary of Agriculture if such claim 
     is filed with the Secretary within two years of the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (2) Time period for resolution of administrative claims.--
     To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall, 
     within 180 days from the date an eligible claim is filed with 
     the Secretary under this subsection, conduct an 
     investigation, issue a written determination, and propose a 
     resolution in accordance with this subsection.
       (3) Hearing and award.--The Secretary shall--
       (A) provide the claimant an opportunity for a hearing 
     before making the determination; and
       (B) award the claimant such relief as would be afforded 
     under the applicable statute from which the eligible claim 
     arose notwithstanding any statute of limitations.
       (d) Standard of Review.--Federal courts reviewing an 
     eligible claim under this section shall apply a de novo 
     standard of review.
       (e) Limitation on Administrative Awards and Settlement 
     Authority and Extension of Time.--
       (1) Limitation on administrative awards and settlement 
     authority.--A proposed administrative award or settlement 
     exceeding $75,000 (other than debt relief) of an eligible 
     claim--
       (A) shall not take effect until 90 days after notice of the 
     award or settlement is given to the Attorney General; and
       (B) shall not take effect if, during that 90-day period, 
     the Attorney General objects to the award or settlement.
       (2) Extension of time.--Notwithstanding subsections (b) and 
     (c), if an eligible claim is denied administratively, the 
     claimant shall have at least 180 days to commence a cause of 
     action in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction seeking a 
     review of such denial.
       Sec. 762. Census of Agriculture. (a) In general.--Section 2 
     of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (7 U.S.C. 2204g) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b) by inserting at the end the 
     following: ``In fiscal year 1999 the Secretary of Agriculture 
     is directed to continue to revise the Census of Agriculture 
     to eliminate redundancies in questions asked of farmers by 
     USDA.''.
       (2) in subsection (d) by deleting in paragraph (1) ``who 
     willfully gives'' and inserting in its place ``shall not 
     give'', and deleting ``, shall be fined not more than $500''.
       (3) in subsection (d) by deleting in paragraph (2) ``who 
     refuses or willfully neglects'' and inserting in its place 
     ``shall not refuse or willfully neglect'', and deleting ``, 
     shall not be fined more than $100''.
       Sec. 763. Tree Assistance Program. (a) In General.--The 
     Secretary of Agriculture may use funds for tree assistance 
     made available under Public Law 105-174, to carry out a tree 
     assistance program to owners of trees that were lost or 
     destroyed as a result of a disaster or emergency that was 
     declared by the President or the Secretary of Agriculture 
     during the period beginning May 1, 1998, and ending August 1, 
     1998, regardless of whether the damage resulted in loss or 
     destruction after August 1, 1998.
       (b) Administration.--Subject to subsection (c), the 
     Secretary shall carry out the program, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, in accordance with the terms and conditions of 
     the tree assistance program established under part 783 of 
     title 7, Code of Federal Regulations.
       (c) Eligibility.--A person shall be presumed eligible for 
     assistance under the program if the person demonstrates to 
     the Secretary that trees owned by the person were lost or 
     destroyed by May 31, 1999, as a direct result of fire blight 
     infestation that was caused by a disaster or emergency 
     described in subsection (a).
       Sec. 764. Study of Future Federal Agricultural Policies. 
     (a) In General.--On the request of the Commission on 21st 
     Century Production Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture, 
     acting through the Chief Economist of the Department of 
     Agriculture, shall make assistance and information available 
     to the Commission to enable the Commission to conduct a study 
     to guide the development of future Federal agricultural 
     policies.
       (b) Duties.--In conducting the study, the Commission 
     shall--
       (1) examine a range of future Federal agricultural policies 
     that may succeed the policies established under the 
     Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) 
     for the 2003 and subsequent crops, and the impact of such 
     policies on farm income, the structure of agriculture, trade 
     competitiveness, conservation, the environment and other 
     factors;
       (2) assess the potential impact of any legislation enacted 
     through the end of the 105th Congress on future Federal 
     agricultural policies; and
       (3) review economic agricultural studies that are relevant 
     to future Federal agricultural policies.
       (c) Report.--Not later than December 31, 1999, the 
     Commission shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
     the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate, the results of the study conducted under this 
     section.
       Sec. 765. Indication of Country of Origin of Imported 
     Perishable Agricultural Commodities. (a) Definitions.--In 
     this section:
       (1) Food service establishment.--The term ``food service 
     establishment'' means a restaurant, cafeteria, lunch room, 
     food stand, saloon, tavern, bar, lounge, or other similar 
     facility, operated as an enterprise engaged in the business 
     of selling foods to the public.
       (2) Perishable agricultural commodity; retailer.--The terms 
     ``perishable agricultural commodity'' and ``retailer'' have 
     the meanings given the terms in section 1(b) of the 
     Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7 U.S.C. 
     499a(b)).
       (b) Notice of Country of Origin Required.--Except as 
     provided in subsection (c), a retailer of a perishable 
     agricultural commodity imported into the United States shall 
     inform consumers, at the final point of sale of the 
     perishable agricultural commodity to consumers, of the 
     country of origin of the perishable agricultural commodity.
       (c) Exemption for Food Service Establishments.--Subsection 
     (b) shall not apply to a perishable agricultural commodity 
     imported into the United States to the extent that the 
     perishable agricultural commodity is--
       (1) prepared or served in a food service establishment; and
       (2)(A) offered for sale or sold at the food service 
     establishment in normal retail quantities; or

[[Page S8529]]

       (B) served to consumers at the food service establishment.
       (d) Method of Notification.--
       (1) In general.--The information required by subsection (b) 
     may be provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp, 
     mark, placard, or other clear and visible sign on the 
     imported perishable agricultural commodity or on the package, 
     display, holding unit, or bin containing the commodity at the 
     final point of sale to consumers.
       (2) Labeled commodities.--If the imported perishable 
     agricultural commodity is already individually labeled 
     regarding country of origin by the packer, importer, or 
     another person, the retailer shall not be required to provide 
     any additional information to comply with this section.
       (e) Violations.--If a retailer fails to indicate the 
     country of origin of an imported perishable agricultural 
     commodity as required by subsection (b), the Secretary of 
     Agriculture may assess a civil penalty on the retailer in an 
     amount not to exceed--
       (1) $1,000 for the first day on which the violation occurs; 
     and
       (2) $250 for each day on which the same violation 
     continues.
       (f) Deposit of Funds.--Amounts collected under subsection 
     (e) shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States 
     as miscellaneous receipts.
       (g) Application of Section.--This section shall apply with 
     respect to a perishable agricultural commodity imported into 
     the United States after the end of the 6-month period 
     beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 766. (a) Findings.--
       (1) The President's budget submission includes unauthorized 
     user fees.
       (2) It is unlikely these fees will be authorized in the 
     immediate future.
       (3) The assumption of revenue from unauthorized user fees 
     results in a shortfall of funds available for programs under 
     the jurisdiction of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
     and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
       (4) That among the programs for which additional funds can 
     be justified are--
       (A) human nutrition research;
       (B) the Food Safety Initiative activities of the United 
     States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug 
     Administration;
       (C) the Wetlands Reserve Program;
       (D) the conservation Farm Option Program;
       (E) the Farmland Protection Program;
       (F) the Inspector General's Law Enforcement Initiative;
       (G) the Food and Drug Administration pre-notification 
     certification;
       (H) the Food and Drug Administration clinical pharmacology;
       (I) the Food and Drug Administration Office of Cosmetics 
     and Color;
       (J) the Rural Electric loan programs;
       (K) the Pesticide Data Program;
       (L) the Rural Community Advancement Program;
       (M) civil rights activities; and
       (N) the Fund for Rural America.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--Therefore, it is the sense of the 
     Senate that in the event an additional allocation becomes 
     available, the before mentioned programs should be considered 
     for funding.
       Sec. 767. Office of the Small Farms Advocate. (a) 
     Definition of Small Farm.--In this section, the term ``small 
     farm'' has the meaning given the term in section 506 of the 
     Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2666).
       (b) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     establish and maintain in the Department of Agriculture an 
     Office of the Small Farms Advocate.
       (c) Functions.--The Office of the Small Farms Advocate 
     shall--
       (1) cooperate with, and monitor, agencies and offices of 
     the Department to ensure that the Department is meeting the 
     needs of small farms;
       (2) provide input to agencies and offices of the Department 
     on program and policy decisions to ensure that the interests 
     of small farms are represented; and
       (3) develop and implement a plan to coordinate the 
     effective delivery of services of the Department to small 
     farms.
       (d) Administrator.--
       (1) Appointment.--The Office of the Small Farms Advocate 
     shall be headed by an Administrator, who shall be appointed 
     by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
     Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize a net 
     increase in the number of political appointees within the 
     Department of Agriculture.
       (2) Duties.--The Administrator shall--
       (A) act as an advocate for small farms in connection with 
     policies and programs of the Department; and
       (B) carry out the functions of the Office of the Small 
     Farms Advocate under subsection (b).
       (3) Executive schedule.--Section 5315 of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``Administrator, Office of the Small Farms Advocate, 
     Department of Agriculture.''.
       (e) Resources.--Using funds that are otherwise available to 
     the Department of Agriculture, the Secretary shall provide 
     the Office of the Small Farms Advocate with such human and 
     capital resources as are sufficient for the Office to carry 
     out its functions in a timely and efficient manner.
       (f) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit to 
     the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
     the Senate an annual report that describes actions taken by 
     the Office of the Small Farms Advocate to further the 
     interests of small farms.
       Sec. 768. Limit on Penalty for Inadvertent Violation of 
     Contract Under the Agricultural Market Transition Act. If an 
     owner or producer, in good faith, inadvertently plants edible 
     beans during the 1998 crop year on acreage covered by a 
     contract under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
     U.S.C. 7201 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     minimize penalties imposed for the planting to prevent 
     economic injury to the owner or producer.
       Sec. 769. The Secretary of Agriculture shall present to 
     Congress by March 1, 1999 a report on whether to recommend 
     lifting the ban on the interstate-distribution of State 
     inspected meat.
       Sec. 770. Prohibition on Loan Guarantees to Borrowers that 
     have Received Debt Forgiveness. Section 373 of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008h) 
     is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(b) Prohibition of Loans for Borrowers That Have Received 
     Debt Forgiveness.--
       ``(1) Prohibitions.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)--
       ``(A) the Secretary may not make a loan under this title to 
     a borrower that has received debt forgiveness on a loan made 
     or guaranteed under this title; and
       ``(B) the Secretary may not guarantee a loan under this 
     title to a borrower that has received--
       ``(i) debt forgiveness after April 4, 1996, on a loan made 
     or guaranteed under this title; or
       ``(ii) received debt forgiveness on no more than 3 
     occasions on or before April 4, 1996.
       ``(2) Exceptions.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may make a direct or 
     guaranteed farm operating loan for paying annual farm or 
     ranch operating expenses of a borrower that was restructured 
     with a write-down under section 353.
       ``(B) Emergency loans.--The Secretary may make an emergency 
     loan under section 321 to a borrower that--
       ``(i) on or before April 4, 1996, received not more than 1 
     debt forgiveness on a loan made or guaranteed under this 
     title; and
       ``(ii) after April 4, 1996, has not received debt 
     forgiveness on a loan made or guaranteed under this title.''.
       Sec. 771. Definition of Family Farm. (a) Real Estate 
     Loans.--Section 302 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(c) Determination of Qualification for Loan.--
       ``(1) Primary factor.--The primary factor to be considered 
     in determining whether an applicant for a loan under this 
     subtitle is engaged primarily and directly in farming or 
     ranching shall be whether the applicant is participating in 
     routine, ongoing farm activities and in overall 
     decisionmaking with regard to the farm or ranch.
       ``(2) No basis for denial of loan.--The Secretary may not 
     deny a loan under this subtitle solely because 2 or more 
     individuals are employed full-time in the farming operation 
     for which the loan is sought.''.
       (b) Operating Loans.--Section 311 of the Consolidated Farm 
     and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Determination of Qualification for Loan.--
       ``(1) Primary factor.--The primary factor to be considered 
     in determining whether an applicant for a loan under this 
     subtitle is engaged primarily and directly in farming or 
     ranching shall be whether the applicant is participating in 
     routine, ongoing farm activities and in overall 
     decisionmaking with regard to the farm or ranch.
       ``(2) No basis for denial of loan.--The Secretary may not 
     deny a loan under this subtitle solely because 2 or more 
     individuals are employed full-time in the farming operation 
     for which the loan is sought.''.
       (c) Emergency Loans.--Section 321 of the Consolidated Farm 
     and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Determination of Qualification for Loan.--
       ``(1) Primary factor.--The primary factor to be considered 
     in determining whether an applicant for a loan under this 
     subtitle is engaged primarily and directly in farming or 
     ranching shall be whether the applicant is participating in 
     routine, ongoing farm activities and in overall 
     decisionmaking with regard to the farm or ranch.
       ``(2) No basis for denial of loan.--The Secretary may not 
     deny a loan under this subtitle solely because 2 or more 
     individuals are employed full-time in the farming operation 
     for which the loan is sought.''.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall be considered to 
     have been in effect as of January 1, 1977.
       Sec. 772. Applicability of Disaster Loan Collateral 
     Requirements Under the Small Business Act. Section 324(d) of 
     the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1964(d)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(d) All loans'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(d) Repayment.--
       ``(1) In general.-- All loans''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) No basis for denial of loan.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
     Secretary shall not deny a loan under this subtitle to a 
     borrower by reason of the fact that the borrower lacks a 
     particular amount of collateral for the loan if the Secretary 
     is reasonably certain that the borrower will be able to repay 
     the loan.
       ``(B) Refusal to pledge available collateral.--The 
     Secretary may deny or cancel a loan under this subtitle if a 
     borrower refuses to pledge available collateral on request by 
     the Secretary.''.
       Sec. 773. Notification of Recalls of Drugs and Devices. (a) 
     Matthew's Law.--This section shall be referred to as 
     ``Matthew's Law''.

[[Page S8530]]

       (b) Drugs.--Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
     Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(o)(1) If the Secretary withdraws an application for a 
     drug under paragraph (1) or (2) of the first sentence of 
     subsection (e) and a class I recall for the drug results, the 
     Secretary shall take such action as the Secretary may 
     determine to be appropriate to ensure timely notification of 
     the recall to individuals that received the drug, including 
     using the assistance of health professionals that prescribed 
     or dispensed the drug to such individuals.
       ``(2) In this subsection:
       ``(A) The term `Class I' refers to the corresponding 
     designation given recalls in subpart A of part 7 of title 21, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor regulation.
       ``(B) The term `recall' means a recall, as defined in 
     subpart A of part 7 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     or a successor regulation, of a drug.''.
       (c) Devices.--Section 518(e) of such Act (21 U.S.C. 
     360h(e)) is amended--
       (1) in the last sentence of paragraph (2), by inserting 
     ``or if the recall is a class I recall,'' after ``cannot be 
     identified''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) In this subsection, the term `Class I' refers to the 
     corresponding designation given recalls in subpart A of part 
     7 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor 
     regulation.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 705(b) of such Act (21 
     U.S.C. 375(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or gross'' and inserting ``gross''; and
       (2) by striking the period and inserting ``, or a class I 
     recall of a drug or device as described in section 505(o)(1) 
     or 518(e)(2).''.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect one day 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.

            TITLE VIII--AGRICULTURAL CREDIT RESTORATION ACT

       Sec. 801. Short Title. This title may be cited as the 
     ``Agricultural Credit Restoration Act''.
       Sec. 802. Amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act. (a) Section 343(a)(12)(B) of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1991(a)(12)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(B) Exceptions.--The term `debt forgiveness' does not 
     include--
       ``(i) consolidation, rescheduling, reamortization, or 
     deferral of a loan;
       ``(ii) 1 debt forgiveness in the form of a restructuring, 
     write-down, or net recovery buy-out, which occurred prior to 
     date of enactment and was due to a financial problem of the 
     borrower relating to a natural disaster or a medical 
     condition of the borrower or of a member of the immediate 
     family of the borrower (or, in the case of a borrower that is 
     an entity, a principal owner of the borrower or a member of 
     the immediate family of such an owner); and
       ``(iii) any restructuring, write-down, or net recovery buy-
     out provided as a part of a resolution of a discrimination 
     complaint against the Secretary.''.
       (b) Section 355(c)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(c)(2)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) Reservation and allocation.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall, to the greatest 
     extent practicable, reserve and allocate the proportion of 
     each State's loan funds made available under subtitle B that 
     is equal to that State's target participation rate for use by 
     the socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in that State. 
     The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, distribute 
     the total so derived on a county by county basis according to 
     the number of socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in 
     the county.
       ``(B) Reallocation of unused funds.--The Secretary may pool 
     any funds reserved and allocated under this paragraph with 
     respect to a State that are not used as described in 
     subparagraph (A) in a State in the first 10 months of a 
     fiscal year with the funds similarly not so used in other 
     States, and may reallocate such pooled funds in the 
     discretion of the Secretary for use by socially disadvantaged 
     farmers and ranchers in other States.''.
       (c) Section 373(b)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2008h(b)(1)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in this paragraph and 
     in paragraph (2), the Secretary may not make or guarantee a 
     loan under subtitle A or B to a borrower who received debt 
     forgiveness on a loan made or guaranteed under this title 
     unless such forgiveness occurred prior to April 4, 1996.''.
       Sec. 803. Regulations. Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall promulgate regulations necessary to carry 
     out the amendments made by this Act, without regard to--
       (1) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of 
     title 5, United States Code; and
       (2) the statement of policy of the Secretary of Agriculture 
     relating to notices of proposed rulemaking and public 
     participation in rulemaking that became effective on July 24, 
     1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 13804).

                  TITLE IX--INDIA-PAKISTAN RELIEF ACT

       Sec. 901. Short Title. This title may be cited as the 
     ``India-Pakistan Relief Act of 1998''.
       Sec. 902. Waiver Authority. (a) Authority.--The President 
     may waive for a period not to exceed one year upon enactment 
     of this Act with respect to India or Pakistan the application 
     of any sanction or prohibition (or portion thereof) contained 
     in section 101 or 102 of the Arms Export Control Act, section 
     620E(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, or section 
     2(b)(4) of the Export Import Bank Act of 1945.
       (b) Exception.--The authority provided in subsection (a) 
     shall not apply to any restriction in section 102(b)(2) (B), 
     (C), or (G) of the Arms Export Control Act.
       (c) Availability of Amounts.--Amounts made available by 
     this section are designated by the Congress as an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced 
     Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: 
     Provided, That such amounts shall be available only to the 
     extent that an official budget request that includes 
     designation of the entire amount of the request as an 
     emergency requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, is 
     transmitted by the President to the Congress.
       Sec. 903. Consultation. Prior to each exercise of the 
     authority provided in section 902, the President shall 
     consult with the appropriate congressional committees.
       Sec. 904. Reporting Requirement. Not later than 30 days 
     prior to the expiration of a one-year period described in 
     section 902, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to 
     the appropriate congressional committees on economic and 
     national security developments in India and Pakistan.
       Sec. 905. Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined. In 
     this title, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and 
     the Committee on International Relations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate.

                         TITLE X--MEAT LABELING

       Sec. 1001. Definitions. Section 1 of the Federal Meat 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(w) Beef.--The term `beef'' means meat produced from 
     cattle (including veal).
       ``(x) Lamb.--The term `lamb' means meat, other than mutton, 
     produced from sheep.
       ``(y) Beef blended with imported meat.--The term `beef 
     blended with imported meat' means ground beef, or beef in 
     another meat food product that contains United States beef 
     and any imported meat.
       ``(z) Lamb blended with imported meat.--The term `lamb 
     blended with imported meat' means ground meat, or lamb in 
     another meat food product, that contains United States lamb 
     and any imported meat.
       ``(aa) Imported beef.--The term `imported beef' means any 
     beef, including any fresh muscle cuts, ground meat, 
     trimmings, and beef in another meat food product, that is not 
     United States beef, whether or not the beef is graded with a 
     quality grade issued by the Secretary.
       ``(bb) Imported lamb.--The term `imported lamb' means any 
     lamb, including any fresh muscle cuts, ground meat, 
     trimmings, and lamb in another meat food product, that is not 
     United States lamb, whether or not the lamb is graded with a 
     quality grade issued by the Secretary.
       ``(cc) United states beef.--
       ``(1) In general.--The term `United States beef' means beef 
     produced from cattle slaughtered in the United States.
       ``(2) Exclusions.--The term `United States beef' does not 
     include--
       ``(A) beef produced from cattle imported into the United 
     States in sealed trucks for slaughter;
       ``(B) beef produced from imported carcasses;
       ``(C) imported beef trimmings; or
       ``(D) imported boxed beef.
       ``(dd) United states lamb.--
       ``(1) In general.--The term `United States lamb' means 
     lamb, except mutton, produced from sheep slaughtered in the 
     United States.
       ``(2) Exclusions.--The term `United States lamb' does not 
     include--
       ``(A) lamb produced from sheep imported into the United 
     States in sealed trucks for slaughter;
       ``(B) lamb produced from an imported carcass;
       ``(C) imported lamb trimmings; or
       ``(D) imported boxed lamb.''.
       Sec. 1002. Labeling of Imported Meat and Meat Food 
     Products. (a) Labeling Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601(n)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(13)(A) If it is imported beef or imported lamb offered 
     for retail sale as fresh muscle cuts of beef or lamb and is 
     not accompanied by labeling that identifies it as imported 
     beef or imported lamb.
       ``(B) If it is United States beef or United States lamb 
     offered for retail sale, or offered and intended for export 
     as fresh muscle cuts of beef or lamb, and is not accompanied 
     by labeling that identifies it as United States beef or 
     United States lamb.
       ``(C) If it is United States or imported ground beef or 
     other processed beef or lamb product and is not accompanied 
     by labeling that identifies it as United States beef or 
     United States lamb, imported beef or imported lamb, beef 
     blended with imported meat or lamb blended with imported 
     meat, or other designation that identifies the percentage 
     content of United States beef and imported beef United States 
     lamb and imported lamb or contained in the product, as 
     determined by the Secretary under section 7(g).''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 20(a) of the Federal 
     Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 620(a)) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following: ``All imported beef or imported 
     lamb offered for retail sale as fresh muscle cuts of beef or 
     lamb shall be plainly and conspicuously marked, labeled, or 
     otherwise identified as imported beef or imported lamb.''.
       (b) Ground or Processed Beef and Lamb.--Section 7 of the 
     Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 607) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Ground or Processed Beef and Lamb.--
       ``(1) Voluntary labeling.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
     Secretary shall provide by regulation for the voluntary 
     labeling or identification of ground beef or lamb, other 
     processed beef or lamb products as United States beef or 
     United

[[Page S8531]]

     States lamb, imported beef or imported lamb, beef blended 
     with imported meat or lamb blended with imported meat, or 
     other designation that identifies the percentage content of 
     United States and imported beef or imported lamb contained in 
     the product, as determined by the Secretary.
       ``(2) Mandatory labeling.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this 
     subsection, the Secretary shall provide by regulation for the 
     mandatory labeling or identification of ground beef or lamb, 
     other processed beef or lamb products as United States beef 
     or United States lamb, imported beef or imported lamb, beef 
     blended with imported meat or lamb blended with imported 
     meat, or other designation that identifies the percentage 
     content of United States and imported beef or imported lamb 
     contained in the product, as determined by the Secretary.
       ``(B) Application.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the 
     extent the Secretary determines that the costs associated 
     with labeling under subparagraph (A) would result in an 
     unreasonable burden on producers, processors, retailers, or 
     consumers.''.
       (c) Ground Beef and Ground Lamb Labeling Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct 
     a study of the effects of the mandatory use of imported, 
     blended, or percentage content labeling on ground beef, 
     ground lamb, and other processed beef or lamb products made 
     from imported beef or imported lamb.
       (2) Costs and responses.--The study shall be designed to 
     evaluate the costs associated with and consumer response 
     toward the mandatory use of labeling described in paragraph 
     (1).
       (3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report the 
     findings of the study conducted under paragraph (1) to the 
     Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
     the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
     Senate.
       Sec. 1003. Regulations. Not later than 120 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall promulgate final regulations to carry out the 
     amendments made by this title.

               TITLE XI--BIODIESEL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT

       Sec. 1101. Short Title; Table of Contents. (a) Short 
     Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Biodiesel Energy 
     Development Act of 1998''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this title 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1101. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 1102. Definitions.
Sec. 1103. Amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
Sec. 1104. Minimum Federal fleet requirement.
Sec. 1105. State and local incentives programs.
Sec. 1106. Alternative fuel bus program.
Sec. 1107. Alternative fuel use in nonroad vehicles, engines, and 
              marine vessels.
Sec. 1108. Mandate for alternative fuel providers.
Sec. 1109. Replacement fuel supply and demand program.
Sec. 1110. Modification of goals; additional rulemaking authority.
Sec. 1111. Fleet requirement program.
Sec. 1112. Credits.
Sec. 1113. Secretary's recommendation to Congress.

       Sec. 1102. Definitions. Section 301 of the Energy Policy 
     Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13211) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``derived from biological 
     materials'' and inserting ``derived from domestically 
     produced renewable biological materials (including biodiesel) 
     at mixtures not less than 20 percent by volume'';
       (2) in paragraph (8), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) a motor vehicle (other than an automobile) or marine 
     vessel that is capable of operating on alternative fuel, 
     gasoline, or diesel fuel, or an approved blend of alternative 
     fuel and petroleum-based fuel.'';
       (3) by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (14) as 
     paragraphs (12), (14), (15), and (16), respectively;
       (4) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:
       ``(11) the term `heavy duty motor vehicle' means a motor 
     vehicle or marine vessel that is greater than 8,500 pounds 
     gross vehicle weight rating;'';
       (5) by inserting after paragraph (12) (as redesignated by 
     paragraph (3)) the following:
       ``(13) the term `marine vessel' means a motorized 
     watercraft or other artificial contrivance used as a means of 
     transportation primarily on the navigable waters of the 
     United States;'';
       (6) in paragraph (15) (as redesignated by paragraph (3)), 
     by striking ``biological materials'' and inserting 
     ``domestically produced renewable biological materials 
     (including biodiesel)''.
       Sec. 1103. Amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation 
     Act. Section 400AA of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 6374) is amended--
       (1) in the second sentence of subsection (a)(3)(B), by 
     striking ``vehicles converted to use alternative fuels may be 
     acquired if, after conversion,'' and inserting ``existing 
     fleet vehicles may be converted to use alternative fuels at 
     the time of a major vehicle overhaul or rebuild, or vehicles 
     that have been converted to use alternative fuels may be 
     acquired, if''; and
       (2) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``derived from biological 
     materials'' and inserting ``derived from domestically 
     produced renewable biological materials (including biodiesel) 
     at mixtures not less than 20 percent by volume'';
       (B) in paragraph (5), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) a motor vehicle (other than an automobile) or marine 
     vessel that is capable of operating on alternative fuel, 
     gasoline, or diesel fuel, or an approved blend of alternative 
     fuel and petroleum-based fuel; and''; and
       (C) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``or marine vessel'' 
     after ``a vehicle''.
       Sec. 1104. Minimum Federal Fleet Requirement. Section 303 
     of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13212) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as 
     subsections (d) through (g), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Heavy Duty and Dual-Fueled Vehicle Compliance 
     Credits.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of meeting the requirements 
     of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Administrator of General Services, if appropriate, shall 
     permit a Federal fleet to acquire 1 heavy duty alternative 
     fueled vehicle in place of 2 light duty alternative fueled 
     vehicles.
       ``(2) Additional credits.--For purposes of this section, 
     the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of 
     General Services, if appropriate, shall permit a Federal 
     fleet to take an additional credit for the purchase and 
     documented use of alternative fuel used in a dual-fueled 
     vehicle, comparable conventionally-fueled motor vehicle, or 
     marine vessel.
       ``(3) Accounting.--
       ``(A) In general.--In allowing a credit for the purchase of 
     a dual-fueled vehicle or alternative fuel, the Secretary may 
     request a Federal agency to provide an accounting of the 
     purchase.
       ``(B) Guidelines.--The Secretary shall include any request 
     made under subparagraph (A) in the guidelines required under 
     section 308.
       ``(4) Fuel and vehicle neutrality.--The Secretary shall 
     carry out this subsection in a manner that is, to the maximum 
     extent practicable, neutral with respect to the type of fuel 
     and vehicle used.''.
       Sec. 1105. State and Local Incentives Programs. (a) 
     Establishment of Program.--Section 409(a) of the Energy 
     Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13235(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``alternative fueled 
     vehicles'' and inserting ``light and heavy duty alternative 
     fueled vehicles and increasing the use of alternative 
     fuels''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting after ``introduction 
     of'' the following: ``converted or acquired light and heavy 
     duty'';
       (B) in subparagraph (E), by inserting after ``of sales of'' 
     the following: ``, incentives toward use of, and reporting 
     requirements relating to''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (G)--
       (i) by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as clauses 
     (ii) through (iv), respectively; and
       (ii) by inserting after ``cost of--'' the following:

       ``(I) alternative fuels;''.

       (b) Federal Assistance to States.--Section 409(b) of the 
     Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13235(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) grants of Federal financial assistance for the 
     incremental purchase cost of alternative fuels.'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting after ``be 
     introduced'' the following: ``and the volume of alternative 
     fuel likely to be consumed''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by inserting ``alternative fuels and'' after ``in 
     procuring''; and
       (B) by inserting ``fuels and'' after ``of such''.
       (c) General Provisions.--Section 409(c)(2)(A) of the Energy 
     Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13235(c)(2)(A)) is amended by 
     inserting after ``alternative fueled vehicles in use'' the 
     following: ``and volume of alternative fuel consumed''.
       Sec. 1106. Alternative Fuel Bus Program. Section 410(c) of 
     the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13236(c)) is amended 
     in the second sentence by striking ``and the conversion of 
     school buses to dedicated vehicles'' and inserting ``the 
     incremental cost of alternative fuels used in flexible fueled 
     school buses, and the conversion of school buses to 
     alternative fueled vehicles''.
       Sec. 1107. Alternative Fuel Use in Nonroad Vehicles, 
     Engines, and Marine Vessels. Section 412 of the Energy Policy 
     Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13238) is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``and engines'' and 
     inserting ``, engines, and marine vessels'';
       (2) by striking ``vehicles and engines'' each place it 
     appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ``vehicles, 
     engines, and marine vessels'';
       (3) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Nonroad 
     Vehicles and Engines'' and inserting ``In General'';
       (B) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in the first sentence, by striking ``a study'' and 
     inserting ``studies''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence--

       (I) by striking ``study'' and inserting ``studies''; and
       (II) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting ``2, 6, and 10 
     years'';

       (C) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by striking ``study'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``studies''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence, by inserting ``or marine 
     vessels'' after ``such vehicles''; and
       (D) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by striking ``report'' and inserting ``reports''; and

[[Page S8532]]

       (ii) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''; and
       (4) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``and Engines'' 
     and inserting ``, Engines, and Marine Vessels''; and
       (B) by striking ``rail transportation, vehicles used at 
     airports, vehicles or engines used for marine purposes, and 
     other vehicles or engines'' and inserting ``rail and waterway 
     transportation, vehicles used at airports and seaports, 
     vehicles or engines used for marine purposes, marine vessels, 
     and other vehicles, engines, or marine vessels''.
       Sec. 1108. Mandate for Alternative Fuel Providers. Section 
     501 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13251) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``or heavy'' after 
     ``new light''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) allow the conversion of an existing fleet vehicle 
     into a dual-fueled alternative fueled vehicle at the time of 
     a major overhaul or rebuild of the vehicle, if the original 
     equipment manufacturer's warranty continues to apply to the 
     vehicle, pursuant to an agreement between the original 
     equipment manufacturer and the person performing the 
     conversion.''.
       Sec. 1109. Replacement Fuel Supply and Demand Program. 
     Section 502 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     13252) is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by inserting 
     ``and heavy'' after ``in light''; and
       (2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by inserting 
     after ``October 1, 1993,'' the following: ``and every 5 years 
     thereafter through October 1, 2008,''.
       Sec. 1110. Modification of Goals; Additional Rulemaking 
     Authority. Section 504 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 
     U.S.C. 13254) is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking 
     ``and periodically thereafter'' and inserting ``consistent 
     with the reporting requirements of section 502(b)''; and
       (2) in subsection (c), by inserting after the first 
     sentence the following: ``Any additional regulation issued by 
     the Secretary shall be, to the maximum extent practicable, 
     neutral with respect to the type of fuel and vehicle used.''.
       Sec.  1111. Fleet Requirement Program. (a) Fleet Program 
     Purchase Goals.--Section 507(a)(1) of the Energy Policy Act 
     of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13257(a)(1)) is amended by inserting 
     ``acquired as, or converted into,'' after ``shall be''.
       (b) Fleet Requirement Program.--Section 507(g) of the 
     Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13257(g)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``acquired as, or 
     converted into,'' after ``shall be'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) Substitutions.--The Secretary shall, by rule, permit 
     fleets covered under this section to substitute the 
     acquisition or conversion of 1 heavy duty alternative fueled 
     vehicle for 2 light duty vehicle acquisitions to meet the 
     requirements of this subsection.''.
       (c) Conversions.--Section 507(j) of the Energy Policy Act 
     of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13257(j)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Nothing in'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), nothing in''; 
     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Conversion into alternative fueled vehicles.--
       ``(A) In general.--A fleet owner shall be permitted to 
     convert an existing fleet vehicle into an alternative fueled 
     vehicle, and purchase the alternative fuel for the converted 
     vehicle, for the purpose of compliance with this title or an 
     amendment made by this title, if the original equipment 
     manufacturer's warranty continues to apply to the vehicle, 
     pursuant to an agreement between the original equipment 
     manufacturer and the person performing the conversion.
       ``(B) Credits.--A fleet owner shall be allowed a credit for 
     the conversion of an existing fleet vehicle and the purchase 
     of alternative fuel for the vehicle.''.
       (d) Mandatory State Fleet Programs.--Section 507(o) of the 
     Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13257(o)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by inserting ``or heavy'' after ``new light''; and
       (B) by inserting ``or converted'' after ``acquired''; and
       (2) in the first sentence of paragraph (2)(A)--
       (A) by striking ``this Act'' and inserting ``the Biodiesel 
     Energy Development Act of 1997''; and
       (B) by inserting after ``of light'' the following: ``or 
     heavy duty alternative fueled''.
       Sec. 1112. Credits. (a) In general.--Section 508(a) of the 
     Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13258(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) Additional alternative fueled vehicles.--The 
     Secretary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Alternative fuel.--The Secretary shall allocate a 
     credit to a fleet or covered person that acquires a volume of 
     alternative fuel equal to the estimated need for 1 year for 
     any dual-fueled vehicle acquired or converted by the fleet or 
     covered person as required under this title.''.
       (b) Allocation.--Section 508(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 
     1992 (42 U.S.C. 13258(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``In allocating credits under subsection 
     (a),'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) Additional alternative fueled vehicles.--In 
     allocating credits under subsection (a)(1),``; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Dual-fueled vehicles; alternative fuel.--In 
     allocating credits under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary 
     shall allocate 2 credits to a fleet or covered person for 
     acquiring or converting a dual-fueled vehicle and acquiring a 
     volume of alternative fuel equal to the estimated need for 1 
     year for any dual-fueled vehicle if the dual-fueled vehicle 
     acquired is in excess of the number that the fleet or covered 
     person is required to acquire or is acquired before the date 
     that the fleet or covered person is required to acquire the 
     number under this title.''.
       Sec. 1113. Secretary's Recommendation to Congress. Section 
     509(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13259(a)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the semicolon at 
     the end the following: ``and exempting replacement fuels from 
     taxes levied on non-replacement fuels''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by inserting ``and converters'' after ``suppliers''; 
     and
       (B) by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, 
     including the conversion and warranty of motor vehicles into 
     alternative fueled vehicles''.
        This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999''.

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