[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 136 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H9288-H9314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4101, AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD 
 AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

  Mr. SKEEN (during the special order of Mr. Obey) submitted the 
following conference report and statement on the bill (H.R. 4101) 
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.

                  Conference Report (H. Rept. 105-763)

       The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
     4101) ``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'', having met, after full and 
     free conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to 
     their respective Houses as follows:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an 
     amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
     amendment, 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

[[Page H9289]]

     $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: Provided further, That 
     none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by 
     this Act may be used to pay the salaries and expenses of 
     personnel of the Department of Agriculture to carry out 
     section 793(c)(1)(C) of Public Law 104-127: Provided further, 
     That none of the funds made available by this Act may be used 
     to enforce section 793(d) of Public Law 104-127.

                          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, $5,620,000.


                       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, $6,120,000.

                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 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, $32,168,000, 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, $65,128,000, 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 
     $100,000 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 for 
     fiscal year 1999 and thereafter, 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, $29,194,000.

  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


                     (including transfer of funds)

       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, $65,757,000: Provided, That $2,000,000 shall 
     be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for 
     ``Food and Nutrition Service, Food Program Administration'' 
     for studies and evaluations: 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).

                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

[[Page H9290]]

     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, $781,950,000: 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 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 shall 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 programs of the Department of Agriculture, where not 
     otherwise provided, $56,437,000, 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.

      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 $180,545,000 to carry into 
     effect the provisions of the Hatch Act (7 U.S.C. 361a-i); 
     $21,932,000 for grants for cooperative forestry research (16 
     U.S.C. 582a-a7); $29,676,000 for payments to the 1890 land-
     grant colleges, including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 
     3222); $63,116,000 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)); $119,300,000 for competitive research grants (7 
     U.S.C. 450i(b)); $5,109,000 for the support of animal health 
     and disease programs (7 U.S.C. 3195); $750,000 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); $2,850,000 
     for an education grants program for Hispanic-serving 
     Institutions (7 U.S.C. 3241); $500,000 for a secondary 
     agriculture education program and two-year postsecondary 
     education (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); $1,552,000 for payments to the 
     1994 Institutions pursuant to section 534(a)(1) of Public Law 
     103-382; and $10,688,000 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, 
     $481,216,000.
       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, $3,000,000; payments for the 
     pesticide impact assessment program under section 3(d) of 
     the Act, $3,214,000; payments to upgrade research, 
     extension, and teaching facilities at the 1890 land-grant 
     colleges, including Tuskegee University, as authorized by 
     section 1447 of Public Law 95-113 (7 U.S.C. 3222b), 
     $8,426,000, 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, $9,561,000; 
     payments for youth-at-risk programs under section 3(d) of 
     the Act, $9,000,000; payments for a food safety program 
     under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,500,000; 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, 
     $1,714,000; 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, $11,741,000; 
     in all, $434,122,000: 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, $425,803,000, of which 
     $4,105,000 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.

[[Page H9291]]

       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, $7,700,000, to remain available until expended.

                     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, $46,000,000, 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.
       Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization 
     activities, as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 
     U.S.C. 9701).


                 limitation on administrative expenses

       Not to exceed $60,730,000 (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, $26,787,000: 
     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.


        limitation on inspection and weighing services 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

       For necessary expenses to carry out services authorized by 
     the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products 
     Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, 
     $609,250,000, 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, $714,499,000: 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, $510,682,000, of 
     which $425,031,000 shall be for guaranteed loans; operating 
     loans, $1,648,276,000, of which $948,276,000 shall be for 
     unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $200,000,000 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, 
     $100,000,000.
       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, $62,630,000, of which 
     $11,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and 
     $17,480,000 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, 
     $1,440,000.
       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

       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

[[Page H9292]]

     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.

                                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, $641,243,000, to remain available 
     until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b), of which not less than 
     $5,990,000 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 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), 
     $10,368,000: 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 and 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, $99,443,000, 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 and 16 U.S.C. 1006a)): 
     Provided, That not to exceed $47,000,000 of this 
     appropriation shall be available for technical assistance: 
     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 $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), $35,000,000, 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, 381N, and 381O of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), 
     $722,686,000, 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 $645,007,000 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 
     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 $5,300,000 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, 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 381E(d)(1) of such Act; of which 
     $23,948,000 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: $3,965,313,000 for loans to 
     section 502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of 
     which $3,000,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed 
     loans; $25,001,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; 
     $100,000,000 for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing 
     loans; $20,000,000 for section 514 farm labor housing; 
     $114,321,000 for section 515 rental housing; $5,152,000 for 
     section 524 site loans; $16,930,000 for credit sales of 
     acquired property, of which up to $5,001,000 may be for 
     multi-family credit sales; and $5,000,000 for section 523 
     self-help housing land development loans.

[[Page H9293]]

       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, $116,800,000, of which $2,700,000 shall be for 
     unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair 
     loans, $8,808,000; section 538 multi-family housing 
     guaranteed loans, $2,320,000; section 514 farm labor housing, 
     $10,406,000; section 515 rental housing, $55,160,000; section 
     524 site loans, $17,000; credit sales of acquired property, 
     $3,492,000, of which up to $2,416,000 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, $10,380,000 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.
       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, $41,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, 
     $1,200,000 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 further, 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, $15,000,000.
       For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of 
     modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $3,783,000.
       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), $3,300,000, 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), $3,500,000 is 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, 
     $300,000,000; 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, $810,000: 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 $157,509,000.
       For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
     modifying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural 
     Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), $4,174,000.
       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.

[[Page H9294]]

                                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.

                       Food and Nutrition Service


                        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; $9,176,897,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2000, of which $4,128,747,000 
     is 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 none of the 
     funds made available under this heading shall be used for 
     studies and evaluations: Provided further, 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), 
     $3,924,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 
     2000: Provided, That none of the funds made available under 
     this heading shall be used for studies and evaluations: 
     Provided further, That of the total amount available, the 
     Secretary shall obligate $10,000,000 for the farmers' market 
     nutrition program within 45 days of the enactment of this 
     Act, and an additional $5,000,000 for the farmers' market 
     nutrition program from any funds not needed to maintain 
     current caseload levels: 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: Provided further, That State agencies required to 
     procure infant formula using a competitive bidding system 
     may use funds appropriated by this Act to purchase infant 
     formula under a cost containment contract entered into 
     after September 30, 1996, only if the contract was awarded 
     to the bidder offering the lowest net price, as defined by 
     section 17(b)(20) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 
     unless the State agency demonstrates to the satisfaction 
     of the Secretary that the weighted average retail price 
     for different brands of infant formula in the State does 
     not vary by more than 5 percent.


                           Food Stamp Program

       For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 
     U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $22,585,106,000, 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 none 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, 
     $131,000,000, 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, $108,561,000, 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 and of which $2,000,000 shall be 
     available for obligation only after promulgation of a final 
     rule to curb vendor related fraud: 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), 
     $136,203,000: Provided, That the Service may utilize advances 
     of funds, or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures 
     made on behalf of Federal agencies, public and private 
     organizations and institutions under agreements executed 
     pursuant to the agricultural food production assistance 
     programs (7 U.S.C. 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) $16,249,000 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) $25,000,000 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; $1,098,140,000, 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 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: Provided further, That of 
     the total amount appropriated: (1) $226,580,000 shall be for 
     the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and related 
     field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs, of 
     which, and notwithstanding section 409(h)(5)(A) of the 
     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), 
     an amount of $500,000 shall be made available for the 
     development of systems, regulations,

[[Page H9295]]

     and pilot programs, if any, that would be required to permit 
     full implementation, consistent with section 409(h)(5) of 
     that Act, in fiscal year 2000 of the food contact substance 
     notification program under section 409(h) of such Act; (2) 
     $291,981,000 shall be for the Center for Drug Evaluation and 
     Research and related field activities in the Office of 
     Regulatory Affairs; (3) $125,095,000 shall be for the Center 
     for Biologics Evaluation and Research and for related field 
     activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (4) 
     $41,973,000 shall be for the Center for Veterinary 
     Medicine and for related field activities in the Office of 
     Regulatory Affairs; (5) $145,736,000 shall be for the 
     Center for Devices and Radiological Health and for related 
     field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (6) 
     $31,579,000 shall be for the National Center for 
     Toxicological Research; (7) $34,000,000 shall be for the 
     Office of Tobacco; (8) $25,855,000 shall be for Rent and 
     Related activities, other than the amounts paid to the 
     General Services Administration; (9) $88,294,000 shall be 
     for payments to the General Services Administration for 
     rent and related costs; and (10) $87,047,000 shall be for 
     other activities, including the Office of the 
     Commissioner, the Office of Policy, the Office of External 
     Affairs, the Office of Operations, the Office of 
     Management and Systems, and central services for these 
     offices.
       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, $11,350,000, 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 AGENCIES

                  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.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 Limitation of Administrative Expenses

       Not to exceed $35,800,000 (from assessments collected from 
     farm credit institutions and from the Federal Agricultural 
     Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated during the current 
     fiscal year for administrative expenses as authorized under 
     12 U.S.C. 2249: Provided, That this limitation shall not 
     apply to expenses associated with receiverships.

                     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 and 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. 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: Provided, That 
     notwithstanding section 1462 of the National Agricultural 
     Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 
     (7 U.S.C. 3310), funds provided by this Act for grants 
     awarded competitively by the Cooperative State Research, 
     Education, and Extension Service shall be available to pay 
     full allowable indirect costs for each grant awarded under 
     the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, 
     Public Law 97-219 (15 U.S.C. 638).
       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; Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
     Administration; and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
     Service may use cooperative agreements to reflect a 
     relationship between the Agricultural Marketing Service, the 
     Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 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. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative 
     Agreement Act, the Natural Resources Conservation Service may 
     enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with 
     a State agency or subdivision, or a public or private 
     organization, for the acquisition of goods or services, 
     including personal services, to carry out natural resources 
     conservation activities: Provided, That Commodity Credit 
     Corporation funds obligated for such purposes shall not 
     exceed the level obligated by the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation for such purposes in fiscal year 1998.
       Sec. 717. 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. 718. Hereafter, none of the funds made available in 
     this Act may be used to provide assistance to, or to pay the 
     salaries of personnel to carry out a market promotion/market 
     access program pursuant to section 203 of the Agricultural

[[Page H9296]]

     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. 719. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more 
     than $1,800,000 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: Provided, That interagency funding is 
     authorized to carry out the purposes of the National Drought 
     Policy Commission.
       Sec. 720. 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. 721. 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. 722. 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. 723. None of the funds made available to the 
     Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire 
     new information technology systems or significant upgrades, 
     as determined by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
     without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the 
     concurrence of the Executive Information Technology 
     Investment Review Board: Provided, That notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, none of the funds appropriated or 
     otherwise made available by this Act may be transferred to 
     the Office of the Chief Information Officer without the prior 
     approval of the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of 
     Congress.
       Sec. 724. (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 by Federal employees; 
     unless the Committee on Appropriations 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 Committee 
     on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are notified 
     fifteen days in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
       Sec. 725. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act or any other Act may be used to pay the 
     salaries and expenses of personnel to carry out section 793 
     of Public Law 104-127, with the exception of funds made 
     available under that section on January 1, 1997.
       Sec. 726. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and 
     expenses of personnel who carry out an environmental quality 
     incentives program authorized by sections 334-341 of Public 
     Law 104-127 in excess of $174,000,000.
       Sec. 727. 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. 728. 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. 729. 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 Subtitle D 
     of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
     3839aa et seq.) may be included in any amount reprogrammed 
     under this section if such funds are used for a purpose 
     authorized by such Chapter: Provided further, That any funds 
     made available from ongoing programs of the Department of 
     Agriculture used for the benefit of the Lower Mississippi 
     Delta Region shall be counted toward the level cited in this 
     section.
       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 enroll in excess of 120,000 acres in 
     the fiscal year 1999 wetlands reserve program as authorized 
     by 16 U.S.C. 3837.
       Sec. 731. 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 the emergency food 
     assistance program authorized by section 27(a) of the Food 
     Stamp Act if such program exceeds $90,000,000.
       Sec. 732. 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 the provisions of 
     section 401 of Public Law 105-185.
       Sec. 733. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     City of Big Spring, Texas shall be eligible to participate in 
     rural housing programs administered by the Rural Housing 
     Service.
       Sec. 734. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Municipality of Carolina, Puerto Rico shall be eligible for 
     grants and loans administered by the Rural Utilities Service.
       Sec. 735. Notwithstanding section 381A of the Consolidated 
     Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009), 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. 736. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act shall be used to carry out any 
     commodity purchase program that would prohibit eligibility or 
     participation by farmer-owned cooperatives.
       Sec. 737. Section 512(d)(4)(D)(iii) of the Federal Food, 
     Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(d)(4)(D)(iii)) is 
     amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, 
     except that for purposes of this clause, antibacterial 
     ingredient or animal drug does not include the ionophore or 
     arsenical classes of animal drugs''.
       Sec. 738. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
     made available to the Secretary by this Act, any other Act, 
     or any other source may be used to issue the final rule to 
     implement the amendments to Federal milk marketing orders 
     required by subsection (a)(1) of section 143 of the 
     Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7253), other 
     than during the period of February 1, 1999, through April 4, 
     1999, and only if the actual implementation of the amendments 
     as part of Federal milk marketing orders takes effect on 
     October 1, 1999, notwithstanding the penalties that would 
     otherwise be imposed under subsection (c) of such section.
       (b) None of such funds may be used to designate the State 
     of California as a separate Federal milk marketing order 
     under subsection (a)(2) of such section, other than during 
     the period beginning on the date of the issuance of the final 
     rule referred to in subsection (a) through September 30, 
     1999.
       (c) For purposes of this section, a rule shall be 
     considered to be a final rule when the rule is submitted to 
     Congress as required by chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
     Code, to permit congressional review of agency rulemaking and 
     before the Secretary of Agriculture conducts the producer 
     referendum required under section 8c(19) of the Agricultural 
     Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(19)), reenacted with amendments 
     by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
       Sec. 739. Whenever the Secretary of Agriculture announces 
     the basic formula price for milk for purposes of Federal milk 
     marketing orders issued under section 8c of the Agricultural 
     Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c), reenacted with amendments by 
     the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, the 
     Secretary shall include in the announcement an estimate, 
     stated on a per hundredweight basis, of the costs incurred by 
     milk producers, including transportation and marketing costs, 
     to produce milk in the different regions of the United 
     States.
       Sec. 740. 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. 741. Waiver of Statute of Limitations. (a) To the 
     extent permitted by the Constitution, any civil action to 
     obtain relief with respect to the discrimination alleged in 
     an eligible complaint, 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.
       (b) The complainant may, in lieu of filing a civil action, 
     seek a determination on the merits of the eligible complaint 
     by the Department of Agriculture if such complaint was filed 
     not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 
     Act. The Department of Agriculture shall--
       (1) provide the complainant an opportunity for a hearing on 
     the record before making that determination; and
       (2) award the complainant such relief as would be afforded 
     under the applicable statute from which the eligible 
     complaint arose notwithstanding any statute of limitations.

[[Page H9297]]

       (c) A proposed administrative award or settlement, 
     exceeding $75,000 (other than debt relief), of an eligible 
     complaint--
       (1) shall not take effect until 90 days after notice of 
     that award or settlement is given to the Attorney General (or 
     the Attorney General's designee); and
       (2) shall not take effect in any event if, during that 90-
     day period, the Attorney General (or the Attorney General's 
     designee) objects to the award or settlement.
       (d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), 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.
       (e) The United States Court of Federal Claims and the 
     United States District Court shall have exclusive original 
     jurisdiction over--
       (1) any cause of action arising out of a complaint with 
     respect to which this section waives the statute of 
     limitations; and
       (2) over any civil action for judicial review of a 
     determination in an administrative proceeding in the 
     Department of Agriculture under this section.
       (f) As used in this section, the term ``eligible 
     complaint'' means a non-employment-related complaint that was 
     filed with the Department of Agriculture before July 1, 1997 
     and alleges discrimination at any time during the period 
     beginning on January 1, 1983 and ending December 31, 1996:
       (1) under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 
     et seq.) in administering a farm ownership, farm operating, 
     or emergency loan from the Agricultural Credit Insurance 
     Program Account; or
       (2) in the administration of a commodity program or a 
     disaster assistance program.
       (g) This section shall apply in fiscal year 1999 and 
     thereafter.
       Sec. 742. In any claim brought under the Rehabilitation Act 
     of 1973 and filed with the Secretary of Agriculture after 
     January 1994 resulting in a finding that a farmer was 
     subjected to discrimination under any farm loan program or 
     activity conducted by the United States Department of 
     Agriculture in violation of section 504 of the Rehabilitation 
     Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), the Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall be liable for compensatory damages. Such liability 
     shall apply to any administrative action brought before the 
     date of enactment of this Act, but only if the action is 
     brought within the applicable statute of limitations and the 
     complainant sought or seeks compensatory damages while the 
     action is pending.
       Sec. 743. 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. 744. 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. 745. 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 ``$20,000,000'' in lieu of ``$15,000,000'' in 
     subsection (d).
       Sec. 746. 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. 747. 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. 748. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 
     508(b)(5)(A) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1508(b)(5)(A)), for the 1999 reinsurance and subsequent 
     reinsurance years, no producer shall pay more than $50 per 
     crop per county as an administrative fee for catastrophic 
     risk protection under section 508(b)(5)(A) of the Act.
       Sec. 749. 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. 750. (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 
     2000''.
       (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, 2000''.
       (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 2000''.
       (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 2000''; and
       (2) in subsection (u), by striking ``September 30, 1998'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2000''.
       (e) Section 538(f) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
     1490p-2(f)) is amended by adding after paragraph (5) the 
     following new flush sentence:

     ``The Secretary may not deny a guarantee under this section 
     on the basis that the interest on the loan, or on an 
     obligation supporting the loan, for which the guarantee is 
     sought is exempt from inclusion in gross income for purposes 
     of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
       Sec. 751. 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. 752. 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. 753. (a) 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) 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)(1) 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--
       (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(v) a State agricultural experiment station.''.
       (2) Section 401(d) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
     and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7621(d)) is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) a State agricultural experiment station.''.
       (d) Section 3(d) of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 
     361c(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``No'' and inserting 
     ``Except as provided in paragraph (4), no''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Territories.--In lieu of the matching funds 
     requirement of paragraph (1), the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam shall be subject to the 
     same matching funds requirements as those applicable to an 
     eligible institution under section 1449 of the National 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
     1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222d).''.
       (e) Section 3(e) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(e)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``paragraph (4) and'' 
     after ``provided in''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Territories.--In lieu of the matching funds 
     requirement of paragraph (1), the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam shall be subject to the 
     same matching funds requirements as those applicable to an 
     eligible institution under section 1449 of the National 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
     1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222d).''.
       (f) The amendments made by this section shall take effect 
     on the date of enactment of the Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998.
       Sec. 754. 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. 755. (a) 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) 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.

[[Page H9298]]

       Sec. 756. 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 $65,000,000: 
     Provided, That section 4(g) of the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation Charter Act is amended by striking $193,000,000 
     and inserting $188,000,000.
       Sec. 757. (a) 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) 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) 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. 758. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act shall be used to establish an Office of 
     Community Food Security or any similar office within the 
     United States Department of Agriculture without the prior 
     approval of the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of 
     Congress.
       Sec. 759. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     city of Vineland, New Jersey, shall be eligible for programs 
     administered by the Rural Housing Service and the Rural 
     Business-Cooperative Service.
       Sec. 760. (a)(1) For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``Commission'' means the Commodity Futures Trading 
     Commission.
       (2) For purposes of this section, the term ``qualifying 
     hybrid instrument or swap agreement'' means a hybrid 
     instrument or swap agreement that--
       (A) was entered into before the start of the restraint 
     period or is entered into during the restraint period; and
       (B) is exempt under part 34 or part 35 of title 17, Code of 
     Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 1998), 
     qualifies for the safe harbor contained in the Policy 
     Statement of the Commission regarding swap agreements 
     published in the Federal Register on July 21, 1989 (54 Fed. 
     Reg. 30694), or qualifies for the exclusion set forth in the 
     Statutory Interpretation of the Commission concerning certain 
     hybrid instruments published in the Federal Register on April 
     11, 1990 (55 Fed. Reg. 13582).
       (3) For purposes of this section, the term ``restraint 
     period'' means the period--
       (A) beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (B) ending on March 30, 1999, or the first date on which 
     legislation is enacted that authorizes appropriations for the 
     Commission for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2000, 
     whichever occurs first.
       (b) During the restraint period, the Commission may not 
     propose or issue any rule or regulation, or issue any 
     interpretation or policy statement, that restricts or 
     regulates activity in a qualifying hybrid instrument or swap 
     agreement.
       (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), during the restraint 
     period, the Commission may--
       (1) act on a petition for exemptive relief under section 
     4(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 6(c));
       (2) enter such cease and desist orders and take such 
     enforcement action, including the imposition of sanctions, as 
     the Commission considers necessary to enforce any provision 
     of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) or title 
     17, Code of Federal Regulations, in connection with a 
     qualifying hybrid instrument or swap agreement, to the extent 
     such provision is otherwise applicable to that qualifying 
     hybrid instrument or swap agreement or a transaction 
     involving that qualifying hybrid instrument or swap 
     agreement;
       (3) take such action as the Commission considers 
     appropriate with regard to agricultural trade options; and
       (4) take such action as the Commission considers 
     appropriate to respond to a market emergency.
       (d)(1) The legal status of contracts involving a qualifying 
     hybrid instrument or swap agreement shall not differ from the 
     legal status afforded such contracts during the period--
       (A) beginning on--
       (i) in the case of swap agreements, July 21, 1989, which 
     was the date on which the Commission adopted a Policy 
     Statement regarding swap agreements (54 Fed. Reg. 30694); and
       (ii) in the case of hybrid instruments, April 11, 1990, 
     which was the date that the Statutory Interpretation of the 
     Commission concerning hybrid instruments was published in the 
     Federal Register; and
       (B) ending on January 1, 1998.
       (2) Neither the comment letter of the Commission submitted 
     on February 26, 1998, to the Securities and Exchange 
     Commission regarding the proposal known as ``Broker-Dealer 
     Lite'', nor the Concept Release of the Commission regarding 
     over-the-counter derivatives published in the Federal 
     Register on May 12, 1998 (63 Fed. Reg. 26114), shall alter or 
     affect the legal status of a qualifying hybrid instrument or 
     swap agreement under the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 
     et seq.).
       (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as 
     reflecting or implying a determination that a qualifying 
     hybrid instrument or swap agreement, or a transaction 
     involving a qualifying hybrid instrument or swap agreement, 
     is subject to the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et 
     seq.).
       Sec. 761. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this or any other Act may be used to carry out 
     provisions of section 612 of Public Law 105-185.
       Sec. 762. Section 136 of the Agricultural Market Transition 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 7236) is amended by striking ``1.25 cents'' 
     each place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and 
     inserting ``3 cents''.
       Sec. 763. In implementing section 1124 of subtitle C of 
     title XI of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall:
       (a) provide $18,000,000 to the states for distribution of 
     emergency aid to individuals with family incomes below the 
     federal poverty level who have been adversely affected 
     utilizing Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines;
       (b) transfer to the Secretary of Commerce for obligation 
     and expenditure (1) $15,000,000 for programs pursuant to 
     title IX of Public Law 91-304, as amended, of which six 
     percent may be available for administrative costs; (2) 
     $5,000,000 for the Trade Adjustment Assistance program as 
     provided by the Trade Act of 1974, as amended; and (3) 
     $7,000,000 for disaster research and prevention pursuant to 
     section 402(d) of Public Law 94-265; and
       (c) transfer to the Administrator of the Small Business 
     Administration for obligation and expenditure, $5,000,000 for 
     the cost of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) of the 
     Small Business Act, as amended, for eligible small 
     businesses.
       Sec. 764. (a) Section 604 of the Clean Air Act is amended 
     by inserting at the end the following:
       ``(h) Methyl Bromide.--Notwithstanding subsection (d) and 
     section 604(b), the Administrator shall not terminate 
     production of methyl bromide prior to January 1, 2005. The 
     Administrator shall promulgate rules for reductions in, and 
     terminate the production, importation, and consumption of, 
     methyl bromide under a schedule that is in accordance with, 
     but not more stringent than, the phaseout schedule of the 
     Montreal Protocol Treaty as in effect on the date of the 
     enactment of this subsection.''.
       (b) Section 604(d) of the Clean Air Act is amended by 
     inserting at the end the following:
       ``(5) Sanitation and food protection.--To the extent 
     consistent with the Montreal Protocol's quarantine and 
     preshipment provisions, the Administrator shall exempt the 
     production, importation, and consumption of methyl bromide to 
     fumigate commodities entering or leaving the United States or 
     any State (or political subdivision thereof) for purposes of 
     compliance with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
     requirements or with any international, Federal, State, or 
     local sanitation or food protection standard.
       ``(6) Critical uses.--To the extent consistent with the 
     Montreal Protocol, the Administrator and the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, after notice and opportunity for public comment, 
     may exempt the production, importation, and consumption of 
     methyl bromide for critical uses.''.
       (c) Section 604(e) of the Clean Air Act is amended by 
     inserting at the end the following:
       ``(3) Methyl bromide.--Notwithstanding the phaseout and 
     termination of production of methyl bromide pursuant to 
     section 604(h), the Administrator may, consistent with the 
     Montreal Protocol, authorize the production of limited 
     quantities of methyl bromide, solely for use in developing 
     countries that are Parties to the Copenhagen Amendments to 
     the Montreal Protocol.''.

                    TITLE VIII--AGRICULTURAL CREDIT

       Sec. 801. 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 who--
       (i) was restructured with a write-down under section 353; 
     or
       (ii) is current on payments under a confirmed 
     reorganization plan under chapters 11, 12, or 13 of Title II 
     of the United States Code.
       ``(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. 802. 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

[[Page H9299]]

     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. 803. (a) Section 508(n) of the Federal Crop Insurance 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(n)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``If'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     if''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
     emergency loans under subtitle C of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.).''.
       (b) Section 196(i)(3) of the Agricultural Market Transition 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 7333(i)(3)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``If'' and inserting the following:
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     if''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
     ``(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to 
     emergency loans under subtitle C of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.).''.
       Sec. 804. Section 302 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(D) Notice.--Beginning with fiscal year 2000 not later 
     than 12 months before a borrower will become ineligible for 
     direct loans under this subtitle by reason of this paragraph, 
     the Secretary shall notify the borrower of such impending 
     ineligibility.''.
       Sec. 805. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
     (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 302(a)(2) (7 U.S.C. 1922(a)(2)), by 
     inserting ``for direct loans only,'' before ``have either'';
       (2) in section 311(a)(2) (7 U.S.C. 1941(a)(2)), by 
     inserting ``for direct loans only,'' before ``have either''; 
     and
       (3) in section 359 (7 U.S.C. 2006a)--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``and guaranteed''; and
       (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``or guaranteed'' each 
     place it appears.
       Sec. 806. (a) Section 305 of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Sec. 305. The Secretary'' and inserting 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 305. LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF FARM OWNERSHIP LOANS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary'';
       (2) by striking ``$300,000" and inserting ``$700,000 
     (increased, beginning with fiscal year 2000, by the inflation 
     percentage applicable to the fiscal year in which the loan is 
     guaranteed and reduced by the amount of any unpaid 
     indebtedness of the borrower on loans under subtitle B that 
     are guaranteed by the Secretary)'';
       (3) by striking ``In determining'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(b) Determination of Value.--In determining''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Inflation Percentage.--For purposes of this section, 
     the inflation percentage applicable to a fiscal year is the 
     percentage (if any) by which--
       ``(1) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as defined 
     in section 1(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for 
     the 12-month period ending on August 31 of the immediately 
     preceding fiscal year; exceeds
       ``(2) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as so 
     defined) for the 12-month period ending on August 31, 
     1996.''.
       (b) Section 313 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Sec. 313. The Secretary'' and inserting 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 313. LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF OPERATING LOANS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary'';
       (2) by striking ``this subtitle (1) that would cause'' and 
     inserting ``this subtitle--
       ``(1) that would cause'';
       (3) by striking ``$400,000; or (2) for the purchasing'' and 
     inserting ``$700,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year 
     2000, by the inflation percentage applicable to the fiscal 
     year in which the loan is guaranteed and reduced by the 
     unpaid indebtedness of the borrower on loans under the 
     sections specified in section 305 that are guaranteed by the 
     Secretary); or
       ``(2) for the purchasing''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Inflation Percentage.--For purposes of this section, 
     the inflation percentage applicable to a fiscal year is the 
     percentage (if any) by which--
       ``(1) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as defined 
     in section 1(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for 
     the 12-month period ending on August 31 of the immediately 
     preceding fiscal year; exceeds
       ``(2) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as so 
     defined) for the 12-month period ending on August 31, 
     1996.''.
       Sec. 807. Section 353(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2001(e)) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(6) Notice of recapture.--Beginning with fiscal year 2000 
     not later than 12 months before the end of the term of a 
     shared appreciation arrangement, the Secretary shall notify 
     the borrower involved of the provisions of the 
     arrangement.''.
       Sec. 808. Section 353(c)(3)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2001(c)(3)(C)) is amended by 
     striking ``110 percent'' and inserting ``100 percent''.

                  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--UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY 
                                PROGRAMS

     SEC. 1001. GENERAL.

       Title II of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and 
     Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
     U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 218(a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1) by adding ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     period; and
       (C) by striking paragraph (3);
       (2) by redesignating subtitle I as subtitle J;
       (3) by inserting after subtitle H the following:

            ``Subtitle I--Marketing and Regulatory Programs

     ``SEC. 285. UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND 
                   REGULATORY PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary 
     of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
       ``(b) Confirmation Required.--If the Secretary establishes 
     the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing 
     and Regulatory Programs authorized under subsection (a), the 
     Under Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and 
     with the advice and consent of the Senate.
       ``(c) Functions of Under Secretary.--
       ``(1) Principal functions.--Upon establishment, the 
     Secretary shall delegate to the Under Secretary of 
     Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs those 
     functions and duties under the jurisdiction of the Department 
     that are related to agricultural marketing, animal and plant 
     health inspection, grain inspection, and packers and 
     stockyards.
       ``(2) Additional functions.--The Under Secretary of 
     Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs shall 
     perform such other functions and duties as may be required by 
     law or prescribed by the Secretary.
       ``(d) Succession.--Any official who is serving as Assistant 
     Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory 
     Programs on the date of the enactment of this section and who 
     was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
     consent of the Senate, shall not be required to be 
     reappointed under subsection (b) to the successor position 
     authorized under subsection (a) if the Secretary establishes 
     the position, and the official occupies the new position, 
     within 180 days after the date of enactment of this section 
     (or such later date set by the Secretary if litigation delays 
     rapid succession).
       ``(e) Executive Schedule.--Section 5314 of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating 
     to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety (as 
     added by section 261(c)) the following:
       `Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and 
     Regulatory Programs.'.''; and
       (4) in section 296(b)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'';
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; or''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) the authority of the Secretary to establish in the 
     Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for 
     Marketing and Regulatory Programs under section 285.''.

     SEC. 1002. PAY INCREASE PROHIBITED.

       The compensation of any officer or employee of the 
     Department of Agriculture on the date of enactment of this 
     Act shall not be increased as a result of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 1003. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

       Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``Assistant Secretaries of

[[Page H9300]]

     Agriculture (3).'' and inserting ``Assistant Secretaries of 
     Agriculture (2).''.

             TITLE XI--EMERGENCY AND MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE

Subtitle A--Emergency Assistance for Crop and Livestock Feed Losses Due 
                              to Disasters

     SEC. 1101. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

       (a) Fair and Equitable Distribution.--Assistance made 
     available under this subtitle shall be distributed in a fair 
     and equitable manner to producers who have incurred crop and 
     livestock feed losses in all affected geographic regions of 
     the United States.
       (b) Program Administration.--In carrying out this subtitle, 
     the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this title as 
     the ``Secretary'') may determine--
       (1) 1 or more loss thresholds producers on a farm must 
     incur with respect to a crop to be eligible for assistance;
       (2) the payment rate for crop and livestock feed losses 
     incurred; and
       (3) eligibility and payment limitation criteria (as defined 
     by the Secretary) for persons to receive assistance under 
     this subtitle, which, in the case of assistance received 
     under any section of this subtitle, shall be in addition to--
       (A) assistance made available under any other section of 
     this subtitle and subtitle B;
       (B) payments or loans received by a person under the 
     Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.);
       (C) payments received by a person for the 1998 crop under 
     the noninsured crop assistance program established under 
     section 196 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 7333);
       (D) crop insurance indemnities provided for the 1998 crop 
     under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.); 
     and
       (E) emergency loans made available for the 1998 crop under 
     subtitle C of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
     (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.).

     SEC. 1102. CROP LOSS ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer a program 
     under which emergency financial assistance is made available 
     to producers on a farm who have incurred losses associated 
     with crops due to disasters (as determined by the Secretary).
       (b) Losses Incurred for 1998 Crop.--Subject to section 
     1132, the Secretary shall use not more than $1,500,000,000 to 
     make available assistance to producers on a farm who have 
     incurred losses in the 1998 crop due to disasters.
       (c) Multiyear Losses.--Subject to section 1132, the 
     Secretary shall use not more than $675,000,000 to make 
     available assistance to producers on a farm who have incurred 
     multiyear losses (as defined by the Secretary) in the 1998 
     and preceding crops of a commodity due to disasters 
     (including, but not limited to, diseases such as scab).
       (d) Relationship Between Assistance.--The Secretary shall 
     make assistance available to producers on a farm under either 
     subsection (b) or (c).
       (e) Qualifying Losses.--Assistance under this section may 
     be made for losses associated with crops that are due to, as 
     determined by the Secretary--
       (1) quantity losses;
       (2) quality (including, but not limited to, aflatoxin) 
     losses; or
       (3) severe economic losses due to damaging weather or 
     related condition.
       (f) Crops Covered.--Assistance under this section shall be 
     applicable to losses for all crops, as determined by the 
     Secretary, due to disasters.
       (g) Crop Insurance.--
       (1) Administration.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary shall not discriminate against or penalize 
     producers on a farm who have purchased crop insurance under 
     the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
       (2) Encouraging future crop insurance participation.--
     Subject to section 1132, the Secretary, acting through the 
     Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, may use the funds made 
     available under subsections (b) and (c), and only those 
     funds, to provide premium refunds or other assistance to 
     purchasers of crop insurance for their 1998 insured crops, or 
     their preceding (including 1998) insured crops.
       (3) Producers who have not purchased crop insurance for 
     1998 crop.--As a condition of receiving assistance under this 
     section, producers on a farm who have not purchased crop 
     insurance for the 1998 crop under that Act shall agree by 
     contract to purchase crop insurance for the subsequent 2 
     crops produced by the producers.
       (4) Liquidated damages.--
       (A) In general.--The contract under paragraph (3) shall 
     provide for liquidated damages to be paid by the producers 
     due to the failure of the producers to purchase crop 
     insurance as provided in paragraph (3).
       (B) Notice of damages.--The amount of the liquidated 
     damages shall be established by the Secretary and specified 
     in the contract agreed to by the producers.
       (5) Funding for crop insurance purchase requirement.--
     Subject to section 1132, such sums as may be necessary, to 
     remain available until expended, shall be available to the 
     Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to cover costs incurred by 
     the Corporation as a result of the crop insurance purchase 
     requirement of paragraph (3). Funds made available under 
     subsections (b) and (c) may not be used to cover such costs.

     SEC. 1103. EMERGENCY LIVESTOCK FEED ASSISTANCE.

       Subject to section 1132, the Secretary shall use not more 
     than $175,000,000 to make available livestock feed assistance 
     to livestock producers affected by disasters during calendar 
     year 1998.

                   Subtitle B--Market Loss Assistance

     SEC. 1111. MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Subject to section 1132, the Secretary 
     shall use $1,650,000,000 for assistance to owners and 
     producers on a farm who are eligible for final payments for 
     fiscal year 1998 under a production flexibility contract for 
     the farm under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
     U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) to partially compensate the owners and 
     producers for the loss of markets for the 1998 crop of a 
     commodity.
       (b) Amount.--The amount of assistance made available to 
     owners and producers on a farm under this section shall be 
     proportional to the amount of the contract payment received 
     by the owners and producers for fiscal year 1998 under a 
     production flexibility contract for the farm under the 
     Agricultural Market Transition Act.
       (c) Time for Payment.--The assistance made available under 
     this section for an eligible owner or producer shall be made 
     as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.

                      Subtitle C--Other Assistance

     SEC. 1121. INDEMNITY PAYMENTS FOR COTTON PRODUCERS.

       (a) Federal Contribution.--Subject to subsection (b), the 
     Secretary of Agriculture shall pay $5,000,000 to the State of 
     Georgia to help fund an indemnity fund, to be established and 
     managed by that State, to compensate cotton producers in that 
     State for losses incurred in 1998 or 1999 from the loss of 
     properly stored, harvested cotton as the result of the 
     bankruptcy of a warehouseman or other party in possession 
     of warehouse receipts evidencing title to the commodity, 
     an improper conversion or transfer of the cotton, or such 
     other potential hazards as determined appropriate by the 
     State.
       (b) Conditions on Payment to State.--The Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall make the payment to the State of Georgia 
     under subsection (a) only if the State also contributes 
     $5,000,000 to the indemnity fund and agrees to expend all 
     amounts in the indemnity fund by not later than January 1, 
     2000, to provide compensation to cotton producers as provided 
     in such subsection. If the State of Georgia fails to make its 
     contribution of $5,000,000 to the indemnity fund by July 1, 
     1999, the funds that would otherwise be paid to the State 
     shall be available to the Secretary for the purpose of 
     providing partial compensation to cotton producers as 
     provided in such subsection.
       (c) Reporting Requirements.--Upon the establishment of the 
     indemnity fund, and not later than October 1, 1999, the State 
     of Georgia shall submit a report to the Secretary of 
     Agriculture and the Congress describing the State's efforts 
     to use the indemnity fund to provide compensation to injured 
     cotton producers.

     SEC. 1122. HONEY RECOURSE LOANS.

       (a) In General.--In order to assist producers of honey to 
     market their honey in an orderly manner during a period of 
     disastrously low prices, the Secretary shall make available 
     recourse loans to producers of the 1998 crop of honey on fair 
     and reasonable terms and conditions, as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       (b) Loan Rate.--The loan rate of the loans shall be 85 
     percent of the average price of honey during the 5-crop year 
     period preceding the 1998 crop year, excluding the crop year 
     in which the average price of honey was the highest and the 
     crop year in which the average price of honey was the lowest 
     in the period.
       (c) No Net Cost Basis.--Repayment of a loan under this 
     section shall include repayment for interest and 
     administrative costs as necessary to operate the program 
     established under this section on a no net cost basis.

     SEC. 1123. NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE TO RAISIN PRODUCERS.

       Notwithstanding any of the provisions of section 196 of the 
     Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 
     U.S.C. 7333) that would exclude the following producers from 
     benefits thereunder, the Secretary shall make Noninsured Crop 
     Assistance Program payments in fiscal year 1999 to raisin 
     producers who obtained catastrophic risk protection but 
     because of adverse weather conditions were not able to comply 
     with the policy deadlines for laying the raisins in trays.

     SEC. 1124. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

       In addition to amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act, $50,000,000 is appropriated to the 
     Department of Agriculture, to remain available until 
     expended, to provide emergency disaster assistance to persons 
     or entities who have incurred losses from a failure under 
     section 312(a) of Public Law 94-265.

     SEC. 1125. FOOD FOR PROGRESS.

       The Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (f)(3), by inserting after 
     ``$30,000,000'' the following: ``(or, in the case of fiscal 
     year 1999, $35,000,000)'';
       (2) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting after 
     ``$10,000,000'' the following: ``(or, in the case of fiscal 
     year 1999, $12,000,000)'';
       (3) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and
       (4) by inserting after subsection (m) the following:
       ``(n) During fiscal year 1999, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, the Secretary shall utilize Private Voluntary 
     Organizations to carry out this section.''.

     SEC. 1126. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF RECOURSE LOAN AUTHORITY.

       Section 137 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
     U.S.C. 7237) is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and other 
     fibers'' before the period at the end;
       (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Recourse Loans Available for Mohair.--
       ``(1) Recourse loans available.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, during fiscal year 1999, the Secretary 
     shall make available

[[Page H9301]]

     recourse loans, as determined by the Secretary, to producers 
     of mohair produced during or before that fiscal year.
       ``(2) Loan rate.--The loan rate for a loan under paragraph 
     (1) shall be equal to $2.00 per pound.
       ``(3) Term of loan.--A loan under paragraph (1) shall have 
     a term of 1 year beginning on the first day of the first 
     month after the month in which the loan is made.
       ``(4) Waiver of interest.--Notwithstanding subsection (d), 
     the Secretary shall not charge interest on a loan made under 
     paragraph (1).''.

                       Subtitle D--Administration

     SEC. 1131. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.

       Subject to section 1132, the Secretary shall use the funds, 
     facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation to carry out subtitles A, B, and C.

     SEC. 1132. EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT.

       Notwithstanding the last sentence of section 251(b)(2)(A) 
     of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985, as amended, amounts made available by subtitles A, B, 
     and C of this title 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 Congress.

     SEC. 1133. REGULATIONS.

       (a) Issuance of Regulations.--As soon as practicable after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the 
     Commodity Credit Corporation, as appropriate, shall issue 
     such regulations as are necessary to implement subtitles A, 
     B, and C. The issuance of the regulations shall be made 
     without regard to--
       (1) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of 
     title 5, United States Code;
       (2) 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; and
       (3) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
       (b) Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking.--In carrying 
     out this section, the Secretary shall use the authority 
     provided under section 808 of title 5, United States Code.

                          TITLE XII--BIODIESEL

     SEC. 1201. BIODIESEL FUEL USE CREDITS.

       (a) Amendment.--Title III of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
     (42 U.S.C. 13211-13219) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 312. BIODIESEL FUEL USE CREDITS.

       ``(a) Allocation of Credits.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall allocate one credit 
     under this section to a fleet or covered person for each 
     qualifying volume of the biodiesel component of fuel 
     containing at least 20 percent biodiesel by volume 
     purchased after the date of the enactment of this section 
     for use by the fleet or covered person in vehicles owned 
     or operated by the fleet or covered person that weigh more 
     than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating.
       ``(2) Exceptions.--No credits shall be allocated under 
     paragraph (1) for a purchase of biodiesel--
       ``(A) for use in alternative fueled vehicles; or
       ``(B) that is required by Federal or State law.
       ``(3) Authority to modify percentage.--The Secretary may, 
     by rule, lower the 20 percent biodiesel volume requirement in 
     paragraph (1) for reasons related to cold start, safety, or 
     vehicle function considerations.
       ``(4) Documentation.--A fleet or covered person seeking a 
     credit under this section shall provide written documentation 
     to the Secretary supporting the allocation of a credit to 
     such fleet or covered person under paragraph (1).
       ``(b) Use of Credits.--
       ``(1) In general.--At the request of a fleet or covered 
     person allocated a credit under subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall, for the year in which the purchase of a qualifying 
     volume is made, treat that purchase as the acquisition of one 
     alternative fueled vehicle the fleet or covered person is 
     required to acquire under this title, title IV, or title V.
       ``(2) Limitation.--Credits allocated under subsection (a) 
     may not be used to satisfy more than 50 percent of the 
     alternative fueled vehicle requirements of a fleet or covered 
     person under this title, title IV, and title V. This 
     paragraph shall not apply to a fleet or covered person that 
     is a biodiesel alternative fuel provider described in section 
     501(a)(2)(A).
       ``(c) Credit Not a Section 508 Credit.--A credit under this 
     section shall not be considered a credit under section 508.
       ``(d) Issuance of Rule.--The Secretary shall, before 
     January 1, 1999, issue a rule establishing procedures for the 
     implementation of this section.
       ``(e) Collection of Data.--The Secretary shall collect such 
     data as are required to make a determination described in 
     subsection (f)(2)(B).
       ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
       ``(1) the term `biodiesel' means a diesel fuel substitute 
     produced from nonpetroleum renewable resources that meets the 
     registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives 
     established by the Environmental Protection Agency under 
     section 211 of the Clean Air Act; and
       ``(2) the term `qualifying volume' means--
       ``(A) 450 gallons; or
       ``(B) if the Secretary determines by rule that the average 
     annual alternative fuel use in light duty vehicles by fleets 
     and covered persons exceeds 450 gallons or gallon 
     equivalents, the amount of such average annual alternative 
     fuel use.''.
       (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents of 
     the Energy Policy Act of 1992 is amended by adding at the end 
     of the items relating to title III the following new item:

``Sec. 312. Biodiesel fuel use credits.''.

                  TITLE XIII--EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                          Farm Service Agency


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'', 
     $40,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, 
     That the entire amount is 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.


           AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       For an additional gross obligation for the principal amount 
     of direct and guaranteed farm operating loans as authorized 
     by 7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, to be available from funds in the 
     Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, $540,510,000, of which 
     $150,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and 
     $156,704,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans.
       For the additional cost of direct and guaranteed farm 
     operating loans, including the cost of modifying such loans 
     as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
     1974, farm operating loans, $31,405,000, of which $15,969,000 
     shall be for direct loans, $13,696,000 for guaranteed 
     subsidized loans, and $1,740,000 for unsubsidized guaranteed 
     loans: Provided, That the entire amount is 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.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                      FORESTRY INCENTIVES PROGRAM

       For an additional amount 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, $10,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended, as authorized by that Act: 
     Provided, That the entire amount is 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 further, That such 
     amount 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.
        This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999''.
       And the Senate agree to the Same.
     Joe Skeen,
     James T. Walsh,
     Jay Dickey,
     Jack Kingston,
     George R. Nethercutt, Jr.,
     Henry Bonilla,
     Tom Latham,
     Bob Livingston,
     Marcy Kaptur
       (except CFTC derivative moratorium),
     Vic Fazio,
     Jose E. Serrano,
     Rosa L. DeLauro,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     Thad Cochran,
     Arlen Specter,
     Kit Bond,
     Slade Gorton,
     Mitch McConnell,
     Conrad Burns,
     Ted Stevens,
     Dale Bumpers
       (with exception of title XI),
     Tom Harkin
       (with exception of title XI),
     Patrick J. Leahy
       (with exception of title XI),
     Barbara Boxer
       (with exception of title XI),
     Robert C. Byrd
       (with exception of title XI),
                               Managers on the Part of the Senate.

       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

       The managers on the part of the House and Senate at the 
     conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
     amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 4101) 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, submit the following joint statement to the House 
     and Senate in explanation of the effect of the action agreed 
     upon by the managers and recommended in the accompanying 
     conference report.


                        CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES

       The statement of the managers remains silent on provisions 
     that were in both the House and Senate bills that remain 
     unchanged by this conference agreement, except as noted in 
     this statement of the managers.

[[Page H9302]]

       The conferees agree that executive branch wishes cannot 
     substitute for Congress' own statements as to the best 
     evidence of congressional intentions--that is, the official 
     reports of the Congress. The conferees further point out that 
     funds in this Act must be used for the purposes for which 
     appropriated, as required by section 1301 of title 31 of the 
     United States Code, which provides: ``Appropriations shall be 
     applied only to the objects for which the appropriations were 
     made except as otherwise provided by law.''
       The House and Senate report language that is not changed by 
     the conference is approved by the committee of conference. 
     The statement of the managers, while repeating some report 
     language for emphasis, does not intend to negate the language 
     referred to above unless expressly provided herein.


                         FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE

       Funding for Food Safety is of critical importance to the 
     conferees and, accordingly, it has been given high priority. 
     The conferees note that many of the activities described 
     under the President's Food Safety Initiative have been funded 
     for many years. The President's budget request, which assumes 
     the collection of user fees that have not been authorized, 
     further complicates the process.
       The following table reflects funding increases for 
     activities identified under the Food Safety Initiative:

Food and Drug Administration................................$20,000,000
Food Safety and Inspection Service............................8,412,000
Office of the Chief Economist....................................98,000
Economic Research Service.......................................453,000
Food and Nutrition Service....................................2,000,000
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service..12,135,000
Agricultural Research Service................................ 8,802,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Total.................................................$51,900,000

                     TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary

       The conference agreement provides $2,836,000 for the Office 
     of the Secretary as proposed by the Senate instead of 
     $2,941,000 as proposed by the House.
       The conference agreement adopts language as proposed by the 
     House to prohibit the use of salaries and expenses to carry 
     out section 793(d) of Public Law 104-127, a limitation on 
     program levels in the Fund for Rural America and section 
     793(c)(1)(C) of Public Law 104-127, a limitation on housing 
     assistance. The Senate bill had no similar provision.
       The conferees concur with Senate report language regarding 
     the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) that says that, in 
     implementing the FQPA, decisions should be ``. . . based on 
     sound science, and reliable, accurate and widely accepted 
     data which reflects the Nation's agricultural production, 
     practices, and conditions.''
       The conferees understand the trust responsibility the U.S. 
     has toward Indians and Alaska Natives and directs the 
     Department of Agriculture to report to the Congress no later 
     than February 1, 1999, on the progress made with Indian 
     agriculture, Federal inter-agency coordination, and the level 
     of Indian usage of Federal programs and initiatives outlined 
     to benefit Indian agriculture.
       The conferees have included in the bill a prohibition on 
     funding to establish an Office of Community Food Security or 
     any similar office without the prior approval of the 
     Committees on Appropriations.

                          Executive Operations


                            CHIEF ECONOMIST

       The conference agreement provides $5,620,000 for the Chief 
     Economist instead of $5,973,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $5,048,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount 
     is $219,000 for agricultural weather activities, $255,000 for 
     the World Agricultural Outlook Board, and $98,000 to support 
     the Food Safety Initiative.


                       NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION

       The conference agreement provides $11,718,000 for the 
     National Appeals Division as proposed by the Senate instead 
     of $12,204,000 as proposed by the House.

                 Office of Budget and Program Analysis

       The conference agreement provides $6,120,000 for the Office 
     of Budget and Program Analysis as proposed by the House 
     instead of $5,986,000 as proposed by the Senate.

          Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

       The conference agreement provides $613,000 for the Office 
     of the Assistant Secretary for Administration as proposed by 
     the Senate instead of $636,000 as proposed by the House.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments

       The conference agreement does not include language as 
     proposed by the House limiting the purpose for which funds 
     may be transferred to commercial space expansion. The 
     conference agreement includes new language that provides 
     flexibility for the Secretary to transfer not more than 5 
     percent of this appropriation to or from another agency's 
     appropriation to allow for incremental changes in the amount 
     of GSA or commercial space and not to finance changes in GSA 
     billing.

                      Departmental Administration

       The conference agreement provides $32,168,000 for 
     Departmental Administration as proposed by the House instead 
     of $27,034,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                    Office of the Inspector General

       The conference agreement provides $65,128,000 for the 
     Office of the Inspector General instead of $67,178,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $63,128,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Included in this amount is $100,000 for confidential 
     operational expenses instead of $95,000 as proposed by the 
     House and $125,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference 
     agreement includes $2,000,000 for law enforcement and 
     related work instead of $1,965,000 as proposed by the 
     House.

                     Office of the General Counsel

       The conference agreement provides $29,194,000 for the 
     Office of the General Counsel instead of $30,396,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $28,759,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Included in this amount is $435,000 to provide legal 
     support for the Department's civil rights program.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

       The conference agreement provides $540,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics 
     as proposed by the Senate instead of $560,000 as proposed by 
     the House.

                       Economic Research Service

       The conference agreement provides $65,757,000 for the 
     Economic Research Service instead of $67,282,000 as proposed 
     by the House and $53,109,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
     Included in this amount is $12,195,000 for studies and 
     evaluations of the child nutrition, WIC, and food stamp 
     programs. Of this amount, $2,000,000 is transfered to the 
     Food Program Administration account of the Food and Nutrition 
     Service to conduct programmatic evaluations and analyses. The 
     conferees direct that any welfare reform studies, analyses, 
     or evaluations undertaken by the agency shall directly relate 
     to USDA programs.
       The conferees expect a study as proposed by the House, as 
     part of the nutrition related studies, to assess cost 
     containment practices used by states to limit branded 
     products sold in the WIC food package other than infant 
     formula. The conferees direct that the total cost for this 
     study shall not exceed $1,100,000 in fiscal year 1999 nor 
     $1,500,000 over the next three years.
       The conference agreement includes $453,000 for estimating 
     the benefits of food safety.
       The conferees are aware of a 1996 GAO study on plate waste 
     in the school lunch program and expect the USDA to develop 
     recommendations for eliminating this problem.
       Two years ago, the U.S. Congress set U.S. farm policy 
     through the year 2002. As international trade negotiations 
     move into a phase critical to U.S. agriculture, it is 
     essential that our negotiators and farmers have accurate and 
     timely information. Therefore, in addition to the language in 
     the Senate report, the conferees expect commodity situation 
     and outlook reports be maintained at the reporting frequency 
     in place at the time of enactment of the Food and Agriculture 
     Improvement and Reform Act.
       The conference agreement provides $300,000 for a study by 
     the National Academy of Sciences concerning the appropriate 
     amounts of fruit, fiber and sugar in the diet of the 
     population targeted for benefit by the Special Supplemental 
     Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The 
     study will be a compilation and review of existing studies 
     and data, including data compiled and materials prepared by 
     the Department in developing the Dietary Guidelines and the 
     Healthy Eating Index. It will examine, in particular, whether 
     WIC program participants would benefit nutritionally if the 
     six grams of sugar per ounce of dried cereal limitation in 
     WIC program regulations were to be modified so that sugar 
     contained in dried fruit in such cereals did not count 
     against this limitation. The study will also examine the 
     impact of the above modifications to the WIC dried cereal 
     limitation on the dental health of WIC participants. A report 
     on this study should be transmitted to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress and to the Secretary no later than 12 
     months after the project is initiated by the Academy.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

       The conference agreement provides $103,964,000 for the 
     National Agricultural Statistics Service as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $105,082,000 as proposed by the House. Of 
     this amount up to $23,599,000, is provided for the Census of 
     Agriculture including $600,000 for the agriculture economics 
     and land ownership survey and the aquaculture statistics 
     census as proposed by the Senate instead of up to $23,141,000 
     as proposed by the House.
       The conferees expect the National Agricultural Statistics 
     Service to continue to revise the Census of Agriculture to 
     eliminate redundancies in questions asked of farmers.

                     Agricultural Research Service

       The conference agreement provides $781,950,000 for the 
     Agricultural Research Service instead of $755,816,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $768,221,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:


                                                                 Amount
FY 1998 Appropriation......................................$744,605,000
Transfer:
  Office of Civil Rights........................................170,000
  Department of State............................................16,000

[[Page H9303]]

    Rescission...............................................($223,000)
                                                       ================

Adjusted FY 1998 Base.......................................744,568,000
Emerging Diseases and Exotic Pests............................7,550,000
Plants: Emerging Plant Diseases.............................(1,450,000)
  Albany, CA..................................................{250,000
  Beltsville, MD..............................................{250,000
  Frederick, MD...............................................{250,000
  College Station, TX.........................................{250,000
  Montpellier, FR.............................................{250,000
  Logan, UT...................................................{200,000
Fusarium Head Blight (ARS/Consortium of 12 Land Grant Univ..{3,000,000
Animals: Exotic Infectious Diseases.........................(3,100,000)
  Athens, GA..................................................{500,000
  Ames, IA {NADC............................................{1,000,000
  Beltsville, MD..............................................{500,000
  Pullman, WA.................................................{600,000
  Laramie, WY.................................................{500,000
Environmental Quality/Natural Resources.......................2,400,000
  Bioactive Compounds.........................................(250,000)
  Gainesville, FL.............................................{250,000
  IPM/Areawide..............................................{1,150,000
  Beltsville, MD..............................................{250,000
  Columbia, MO................................................{400,000
  Stoneville, MS..............................................{250,000
  College Station, TX.........................................{250,000
  Livestock Management Systems..............................(1,000,000)
Everglades Initiative...........................................750,000
  Canal Point, FL.............................................{250,000
  Miami, FL...................................................{250,000
  Ft. Lauderdale, FL..........................................{250,000
Food Safety...................................................8,802,000
  Preharvest................................................(4,802,000)
  Athens, GA..................................................{250,000
  Ames, IA....................................................{250,000
  West Lafayette, IN..........................................{250,000
  Beltsville, MD..............................................{250,000
  Clay Center, NE.............................................{600,000
  College Station, TX.........................................{250,000
  Postharvest...............................................(2,000,000)
  Safety/Quality of Fruits/Vegetables.........................1,000,000
  Food Safety Engineering, Purdue Univ........................1,000,000
Genetic Resources.............................................2,100,000
  Palmer, AK..................................................{100,000
  Columbia, MO................................................(700,000)
  Leetown, WV...............................................{1,000,000
Human Nutrition Initiative....................................2,250,000
  Little Rock, AR.............................................{750,000
  San Francisco, CA...........................................{250,000
  Boston, MA..................................................{250,000
  Beltsville, MD..............................................{250,000
  Grand Forks, ND.............................................{250,000
  Houston, TX.................................................{500,000
Pfiesteria......................................................719,000
Alternative Fish Feed, Aberdeen, ID.............................250,000
Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV...........250,000
Aquaculture Research, AK......................................1,100,000
Biological Control of Western Weeds, Albany, CA.................300,000
Biomedical Materials in Plants {C/A with Biotech. Foundation, In500,000
Cereal Crops Research, Madison WI...............................250,000
Cotton Ginning, Stoneville, MS..................................250,000
Endophyte Research {C/A with Univ. of AR, MO and OSU............200,000
Fish Diseases, Auburn, AL.......................................750,000
Fish Farming Experiment Laboratory, Stuttgart, AR...............750,000
Floriculture and Nursery Crop Res {USNA, Washington, DC/OSU/Cornell and 
  CA Univ.....................................................1,000,000
Ft. Pierce, FL {Horticulture....................................500,000
Forage Crops, Woodward, OK......................................250,000
Garden Unit, USNA, Washington, DC...............................250,000
Golden Nematode, Ithaca, NY.....................................150,000
Grape Rootstock, Geneva, NY.....................................300,000
Grasshopper Research, AK........................................750,000
Grazinglands Research, El Reno, OK..............................250,000
Honeybee Research Varroa/Tracheal Mites, Baton Rouge, LA........300,000
Lettuce Geneticist/Breeding, Salinas, CA........................250,000
Lyme Disease {Tick Control Project, Beltsville, MD..............200,000
Manure Handling and Disposal, Starkville, MS....................500,000
Meadowfoam Research, Peoria, IL.................................200,000
Mycoplasma Research, Starkville, MS.............................250,000
National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS.........1,100,000
National Agricultural Library...................................250,000
Natural Products, Oxford, MS....................................750,000
New England Plant, Soil and Water Lab, Orono, ME................250,000
Non-Chemical Control of Pecan Insect Pests, Byron, GA...........250,000
Peach Varieties Research, Byron, GA.............................150,000
Peanut Quality Research Dawson, GA/Raleigh, NC................1,000,000
Pear Thrips, Ithaca, NY.........................................100,000
Potato Breeder Position, Aberdeen, ID...........................150,000
Range Research, Burns, OR.......................................250,000
Rice Research:
  Stuttgart, AR...............................................1,400,000
  Davis, CA.....................................................250,000
  Beaumont, TX..................................................200,000
Root Diseases of Wheat and Barley, Pullman, WA..................500,000
Small Fruits Research, Poplarville, MS..........................250,000
Small Fruits Research, Corvallis, OR............................250,000
Soil Tilth Research, Ames, IA...................................500,000
Soybean and Corn Research, Stoneville, MS.......................750,000
Subtropical Animal Research Station, Brooksville, FL............500,000
Subtropical Horticultural Research Station, Miami, FL...........300,000
Sugarbeet Research, Ft. Collins, CO.............................200,000
U.S. Plant Stress and Water Conserv. Lab, Lubbock, TX...........500,000
Vegetable Research, East Lansing, MI............................200,000
Wild Rice Research, St. Paul, MN................................100,000
Wind Erosion Research, Manhattan, KS............................250,000
  Termination of ongoing projects............................-1,419,000
  Children's nutrition study.................................-5,000,000
  Food safety study............................................-420,000
  Citrus Tristeza Virus {transfer..............................-500,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total, ARS..............................................781,950,000

 The conference agreement concurs in the following program 
     terminations: global environmental change, CO; and water 
     and agrochemical management, LA.
       The conferees understand that ARS and the Institute for 
     Technology Development are collaborating to develop promising 
     imaging technology to help assure food quality and safety. 
     The conferees encourage the continuation of this important 
     research and expect ARS to increase its support for this 
     cooperative project from the increased funding provided for 
     food safety.
       The conferees are aware of the important research carried 
     out by ARS National Animal Disease Center at Ames, Iowa, on 
     corn insects and crop genetics, plant introduction, soil 
     tilth, and national programs to control and prevent avian and 
     animal diseases. The conferees continue funding for these 
     important ARS projects in FY 1999 and have provided an 
     additional $2,000,000 for ARS research as reflected in the 
     table.
       The amount recommended does not provide funding for program 
     and operations supporting the mission of the newly-
     constructed swine facility which has been deeded to Iowa 
     State University (ISU). In the Department's report to the 
     Committees regarding funding options for the facility, the 
     conferees understand (1) ISU is presently investing funds in 
     research that is related or complementary to the research 
     proposed for the new facility, and (2) the swine industry is 
     prepared to work toward obtaining other sources of funds to 
     support operational costs and the program of research planned 
     for this facility. The National Swine Research Center was 
     conveyed to ISU in March, 1998, as directed under the 
     Emergency Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, 
     P.L. 104-19, October 17, 1995. Under this agreement, the 
     conference report stated ``that any future costs of operation 
     associated with that facility be provided by sources other 
     than the Federal government.''
       The conferees expect the Department to consult with the 
     Strategic Planning Task Force on the appropriateness of 
     establishing a human nutrition research center in preventive 
     nutrition, diet, and obesity.
       The conferees recognize the important research being done 
     at the ARS-Athens Russell Research Center on competitive 
     exclusion of enteritidis food safety pathogens and encourage 
     the Department to extend this important research to swine.


                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

       The conference agreement provides $56,437,000 for 
     Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities 
     instead of $61,380,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $31,930,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Arizona: Water Conservation and Western Cotton, Maricopa.......$500,000
California: Western Human Nutrition Laboratory, Davis.........6,150,000
Hawaii: U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.......4,500,000
Illinois: National Center for Agricultural Utilization, Peoria8,200,000
Iowa: National Animal Disease Center, Ames....................2,957,000
Kansas: U.S. Grain Marketing Research Laboratory, Manhattan...1,400,000
Louisiana: Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans.....6,000,000
Maryland:
  National Agricultural Library, Beltsville...................1,200,000

[[Page H9304]]

  Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville.........2,500,000
Mississippi: Biocontrol and Insect Rearing Laboratory, Stonevill200,000
Montana: Pest Quarantine/Integrated Pest Management Facility, 7,300,000
New Mexico: Jornada Range Research Station, Las Cruces........6,700,000
New York: Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport........3,500,000
Pennsylvania: Eastern Regional Research Center, Philadelphia..3,300,000
Utah: Poisonous Plant Laboratory, Logan..........................30,000
West Virginia: National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, 
  Leetown.....................................................2,000,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total....................................................56,437,000

       The conference agreement provides $500,000 in additional 
     planning funds for the relocation and replacement of ARS 
     research laboratory from the Phoenix, Arizona location to the 
     Maricopa Agriculture Center. The conferees direct the agency 
     to further review and evaluate the size, capacity and costs 
     associated with replacing the existing research laboratory. 
     This effort is essential to determine the required scope and 
     the most cost-efficient facility required to meet the needs 
     of ARS water and cotton research. The conference agreement 
     provides $2,957,000 for the National Animal Disease Center 
     and expects the ARS to use $1,943,000 in available 
     unobligated funds to complete the project.
       The conference agreement does not include funding for the 
     avian disease laboratory in Michigan without any prejudice 
     toward the project.

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


                   RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

       The conference agreement provides $481,216,000 for research 
     and education activities instead of $431,125,000 as proposed 
     by the House and $432,982,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement reflects a 7% increase from the 
     fiscal year 1998 level for payments under the Hatch Act, 
     cooperative forestry research, payments to 1890 Colleges and 
     Universities, animal health and disease grants, and payments 
     to 1994 institutions; and an increase of $32,100,000 for the 
     National Research Initiative. The following table reflects 
     the conference agreement:


                   Research and education activities

                       [In thousands of dollars]

Payments Under Hatch Act........................................180,545
Cooperative forestry research (McIntire-Stennis).................21,932
Payments to 1890 colleges and Tuskegee...........................29,676
Special Research Grants (P.L. 89-106):
  Aegilops cylindricum (WA).........................................360
  Aflatoxin (IL)....................................................113
  Agriculture-based industrial lubricants (IA)......................250
  Agricultural diversification (HI).................................131
  Agricultural diversity/Red River Corridor (MN/ND).................250
  Agriculture water usage (GA)......................................300
  Alliance for food protection (NE, GA).............................300
  Alternative crops (ND)............................................550
  Alternative crops for arid lands (TX).............................100
  Alternative marine and fresh water species (MS)...................308
  Alternative salmon products (AK)..................................400
  Animal science food safety consortium (AR, IA, KS)..............1,521
  Apple fire blight (NY, MI)........................................500
  Aquaculture (LA)..................................................330
  Aquaculture (MS)..................................................592
  Aquaculture (VA)..................................................100
  Aquaculture product and marketing development (WV)................750
  Babcock Institute (WI)............................................400
  Binational agriculture research and development...................400
  Biodiesel research (MO)...........................................152
  Brucellosis vacinos (MT)..........................................150
  Center for animal health and productivity (PA)....................113
  Center for innovative food technology (OH)........................381
  Center for rural studies (VT).....................................200
  Chesapeake Bay agroecology (MD)...................................150
  Chesapeake Bay aquaculture........................................385
  Citrus tristeza...................................................500
  Competitiveness of agricultural products (WA).....................680
  Contagious equine metitis (KY)....................................250
  Cool season legume research (ID, WA)..............................329
  Cotton research (TX)..............................................200
  Cranberry/blueberry (MA)..........................................150
  Cranberry/blueberry disease & breeding (NJ, MA)...................220
  Dairy and meat goat research (TX)................................. 63
  Delta rural revitalization (MS)...................................148
  Designing foods for health (TX)...................................250
  Drought mitigation (NE)...........................................200
  Ecosystems (AL)...................................................500
  Environmental research (NY).......................................486
  Environmental risk factors/cancer (NY)............................100
  Expanded wheat pasture (OK).......................................285
  Farm and rural business finance (IL).............................. 87
  Feed barley for rangeland cattle (MT).............................600
  Floriculture (HI).................................................250
  Food and Agriculture Policy Institute (IA, MO)....................800
  Food irradiation (IA).............................................200
  Food marketing policy center (CT).................................400
  Food processing center (NE)....................................... 42
  Food quality (AK).................................................350
  Food safety.....................................................5,000
  Food safety (AL)..................................................300
  Food systems research group (WI)..................................225
  Forestry (AR).....................................................523
  Fruit and vegetable market analysis (AZ, MO)......................320
  Generic commodity promotion research and evaluation (NY)..........212
  Global change...................................................1,000
  Global marketing support service (AR).............................127
  Grain sorghum (KS)................................................106
  Grass seed cropping systems for a sustainable agriculture (WA, OR, 
    ID).............................................................423
  Human nutrition (IA)..............................................473
  Human nutrition (LA)..............................................752
  Human nutrition (NY)..............................................622
  Hydroponic tomato production (OH).................................200
  Illinois-Missouri Alliance for Biotechnology....................1,184
  Improved dairy management practices (PA)..........................296
  Improved fruit practices (MI).....................................445
  Infectious disease research (CO)..................................250
  Institute for Food Science and Engineering (AR).................1,250
  Integrated production systems (OK)................................180
  International agricultural market structures and institutions (KY)250
  International arid lands consortium...............................400
  Iowa biotechnology consortium...................................1,564
  Livestock and dairy policy (NY, TX)...............................475
  Lowbush blueberry research (ME)...................................220
  Maple research (VT)...............................................100
  Meadowfoam (OR)...................................................300
  Michigan biotechnology consortium.................................675
  Midwest advanced food manufacturing alliance......................423
  Midwest agricultural products (IA)................................592
  Milk safety (PA)..................................................250
  Minor use animal drugs (IR-4).....................................550
  Molluscan shellfish (OR)..........................................400
  Multi-commodity research (OR).....................................364
  Multi-cropping strategies for aquaculture (HI)....................127
  National biological impact assessment.............................254
  Nematode resistance genetic engineering (NM)......................127
  Non-food uses of agricultural products (NE)....................... 64
  Oil resources from desert plants (NM).............................175
  Organic waste utilization (NM)....................................100
  Pasture and forage research (UT)..................................225
  Peach tree short life (SC)........................................162
  Pest control alternatives (SC)....................................106
  Phytophthora root rot (NM)........................................127
  Plant, drought, and disease resistance gene cataloging (NM).......150
  Postharvest rice straws (CA)......................................300
  Potato research.................................................1,300
  Precision agriculture (KY)........................................500
  Precision agriculture (MS)......................................1,000
  Preharvest food safety (KS).......................................212
  Preservation and processing research (OK).........................226
  Rangeland ecosystems (NM).........................................200
  Regional barley gene mapping project..............................400
  Regionalized implications of farm programs (MO, TX)...............294
  Rice Modeling (AR)................................................296
  Rural devel. cntrs. (PA, IA (ND), MS, OR, LA).....................523
  Rural policies institute (NE, MO).................................644
  Russian wheat aphid (CO)..........................................200
  Seafood and aquaculture harvesting, processing and marketing (MS).305
  Small fruit research (OR, WA, ID).................................300
  Southwest consortium for plant genetics and water resources.......338
  Soybean cyst nematode (MO)........................................475
  STEEP III--water quality in Northwest.............................500
  Sustainable agriculture (MI)......................................445
  Sustainable agriculture and natural resources (PA)................ 95
  Sustainable agriculture systems (NE).............................. 59
  Sustainable beef supply (MT)......................................500
  Sustainable pest management for dryland wheat (MT)................400
  Swine waste management (NC).......................................500
  Tillage, silviculture, waste management (LA)......................212
  Tomato wilt virus (GA)............................................200
  Tropical and subtropical........................................2,724
  Turkey carnavirus (IN)............................................200
  Urban pests (GA).................................................. 64
  Vidalia onions (GA)...............................................100

[[Page H9305]]

  Viticulture consortium (NY, CA).................................1,000
  Water conservation (KS)........................................... 79
  Water quality...................................................3,461
  Weed control (ND).................................................423
  Wetland plants (LA)...............................................600
  Wheat genetic research (KS).......................................261
  Wood utilization research (OR, MS, NC, MN, ME, MI, ID, TN)......5,136
  Wool research (TX, MT, WY)........................................300
                                                             __________
                                                             
  Total, Special Research Grants.................................63,116
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Improved pest control:
  Critical issues...................................................200
  Emerging pest and disease issues................................1,623
  Expert IPM decision support issues................................177
  Integrated pest management......................................2,731
  Pesticide clearance (IR-4)......................................8,990
  Pesticide impact assessment.....................................1,327
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Improved pest control.................................15,048
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Competititve research grants:
  Animal systems.................................................29,000
  Markets, trade and policy.......................................4,600
  Nutrition, food quality and health.............................16,000
  Natural resources and the environment..........................20,500
  Plant systems..................................................41,000
  Processes and new products......................................8,200
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Competitive research grants..........................119,300
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Animal Health and Disease (Sec. 1433).............................5,109
Critical Agricultural Materials Act.................................600
Aquaculture Centers (Sec. 1475)...................................4,000
Alternative Crops...................................................750
Sustainable agriculture...........................................8,000
Capacity building grants..........................................9,200
Payments to the 1994 Institutions.................................1,552
Graduate fellowship grants........................................3,000
Institution challenge grants......................................4,350
Multicultural scholars program....................................1,000
Hispanic-serving institutions.....................................2,850
Secondary/2-year post-secondary.....................................500
Federal Administration:
  Agriculture development in American Pacific.......................564
  Agriculture waste utilization (WV)................................250
  Alternative fuels characterization laboratory (ND)................218
  Animal waste management (OK)......................................250
  Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (IA)................355
  Center for North American Studies (TX)............................ 87
  Data information system.........................................1,000
  Geographic information system.....................................844
  Mariculture (NC)..................................................250
  Mississippi Valley State University...............................583
  National Center for Peanut Competitiveness........................300
  Office of grants and program systems..............................310
  Pay costs and FERS (prior)......................................1,100
  Peer panels.......................................................350
  PM-10 study (CA, WA)..............................................873
  Shrimp aquaculture (AZ, HI, MS, MA, SC).........................3,354
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Federal Administration................................10,688
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

    Total, Research and Education Activities....................481,216

       The conferees direct the USDA to consult with the Food and 
     Drug Administration regarding food safety research objectives 
     of that agency and recommend that $5,000,000 of the funds 
     provided for the food safety component of the National 
     Research Initiative be used to meet those needs.
       The conference agreement includes $523,000 for Rural 
     Development Centers, of which $100,000 is for a new center in 
     Louisiana. The conference agreement includes $750,000 for 
     alternative crops, of which $550,000 is for canola and 
     $200,000 is for hesperaloe. The conference agreement includes 
     $1,000,000 for the wood utilization special grant for the 
     establishment of two new centers in Idaho and Tennessee with 
     the remainder of the increase to be shared on a proportionate 
     basis by the existing centers.
       The conference agreement includes $5,000,000 for the 
     special grant for food safety as requested by the President 
     and an increase of $7,400,000 in the National Research 
     Initiative category for nutrition, food quality and health.


                          EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

       The conference agreement provides $434,122,000 for 
     extension activities instead of $416,789,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $432,181,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:


                          Extension activities

                       [In thousands of dollars

                                                             Conference
                                                              agreement
Smith Lever 3(b) & 3(c).........................................276,548
Smith Lever: 3(d):
  Farm safety.....................................................3,000
  Food and nutrition education (EFNEP)...........................58,695
  Food safety.....................................................3,500
  Indian reservation agents.......................................1,714
  Pest management................................................10,783
  Pesticide impact assessment.....................................3,214
  Rural development centers.........................................908
  Sustainable agriculture.........................................3,309
  Water quality...................................................9,561
  Youth at risk...................................................9,000
1890's Colleges and Tuskegee.....................................25,843
1890's facilities grants..........................................8,426
Renewable Resources Extension Act.................................3,192
Rural health and safety education.................................2,628
Extension services at the 1994 institutions.......................2,060
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Subtotal....................................................422,381
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Federal Administration and special grants:
  Ag in the classroom...............................................208
  Beef producers' improvement (AR)..................................197
  Delta teachers academy..........................................3,500
  Diabetes detection, prevention (WA)...............................550
  Extension specialist (AR)......................................... 99
  Extension specialist (MS).........................................100
  General administration..........................................4,787
  Income enhancement demonstration (OH).............................246
  Integrated cow/calf resources management (IA).....................300
  National Center for Agriculture Safety (IA).......................195
  Pilot tech. transfer (OK, MS).....................................326
  Pilot tech. transfer (WI).........................................163
  Range improvement (NM)............................................197
  Rural development (NM)............................................280
  Rural development (OK)............................................150
  Rural rehabilitation (GA).........................................246
  Wood biomass as an alternative farm product (NY)..................197
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Federal Administration................................11,741
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

    Total, Extension Activities.................................434,122

       The conferees are concerned that funds for cooperative 
     agriculture extension services are being used to promote 
     Federal welfare programs. Such activities are appropriate 
     only to the extent that they fall within the traditional 
     educational role of extension for home economics and similar 
     missions.
       The conference agreement includes a 3% increase for the 
     formula grant programs as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement has provided an increase for water 
     quality and expects the projects in North Dakota and Illinois 
     to compete for these funds.
       The conference agreement includes an increase of $500,000 
     for the Farm*A*Sys program, and an increase of $145,000 for 
     the Agribility project.

                   Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

       The conference agreement provides $618,000 for the Office 
     of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory 
     Programs as proposed by the Senate instead of $642,000 as 
     proposed by the House.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $425,803,000 for the 
     Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) instead of 
     $424,500,000 as proposed by the House and $419,473,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                       [In thousands of dollars]

                                                             Conference
                                                              agreement
Pest and disease exclusion:
  Agricultural quarantine inspection.............................30,648
  User fees......................................................88,000
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Subtotal, Agricultural quarantine inspection................118,648
  Cattle ticks....................................................4,627
  Foot-and-mouth disease..........................................3,803
  Import-export inspection........................................6,815
  International programs..........................................6,630
  Fruit fly exclusion and detection..............................22,970
  Screwworm......................................................30,301
  Tropical bont tick................................................407
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Pest and disease exclusion...........................194,201
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Plant and animal health monitoring:
  Animal health monitoring and surveillance......................63,389
  Animal and plant health regulatory enforcement..................5,855
  Pest detection..................................................6,426
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Plant and animal health monitoring....................75,670
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Pest and disease management programs:
  Aquaculture.......................................................567
  Biocontrol......................................................8,160
  Boll weevil....................................................16,209
   Brucellosis eradication.......................................11,864
  Golden nematode...................................................435
  Gypsy moth......................................................4,366
  Imported fire ant...............................................1,000
  Miscellaneous plant diseases....................................1,410
  Noxious weeds.....................................................424
  Pink bollworm...................................................1,048
  Pseudorabies....................................................4,567
  Scrapie.........................................................2,991
  Silverleaf whitefly...............................................
  Tuberculosis....................................................4,920
  Wildlife services--operations..................................28,797

[[Page H9306]]

  Witchweed.......................................................1,506
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Pest and disease management programs..................88,264
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Animal care:
  Animal welfare..................................................9,175
  Horse protection..................................................361
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Animal care............................................9,536
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Scientific and technical services:
  Aviation safety.................................................1,200
  Biotechnology/environmental protection..........................7,393
  Integrated systems acquisition project..........................3,500
  International cooperative administrative service..................909
  Plant methods development laboratories..........................4,693
  Veterinary biologics...........................................10,345
  Veterinary diagnostics.........................................15,622
  Wildlife services--methods development.........................10,365
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Scientific and technical services.....................54,027
  Contingency fund................................................4,105
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

    Total, Salaries and expenses................................425,803


       The conference agreement includes $909,000 for the 
     International Cooperative Administrative Support Service 
     Program.
       The conferees direct APHIS to conduct an analysis of the 
     existing Medfly exclusion and detection program in the State 
     of Florida and include in that analysis a review of various 
     potential alternatives, including the feasibility of 
     implementing a year-round sterile Medfly release program. 
     Specifically, the analysis should identify the scope, annual 
     cost, and method of implementation for such programs. APHIS 
     shall report its findings to both the House and Senate 
     Appropriations Committees no later than May 1, 1999.
       Infestations of red imported fire ants have been found in 
     Dona Ana County, New Mexico and, as a result, the county has 
     been quarantined. In order to properly survey and monitor the 
     remaining counties of New Mexico for red imported fire ants, 
     the conferees direct APHIS to provide the necessary financial 
     and technical assistance to the State of New Mexico to carry 
     out the necessary activities.
       The conferees request APHIS to grant a six-month extension 
     of the comment period for the proposed rule published in the 
     Federal Register on August 12, 1998, concerning importation 
     of grapefruits, lemons, and oranges from Argentina. 
     Additional time is needed to allow independent scientists to 
     review the scientific data submitted on behalf of Argentina's 
     petition and to review the risk mitigation measures advocated 
     by APHIS.
       The conferees direct the Department to publish rules 
     regarding the compensation of Arizona wheat producers, seed 
     companies, seed producers, and handlers for their economic 
     loss for the 1997-1998 crop due to Karnal bunt.
       The conferees direct the Department to work with the 
     Arizona wheat industry and Arizona regulatory agencies to 
     develop a plan for de-regulation of Karnal bunt in Arizona, 
     to be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations no later 
     than November 15, 1998, to allow for appropriate grower 
     decisions for planting wheat for 1999.
       The conferees direct APHIS to establish protocols 
     containing appropriate verification procedures including 
     permanent country of origin marking requirements for each 
     country or region requesting to export livestock into the 
     United States.
       The conference agreement adopts House report language 
     providing $1,500,000 for rabies control activities. The 
     Senate report provided $800,000 for specific states.
       The conference agreement adopts House report language 
     providing $450,000 for trap testing and related activities to 
     meet U.S. obligations under international standards. The 
     Senate report had no similar language. The conferees expect 
     the agency to work toward the development of more humane 
     trapping methods.
       The conference agreement adopts Senate report language 
     providing $300,000 for an assessment of the economic threat 
     from a newly-described contagious equine metritis-like 
     bacterium to the U.S. horse industry. The House report had no 
     similar provision.
       The conference agreement adopts Senate report language 
     providing $500,000 for operation of the bison quarantine 
     facility and all associated operations including the testing 
     of bison which have left Yellowstone National Park. The House 
     report had no similar provision.
       The conference agreement adopts Senate report language 
     providing $300,000 to establish and operate a Wildlife 
     Services office in Hawaii. The House report had no similar 
     provision.
       The conference agreement provides an increase of $175,000 
     to offset the impact of expanding wolf populations and the 
     reintroduction of wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.
       The conference report adopts Senate report language 
     providing $400,000 to require the Secretary to prevent the 
     inadvertent introduction of brown tree snakes into Hawaii and 
     other states. The House had no similar language.
       The conferees urge the Secretary to delay the 
     implementation of regulations issued by the Animal and Plant 
     Health and Inspection Service (Fed. Reg. Vol. 63, No. 172, 
     September 4, 1998) entitled ``Swim with the Dolphin'' as 
     applied to wading programs. The managers expect the 
     Department to solicit input from affected parties and ensure 
     that the regulations will not impose unreasonable 
     requirements, economic hardship, or conflict with State laws.


                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

       The conference agreement provides $7,700,000 for the Animal 
     and Plant Health Inspection Service, Buildings and 
     Facilities, instead of $5,200,000 as proposed by the House 
     and $4,200,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes $3,500,000 for completion 
     of a wing at the National Wildlife Research Center in Fort 
     Collins, CO.
       The conferees direct the agency to consider locations in 
     Montana and Iowa for construction of a large animal biosafety 
     level-3 containment facility.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           MARKETING SERVICES

       The conference agreement provides $46,000,000 for the 
     Agricultural Marketing Service instead of $46,567,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $45,567,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. The conferees expect that, of the funds available for 
     the National Organic Standards Program, amounts as may be 
     necessary shall be used to offset the initial costs of 
     accreditation services.
       El Nino and the Asian currency crisis have caused 
     significant problems to West Coast tuna fishermen. The USDA 
     should use its surplus removal authorities to assist with 
     this problem.


                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $60,730,000 for the 
     Limitation on Administrative Expenses as proposed by the 
     House instead of $59,521,000 as proposed by the Senate.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $26,787,000 for the Grain 
     Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration instead of 
     $27,542,000 as proposed by the House and $26,390,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is $2,500,000 
     as proposed by the Senate for restructuring the Packers and 
     Stockyards Administration and $397,000 as proposed by the 
     House for packer concentration and industry structure.

             Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety

       The conference agreement provides $446,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Food Safety as proposed by the 
     Senate. The House bill provided an unspecified amount of 
     funding for the Office of the Under Secretary from the Food 
     Safety and Inspection Service account.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

       The conference agreement provides $609,250,000 for the Food 
     Safety and Inspection Service as proposed by the House 
     instead of $605,149,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes the full amount requested 
     in the fiscal year 1999 budget for the Food Safety Initiative 
     and inspection costs.
       The conferees note that the report on ratites was not 
     delivered until six months after the requested submission 
     date and, although a cost-benefit analysis was requested, it 
     was not supplied. While citing significant potential health 
     risks and the existence of industry microbiological data, the 
     Department did not perform a risk assessment to quantify 
     public health benefits. The Department is directed to 
     resubmit the report with the cost-benefit analysis, as 
     requested, by December 31, 1998, or to provide the conferees 
     a detailed accounting of the projected cost and time required 
     to determine the merits and effectiveness of a mandatory 
     ratite inspection program.
       The conference agreement adopts language as proposed by the 
     House disagreeing with the Administration's proposal to waive 
     cost-sharing limitations for cooperative state inspection 
     programs. The Senate report had no similar provision.
       The conferees direct the Secretary of Agriculture to report 
     to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by March 
     1, 1999, recommendations on lifting the ban on the interstate 
     distribution of State inspected meat.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

       The conference agreement provides $572,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
     Services as proposed by the Senate instead of $597,000 as 
     proposed by the House.
       The conferees are concerned that the USDA is administering 
     the forfeiture penalty provisions of 7 U.S.C. 7272(g) in a 
     manner inconsistent with the intent of Congress. These 
     provisions were intended only to act as a disincentive to 
     program loan forfeitures. Unfortunately, as evidenced in the 
     fiscal year 1999 Budget Summary, the Department has 
     interpreted the provisions to have ``effectively reduced 
     sugar loan rates.'' The conferees direct the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to administer the program consistent with 
     Congressional intent, and to ensure that the forfeiture 
     penalty shall not apply for any purpose other than an actual 
     loan forfeiture resulting in the reduction of the statutory

[[Page H9307]]

     price support loan levels for sugarcane (18 cents per pound 
     of raw cane sugar) or sugar beets (22.9 cents per pound of 
     refined beet sugar). In addition, the conferees direct that 
     the penalty shall not be considered in the calculation of any 
     sugar forfeiture price level by the Secretary or by any other 
     official responsible for the administration of the sugar 
     program under 7 U.S.C. 7272, the no-cost provision in section 
     902(a) of P.L. 99-198, and any related authorities.

                          Farm Service Agency


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $714,499,000 for salaries 
     and expenses of the Farm Service Agency instead of 
     $724,499,000 as proposed by the House and $710,842,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement does not 
     include $10,000,000 as proposed by the House for the Common 
     Computing Environment.
       The conferees expect the Secretary, to the extent 
     practicable, to avoid the use of reductions-in-force or 
     furloughs for both Federal and non-Federal employees or any 
     county office closings.

           Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account

       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Farm Ownership Loans:
  Direct..................................................($85,651,000)
  Subsidy....................................................12,822,000
  Guaranteed..............................................(425,031,000)
  Subsidy.....................................................6,758,000
Farm Operating Loans:
  Direct..................................................(500,000,000)
  Subsidy....................................................34,150,000
  Subsidized Guaranteed...................................(200,000,000)
  Subsidy....................................................17,480,000
  Unsubsidized Guaranteed.................................(948,276,000)
  Subsidy....................................................11,000,000
  Boll Weevil Eradication.................................(100,000,000)
  Subsidy.....................................................1,440,000
  Credit Sales of Acquired Property....................................
  Subsidy..............................................................

                Disaster Assistance/Reserve Inventories

       The conference agreement does not include $521,000,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate for disaster assistance and reserve 
     inventories. Disaster related problems are addressed in 
     Titles XI--XIII.

                         Risk Management Agency

       The conferees note that risk management tools are limited 
     for livestock producers. The conferees expect the Risk 
     Management Agency to provide a report to the appropriate 
     Committees of Congress on the feasibility of a crop insurance 
     program that livestock producers can utilize for forages and 
     native pasture.

                    TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

       The conference agreement provides $693,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment 
     as proposed by the Senate instead of $719,000 as proposed by 
     the House.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                        CONSERVATION OPERATIONS

       The conference agreement provides $641,243,000 for the 
     Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation 
     Operations as proposed by the House instead of $638,664,000 
     as proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is not 
     less than $5,990,000 for snow survey and water forecasting as 
     proposed by the House instead of $5,835,000 as proposed by 
     the Senate and not less than $9,025,000 for operation and 
     establishment of plant materials centers as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $7,825,000 as proposed by the House.
       In addition to the items in the House and Senate reports 
     that are not changed by the conference agreement, funding is 
     included for the following items: $100,000 increase for 
     native plants on the Island of Kahoolawe in Hawaii; $300,000 
     increase for the Loess Hills Erosion Control in Iowa; 
     $300,000 for the Long Beach Water Management District Project 
     in Mississippi; $400,000 increase for the Delta Water 
     Resources Study in Mississippi; $500,000 for the Tri-Valley 
     watershed in Utah; $500,000 for the Great Lakes Basin Program 
     for Soil and Erosion Sediment Control; $100,000 increase for 
     the Potomac Ohio River Basin Soil Nutrient Project; $100,000 
     for the Trees Forever Program in Iowa; and $443,000 increase 
     for construction of the Plant Materials Center at Alderson, 
     West Virginia.
       The conferees do not agree with the Senate report language 
     citing problems that have arisen with the Wetlands Reserve 
     Program (WRP). However, the conferees concur with Senate 
     report language that encourages the USDA to structure the 
     terms of WRP contracts so that high priority is given to the 
     consideration of adjacent landowners, including but not 
     limited to the maintenance of watershed protection.
       The conferees encourage the agency to provide any technical 
     assistance for construction and repairs to the spillway and 
     roads for Lake Peltier at Salmen Scout Reservation, Hancock 
     County, Mississippi.

                     Watershed Surveys and Planning

       The conference agreement provides $10,368,000 for Watershed 
     Surveys and Planning instead of $9,545,000 as proposed by the 
     House and $11,190,000 as proposed by the Senate.

               Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations

       The conference agreement provides $99,443,000 for Watershed 
     and Flood Prevention Operations instead of $97,850,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $101,036,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. The conference agreement includes House language 
     providing that not more than $47,000,000 shall be available 
     for technical assistance. The conference agreement includes 
     continued progress and assistance for the Chino Dairy 
     Preserve Project, San Bernardino County, CA.
       The conferees expect the NRCS to provide for corrective 
     action to the North Powder-Rock Creek South pipeline in the 
     Powder Valley Water Control District, OR, to prevent the 
     premature deterioration of the pipeline. The conferees note 
     that since the Powder Valley Water Control District cost-
     shared in the construction of the current pipeline the cost-
     share requirements shall not apply to the corrective action 
     necessary since the NRCS has admitted their design flaw.

                 Resource Conservation and Development

       The conference agreement provides $35,000,000 for the 
     Resource Conservation and Development program as proposed by 
     the House instead of $34,377,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
     The conferees expect the Department to present to the House 
     and Senate Appropriations Committees no later than March 1, 
     1999, options to fund new Resource Conservation and 
     Development districts, including a graduation component, 
     while considering program effectiveness, efficiency, and 
     necessary structural changes.

                      Forestry Incentives Program

       The conference agreement provides $6,325,000 for the 
     Forestry Incentives Program as proposed by the Senate. The 
     House bill provided no funds for this account.

      TITLE III--RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

       The conference agreement provides $588,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Rural Development as proposed by 
     the Senate instead of $611,000 as proposed by the House.
       The conferees expect the Secretary, to the extent 
     practicable, to avoid the use of reductions-in-force and 
     furloughs in the rural development work force. The conferees 
     further expect that no reductions-in-force or furloughs will 
     take place unless the Secretary provides detailed 
     justifications for such actions to the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations.
       The conferees note that it has become necessary in annual 
     appropriations bills to declare certain communities eligible 
     for rural development programs. This is because of anomalies 
     in the criteria for eligibility, such as population and 
     average income levels, that have made these communities 
     ineligible under a strict interpretation of regulations. The 
     conferees believe that there may not be sufficient 
     flexibility under current law and regulations to address this 
     problem. Therefore, the conferees direct the Department to 
     develop a plan that will address this situation including 
     changes in current law or regulation and present this plan to 
     the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
       The House and Senate reports recommend projects for 
     consideration under various rural development programs and 
     the conferees expect the Department to apply established 
     review procedures when considering applications.
       The conferees further expect the Department to give 
     consideration to business enterprise and housing preservation 
     projects in the city of Bayview, VA; applications for rural 
     business enterprise grants from TELACU, for a project in 
     Selma, CA; for assistance for a community improvement 
     program in Arkansas; water and sewer improvements for the 
     City of Vaughn, NM; the Shulerville/Honey Hill Water 
     project, S.C.; and a rural enterprise grant for Indian 
     Hills Community College, IA.
       The conferees direct the agency to exercise its authority 
     to consider the effects of economic circumstances and high 
     unemployment in calculating median household income for the 
     community of Wrangell, AK, for the purpose of determining 
     whether the community is eligible for loans and grants.
       The Department should consider a request, subject to normal 
     review procedures, from the Water Environment Research 
     Foundation for water quality research.
       The conferees are aware that the Territory of American 
     Samoa is currently in the grip of a severe, prolonged 
     drought, and that the island's water system is rapidly 
     becoming infiltrated by salt water and is unsafe for human 
     consumption. Even with aggressive water conservation and 
     service curtailment efforts, there will soon be insufficient 
     safe drinking water to sustain human needs in the Territory. 
     If assistance is not provided expeditiously, there is an 
     imminent threat that waterborne illnesses will reach epidemic 
     proportions which will severely overburden American Samoa's 
     limited health care facilities. The drought crisis poses an 
     immediate and rapidly escalating threat to human life in this 
     most remote part of American Territories.
       It has come to the attention of the conferees that the 
     American Samoa Power Authority (the Territory's water, 
     electric, and sanitary sewer utility) has applied to USDA for 
     assistance in obtaining and installing water filtration and 
     treatment equipment.

[[Page H9308]]

     This project would provide approximately one million gallons 
     per day of safe drinking water necessary to sustain basic 
     human needs and prevent life-threatening illness.
       The conferees urge the Secretary to utilize creative and 
     flexible solutions under the existing water and sewer loan 
     and grants program, the community facilities loan and grants 
     program, and such other rural development programs as the 
     Secretary in his discretion may determine appropriate to meet 
     this critical need in American Samoa.

                           Rural Development


                  rural community advancement program

       The conference agreement provides $722,686,000 for the 
     Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) instead of 
     $702,601,000 as proposed by the Senate and $745,172,000 as 
     proposed by the House.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:


                             RCAP accounts

Water/Sewer................................................$645,007,000
Community Facilities.........................................29,786,000
Business-Cooperative Development.............................47,893,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
  Total.....................................................722,686,000
                                                       ================

Earmarks:
  Tech. Asst. (water/sewer)..................................16,215,000
  Circuit Rider...............................................5,300,000
  EZ/EC......................................................33,926,000
  Tech. Asst. (transportation)..................................500,000

       The conference agreement adopts House bill language that 
     does not include section 381O of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f) from authorized 
     activities included in RCAP funding. The Senate bill had no 
     similar provision.
       The conference agreement does not include language in the 
     Senate report directing USDA to provide for rural venture 
     capital demonstration projects in Kentucky and Vermont. The 
     House report had no similar provision.
       The conference agreement also adopts Senate bill language 
     providing that funds not obligated for empowerment zones and 
     enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, will remain 
     available for other purposes under this heading. The House 
     bill had no similar provision.
       The conference agreement does not provide the requested 
     three percent earmark for Federally-recognized Indian tribes. 
     The conferees note that, according to USDA, Indian tribes now 
     receive approximately five percent of funding under the RCAP 
     and the conferees believe the three percent earmark would 
     arbitrarily restrict rural development benefits to the 
     tribes.
       The conferees expect the Department to use funds provided 
     for technical assistance for water and sewer projects to 
     maintain the number of circuit riders at the same level as 
     fiscal year 1998.
       The conferees have agreed to permanently increase the 
     authorization of funding for water and sewer projects 
     benefiting Alaska Natives under the Federal Agriculture 
     Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 from $15,000,000 to 
     $20,000,000 and to make the state match required under the 
     program consistent with the 25 percent requirement for the 
     Colonias. The conferees direct the Department, in awarding 
     grants to various regions of the country, to give priority 
     consideration to areas which lack flush toilets and running 
     water . It shall also give highest priority to areas without 
     modern sewage disposal systems, with open sewers, and high 
     rates of disease caused by poor sanitation.

                         Rural Housing Service


              RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
     $197,285,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level 
     of $4,251,717,000) for activities under the Rural Housing 
     Insurance Fund Program Account instead of $186,855,000 
     (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
     $4,235,601,000) as proposed by the House and $207,601,000 
     (providing for an estimated program level of $4,284,398,000) 
     as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $10,380,000 from the 
     total amount available for empowerment zones and enterprise 
     communities instead of $10,380,100 as proposed by the Senate. 
     The House bill had no similar provision.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:


              Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account

Loan authorizations:
  Single family (sec. 502)................................(965,313,000)
    Unsubsidized guaranteed.............................(3,000,000,000)
  Housing repair (sec. 504)................................(25,001,000)
  Farm labor (sec. 514)....................................(20,000,000)
  Rental housing (sec. 515)...............................(114,321,000)
  Multi-family housing guarantees (sec. 538)..............(100,000,000)
  Site loans (sec. 524).....................................(5,152,000)
  Credit sales of acquired property........................(16,930,000)
  Self-help housing land development fund...................... (5,000)
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total, Loan authorizations..........................(4,251,717,000)
                                                       ================

Loan subsidies:
  Single family (sec. 502)..................................114,100,000
    Unsubsidized guaranteed...................................2,700,000
  Housing repair (sec. 504)...................................8,808,000
  Multi-family housing guarantees (sec. 538)..................2,320,000
  Farm labor (sec. 514)......................................10,406,000
  Rental housing (sec. 515)..................................55,160,000
  Site loans (sec. 524)..........................................17,000
  Credit sales of acquired property...........................3,492,000
  Self-help housing land development fund.......................282,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total, Loan subsidies...................................197,285,000
RHIF administrative expenses (transfer to RHS)..............360,785,000
    Total, Rural Housing...............................................
    Insurance Fund........................................1,141,467,000
    (Loan authorization)................................(4,251,717,000)

       The conferees direct that the Department give preference to 
     projects with the lowest interest rates in the section 538 
     program to ensure that the program serves tenants with low 
     incomes.
       The conferees recognize the importance of providing 
     assistance to the economically distressed areas of the Lower 
     Mississippi Delta. The conferees encourage the Secretary to 
     consider using the reprogramming authority provided in 
     section 724 of this Act to fund applications for Rural 
     Housing Service programs in those areas where there is a 
     shortage of affordable rental and home ownership 
     opportunities. One of the areas to be considered is West 
     Tallahatchie, MS, where there is a shortage of housing for 
     teachers.


                  MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 from the total 
     amount available for Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants for 
     empowerment zones and enterprise communities as proposed by 
     the Senate. The House bill had no similar provision.


                    RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $41,000,000 for Rural 
     Housing Assistance Grants as proposed by the House instead of 
     $45,720,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $1,200,000 from the total 
     amount available for empowerment zones and enterprise 
     communities as proposed by the House instead of $1,372,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate. The House bill had no similar 
     provision.


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $60,978,000 for salaries 
     and expenses as proposed by the Senate instead of $57,958,000 
     as proposed by the House. The conference agreement also 
     provides for a transfer of $360,785,000 from the Rural 
     Housing Insurance Fund as proposed by the Senate instead of 
     $354,785,000 as proposed by the House. The total provided for 
     Rural Housing Service salaries and expenses is $421,763,000 
     as proposed by the Senate instead of $412,743,000 as proposed 
     by the House.
       The conference agreement includes a provision that allows 
     the Administrator of the Rural Housing Service to spend not 
     more than $10,000 for non-monetary awards to non-employees of 
     the Department of Agriculture. The House bill had no similar 
     provision.

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service


              RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
     $16,615,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
     $33,000,000) for the Rural Development Loan Fund Program 
     Account as proposed by the Senate instead of $17,622,000 
     (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
     $35,000,000) as proposed by the House.
       The conference agreement also provides from the total 
     amount available a subsidy of $3,215,520 (providing for an 
     estimated loan program level of $7,246,000) for empowerment 
     zones and enterprise communities as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement also provides $3,482,000 for 
     administrative expenses as proposed by the Senate instead of 
     $3,499,000 as proposed by the House.
       The conference agreement adopts Senate language that 
     provides that funds not obligated for empowerment zones/
     enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, will remain 
     available for other authorized purposes. The House bill had 
     no similar provision.


            RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement rescinds $3,783,000 of funds 
     derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments 
     established in the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 901) 
     and further provides $3,783,000 (providing for an estimated 
     loan program level of $15,000,000) for the cost of loans 
     under the Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account as 
     proposed by the House instead of $5,801,000 (providing for an 
     estimated loan program level of $23,000,000) as proposed by 
     the Senate.


                  RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides a total of $3,300,000 for 
     rural cooperative development grants as proposed by the House 
     instead of $3,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Both House 
     and Senate bills provide $1,300,000 from the total amount 
     available for cooperative agreements for the Appropriate 
     Technology Transfer for Rural Areas Program. The conference 
     agreement also provides $250,000 for a cooperative 
     development program as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement has not earmarked projects under 
     this title but the conferees expect the Department to give 
     consideration to the following projects requesting

[[Page H9309]]

     assistance under the Rural Cooperative Development Grants 
     program: agricultural diversification, to be conducted by the 
     Jefferson Institute, MO; Silos and Smokestacks, IA; and the 
     Pennsylvania Cooperative Development Center. The conferees 
     expect the Department to use established review procedures in 
     considering these projects.


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides a direct appropriation of 
     $25,680,000 for salaries and expenses of the Rural Business-
     Cooperative Service. The conference agreement further 
     provides for transfers of $3,482,000 to this account from the 
     Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account as proposed by 
     the Senate instead of $3,499,000 as proposed by the House.

                        Rural Utilities Service


   RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
     $43,319,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
     $1,561,500,000) for activities under the Rural 
     Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account 
     as proposed by the House instead of $43,184,000 (providing 
     for an estimated loan program level of $1,511,500,000) as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:


   Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account

Loan authorizations:
                                                          Direct loans:
    Electric 5%............................................(71,500,000)
    Telecommuincations 5%..................................(75,000,000)
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Subtotal............................................(146,500,000)
                                                       ================

  Treasury rates: Telecommunications......................(300,000,000)
  Muni-rate: Electric.....................................(295,000,000)
                                                             FFB loans:
    Electric, regular.....................................(700,000,000)
    Telecommunications....................................(120,000,000)
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Subtotal............................................(820,000,000)
                                                       ________________
                                                       
     Total, Loan authorizations.........................(1,561,500,000)
                                                       ================

Loan subsidies:
                                                          Direct loans:
    Electric 5%...............................................9,325,000
    Telecommunications 5%.....................................7,342,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Subtotal...............................................16,667,000
                                                       ================

  Treasury rates: Telecommunications............................810,000
  Mini-rate: Electric........................................25,842,000
  FFB loans: Electric, regular.........................................
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Total, Loan subsidies..................................43,319,000
RETLP administrative expenses (transfer to RUS)..............29,982,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total, Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program 
    Account..................................................73,301,000
    (Loan authorization)................................(1,561,500,000)

       By increasing the amount available for Federal Financing 
     Bank lending, it is the intent of the conferees that the 
     Rural Utilities Service will fully utilize the authorities of 
     section 306 of the Rural Electrification Act by issuing 
     guarantees to private sector lenders such as the Cooperative 
     Finance Corporation and other legally organized organizations 
     to ensure the financial needs of borrowers are met in a 
     timely and efficient manner.


                  RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
     $4,174,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
     $157,509,000) for the Rural Telephone Bank Program Account 
     instead of $4,638,000 (providing for an estimated loan 
     program level of $175,000,000) as proposed by the House and 
     $3,710,000 (providing for an estimated program level of 
     $140,000,000) as proposed by the Senate.


               DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $12,680,000 for the 
     Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $10,180,000 as proposed by the House. The 
     conference agreement also provides that $12,500,000 of the 
     total amount shall be available for grants under this program 
     as proposed by the Senate instead of $10,000,000 as proposed 
     by the House. Both House and Senate bills provide a subsidy 
     of $180,000 from the total amount available, which provides 
     for an estimated loan level of $150,000,000.

                    TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

       The conference agreement provides $554,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer 
     Services as proposed by the Senate. The House bill provided 
     an unspecified amount of funding for the Office of the Under 
     Secretary from the Food Program Administration account.

                       Food and Nutrition Service


                        child nutrition programs

       The conference agreement provides a total of $9,176,897,000 
     for child nutrition programs instead of $9,218,647,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $9,219,897,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Included in this amount is an appropriated amount of 
     $4,128,747,000 and an amount transferred from section 32 of 
     $5,048,150,000.
       The conference agreement includes language as proposed by 
     the Senate providing that no funds are available for the 
     commodity procurement program unless the value of section 32 
     commodities and section 416 commodities are calculated in 
     meeting the minimum commodity assistance requirement of 
     section 6(g) of the School Lunch Act.
       The conference agreement provides the following:


                      Total Obligational Authority

Child Nutrition Programs:
  School lunch program...................................$5,384,452,000
  School breakfast program................................1,396,955,000
  Child and adult care food program.......................1,611,520,000
  Summer food service program...............................294,414,000
  Special milk program.......................................18,055,000
  State administrative expenses.............................118,074,000
  Commodity procurement and computer support................337,127,000
  School meals initiative....................................10,000,000
  Coordinated review effort...................................4,300,000
  Food safety education.......................................2,000,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total.................................................9,176,897,000

       The conference agreement provides $10,000,000 for the 
     school meals initiative. Included in this amount is 
     $4,000,000 for food service training grants to states, 
     $1,600,000 for technical assistance materials, $800,000 for 
     National Food Service Management Institute cooperative 
     agreements, $400,000 for print and electronic food service 
     resource systems, and $3,200,000 for other activities.


special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children 
                                 (wic)

       The conference agreement provides $3,924,000,000 for the 
     Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, 
     and Children (WIC) as proposed by the House instead of 
     $3,948,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference 
     agreement includes bill language that directs USDA to 
     obligate $10,000,000 for the farmers' market nutrition 
     program within 45 days of enactment of this Act, and an 
     additional $5,000,000 for the farmers' market nutrition 
     program from any funds not needed to maintain current 
     caseload levels.
       The conferees direct that USDA reduce to 120 days the time 
     period in which states are required to report on monthly 
     obligation of funds as proposed by the House. The Senate had 
     no similar language.
       The conferees direct the Department to review the 
     methodology and data used to estimate participation and 
     funding levels for WIC and to report to the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations its recommendations for 
     improvements no later than April 1, 1999, as proposed by the 
     House. The Senate had no similar language.
       The conferees address the need for a study on WIC cost 
     containment activity under the Economic Research Service.
       The conference agreement does not include bill language as 
     proposed by the House regarding the allocation of fiscal year 
     1998 recovered funds.
       The conference agreement includes bill language as proposed 
     by the House that state agencies required to procure infant 
     formula using a competitive bidding system award a contract 
     only to the bidder offering the lowest net price.


                           FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $22,585,106,000 for the 
     Food Stamp Program instead of $22,591,806,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $23,781,806,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
     Included in this amount is a contingency reserve of 
     $100,000,000. Also included in this amount is $1,236,000,000 
     for nutrition assistance to Puerto Rico and $90,000,000 for 
     TEFAP commodity purchases.


                      COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $131,000,000 for the 
     Commodity Assistance Program instead of $141,000,000 as 
     proposed by the House and Senate. Included in the amount is 
     $45,000,000 for administration of TEFAP. The conferees 
     provide that these funds may be used for administration or 
     food costs at the discretion of the states. The conferees 
     note that there is a $10,000,000 carryover from fiscal year 
     1998 in this account for the Commodity Supplemental Food 
     Program and have adjusted the appropriation accordingly.


                      FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

       The conference agreement provides $108,561,000 for Food 
     Program Administration instead of $108,311,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $109,069,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
     Included in this amount is $252,000 for publication of 
     Dietary Guidelines and $725,000 for program and financial 
     integrity advancement. The conference agreement includes 
     language that withholds $2,000,000 of this appropriation 
     until a final rule is promulgated to curb vendor-related 
     fraud in the WIC program as proposed by the House.
       The conferees understand USDA is reviewing the Dietary 
     Guidelines and should ensure that scientific messages on 
     dietary and nutritional behaviors are consistent among the 
     Dietary Guidelines, the Food Guide Pyramid, and any related 
     nutritional publications.
       The conferees direct that the funds transferred to this 
     account from the Economic

[[Page H9310]]

     Research Service be used for programmatic studies and 
     evaluations directly related to USDA programs, and that any 
     welfare reform studies, analyses, or evaluations undertaken 
     shall directly relate to USDA programs.

            TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

         Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager

       The conference agreement includes a direct appropriation of 
     $136,203,000 instead of $131,295,000 as proposed by the House 
     and $131,795,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement adopts a Senate provision which 
     provides for the transfer of $3,231,000 from the Export Loan 
     Program and $1,035,000 from the P.L. 480 program account 
     under the P.L. 480 and Export Loan program accounts. The 
     House bill provided for these transfers under this heading.
       The conference agreement does not include a Senate 
     provision providing up to $2,000,000 solely for the purpose 
     of offsetting international exchange rate fluctuations. The 
     House bill had no similar provision. The conferees note that 
     the deletion of this provision does not indicate a judgment 
     on the merits of the request but reflects the fact that the 
     agency has not developed a plan for this activity as 
     requested in the fiscal year 1998 conference agreement. The 
     conferees expect such a plan to be submitted with the fiscal 
     year 2000 President's Budget.
       The amount provided includes $4,408,000 for the 
     International Cooperative Administrative Support Service 
     Program.
       The conference agreement includes $128,000 of the total 
     provided for a representation allowance as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $140,000 as proposed by the House. The 
     conferees also provide $3,500,000 for the Cochran Fellowship 
     Program.


               Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts

       The following table reflects the conference agreement for 
     Public Law 480 Program Accounts:


               Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts

Title I--Credit sales:
  Program level...........................................(219,724,000)
    Direct loans..........................................(203,475,000)
    Ocean freight differential.............................(16,249,000)
Title II--Commodities for disposition abroad:
  Program level...........................................(837,000,000)
  Appropriation.............................................837,000,000
Title III--Commodity grants:
  Program level............................................(25,000,000)
  Appropriation..............................................25,000,000
Loan subsidies..............................................176,596,000
Salaries and expenses:
  General Sales Manager (transfer to FAS).....................1,035,000
  Farm Service Agency (transfer to FSA).........................815,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Subtotal..................................................1,850,000
                                                       ================

Total, Public Law 480:
  Program level.........................................(1,081,724,000)
  Appropriation...........................................1,056,695,000

       The conferees are concerned that Agency for International 
     Development (AID) and Title II operational policies are not 
     fully meeting both statutory mandates and the program's 
     primary humanitarian objective of providing U.S. agricultural 
     products and commodities for feeding the needy worldwide. 
     While encouraged by recent aid commitments to increase 
     relief-type feeding programs, the conferees expect AID, to 
     the extent practicable, in utilizing the funds provided 
     herein, to ensure that the non-emergency programs, including 
     monetization programs, comply with the statutory requirement 
     that 75% of the commodities provided be in the form of highly 
     nutritious value-added agricultural commodities.

       TITLE VI-RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement includes a direct appropriation of 
     $1,098,140,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Food and 
     Drug Administration, instead of $998,340,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $1,062,642,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Food Safety & Applied Nutrition............................$226,580,000
Human Drugs.................................................200,305,000
Biologics....................................................96,279,000
Animal Drugs and Feeds.......................................41,973,000
Devices & Radiological Products.............................145,736,000
National Center for Toxicological Research...................31,579,000
Tobacco......................................................34,000,000
Rent and related activities..................................25,855,000
Other activities.............................................80,694,000
Rental Payments to GSA.......................................82,866,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Sub-Total...............................................965,867,000
Prescription Drug User Fees \1\.............................132,273,000
  Total...................................................1,098,140,000
\1\ Of the total $132,273,000 in PDUFA collections, $91,676,000 is for 
Human Drugs, $28,816,000 is for Biologics, $6,353,000 is for other 
activities, and $5,428,000 is for payments to the General Services 
Administration.

       The conference agreement includes an increase of $2,500,000 
     for the Office of Cosmetics and Color; $500,000 to begin 
     development of a new approval process for food packaging 
     materials; $1,000,000 for the Office of Generic Drugs; and 
     $250,000 for the Office of Seafood Inspection. Within the 
     amount for the Office of Seafood Inspection $200,000 is for a 
     grant to the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Commission.
       The conference agreement includes an increase of 
     $20,000,000 for the Food Safety Initiative. The FDA should 
     use $19,500,000 for increased food inspection and $500,000 
     for research at the National Center for Toxicological 
     Research.
       The conferees expect the FDA to publish a proposed rule 
     concerning the use of foreign marketing data in the review of 
     new sunscreen active ingredients in the sunscreen over-the-
     counter drug monograph. The conferees expect the proposed 
     rule will be published not later than June 1, 1999.
       The conferees note that the Food and Drug Administration 
     will soon consider a citizen petition requesting approval of 
     disjunctive labeling for surimi. The conferees strongly urge 
     the agency to act in an expeditious manner to propose a rule 
     in response to the petition, but in no case shall the FDA 
     propose such a rule later than six months after the receipt 
     of the citizen petition, nor shall the agency finalize such a 
     rule later than twelve months after the receipt of the 
     citizen petition.
       Included within the amount is $700,000 for the Clinical 
     Pharmacology program. The conferees expect these funds to be 
     used for competitive grants.
       The conferees note that recent court decisions (Mova 
     Pharmaceutical Corp. v. Shalala, 104 F.3d 1061 (D.C. Cir. 
     1998); Granutec, Inc. v. Shalala, No. 97-1873 and No. 97-
     1874, 1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 6685 (4th Cir. Apr 3, 1998)) have 
     invalidated an element of the Food and Drug Administration's 
     regulations regarding the 180-day exclusivity period for 
     first applicants under section 505(j)(5)(B)(iv) of the 
     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The conferees strongly 
     urge the FDA to use the funds provided to issue new 
     regulations and guidance for industry to fulfill the intent 
     of the Generic Drug Act (Waxman/Hatch) for the broadest 
     possible availability of generic drugs to consumers 
     consistent with the Act.


                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

       The conference agreement provides $11,350,000 for Food and 
     Drug Administration Buildings and Facilities as proposed by 
     the House instead of $12,350,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 for 
     construction of Phase III at the National Center for 
     Toxicological Research as proposed by the House instead of 
     $4,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees expect 
     these funds, in addition to any Phase II remaining balances, 
     to be sufficient to initiate Phase III construction.


                            RENTAL PAYMENTS

       The conference agreement provides $88,294,000 for FDA 
     rental costs in the salaries and expenses account as proposed 
     by the Senate. The House proposed these funds in a separate 
     account.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

       The conference agreement provides $61,000,000 for the 
     Commodity Futures Trading Commission as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $62,140,000 as proposed by the House.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 LIMITATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

       The conference agreement adopts the limitation of 
     $35,800,000 on the expenses of the Farm Credit Administration 
     as proposed by the House. The Senate bill had no limitation 
     on expenses.

                      TITLE VII-GENERAL PROVISIONS

       Senate Section 705.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 705) proposed by the Senate to allow up to 
     $2,000,000 for costs associated with collocation of APHIS 
     regional offices to remain available until expended. The 
     House bill had no similar provision.
       House Section 710.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the House that limits agencies' 
     reimbursement to General Services Administration for costs 
     for rental space. The Senate bill had no similar provision.
       House Section 716 and Senate Section 715.--The conference 
     agreement includes language (Section 715) proposed by the 
     House that allows the Grain Inspection, Packers and 
     Stockyards Administration to use cooperative agreements to 
     carry out programs.
       Senate Section 716.--The conference agreement includes 
     language that allows the Natural Resources Conservation 
     Service to use contracts, grants or cooperative agreements 
     for goods or services.
       Senate Section 717 and House Section 718.--The conference 
     agreement includes language (Section 718) proposed by the 
     Senate that permanently prohibits funds of the Market Access 
     Program from being used to promote mink product exports.
       House Section 719 and Senate Section 718.--The conference 
     agreement includes language (Section 719) to allow up to 
     $1,800,000 for expenses of advisory committees, panels, 
     commissions, and task forces. The House bill recommended a 
     limit of $1,400,000 and the Senate bill recommended a limit 
     of $1,350,000.

[[Page H9311]]

       Senate Section 722.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 723) to require the approval of the Chief 
     Information Officer for purchases of information technology 
     systems or upgrades by the Department of Agriculture. The 
     language also includes a provision to prohibit any transfers 
     of funds to the Office of the Chief Information Officer 
     without the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriation 
     of both Houses.
       House Section 724.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language relating to common support services. The 
     conferees concur that the Department has sufficient authority 
     to carry out such a program. The Senate bill had no similar 
     provision.
       Senate Section 724.--The conference agreement modifies 
     language (Section 727) to prohibit contract acreage payments 
     to a producer who plants wild rice on contract acreage unless 
     the contract payment is reduced by an acre for each contract 
     acre planted to wild rice. The agreement deletes the Senate 
     provision that made this permanent law. The House bill had no 
     similar provision.
       Senate Section 725.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 728) that names the National Rice Germplasm 
     Evaluation and Enhancement Center the ``Dale Bumpers National 
     Rice Research Center.'' The House bill had no similar 
     provision.
       Senate Section 726.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 729) proposed by the Senate to allow the 
     Secretary of Agriculture to transfer, subject to 
     reprogramming requirements, up to $26,000,000 for authorized 
     programs to benefit the Lower Mississippi Delta Region. This 
     amount should include any and all funds provided to that 
     region as part of the total. The House bill had no similar 
     provision.
       House Section 725 and Senate Section 727.--The conference 
     agreement includes language (Section 725) to prohibit funding 
     for the Fund for Rural America.
       House Section 726.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the House that prohibited 
     funding for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program.
       House Section 727.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 726) proposed by the House that limits 
     funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to 
     $174,000,000.
       House and Senate Section 728.--The conference agreement 
     includes language (Section 730) to limit acreage enrolled in 
     the Wetlands Reserve Program to 120,000 acres as proposed by 
     the Senate. The House proposed a limit of 130,000 acres.
       House and Senate Section 729.--The conference agreement 
     includes language (Section 731) to limit funding for The 
     Emergency Food Assistance Program to $90,000,000 as proposed 
     by the House instead of $80,000,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       Senate Section 730 and House Section 739.--The conference 
     agreement includes language (Section 740) that prohibits 
     funding for the Conservation Farm Option Program as proposed 
     by both the House and Senate.
       House Section 730.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 732) that prohibits funding for the 
     Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Systems (P.L. 
     105-185) as proposed by the House. The Senate bill had no 
     similar provision.
       Senate Section 731.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 743) proposed by the Senate that amended 
     Public Law 102-237 with regard to control of the brown tree 
     snake. The House bill had no similar provision.
       House Section 731.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 733) proposed by the House to make the City 
     of Big Spring, Texas eligible for rural housing programs.
       House Section 732--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 734) that makes the municipality of 
     Carolina, Puerto Rico eligible for grants and loans 
     administered by the Rural Utilities Service.
       Senate Section 732.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 744) as proposed by the Senate that makes 
     funds in this or any other Act available for financial and 
     technical assistance for Franklin County, Mississippi.
       House Section 734 and Senate Section 736.--The conference 
     agreement includes language (Section 736) as proposed by the 
     House that does not allow funds from this Act to be used to 
     carry out any commodity purchase program that would prohibit 
     eligibility or participation by a farmer-owned cooperative.
       Senate Section 733--The Conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 745) that makes the cost share requirement 
     for Alaska water and wastewater loan and grants 25% and the 
     authorized level $20,000,000.
       Senate Section 735.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 746) as proposed by the Senate that 
     prohibits the Food and Drug Administration from closing or 
     relocating the Division of Drug Analysis in St. Louis, MO.
       House Section 735.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 737) as proposed by the House that amends 
     the technical definition of the word ``antibacterial'' in the 
     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
       House Section 736.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 738) as proposed by the House that 
     prohibits funds from being used to issue a final rule to 
     implement the amendments to the Federal milk marketing orders 
     as required by subsection (a) of the Agricultural Market 
     Transition Act other than during the period February 1, 1999 
     through April 4, 1999. The conference agreement also modifies 
     the House provision to include language clarifying marketing 
     order reform in the state of California.
       House Section 737 and Senate Section 738.--The conference 
     agreement does not include language proposed by both the 
     House and Senate related to sanctions for the sales of 
     agricultural products. A similar provision has been enacted 
     into law.
       Senate Section 737.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 747) proposed by the Senate that requires 
     the Secretary of Agriculture to inspect and certify 
     agricultural processing equipment and to impose a fee for the 
     inspection and certification in a manner that is similar to 
     the inspection and certification of agricultural products 
     under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.
       House Section 738.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 739) which requires that when the Secretary 
     of Agriculture announces the basic formula price for milk, 
     the Secretary shall include in the announcement an estimate 
     of the costs incurred by milk producers to produce milk in 
     the different regions of the United States.
       Senate Section 739.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 748) as proposed by the Senate to prohibit 
     funds from being used to require a producer to pay an 
     administrative fee of 10 per cent for catastrophic insurance 
     protection. The language also makes the provision permanent 
     law.
       House Section 740 and Senate Section 761.--The conference 
     agreement includes bill language (Section 741) that waives 
     the statute of limitations on non-employment complaints of 
     discrimination in certain programs of the Department of 
     Agriculture, and modifies the House language to include 
     expedited procedure in processing the complaints as proposed 
     in Senate Section 761.
       Senate Section 741.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 749) as proposed by the Senate that 
     mandates the indefinite continuation of a personnel 
     management demonstration project.
       House Section 741.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 750) as proposed by the House that provides 
     that the Secretary may not deny certain guarantees in housing 
     on the basis that the interest on the loan for which the 
     guarantee is sought is exempt from inclusion in gross income 
     for purposes of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986.
       Senate Section 742.--The conference agreement modifies 
     language proposed by the Senate (Section 750) that extends 
     the authorization of certain provisions of the Housing Act of 
     1949 through September 30, 2000. The Senate proposed an 
     extension until September 30, 1999.
       Section 742.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that makes the Secretary of Agriculture liable for 
     compensatory damages to farmers who are found to have been 
     discriminated against under any farm loan program or activity 
     conducted by the USDA in violation of section 504 of the 
     Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
       House Section 742.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration 
     from using funds for the testing, development, or approval of 
     any drug for the chemical inducement of abortion.
       Senate Section 743.--The conference agreement does not 
     include bill language as proposed by the Senate requiring a 
     review of methyl bromide alternatives research. The House 
     bill had no similar provision. The conferees expect the 
     Agricultural Research Service to conduct a review of the 
     methyl bromide alternatives research conducted by the 
     Department. The review should include: 1) the total amount of 
     funds expended by the Department for methyl bromide 
     alternatives research for each fiscal year 1990 to 1997 and 
     estimates for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, including a 
     description of how funds are distributed and utilized; 2) 
     descriptions of plot and field scale testing of methyl 
     bromide alternatives conducted in fiscal years 1990 through 
     1998, including: a) total amount of funds expended for plot 
     and field scale testing; and b) the results of the testing 
     and the impact of the results on future research; and 3) a 
     description of the variables that impact the effectiveness of 
     methyl bromide alternatives and the Department's strategy for 
     addressing them.
       The conferees expect the Department to submit a report 
     describing the results of its review to the appropriate 
     committees of both Houses of Congress not later than 180 days 
     after enactment of this Act.
       Senate Section 744.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the Senate regarding the need to 
     provide drought relief in Texas. The conference agreement 
     includes language related to all agriculture disasters in 
     Titles XI-XIII.
       Senate Section 745.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 751) proposed by the Senate that amends the 
     1985 farm bill to exempt 30-year easements from payment 
     limitations for the Wetlands Reserve Program.
       Senate Section 746.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 752) proposed by the Senate that acceptance 
     of Wetlands Reserve Program bids may be in proportion to 
     landowner interest expressed in program operations.
       Senate Section 748.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 754) proposed by the Senate that prohibits 
     funds from being used to prepare a budget submission to 
     Congress that assumes reductions from the previous year's 
     budget due to user fee proposals unless the submission also

[[Page H9312]]

     identifies spending reductions which should occur if the user 
     fees are not enacted. The House bill had no similar 
     provision.
       Senate Sections 747 and 752.--The conference agreement 
     includes language (Section 753) that makes several technical 
     corrections to the Agriculture Research, Extension, and 
     Education Reform Act.
       Senate Section 749.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language to establish a pilot program to permit 
     haying and grazing on conservation reserve land.
       Senate Section 750.--The conference agreement includes 
     language proposed by the Senate (Section 755) that amends the 
     Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 regarding shipment of 
     shell eggs and mandates a report on egg safety and 
     repackaging.
       Senate Section 751.--The conference agreement does not 
     include the sense of the Senate provision regarding economic 
     hardships faced by agricultural producers and rural 
     communities. The conference agreement includes language 
     related to agriculture disasters in Titles XI-XIII.
       Senate Section 753.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the Senate that exempts food, 
     other agricultural products, medicines and medical equipment 
     from export control sanctions except where the country 
     repeatedly provided support for the acts of terrorism.
       Senate Section 754.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the Senate regarding mandatory 
     price reporting.
       The conferees direct the Secretary of Agriculture to take 
     steps to increase the voluntary reporting of fed cattle, and 
     wholesale beef carcass prices and volumes on a quality and 
     yield grade basis, as well as the prices and volumes of boxed 
     beef (on carcass equivalent basis) sales by quality grades 
     and trim categories, on a daily basis. These reports may 
     include all domestic and international forward sales for 
     delivery period currently reported, prices for branded 
     products, sales delivered as priced basis to a futures 
     contract, sales of less than carlot volume and formulated 
     sales. The Secretary shall encourage the reporting of the 
     price differential for USDA Prime, the upper \2/3\ of USDA 
     Choice, and a sub-select price category. Reports should 
     include imported beef products and livestock.
       With regard to lamb, the conferees direct the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to expand current voluntary reporting of live 
     lamb and wholesale lamb carcass prices and volumes on a yield 
     grade basis, as well as the prices and volumes of boxed lamb 
     and other fabricated lamb cut sales. Price should be reported 
     on a weekly basis, for the period currently reported, and 
     should include prices for certified and branded products, 
     sales of less than carlot volume and formulated sales. 
     Reports should include imported lamb products.
       The Secretary of Agriculture shall compile and publish 
     price, volume sales, and the shipment information regarding 
     all exports and imports of beef, veal, lamb and products 
     thereof which is collected via the expanded voluntary 
     process. The livestock, carcass, boxed product, primal, sub-
     primal and other meat cut descriptions currently being used 
     by AMS Market News Service should serve as a basis for 
     describing and reporting imported and exported products for 
     price and volume purposes. The Secretary shall also 
     standardize AMS price reporting data collection activities to 
     ensure uniformity and complete sales data capture and to 
     maximize the information available to all aspects of the 
     industry. The Secretary shall report to Congress, not more 
     than six months after enactment, on the feasibility or need 
     for mandatory price reporting. The Secretary is also directed 
     to implement new, electronic export certificate issuance and 
     data-reporting programs. The Secretary shall encourage the 
     information to be reported not later than one week after the 
     end of the week during which exports occurred consistent with 
     the advanced notice of rule-making published by USDA during 
     1997.
       Senate Section 755.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language related to metered dose inhalers. The House 
     bill had no similar provision. The conferees note the 
     Senate's interest in a transition from the use of 
     chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) to 
     less environmentally damaging substances, as required by 
     international treaty. The use of CFCs has been shown to be 
     harmful to the atmospheric ozone layer, which protects humans 
     from skin cancer, although the magnitude of the environmental 
     impact of the amount of CFCs used in MDIs is unclear. 
     Metered-dose inhalers, which contain CFCs as propellants, are 
     used primarily for the treatment of asthma and other chronic 
     pulmonary disorders. Asthma and pulmonary patients and 
     physicians rightfully believe that the Food and Drug 
     Administration (FDA) must consider their concerns, as well as 
     the need to have a range of suitable substitutes in place 
     before current products are withdrawn from the market, as the 
     agency moves forward with a proposal to manage the transition 
     from CFC to non-CFC products. At the same time, clear and 
     timely guidance about a transition process is needed by both 
     patients and caregivers. Therefore, the conferees direct FDA 
     to devote the resources necessary to ensure that a proposed 
     rule is issued no later than September 1, 1999.
       Senate Section 756.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the Senate directing the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Comptroller General, to 
     submit a report on the Market Access Program (MAP) to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress not later than 180 days 
     after enactment of this Act.
       The conferees direct the Secretary to produce a report on 
     the MAP which should include an analysis of the costs and 
     benefits of the program for compliance with OMB circular A-
     94; estimate the impact of MAP on the agricultural sector, on 
     consumers, and other sectors of the economy in the United 
     States; assess the relation between the priorities and 
     spending levels of programs carried out under MAP and the 
     privately funded market promotion activities undertaken by 
     participants in the programs; and evaluate the additional 
     spending of participants and the amount of export 
     additionality resulting from the MAP.
       Senate Section 757.--The conference agreement does not 
     include Sense of the Senate language regarding the economic 
     effect of low commodity prices. The conference agreement 
     includes language regarding agricultural disasters in Titles 
     XI-XIII.
       Senate Section 758.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language as proposed by the Senate that amends the 
     law regarding reserve inventories. The conference agreement 
     includes language relating to agricultural disasters in 
     Titles XI-XIII.
       Senate Section 759.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the Senate that provided for an 
     assessment on tobacco programs and reductions in several 
     Department of Agriculture programs and increased funding for 
     food safety related activities.
       Senate Section 760.--The conference agreement (Section 756) 
     modifies Senate Section 760 and reduces the spending cap on 
     computer-related activities funding through the CCC.
       Senate Section 762.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language proposed by the Senate to amend the Census 
     of Agriculture Act of 1997. This issue is addressed under the 
     National Agricultural Statistics Service.
       Senate Section 763.--The conference agreement includes 
     language (Section 757) as proposed by the Senate that makes 
     certain owners of trees with fire blight eligible for 
     disaster assistance.
       Senate Section 764.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language as proposed by the Senate that requires the 
     Secretary of Agriculture to make assistance and information 
     available to the Commission on 21st Century Production 
     Agriculture. The conferees expect the Secretary to assist and 
     cooperate as necessary with the Commission.
       Senate Section 765.--The conference agreement does not 
     include bill language requiring country of origin labeling 
     for fresh produce.
       The conferees direct the General Accounting Office (GAO) to 
     conduct a comprehensive study on the potential effects of 
     mandatory country of origin labeling of fresh produce. This 
     report should assess the impact of such mandatory labeling 
     requirements on importers, producers, consumers, and 
     retailers, including a cost/benefit analysis. The report 
     should identify U.S. trading-partner countries which 
     currently have country of origin practices in place, the 
     nature and scope of such practices, and a record of U.S. 
     challenges to those requirements. The GAO report should also 
     address the ability of the Federal government and the public 
     to respond to warnings about the outbreak of food-borne 
     illness arising from imported produce. The final report 
     should be submitted to the Congress no later than six months 
     after the enactment of this Act.
       Senate Section 766.--The conference agreement does not 
     include the Sense of the Senate provision that certain 
     programs in the bill receive additional funding in the event 
     that additional allocation becomes available.
       Senate Section 767.--The conference agreement does not 
     include a provision requiring creation of a new Office of the 
     Small Farms Advocate as provided in the Senate bill. The 
     conferees believe that better management of existing programs 
     within the Department, generally, would result in a more 
     efficient and effective use of limited resources as they 
     apply to small farm and other considerations. Accordingly, 
     the conferees urge the Secretary to coordinate activities and 
     to encourage policy considerations within existing programs 
     of the Department that promote the needs of small farm 
     operators and that may help reverse the unwarranted decline 
     in small farm operations.
       Senate Section 768.--The conference agreement does not 
     include Senate language addressing the inadvertent planting 
     of ineligible beans. The conferees are aware that there may 
     be instances in which producers, in good faith or in reliance 
     on information provided by agricultural consultants, 
     inadvertently planted crops in violation of section 118 of 
     the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
     (FAIR). The FAIR Act encouraged producers to exercise 
     planting flexibility in order to adapt to new markets and to 
     promote sound conservation and agronomic practices. 
     Accordingly, the Secretary is urged to exercise reasonable 
     treatment of producers in order to avoid harmful 
     consequences.
       Senate Section 769.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language as proposed by the Senate that requires a 
     report to Congress on a recommendation to lift the ban on 
     interstate distribution of state inspected meat. The 
     conferees direct the Secretary of Agriculture to report to 
     the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by March 
     1, 1999, with recommendations on lifting the

[[Page H9313]]

     ban on the interstate distribution of State-inspected 
     meat.
       Senate Section 770.--The conference agreement includes 
     language under Title VIII regarding loans to borrowers who 
     have received debt forgiveness.
       Senate Section 771.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language related to the definition of family farm.
       Senate Section 772.--The conference agreement includes 
     language under Title VIII regarding the basis for denial of 
     loans.
       Senate Section 773.--The conference agreement does not 
     include language as proposed by the Senate that amends the 
     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding medical drug 
     and device recalls.
       Section 759.--The conference agreement includes language 
     proposed by the House to make the city of Vineland, New 
     Jersey eligible for programs administered by the Rural 
     Housing Service and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
       Section 760.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that places a moratorium on the rule-making authority of the 
     Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over swaps and 
     derivatives until March 30, 1999. The conferees do not intend 
     to preclude the CFTC's participation in the President's 
     Working Group on Financial Markets. Further, the conferees do 
     not intend to preclude the Commission from taking action 
     pursuant to any determination by the President's Working 
     Group on Financial Markets regarding regulatory restraints 
     with respect to qualifying hybrid instruments and swap 
     agreements.
       In light of recent market events, including the need for 
     financial rescue measures to avert the collapse of a large 
     hedge fund, the conferees strongly urge the President's 
     Working Group on Financial Markets to undertake an immediate 
     review and study of over-the-counter transactions of entities 
     such as hedge funds and their relationships with their 
     creditors. This provision would not interfere with the 
     Commission's ability to take action in furtherance of any 
     determination by the President's Working Group.
       Section 761.--The conference agreement includes language 
     providing a limitation on the use of funds to carry out 
     section 612 of Public Law 105-185.
       Section 762.--The conference agreement includes language 
     amending section 136 of the Agricultural Market Transition 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 7236) by striking ``1.25 cents'' each place it 
     appears in subsection (a) and (b) and inserting ``3 cents''.
       Section 763.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the distribution of funds made available by section 
     1124 of subtitle C of Title XI of this Act.
       Section 764.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding methyl bromide.

                    TITLE VIII--AGRICULTURAL CREDIT

       The conference agreement includes several changes to 
     agricultural credit laws including eligibility for emergency 
     loans, notification of ineligibility for loans, training 
     requirement exemptions, limitations on amount of farm loans, 
     and cash flow requirements.

                  TITLE IX--INDIA-PAKISTAN RELIEF ACT

       The conference agreement adopts Senate language (Title IX) 
     allowing waivers of certain export control laws for India and 
     Pakistan.

                            (SENATE TITLE X)

       The conference agreement does not include language proposed 
     by the Senate requiring meat labeling.
       The conferees direct the Secretary to conduct a 
     comprehensive study on the potential effects of mandatory 
     country of origin labeling of imported fresh muscle cuts of 
     beef and lamb. The report shall include the impact of such 
     requirements on imports, exports, livestock producers, 
     consumers, processors, packers, distributors and grocers. The 
     report shall also include, but is not limited to, the 
     following: any additional costs to the Federal government 
     which would be incurred as a result of mandatory country of 
     origin labeling of imported fresh muscle cuts of beef and 
     lamb; the projected costs for beef and lamb distributors, 
     retailers or consumers; any projected gains that may result 
     from country of origin labeling of imported fresh muscle cuts 
     of beef and lamb; and any empirical evidence of benefit or 
     harm, to producers, processors, distributors, retailers or 
     consumers produced by similar labeling programs in other 
     countries. The report shall be submitted to Congress no later 
     than 6 months after the enactment of this Act and shall 
     contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions 
     of the Secretary, together with his recommendations for such 
     legislation and administrative actions as he considers 
     appropriate.
       The study may also consider the economic effects of 
     exempting imported beef and lamb, including meat produced 
     from animals imported directly for slaughter in sealed trucks 
     and containers, from eligibility for USDA quality grades. The 
     Secretary is directed to differentiate ``meat produced from 
     animals in sealed trucks and containers directly for 
     slaughter'' from ``U.S. production'' in all market reports.

 TITLE X--UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY 
                                PROGRAMS

       The conferees have included bill language that gives the 
     Secretary of Agriculture the authority to create an Under 
     Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs position at 
     USDA.

             TITLE XI--EMERGENCY AND MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE

       The conference agreement includes funding to provide 
     assistance to agricultural producers who have suffered 
     financial hardship due to adverse weather conditions and loss 
     of markets.
       The conference agreement provides $1,500,000,000 in 
     assistance directed to producers who have incurred losses in 
     the 1998 crop due to disaster. An additional $675,000,000 is 
     provided to make available assistance to producers who have 
     incurred multiyear losses in the 1998 and preceding crop 
     years. The Secretary may make assistance available for crop 
     losses associated with crops due to losses in quantity, 
     quality or severe economic losses due to damaging weather or 
     related conditions.
       The conference agreement requires that producers receiving 
     crop loss assistance who have not purchased crop insurance 
     for the 1998 crop shall agree to purchase crop insurance for 
     the subsequent two crops produced by the producers.
       The conference agreement makes available $175,000,000 to 
     provide livestock feed assistance to livestock producers 
     affected by disasters during calendar year 1998.
       The conferees have granted the Secretary broad authority to 
     create and implement a crop loss assistance program with the 
     funds made available. This will allow the Secretary to 
     complete an assessment of 1998 crop losses and provide the 
     maximum flexibility to expedite the delivery of assistance.
       The conference agreement provides $1,650,000,000 to 
     partially compensate producers for loss of markets in 1998 
     due to circumstances beyond their control, such as regional 
     economic dislocation, unilateral trade sanctions and failure 
     of the government to pursue trade opportunities aggressively. 
     Payments shall be proportional to the amount of the 
     production flexibility contract payment made to producers in 
     fiscal year 1998.
       The agreement includes $50,000,000 for emergency disaster 
     assistance to persons or entities who have incurred losses 
     from a failure under section 312 (a) of P.L. 94-265, 
     $5,000,000 for cotton warehouse losses, temporary recourse 
     loans for honey and mohair, and adjustments to crop insurance 
     for raisin producers. The conference agreement includes 
     language providing additional funding for the Food for 
     Progress program.
       The conferees direct the Farm Service Agency to take into 
     consideration the history of flooding in a watershed in 
     determining emergency conservation program eligibility in 
     Vermont.
       The conferees expect the Secretary of Agriculture to extend 
     for two years the time period that a participant in the 
     Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has for completion of 
     pruning, thinning, and stand improvement of trees on lands 
     subject to a contract under CRP. Such pruning, thinning, or 
     stand improvement activities are otherwise required to be 
     completed under the contract in 1998 or 1999.
       The conferees expect the Secretary of Agriculture to 
     provide guaranteed loans for purposes of installing 
     irrigation systems if a farmer operates a farm within an area 
     that has been declared an agricultural disaster due to 
     drought conditions.
       The conferees understand that in addition to the 
     devastating forest fires that occurred in Florida earlier 
     this year, the drought in Texas has also had a significant 
     impact on timber production and forest health. The conferees 
     also understand that it may take several planting seasons to 
     complete the reforestation due to lack of available planting 
     stock.
       The conferees are concerned about the weather-related crop 
     losses that have devastated New York State fruit and onion 
     growers in 1998. The Secretary shall make funding available 
     to assist producers who have incurred losses during the 1998 
     crop year to fruit crops and to the trees and vines on which 
     those fruit crops are produced.
       The Secretary is also directed to develop a crop disaster 
     assistance program suitable for the New York State fruit and 
     onion growers. The Secretary shall provide financial 
     assistance to apple producers proportioned according to their 
     volume of apples sold in fresh, processing and juice markets, 
     based on 1997 marketing data, and shall not deduct a salvage 
     value when the cost of harvesting a crop in that marketing 
     category approximates the 1998 cash market value at the time 
     of harvest.
       The Secretary shall make eligible for the Emergency 
     Conservation Program fruit drops in orchards as well as 
     replacement of trellises in orchards and vineyards that were 
     damaged by storms.
       The managers direct that in carrying out the disaster 
     relief activities funded by this conference agreement, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture shall give particular attention to 
     assessing and meeting the needs of Puerto Rico and the United 
     States Virgin Islands following Hurricane Georges. The 
     Secretary should take all necessary steps to help the 
     territories recover from the 1998 hurricane season and 
     restore their agricultural economies, such as covering losses 
     in livestock and non-program crops, including but not limited 
     to coffee, bananas, and tropical fruits.

                          TITLE XII--BIODIESEL

       The conference agreement includes language that creates a 
     biodiesel program. The Senate bill included similar language.

                  TITLE XIII--EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS

       The conference agreement includes additional funding for 
     emergency related costs

[[Page H9314]]

     including $40,000,000 for salaries and expenses for the Farm 
     Service Agency, $31,405,000 for subsidy costs for additional 
     operating loans for a total loan amount of $540,510,000, and 
     $10,000,000 for the Forestry Incentives Program.

                   Conference Total--With Comparisons

       The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
     fiscal year 1999 recommended by the committee of conference, 
     with comparisons to the fiscal year 1998 amount, the 1999 
     budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1999 
     follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1998...$49,793,563,000
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal 59,567,544,000
House bill, fiscal year 1999.............................55,883,142,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 1999............................56,820,368,000
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1999...................59,949,240,000
Conference agreement compared with:
  New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1998.+10,155,677,000
  Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal +381,696,000
  House bill, fiscal year 1999...........................+4,066,098,000
  Senate bill, fiscal year 1999..........................+3,128,872,000

     Joe Skeen,
     James T. Walsh,
     Jay Dickey,
     Jack Kingston,
     George R. Nethercutt, Jr.,
     Henry Bonilla,
     Tom Latham,
     Bob Livingston,
     Marcy Kaptur
       (except CFTC derivative moratorium),
       Vic Fazio,
       Jose E. Serrano,
       Rosa L. DeLauro,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     Thad Cochran,
     Arlen Specter,
     Kit Bond,
     Slade Gorton,
     Mitch McConnell,
     Conrad Burns,
     Ted Stevens,
     Dale Bumpers
       (with exception of title XI),
     Tom Harkin
       (with exception of title XI),
     Patrick J. Leahy
       (with exception of title XI),
     Barbara Boxer
       (with exception of title XI),
     Robert C. Byrd
       (with exception of title XI),
     Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                          ____________________