[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 5 (Thursday, January 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H375-H398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 
28, I call up the bill (H.R. 265) making appropriations for 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 28, the bill is 
considered read.

[[Page H376]]

  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 265

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies programs for fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, 
     and for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                         AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                  Processing, Research, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, 
     $46,532,000, of which not to exceed $5,051,000 shall be 
     available for the immediate Office of the Secretary; not to 
     exceed $800,000 shall be available for the Office of the 
     Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development:  Provided, 
     That funds made available by this Act to an agency in the 
     Rural Development mission area for salaries and expenses are 
     available to fund up to one administrative support staff for 
     the Office; not to exceed $1,496,000 shall be available for 
     the Office of Homeland Security; not to exceed $4,711,000 
     shall be available for the Office of Partnerships and Public 
     Engagement; not to exceed $23,105,000 shall be available for 
     the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, of 
     which $22,301,000 shall be available for Departmental 
     Administration to provide for necessary expenses for 
     management support services to offices of the Department and 
     for general administration, security, repairs and 
     alterations, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses 
     not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical 
     and efficient work of the Department:  Provided further, That 
     funds made available by this Act to an agency in the 
     Administration mission area for salaries and expenses are 
     available to fund up to one administrative support staff for 
     the Office; not to exceed $3,869,000 shall be available for 
     the Office of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations 
     to carry out the programs funded by this Act, including 
     programs involving intergovernmental affairs and liaison 
     within the executive branch; and not to exceed $7,500,000 
     shall be available for the Office of Communications:  
     Provided further, That the Secretary of Agriculture is 
     authorized to transfer funds appropriated for any office of 
     the Office of the Secretary to any other office of the Office 
     of the Secretary:  Provided further, That no appropriation 
     for any office shall be increased or decreased by more than 5 
     percent:  Provided further, That not to exceed $11,000 of the 
     amount made available under this paragraph for the immediate 
     Office of the Secretary shall be available for official 
     reception and representation expenses, not otherwise provided 
     for, as determined by the Secretary:  Provided further, That 
     the amount made available under this heading for Departmental 
     Administration shall be reimbursed from applicable 
     appropriations in this Act for travel expenses incident to 
     the holding of hearings as required by 5 U.S.C. 551-558:  
     Provided further, That funds made available under this 
     heading for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
     Congressional Relations may be transferred to agencies of the 
     Department of Agriculture funded by this Act to maintain 
     personnel at the agency level:  Provided further, That no 
     funds made available under this heading for the Office of 
     Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations may be 
     obligated after 30 days from the date of enactment of this 
     Act, unless the Secretary has notified the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on the allocation 
     of these funds by USDA agency.

                          Executive Operations

                     office of the chief economist

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief 
     Economist, $19,786,000, of which $4,000,000 shall be for 
     grants or cooperative agreements for policy research under 7 
     U.S.C. 3155.

                     office of hearings and appeals

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Hearings and 
     Appeals, $15,222,000.

                 office of budget and program analysis

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program 
     Analysis, $9,525,000.

                Office of the Chief Information Officer

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief 
     Information Officer, $63,950,000, of which not less than 
     $38,000,000 is for cybersecurity requirements of the 
     department.

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial 
     Officer, $6,028,000.

           Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Assistant 
     Secretary for Civil Rights, $901,000:  Provided, That funds 
     made available by this Act to an agency in the Civil Rights 
     mission area for salaries and expenses are available to fund 
     up to one administrative support staff for the Office.

                         Office of Civil Rights

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, 
     $24,206,000.

                  Agriculture Buildings and Facilities

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to 
     Public Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 
     delegation of authority from the Administrator of General 
     Services to the Department of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 
     121, for programs and activities of the Department which are 
     included in this Act, and for alterations and other actions 
     needed for the Department and its agencies to consolidate 
     unneeded space into configurations suitable for release to 
     the Administrator of General Services, and for the operation, 
     maintenance, improvement, and repair of Agriculture buildings 
     and facilities, and for related costs, $58,330,000, to remain 
     available until expended.

                     Hazardous Materials Management

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to 
     comply with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and 
     the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et 
     seq.), $3,503,000, to remain available until expended:  
     Provided, That appropriations and funds available herein to 
     the Department for Hazardous Materials Management may be 
     transferred to any agency of the Department for its use in 
     meeting all requirements pursuant to the above Acts on 
     Federal and non-Federal lands.

                      Office of Inspector General

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, 
     including employment pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 
     1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), $98,208,000, 
     including such sums as may be necessary for contracting and 
     other arrangements with public agencies and private persons 
     pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 
     1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. App.), and including not to 
     exceed $125,000 for certain confidential operational 
     expenses, including the payment of informants, to be expended 
     under the direction of the Inspector General pursuant to the 
     Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 U.S.C. 
     App.) and section 1337 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 
     1981 (Public Law 97-98).

                     Office of the General Counsel

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the General 
     Counsel, $45,146,000.

                            Office of Ethics

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Ethics, $4,136,000.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary 
     for Research, Education, and Economics, $800,000:  Provided, 
     That funds made available by this Act to an agency in the 
     Research, Education, and Economics mission area for salaries 
     and expenses are available to fund up to one administrative 
     support staff for the Office.

                       Economic Research Service

       For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service, 
     $86,757,000.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

       For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural 
     Statistics Service, $174,767,000, of which up to $45,300,000 
     shall be available until expended for the Census of 
     Agriculture:  Provided, That amounts made available for the 
     Census of Agriculture may be used to conduct Current 
     Industrial Report surveys subject to 7 U.S.C. 2204g(d) and 
     (f).

                     Agricultural Research Service

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Research Service 
     and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or 
     purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, and for land 
     exchanges where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value 
     or shall be equalized by a payment of money to the grantor 
     which shall not exceed 25 percent of the total value of the 
     land or interests transferred out of Federal ownership, 
     $1,300,966,000, of which $10,600,000, to remain available 
     until expended, shall be used to carry out the science 
     program at the National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility 
     located in Manhattan, Kansas; of which not less than 
     $2,000,000 shall be available to carry out the dryland 
     agriculture research program; and of which not less than 
     $7,000,000 shall be available for purposes of entering into a 
     management, operations, and research support contract to 
     expedite the hiring of a capable workforce for the 
     commissioning of the Central Utility Plant and in support of 
     operations and management of the National Bio- and Agro-
     defense Facility:  Provided, That appropriations hereunder 
     shall be available for the operation and maintenance of 
     aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed one for 
     replacement only:  Provided further, That appropriations 
     hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for 
     the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and 
     improvements, but unless otherwise provided, the cost of 
     constructing any one building shall not exceed $500,000, 
     except for headhouses or greenhouses which shall each be 
     limited to $1,800,000, except for 10 buildings to be 
     constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed $1,100,000 
     each, and except for two buildings to be constructed at a 
     cost not to exceed $3,000,000 each, and the cost of altering 
     any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 
     percent of the current replacement value of the building or 
     $500,000, whichever is greater:  Provided further, That 
     appropriations hereunder shall be available for entering into 
     lease agreements at any Agricultural Research Service 
     location for the construction of a research facility by a 
     non-Federal entity for use by the Agricultural Research 
     Service and a condition of the lease

[[Page H377]]

     shall be that any facility shall be owned, operated, and 
     maintained by the non-Federal entity and shall be removed 
     upon the expiration or termination of the lease agreement:  
     Provided further, That the limitations on alterations 
     contained in this Act shall not apply to modernization or 
     replacement of existing facilities at Beltsville, Maryland:  
     Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be 
     available for granting easements at the Beltsville 
     Agricultural Research Center:  Provided further, That the 
     foregoing limitations shall not apply to replacement of 
     buildings needed to carry out the Act of April 24, 1948 (21 
     U.S.C. 113a):  Provided further, That appropriations 
     hereunder shall be available for granting easements at any 
     Agricultural Research Service location for the construction 
     of a research facility by a non-Federal entity for use by, 
     and acceptable to, the Agricultural Research Service and a 
     condition of the easements shall be that upon completion the 
     facility shall be accepted by the Secretary, subject to the 
     availability of funds herein, if the Secretary finds that 
     acceptance of the facility is in the interest of the United 
     States:  Provided further, That funds may be received from 
     any State, other political subdivision, organization, or 
     individual for the purpose of establishing or operating any 
     research facility or research project of the Agricultural 
     Research Service, as authorized by law.

               National Institute of Food and Agriculture

                   research and education activities

       For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for 
     cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and 
     for other expenses, $898,535,000, which shall be for the 
     purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table titled 
     ``National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Research and 
     Education Activities'' in the explanatory statement described 
     in section 769 of this Act:  Provided, That funds for 
     research grants for 1994 institutions, education grants for 
     1890 institutions, capacity building for non-land-grant 
     colleges of agriculture, the agriculture and food research 
     initiative, veterinary medicine loan repayment, multicultural 
     scholars, graduate fellowship and institution challenge 
     grants, and grants management systems shall remain available 
     until expended:  Provided further, That each institution 
     eligible to receive funds under the Evans-Allen program 
     receives no less than $1,000,000:  Provided further, That 
     funds for education grants for Alaska Native and Native 
     Hawaiian-serving institutions be made available to individual 
     eligible institutions or consortia of eligible institutions 
     with funds awarded equally to each of the States of Alaska 
     and Hawaii:  Provided further, That funds for education 
     grants for 1890 institutions shall be made available to 
     institutions eligible to receive funds under 7 U.S.C. 3221 
     and 3222:  Provided further, That not more than 5 percent of 
     the amounts made available by this or any other Act to carry 
     out the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under 7 
     U.S.C. 450i(b) may be retained by the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to pay administrative costs incurred by the 
     Secretary in carrying out that authority.

              native american institutions endowment fund

       For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund 
     authorized by Public Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), 
     $11,880,000, to remain available until expended.

                          extension activities

       For payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
     Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, the Northern 
     Marianas, and American Samoa, $486,692,000, which shall be 
     for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table 
     titled ``National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 
     Extension Activities'' in the explanatory statement described 
     in section 769 of this Act:  Provided, That funds for 
     facility improvements at 1890 institutions shall remain 
     available until expended:  Provided further, That 
     institutions eligible to receive funds under 7 U.S.C. 3221 
     for cooperative extension receive no less than $1,000,000:  
     Provided further, That funds for cooperative extension under 
     sections 3(b) and (c) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b) 
     and (c)) and section 208(c) of Public Law 93-471 shall be 
     available for retirement and employees' compensation costs 
     for extension agents.

                         integrated activities

       For the integrated research, education, and extension 
     grants programs, including necessary administrative expenses, 
     $38,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the 
     amounts, specified in the table titled ``National Institute 
     of Food and Agriculture, Integrated Activities'' in the 
     explanatory statement described in section 769 of this Act:  
     Provided, That funds for the Food and Agriculture Defense 
     Initiative shall remain available until September 30, 2020:  
     Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, indirect costs shall not be charged against any 
     Extension Implementation Program Area grant awarded under the 
     Crop Protection/Pest Management Program (7 U.S.C. 7626).

  Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary 
     for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, $901,000:  Provided, 
     That funds made available by this Act to an agency in the 
     Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area for salaries 
     and expenses are available to fund up to one administrative 
     support staff for the Office.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                         salaries and expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Animal and Plant Health 
     Inspection Service, including up to $30,000 for 
     representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to the 
     Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085), $1,000,493,000, 
     of which $470,000, to remain available until expended, shall 
     be available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant 
     diseases, animal diseases and for control of pest animals and 
     birds (``contingency fund'') to the extent necessary to meet 
     emergency conditions; of which $11,520,000, to remain 
     available until expended, shall be used for the cotton pests 
     program for cost share purposes or for debt retirement for 
     active eradication zones; of which $37,857,000, to remain 
     available until expended, shall be for Animal Health 
     Technical Services; of which $705,000 shall be for activities 
     under the authority of the Horse Protection Act of 1970, as 
     amended (15 U.S.C. 1831); of which $62,840,000, to remain 
     available until expended, shall be used to support avian 
     health; of which $4,251,000, to remain available until 
     expended, shall be for information technology infrastructure; 
     of which $178,170,000, to remain available until expended, 
     shall be for specialty crop pests; of which, $11,826,000, to 
     remain available until expended, shall be for field crop and 
     rangeland ecosystem pests; of which $16,523,000, to remain 
     available until expended, shall be for zoonotic disease 
     management; of which $41,466,000, to remain available until 
     expended, shall be for emergency preparedness and response; 
     of which $60,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
     shall be for tree and wood pests; of which $5,725,000, to 
     remain available until expended, shall be for the National 
     Veterinary Stockpile; of which up to $1,500,000, to remain 
     available until expended, shall be for the scrapie program 
     for indemnities; of which $2,500,000, to remain available 
     until expended, shall be for the wildlife damage management 
     program for aviation safety:  Provided, That of amounts 
     available under this heading for wildlife services methods 
     development, $1,000,000 shall remain available until 
     expended:  Provided further, That of amounts available under 
     this heading for the screwworm program, $4,990,000 shall 
     remain available until expended; of which $13,600,000, to 
     remain available until expended, shall be used to carry out 
     the science program at the National Bio- and Agro-defense 
     Facility located in Manhattan, Kansas:  Provided further, 
     That no funds shall be used to formulate or administer a 
     brucellosis eradication program for the current fiscal year 
     that does not require minimum matching by the States of at 
     least 40 percent:  Provided further, That this appropriation 
     shall be available for the operation and maintenance of 
     aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed five, of which two 
     shall be for replacement only:  Provided further, That in 
     addition, in emergencies which threaten any segment of the 
     agricultural production industry of the United States, the 
     Secretary may transfer from other appropriations or funds 
     available to the agencies or corporations of the Department 
     such sums as may be deemed necessary, to be available only in 
     such emergencies for the arrest and eradication of contagious 
     or infectious disease or pests of animals, poultry, or 
     plants, and for expenses in accordance with sections 10411 
     and 10417 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8310 
     and 8316) and sections 431 and 442 of the Plant Protection 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 7751 and 7772), and any unexpended balances of 
     funds transferred for such emergency purposes in the 
     preceding fiscal year shall be merged with such transferred 
     amounts:  Provided further, That appropriations hereunder 
     shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the 
     repair and alteration of leased buildings and improvements, 
     but unless otherwise provided the cost of altering any one 
     building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent 
     of the current replacement value of the building.
       In fiscal year 2019, the agency is authorized to collect 
     fees to cover the total costs of providing technical 
     assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other 
     political subdivisions, domestic and international 
     organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided 
     that such fees are structured such that any entity's 
     liability for such fees is reasonably based on the technical 
     assistance, goods, or services provided to the entity by the 
     agency, and such fees shall be reimbursed to this account, to 
     remain available until expended, without further 
     appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or 
     services.

                        buildings and facilities

       For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, 
     environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, 
     and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized 
     by 7 U.S.C. 2250, and acquisition of land as authorized by 7 
     U.S.C. 428a, $3,175,000, to remain available until expended.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service

                           marketing services

       For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Marketing 
     Service, $155,845,000, of which $4,000,000 shall be available 
     for the purposes of section 12306 of Public Law 113-79; and 
     of which $7,000,000 shall be available for marketing 
     activities authorized under section 204(b) of the 
     Agricultural Marketing Act of

[[Page H378]]

     1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)) to provide to State departments of 
     agriculture, State cooperative extension services, 
     institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations 
     grants to carry out programs and provide technical assistance 
     to promote innovation, process improvement, and marketing 
     relating to dairy products:  Provided, That this 
     appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 
     2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and 
     improvements, but the cost of altering any one building 
     during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the 
     current replacement value of the building.
       Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization 
     activities, as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 
     U.S.C. 9701).

                 limitation on administrative expenses

       Not to exceed $60,982,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
     obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative 
     expenses:  Provided, That if crop size is understated and/or 
     other uncontrollable events occur, the agency may exceed this 
     limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

    funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply (section 32)

                     (including transfers of funds)

       Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 
     1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), shall be used only for commodity 
     program expenses as authorized therein, and other related 
     operating expenses, except for: (1) transfers to the 
     Department of Commerce as authorized by the Fish and Wildlife 
     Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et seq.); (2) transfers otherwise 
     provided in this Act; and (3) not more than $20,489,000 for 
     formulation and administration of marketing agreements and 
     orders pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act 
     of 1937 and the Agricultural Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-128).

                   payments to states and possessions

       For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and 
     departments of markets, and similar agencies for marketing 
     activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing 
     Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)), $1,235,000.

        limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses

       Not to exceed $55,000,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
     obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and 
     weighing services:  Provided, That if grain export activities 
     require additional supervision and oversight, or other 
     uncontrollable factors occur, this limitation may be exceeded 
     by up to 10 percent with notification to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

             Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary 
     for Food Safety, $800,000:  Provided, That funds made 
     available by this Act to an agency in the Food Safety mission 
     area for salaries and expenses are available to fund up to 
     one administrative support staff for the Office.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

       For necessary expenses to carry out services authorized by 
     the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products 
     Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, 
     including not to exceed $10,000 for representation allowances 
     and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved 
     August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $1,049,344,000; and in 
     addition, $1,000,000 may be credited to this account from 
     fees collected for the cost of laboratory accreditation as 
     authorized by section 1327 of the Food, Agriculture, 
     Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 138f):  
     Provided, That funds provided for the Public Health Data 
     Communication Infrastructure system shall remain available 
     until expended:  Provided further, That no fewer than 148 
     full-time equivalent positions shall be employed during 
     fiscal year 2019 for purposes dedicated solely to inspections 
     and enforcement related to the Humane Methods of Slaughter 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.):  Provided further, That the Food 
     Safety and Inspection Service shall continue implementation 
     of section 11016 of Public Law 110-246 as further clarified 
     by the amendments made in section 12106 of Public Law 113-79: 
      Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available 
     pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair 
     of buildings and improvements, but the cost of altering any 
     one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 
     percent of the current replacement value of the building.

                                TITLE II

               FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

   Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary 
     for Farm Production and Conservation, $901,000:  Provided, 
     That funds made available by this Act to an agency in the 
     Farm Production and Conservation mission area for salaries 
     and expenses are available to fund up to one administrative 
     support staff for the Office.

            Farm Production and Conservation Business Center

       For necessary expenses of the Farm Production and 
     Conservation Business Center, $1,028,000, to remain available 
     until expended:  Provided, That $149,000 of amounts 
     appropriated for the current fiscal year pursuant to section 
     1241(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 1985 
     (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) shall be transferred to and merged with 
     this account.

                          Farm Service Agency

                         salaries and expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Farm Service Agency, 
     $1,202,146,000:  Provided, That not more than 50 percent of 
     the $44,691,000 made available under this heading for 
     information technology related to farm program delivery, 
     including the Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of 
     Agricultural Systems and other farm program delivery systems, 
     may be obligated until the Secretary submits to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, and 
     receives written or electronic notification of receipt from 
     such Committees of, a plan for expenditure that (1) 
     identifies for each project/investment over $25,000 (a) the 
     functional and performance capabilities to be delivered and 
     the mission benefits to be realized, (b) the estimated 
     lifecycle cost, including estimates for development as well 
     as maintenance and operations, and (c) key milestones to be 
     met; (2) demonstrates that each project/investment is, (a) 
     consistent with the Farm Service Agency Information 
     Technology Roadmap, (b) being managed in accordance with 
     applicable lifecycle management policies and guidance, and 
     (c) subject to the applicable Department's capital planning 
     and investment control requirements; and (3) has been 
     reviewed by the Government Accountability Office and approved 
     by the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 
     Congress:  Provided further, That the agency shall submit a 
     report by the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 
     to the Committees on Appropriations and the Government 
     Accountability Office, that identifies for each project/
     investment that is operational (a) current performance 
     against key indicators of customer satisfaction, (b) current 
     performance of service level agreements or other technical 
     metrics, (c) current performance against a pre-established 
     cost baseline, (d) a detailed breakdown of current and 
     planned spending on operational enhancements or upgrades, and 
     (e) an assessment of whether the investment continues to meet 
     business needs as intended as well as alternatives to the 
     investment:  Provided further, That the Secretary is 
     authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities 
     (but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
     make program payments for all programs administered by the 
     Agency:  Provided further, That other funds made available to 
     the Agency for authorized activities may be advanced to and 
     merged with this account:  Provided further, That funds made 
     available to county committees shall remain available until 
     expended:  Provided further, That none of the funds available 
     to the Farm Service Agency shall be used to close Farm 
     Service Agency county offices:  Provided further, That none 
     of the funds available to the Farm Service Agency shall be 
     used to permanently relocate county based employees that 
     would result in an office with two or fewer employees without 
     prior notification and approval of the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                         state mediation grants

       For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural 
     Credit Act of 1987, as amended (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), 
     $3,904,000.

               grassroots source water protection program

       For necessary expenses to carry out wellhead or groundwater 
     protection activities under section 1240O of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-2), $6,500,000, to 
     remain available until expended.

                        dairy indemnity program

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity 
     payments to dairy farmers and manufacturers of dairy products 
     under a dairy indemnity program, such sums as may be 
     necessary, to remain available until expended:  Provided, 
     That such program is carried out by the Secretary in the same 
     manner as the dairy indemnity program described in the 
     Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, 
     and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 
     106-387, 114 Stat. 1549A-12).

           agricultural credit insurance fund program account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
     and guaranteed farm ownership (7 U.S.C. 1922 et seq.) and 
     operating (7 U.S.C. 1941 et seq.) loans, emergency loans (7 
     U.S.C. 1961 et seq.), Indian tribe land acquisition loans (25 
     U.S.C. 488), boll weevil loans (7 U.S.C. 1989), guaranteed 
     conservation loans (7 U.S.C. 1924 et seq.), and Indian highly 
     fractionated land loans (25 U.S.C. 488) to be available from 
     funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, as follows: 
     $2,750,000,000 for guaranteed farm ownership loans and 
     $1,500,000,000 for farm ownership direct loans; 
     $1,960,000,000 for unsubsidized guaranteed operating loans 
     and $1,530,000,000 for direct operating loans; emergency 
     loans, $37,668,000; Indian tribe land acquisition loans, 
     $20,000,000; guaranteed conservation loans, $150,000,000; 
     Indian highly fractionated land loans, $10,000,000; and for 
     boll weevil eradication program loans, $60,000,000:  
     Provided, That the Secretary shall deem the pink bollworm to 
     be a boll weevil for the purpose of boll weevil eradication 
     program loans.

[[Page H379]]

       For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans and grants, 
     including the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 
     502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm 
     operating loans, $59,670,000 for direct operating loans, 
     $21,168,000 for unsubsidized guaranteed operating loans, 
     emergency loans, $1,567,000 and $2,134,000 for Indian highly 
     fractionated land loans to remain available until expended.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $325,068,000:  
     Provided, That of this amount, $314,998,000 shall be 
     transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Farm 
     Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses'', of which $8,000,000 
     shall be available until September 30, 2020.
       Funds appropriated by this Act to the Agricultural Credit 
     Insurance Program Account for farm ownership, operating and 
     conservation direct loans and guaranteed loans may be 
     transferred among these programs:  Provided, That the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are 
     notified at least 15 days in advance of any transfer.

                         Risk Management Agency

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Risk Management Agency, 
     $74,829,000:  Provided, That not to exceed $1,000 shall be 
     available for official reception and representation expenses, 
     as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1506(i).

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service

                        conservation operations

       For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of 
     the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), including 
     preparation of conservation plans and establishment of 
     measures to conserve soil and water (including farm 
     irrigation and land drainage and such special measures for 
     soil and water management as may be necessary to prevent 
     floods and the siltation of reservoirs and to control 
     agricultural related pollutants); operation of conservation 
     plant materials centers; classification and mapping of soil; 
     dissemination of information; acquisition of lands, water, 
     and interests therein for use in the plant materials program 
     by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to 
     exceed $100 pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 
     428a); purchase and erection or alteration or improvement of 
     permanent and temporary buildings; and operation and 
     maintenance of aircraft, $879,107,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2020:  Provided, That appropriations 
     hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for 
     construction and improvement of buildings and public 
     improvements at plant materials centers, except that the cost 
     of alterations and improvements to other buildings and other 
     public improvements shall not exceed $250,000:  Provided 
     further, That when buildings or other structures are erected 
     on non-Federal land, that the right to use such land is 
     obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a:  Provided further, 
     That of the amounts made available under this heading, 
     $5,600,000, shall remain available until expended for the 
     authorities under 16 U.S.C. 1001-1005 and 1007-1009 for 
     authorized ongoing watershed projects with a primary purpose 
     of providing water to rural communities.

               watershed and flood prevention operations

       For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, 
     including but not limited to surveys and investigations, 
     engineering operations, works of improvement, and changes in 
     use of land, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and 
     Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001-1005 and 1007-1009) and 
     in accordance with the provisions of laws relating to the 
     activities of the Department, $150,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended:  Provided, That for funds provided 
     by this Act or any other prior Act, the limitation regarding 
     the size of the watershed or subwatershed exceeding two 
     hundred and fifty thousand acres in which such activities can 
     be undertaken shall only apply for activities undertaken for 
     the primary purpose of flood prevention (including structural 
     and land treatment measures):  Provided further, That of the 
     amounts made available under this heading, $50,000,000 shall 
     be allocated to projects and activities that can commence 
     promptly following enactment; that address regional 
     priorities for flood prevention, agricultural water 
     management, inefficient irrigation systems, fish and wildlife 
     habitat, or watershed protection; or that address authorized 
     ongoing projects under the authorities of section 13 of the 
     Flood Control Act of December 22, 1944 (Public Law 78-534) 
     with a primary purpose of watershed protection by preventing 
     floodwater damage and stabilizing stream channels, 
     tributaries, and banks to reduce erosion and sediment 
     transport.

                              CORPORATIONS

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

                Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund

       For payments as authorized by section 516 of the Federal 
     Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1516), such sums as may be 
     necessary, to remain available until expended.

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund

                 reimbursement for net realized losses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the current fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary 
     to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net 
     realized losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed, 
     pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 17, 1961 (15 
     U.S.C. 713a-11):  Provided, That of the funds available to 
     the Commodity Credit Corporation under section 11 of the 
     Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714i) for 
     the conduct of its business with the Foreign Agricultural 
     Service, up to $5,000,000 may be transferred to and used by 
     the Foreign Agricultural Service for information resource 
     management activities of the Foreign Agricultural Service 
     that are not related to Commodity Credit Corporation 
     business.

                       hazardous waste management

                        (limitation on expenses)

       For the current fiscal year, the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for site 
     investigation and cleanup expenses, and operations and 
     maintenance expenses to comply with the requirement of 
     section 107(g) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9607(g)), and 
     section 6001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 6961).

                               TITLE III

                       RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

                           Rural Development

                         salaries and expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration 
     and implementation of Rural Development programs, including 
     activities with institutions concerning the development and 
     operation of agricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative 
     agreements; $232,835,000:  Provided, That notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, funds appropriated under this heading 
     may be used for advertising and promotional activities that 
     support Rural Development programs:  Provided further, That 
     in addition to any other funds appropriated for purposes 
     authorized by section 502(i) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
     U.S.C. 1472(i)), any amounts collected under such section 
     will immediately be credited to this account and will remain 
     available until expended for such purposes.

                         Rural Housing Service

              rural housing insurance fund program account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
     and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing 
     Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing 
     insurance fund, as follows: $1,100,000,000 shall be for 
     direct loans and $24,000,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized 
     guaranteed loans; $28,000,000 for section 504 housing repair 
     loans; $40,000,000 for section 515 rental housing; 
     $230,000,000 for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing 
     loans; $10,000,000 for credit sales of single family housing 
     acquired property; $5,000,000 for section 523 self-help 
     housing land development loans; and $5,000,000 for section 
     524 site development loans.
       For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the 
     cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 
     loans, $53,900,000 shall be for direct loans; section 504 
     housing repair loans, $3,419,000; section 523 self-help 
     housing land development loans, $431,000; section 524 site 
     development loans, $176,000; and repair, rehabilitation, and 
     new construction of section 515 rental housing, $9,484,000:  
     Provided, That to support the loan program level for section 
     538 guaranteed loans made available under this heading the 
     Secretary may charge or adjust any fees to cover the 
     projected cost of such loan guarantees pursuant to the 
     provisions of the Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et 
     seq.), and the interest on such loans may not be subsidized:  
     Provided further, That applicants in communities that have a 
     current rural area waiver under section 541 of the Housing 
     Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490q) shall be treated as living in a 
     rural area for purposes of section 502 guaranteed loans 
     provided under this heading:  Provided further, That of the 
     amounts available under this paragraph for section 502 direct 
     loans, no less than $5,000,000 shall be available for direct 
     loans for individuals whose homes will be built pursuant to a 
     program funded with a mutual and self-help housing grant 
     authorized by section 523 of the Housing Act of 1949 until 
     June 1, 2019:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
     implement provisions to provide incentives to nonprofit 
     organizations and public housing authorities to facilitate 
     the acquisition of Rural Housing Service (RHS) multifamily 
     housing properties by such nonprofit organizations and public 
     housing authorities that commit to keep such properties in 
     the RHS multifamily housing program for a period of time as 
     determined by the Secretary, with such incentives to include, 
     but not be limited to, the following: allow such nonprofit 
     entities and public housing authorities to earn a Return on 
     Investment on their own resources to include proceeds from 
     low income housing tax credit syndication, own contributions, 
     grants, and developer loans at favorable rates and terms, 
     invested in a deal; and allow

[[Page H380]]

     reimbursement of organizational costs associated with owner's 
     oversight of asset referred to as ``Asset Management Fee'' of 
     up to $7,500 per property.
       In addition, for the cost of direct loans, grants, and 
     contracts, as authorized by sections 514 and 516 of the 
     Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484, 1486), $14,281,000, to 
     remain available until expended, for direct farm labor 
     housing loans and domestic farm labor housing grants and 
     contracts:  Provided, That any balances available for the 
     Farm Labor Program Account shall be transferred to and merged 
     with this account.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $412,254,000 
     shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for 
     ``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses''.

                       rental assistance program

       For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed 
     pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) of the 
     Housing Act of 1949 or agreements entered into in lieu of 
     debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as 
     authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 
     1949, $1,331,400,000, of which $40,000,000 shall be available 
     until September 30, 2020; and in addition such sums as may be 
     necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of the Act, to 
     liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry 
     out the rental assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of 
     the Act:  Provided, That rental assistance agreements entered 
     into or renewed during the current fiscal year shall be 
     funded for a one-year period:  Provided further, That any 
     unexpended balances remaining at the end of such one-year 
     agreements may be transferred and used for purposes of any 
     debt reduction; maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation of any 
     existing projects; preservation; and rental assistance 
     activities authorized under title V of the Act:  Provided 
     further, That rental assistance provided under agreements 
     entered into prior to fiscal year 2019 for a farm labor 
     multi-family housing project financed under section 514 or 
     516 of the Act may not be recaptured for use in another 
     project until such assistance has remained unused for a 
     period of 12 consecutive months, if such project has a 
     waiting list of tenants seeking such assistance or the 
     project has rental assistance eligible tenants who are not 
     receiving such assistance:  Provided further, That such 
     recaptured rental assistance shall, to the extent 
     practicable, be applied to another farm labor multi-family 
     housing project financed under section 514 or 516 of the Act: 
      Provided further, That except as provided in the third 
     proviso under this heading and notwithstanding any other 
     provision of the Act, the Secretary may recapture rental 
     assistance provided under agreements entered into prior to 
     fiscal year 2019 for a project that the Secretary determines 
     no longer needs rental assistance and use such recaptured 
     funds for current needs.

          multi-family housing revitalization program account

       For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under 
     section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949, but notwithstanding 
     subsection (b) of such section, and for additional costs to 
     conduct a demonstration program for the preservation and 
     revitalization of multi-family rental housing properties 
     described in this paragraph, $50,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended:  Provided, That of the funds made available 
     under this heading, $26,000,000, shall be available for rural 
     housing vouchers to any low-income household (including those 
     not receiving rental assistance) residing in a property 
     financed with a section 515 loan which has been prepaid after 
     September 30, 2005:  Provided further, That the amount of 
     such voucher shall be the difference between comparable 
     market rent for the section 515 unit and the tenant paid rent 
     for such unit:  Provided further, That funds made available 
     for such vouchers shall be subject to the availability of 
     annual appropriations:  Provided further, That the Secretary 
     shall, to the maximum extent practicable, administer such 
     vouchers with current regulations and administrative guidance 
     applicable to section 8 housing vouchers administered by the 
     Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: 
      Provided further, That if the Secretary determines that the 
     amount made available for vouchers in this or any other Act 
     is not needed for vouchers, the Secretary may use such funds 
     for the demonstration program for the preservation and 
     revitalization of multi-family rental housing properties 
     described in this paragraph:  Provided further, That of the 
     funds made available under this heading, $24,000,000 shall be 
     available for a demonstration program for the preservation 
     and revitalization of the sections 514, 515, and 516 multi-
     family rental housing properties to restructure existing USDA 
     multi-family housing loans, as the Secretary deems 
     appropriate, expressly for the purposes of ensuring the 
     project has sufficient resources to preserve the project for 
     the purpose of providing safe and affordable housing for low-
     income residents and farm laborers including reducing or 
     eliminating interest; deferring loan payments, subordinating, 
     reducing or reamortizing loan debt; and other financial 
     assistance including advances, payments and incentives 
     (including the ability of owners to obtain reasonable returns 
     on investment) required by the Secretary:  Provided further, 
     That the Secretary shall as part of the preservation and 
     revitalization agreement obtain a restrictive use agreement 
     consistent with the terms of the restructuring:  Provided 
     further, That if the Secretary determines that additional 
     funds for vouchers described in this paragraph are needed, 
     funds for the preservation and revitalization demonstration 
     program may be used for such vouchers:  Provided further, 
     That if Congress enacts legislation to permanently authorize 
     a multi-family rental housing loan restructuring program 
     similar to the demonstration program described herein, the 
     Secretary may use funds made available for the demonstration 
     program under this heading to carry out such legislation with 
     the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of 
     both Houses of Congress:  Provided further, That in addition 
     to any other available funds, the Secretary may expend not 
     more than $1,000,000 total, from the program funds made 
     available under this heading, for administrative expenses for 
     activities funded under this heading.

                  mutual and self-help housing grants

       For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) 
     of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $30,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.

                    rural housing assistance grants

       For grants for very low-income housing repair and rural 
     housing preservation made by the Rural Housing Service, as 
     authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474, and 1490m, $40,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.

               rural community facilities program account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
     and guaranteed loans as authorized by section 306 and 
     described in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act, $3,000,000,000 for direct loans and 
     $148,287,000 for guaranteed loans.
       For the cost of guaranteed loans, including the cost of 
     modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $4,285,000, to remain 
     available until expended.
       For the cost of grants for rural community facilities 
     programs as authorized by section 306 and described in 
     section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act, $47,778,000, to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That $6,000,000 of the amount 
     appropriated under this heading shall be available for a 
     Rural Community Development Initiative:  Provided further, 
     That such funds shall be used solely to develop the capacity 
     and ability of private, nonprofit community-based housing and 
     community development organizations, low-income rural 
     communities, and Federally Recognized Native American Tribes 
     to undertake projects to improve housing, community 
     facilities, community and economic development projects in 
     rural areas:  Provided further, That such funds shall be made 
     available to qualified private, nonprofit and public 
     intermediary organizations proposing to carry out a program 
     of financial and technical assistance:  Provided further, 
     That such intermediary organizations shall provide matching 
     funds from other sources, including Federal funds for related 
     activities, in an amount not less than funds provided:  
     Provided further, That $5,778,000 of the amount appropriated 
     under this heading shall be to provide grants for facilities 
     in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe 
     economic depression (Public Law 106-387), with up to 5 
     percent for administration and capacity building in the State 
     rural development offices:  Provided further, That $4,000,000 
     of the amount appropriated under this heading shall be 
     available for community facilities grants to tribal colleges, 
     as authorized by section 306(a)(19) of such Act:  Provided 
     further, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated 
     Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to the 
     funds made available under this heading.

                  Rural Business--Cooperative Service

                     rural business program account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the cost of loan guarantees and grants, for the rural 
     business development programs authorized by section 310B and 
     described in subsections (a), (c), (f) and (g) of section 
     310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 
     $69,619,000, to remain available until expended:  Provided, 
     That of the amount appropriated under this heading, not to 
     exceed $500,000 shall be made available for one grant to a 
     qualified national organization to provide technical 
     assistance for rural transportation in order to promote 
     economic development and $8,000,000 shall be for grants to 
     the Delta Regional Authority (7 U.S.C. 2009aa et seq.), the 
     Northern Border Regional Commission (40 U.S.C. 15101 et 
     seq.), and the Appalachian Regional Commission (40 U.S.C. 
     14101 et seq.) for any Rural Community Advancement Program 
     purpose as described in section 381E(d) of the Consolidated 
     Farm and Rural Development Act, of which not more than 5 
     percent may be used for administrative expenses:  Provided 
     further, That $4,000,000 of the amount appropriated under 
     this heading shall be for business grants to benefit 
     Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, including 
     $250,000 for a grant to a qualified national organization to 
     provide technical assistance for rural transportation in 
     order to promote economic development:  Provided further, 
     That sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act are not applicable to funds made 
     available under this heading.

[[Page H381]]

  


              intermediary relending program fund account

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by 
     the Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account (7 U.S.C. 
     1936b), $18,889,000.
       For the cost of direct loans, $4,157,000, as authorized by 
     the Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account (7 U.S.C. 
     1936b), of which $557,000 shall be available through June 30, 
     2019, for Federally Recognized Native American Tribes; and of 
     which $1,072,000 shall be available through June 30, 2019, 
     for Mississippi Delta Region counties (as determined in 
     accordance with Public Law 100-460):  Provided, That such 
     costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be 
     as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
     1974.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     direct loan programs, $4,468,000 shall be transferred to and 
     merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Development, 
     Salaries and Expenses''.

            rural economic development loans program account

       For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized 
     under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the 
     purpose of promoting rural economic development and job 
     creation projects, $45,000,000.
       The cost of grants authorized under section 313 of the 
     Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural 
     economic development and job creation projects shall not 
     exceed $10,000,000.

                  rural cooperative development grants

       For rural cooperative development grants authorized under 
     section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $30,050,000, of which 
     $3,750,000 shall be for cooperative agreements for the 
     appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program:  
     Provided, That not to exceed $3,000,000 shall be for grants 
     for cooperative development centers, individual cooperatives, 
     or groups of cooperatives that serve socially disadvantaged 
     groups and a majority of the boards of directors or governing 
     boards of which are comprised of individuals who are members 
     of socially disadvantaged groups; and of which $17,500,000, 
     to remain available until expended, shall be for value-added 
     agricultural product market development grants, as authorized 
     by section 231 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 
     2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a), of which $2,500,000 shall be for 
     Agriculture Innovation Centers authorized pursuant to section 
     6402 of Public Law 107-171.

                    rural energy for america program

       For the cost of a program of loan guarantees, under the 
     same terms and conditions as authorized by section 9007 of 
     the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 
     8107), $338,000:  Provided, That the cost of loan guarantees, 
     including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as 
     defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
     1974.

                        Rural Utilities Service

             rural water and waste disposal program account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants 
     for the rural water, waste water, waste disposal, and solid 
     waste management programs authorized by sections 306, 306A, 
     306C, 306D, 306E, and 310B and described in sections 
     306C(a)(2), 306D, 306E, and 381E(d)(2) of the Consolidated 
     Farm and Rural Development Act, $558,183,000, to remain 
     available until expended, of which not to exceed $1,000,000 
     shall be available for the rural utilities program described 
     in section 306(a)(2)(B) of such Act, and of which not to 
     exceed $993,000 shall be available for the rural utilities 
     program described in section 306E of such Act:  Provided, 
     That not to exceed $15,000,000 of the amount appropriated 
     under this heading shall be for grants authorized by section 
     306A(i)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
     in addition to funding authorized by section 306A(i)(1) of 
     such Act and such grants may not exceed $1,000,000 
     notwithstanding section 306A(f)(1) of such Act:  Provided 
     further, That $68,000,000 of the amount appropriated under 
     this heading shall be for loans and grants including water 
     and waste disposal systems grants authorized by section 
     306C(a)(2)(B) and section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and 
     Rural Development Act, and Federally Recognized Native 
     American Tribes authorized by 306C(a)(1) of such Act:  
     Provided further, That funding provided for section 306D of 
     the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act may be 
     provided to a consortium formed pursuant to section 325 of 
     Public Law 105-83:  Provided further, That not more than 2 
     percent of the funding provided for section 306D of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act may be used by 
     the State of Alaska for training and technical assistance 
     programs and not more than 2 percent of the funding provided 
     for section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act may be used by a consortium formed pursuant 
     to section 325 of Public Law 105-83 for training and 
     technical assistance programs:  Provided further, That not to 
     exceed $40,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this 
     heading shall be for technical assistance grants for rural 
     water and waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of 
     such Act, unless the Secretary makes a determination of 
     extreme need, of which $8,000,000 shall be made available for 
     a grant to a qualified nonprofit multi-State regional 
     technical assistance organization, with experience in working 
     with small communities on water and waste water problems, the 
     principal purpose of such grant shall be to assist rural 
     communities with populations of 3,300 or less, in improving 
     the planning, financing, development, operation, and 
     management of water and waste water systems, and of which not 
     less than $800,000 shall be for a qualified national Native 
     American organization to provide technical assistance for 
     rural water systems for tribal communities:  Provided 
     further, That not to exceed $19,000,000 of the amount 
     appropriated under this heading shall be for contracting with 
     qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program 
     to provide technical assistance for rural water systems:  
     Provided further, That not to exceed $4,000,000 shall be for 
     solid waste management grants:  Provided further, That 
     $10,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading 
     shall be transferred to, and merged with, the Rural Utilities 
     Service, High Energy Cost Grants Account to provide grants 
     authorized under section 19 of the Rural Electrification Act 
     of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 918a):  Provided further, That any prior 
     year balances for high-energy cost grants authorized by 
     section 19 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
     918a) shall be transferred to and merged with the Rural 
     Utilities Service, High Energy Cost Grants Account:  Provided 
     further, That sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated 
     Farm and Rural Development Act are not applicable to the 
     funds made available under this heading.

   rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account

                     (including transfer of funds)

       The principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as 
     authorized by sections 305, 306, and 317 of the Rural 
     Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935, 936, and 940g) 
     shall be made as follows: loans made pursuant to sections 
     305, 306, and 317, notwithstanding 317(c), of that Act, rural 
     electric, $5,500,000,000; guaranteed underwriting loans 
     pursuant to section 313A, $750,000,000; 5 percent rural 
     telecommunications loans, cost of money rural 
     telecommunications loans, and for loans made pursuant to 
     section 306 of that Act, rural telecommunications loans, 
     $690,000,000:  Provided, That up to $2,000,000,000 shall be 
     used for the construction, acquisition, design and 
     engineering or improvement of fossil-fueled electric 
     generating plants (whether new or existing) that utilize 
     carbon subsurface utilization and storage systems.
       For the cost of direct loans as authorized by section 305 
     of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), 
     including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 
     502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, cost of money 
     rural telecommunications loans, $1,725,000.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $33,270,000, 
     which shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.

         distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program

       For the principal amount of broadband telecommunication 
     loans, $29,851,000.
       For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services 
     in rural areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., 
     $33,000,000, to remain available until expended:  Provided, 
     That $3,000,000 shall be made available for grants authorized 
     by 379G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act:  
     Provided further, That funding provided under this heading 
     for grants under 379G of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act may only be provided to entities that meet 
     all of the eligibility criteria for a consortium as 
     established by this section.
       For the cost of broadband loans, as authorized by section 
     601 of the Rural Electrification Act, $5,830,000, to remain 
     available until expended:  Provided, That the cost of direct 
     loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
     Budget Act of 1974.
       In addition, $30,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended, for a grant program to finance broadband 
     transmission in rural areas eligible for Distance Learning 
     and Telemedicine Program benefits authorized by 7 U.S.C. 
     950aaa.

               rural health and safety education programs

       Any funds provided by this Act for rural health and safety 
     education programs authorized under section 502(i) of the 
     Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2662(i)) may be used 
     under those programs to address the opioid abuse epidemic and 
     to combat opioid abuse in rural communities.

                                TITLE IV

                         DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary 
     for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, $800,000:  
     Provided, That funds made available by this Act to an agency 
     in the Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services mission area for 
     salaries and expenses are available to fund up to one 
     administrative support staff for the Office.

                       Food and Nutrition Service

                        child nutrition programs

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses to carry out the Richard B. Russell 
     National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except 
     section 21,

[[Page H382]]

     and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), 
     except sections 17 and 21; $23,184,012,000 to remain 
     available through September 30, 2020, of which such sums as 
     are made available under section 14222(b)(1) of the Food, 
     Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246), as 
     amended by this Act, shall be merged with and available for 
     the same time period and purposes as provided herein:  
     Provided, That of the total amount available, $17,004,000 
     shall be available to carry out section 19 of the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.):  Provided 
     further, That of the total amount available, $30,000,000 
     shall be available to provide competitive grants to State 
     agencies for subgrants to local educational agencies and 
     schools to purchase the equipment, with a value of greater 
     than $1,000, needed to serve healthier meals, improve food 
     safety, and to help support the establishment, maintenance, 
     or expansion of the school breakfast program:  Provided 
     further, That of the total amount available, $28,000,000 
     shall remain available until expended to carry out section 
     749(g) of the Agriculture Appropriations Act of 2010 (Public 
     Law 111-80):  Provided further, That section 26(d) of the 
     Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1769g(d)) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``2010 
     through 2018'' and inserting ``2010 through 2019'':  Provided 
     further, That section 9(h)(3) of the Richard B. Russell 
     National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(3)) is amended 
     in the first sentence by striking ``for fiscal year 2018'' 
     and inserting ``for fiscal year 2019'':  Provided further, 
     That section 9(h)(4) of the Richard B. Russell National 
     School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(4)) is amended in the 
     first sentence by striking ``for fiscal year 2018'' and 
     inserting ``for fiscal year 2019''.

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

       For necessary expenses to carry out the special 
     supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of 
     the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), 
     $6,150,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 
     2020, of which $25,000,000 shall be placed in reserve, to 
     remain available until expended, to be allocated as the 
     Secretary deemed necessary, notwithstanding section 17(i) of 
     such Act, to support participation should cost or 
     participation exceed budget estimates:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding section 17(h)(10) of the Child Nutrition Act 
     of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(10)), not less than $67,500,000 
     shall be used for breastfeeding peer counselors and other 
     related activities, and $19,000,000 shall be used for 
     infrastructure, of which $5,000,000 shall be for competitive 
     grants to promote breastfeeding and improved nutritional 
     health through technologies and services, including 
     telemedicine:  Provided further, That none of the funds 
     provided in this account shall be available for the purchase 
     of infant formula except in accordance with the cost 
     containment and competitive bidding requirements specified in 
     section 17 of such Act:  Provided further, That none of the 
     funds provided shall be available for activities that are not 
     fully reimbursed by other Federal Government departments or 
     agencies unless authorized by section 17 of such Act:  
     Provided further, That upon termination of a federally 
     mandated vendor moratorium and subject to terms and 
     conditions established by the Secretary, the Secretary may 
     waive the requirement at 7 CFR 246.12(g)(6) at the request of 
     a State agency.

               supplemental nutrition assistance program

       For necessary expenses to carry out the Food and Nutrition 
     Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $73,219,274,000, of 
     which $3,000,000,000, to remain available through December 
     31, 2020, shall be placed in reserve for use only in such 
     amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry 
     out program operations:  Provided, That funds provided herein 
     shall be expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food 
     and Nutrition Act of 2008:  Provided further, That of the 
     funds made available under this heading, $998,000 may be used 
     to provide nutrition education services to State agencies and 
     Federally Recognized Tribes participating in the Food 
     Distribution Program on Indian Reservations:  Provided 
     further, That this appropriation shall be subject to any work 
     registration or workfare requirements as may be required by 
     law:  Provided further, That funds made available for 
     Employment and Training under this heading shall remain 
     available through September 30, 2020:  Provided further, That 
     funds made available under this heading for section 28(d)(1), 
     section 4(b), and section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
     of 2008 shall remain available through September 30, 2020:  
     Provided further, That none of the funds made available under 
     this heading may be obligated or expended in contravention of 
     section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1183A):  Provided further, That funds made available under 
     this heading may be used to enter into contracts and employ 
     staff to conduct studies, evaluations, or to conduct 
     activities related to program integrity provided that such 
     activities are authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 
     2008.

                      commodity assistance program

       For necessary expenses to carry out disaster assistance and 
     the Commodity Supplemental Food Program as authorized by 
     section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act 
     of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note); the Emergency Food Assistance 
     Act of 1983; special assistance for the nuclear affected 
     islands, as authorized by section 103(f)(2) of the Compact of 
     Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-188); 
     and the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by 
     section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 
     $322,139,000, to remain available through September 30, 2020: 
      Provided, That none of these funds shall be available to 
     reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities 
     donated to the program:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective with 
     funds made available in fiscal year 2019 to support the 
     Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by 
     section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
     2002, such funds shall remain available through September 30, 
     2020:  Provided further, That of the funds made available 
     under section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
     U.S.C. 2036(a)), the Secretary may use up to 15 percent for 
     costs associated with the distribution of commodities.

                   nutrition programs administration

       For necessary administrative expenses of the Food and 
     Nutrition Service for carrying out any domestic nutrition 
     assistance program, $164,688,000:  Provided, That of the 
     funds provided herein, $2,000,000 shall be used for the 
     purposes of section 4404 of Public Law 107-171, as amended by 
     section 4401 of Public Law 110-246.

                                TITLE V

                FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

   Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Affairs

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary 
     for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, $875,000:  
     Provided, That funds made available by this Act to any agency 
     in the Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs mission area 
     for salaries and expenses are available to fund up to one 
     administrative support staff for the Office.

                      office of codex alimentarius

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Codex Alimentarius, 
     $3,976,000, including not to exceed $40,000 for official 
     reception and representation expenses.

                      Foreign Agricultural Service

                         salaries and expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, 
     including not to exceed $250,000 for representation 
     allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act 
     approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $212,230,000, of 
     which no more than 6 percent shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2020, for overseas operations to include the 
     payment of locally employed staff:  Provided, That the 
     Service may utilize advances of funds, or reimburse this 
     appropriation for expenditures made on behalf of Federal 
     agencies, public and private organizations and institutions 
     under agreements executed pursuant to the agricultural food 
     production assistance programs (7 U.S.C. 1737) and the 
     foreign assistance programs of the United States Agency for 
     International Development:  Provided further, That funds made 
     available for middle-income country training programs, funds 
     made available for the Borlaug International Agricultural 
     Science and Technology Fellowship program, and up to 
     $2,000,000 of the Foreign Agricultural Service appropriation 
     solely for the purpose of offsetting fluctuations in 
     international currency exchange rates, subject to 
     documentation by the Foreign Agricultural Service, shall 
     remain available until expended.

  food for peace title i direct credit and food for progress program 
                                account

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For administrative expenses to carry out the credit program 
     of title I, Food for Peace Act (Public Law 83-480) and the 
     Food for Progress Act of 1985, $142,000, shall be transferred 
     to and merged with the appropriation for ``Farm Service 
     Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.

                     food for peace title ii grants

       For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise 
     recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including 
     interest thereon, under the Food for Peace Act (Public Law 
     83-480), for commodities supplied in connection with 
     dispositions abroad under title II of said Act, 
     $1,716,000,000, to remain available until expended.

  mcgovern-dole international food for education and child nutrition 
                             program grants

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of 
     section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
     2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o-1), $210,255,000, to remain available 
     until expended:  Provided, That the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation is authorized to provide the services, 
     facilities, and authorities for the purpose of implementing 
     such section, subject to reimbursement from amounts provided 
     herein:  Provided further, That of the amount made available 
     under this heading, $15,000,000, shall remain available until 
     expended for necessary expenses to carry out the provisions 
     of section 3207 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
     1726c).

 commodity credit corporation export (loans) credit guarantee program 
                                account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation's Export Guarantee Program, GSM 102 and 
     GSM 103, $8,845,000; to cover common overhead expenses as 
     permitted by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
     Charter Act and

[[Page H383]]

     in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, of 
     which $6,382,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries 
     and Expenses'', and of which $2,463,000 shall be transferred 
     to and merged with the appropriation for ``Farm Service 
     Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.

                                TITLE VI

            RELATED AGENCY AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                Department of Health and Human Services

                      food and drug administration

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration, 
     including hire and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for 
     payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public 
     Law 92-313 for programs and activities of the Food and Drug 
     Administration which are included in this Act; for rental of 
     special purpose space in the District of Columbia or 
     elsewhere; in addition to amounts appropriated to the FDA 
     Innovation Account, for carrying out the activities described 
     in section 1002(b)(4) of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public 
     Law 114-255); for miscellaneous and emergency expenses of 
     enforcement activities, authorized and approved by the 
     Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary's 
     certificate, not to exceed $25,000; and notwithstanding 
     section 521 of Public Law 107-188; $5,419,299,000:  Provided, 
     That of the amount provided under this heading, $960,568,000 
     shall be derived from prescription drug user fees authorized 
     by 21 U.S.C. 379h, and shall be credited to this account and 
     remain available until expended; $196,668,000 shall be 
     derived from medical device user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 
     379j, and shall be credited to this account and remain 
     available until expended; $501,396,000 shall be derived from 
     human generic drug user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-42, 
     and shall be credited to this account and remain available 
     until expended; $40,922,000 shall be derived from biosimilar 
     biological product user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-52, 
     and shall be credited to this account and remain available 
     until expended; $30,331,000 shall be derived from animal drug 
     user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-12, and shall be 
     credited to this account and remain available until expended; 
     $18,336,000 shall be derived from generic new animal drug 
     user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 379j-21, and shall be 
     credited to this account and remain available until expended; 
     $712,000,000 shall be derived from tobacco product user fees 
     authorized by 21 U.S.C. 387s, and shall be credited to this 
     account and remain available until expended:  Provided 
     further, That in addition to and notwithstanding any other 
     provision under this heading, amounts collected for 
     prescription drug user fees, medical device user fees, human 
     generic drug user fees, biosimilar biological product user 
     fees, animal drug user fees, and generic new animal drug user 
     fees that exceed the respective fiscal year 2019 limitations 
     are appropriated and shall be credited to this account and 
     remain available until expended:  Provided further, That fees 
     derived from prescription drug, medical device, human generic 
     drug, biosimilar biological product, animal drug, and generic 
     new animal drug assessments for fiscal year 2019, including 
     any such fees collected prior to fiscal year 2019 but 
     credited for fiscal year 2019, shall be subject to the fiscal 
     year 2019 limitations:  Provided further, That the Secretary 
     may accept payment during fiscal year 2019 of user fees 
     specified under this heading and authorized for fiscal year 
     2020, prior to the due date for such fees, and that amounts 
     of such fees assessed for fiscal year 2020 for which the 
     Secretary accepts payment in fiscal year 2019 shall not be 
     included in amounts under this heading:  Provided further, 
     That none of these funds shall be used to develop, establish, 
     or operate any program of user fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 
     9701:  Provided further, That of the total amount 
     appropriated: (1) $1,052,315,000 shall be for the Center for 
     Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and related field 
     activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs, of which no 
     less than $15,000,000 shall be used for inspections of 
     foreign seafood manufacturers and field examinations of 
     imported seafood; (2) $1,720,807,000 shall be for the Center 
     for Drug Evaluation and Research and related field activities 
     in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (3) $369,857,000 shall 
     be for the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and 
     for related field activities in the Office of Regulatory 
     Affairs; (4) $216,914,000 shall be for the Center for 
     Veterinary Medicine and for related field activities in the 
     Office of Regulatory Affairs; (5) $495,988,000 shall be for 
     the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and for 
     related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; 
     (6) $65,531,000 shall be for the National Center for 
     Toxicological Research; (7) $662,043,000 shall be for the 
     Center for Tobacco Products and for related field activities 
     in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (8) not to exceed 
     $174,751,000 shall be for Rent and Related activities, of 
     which $50,987,000 is for White Oak Consolidation, other than 
     the amounts paid to the General Services Administration for 
     rent; (9) not to exceed $240,887,000 shall be for payments to 
     the General Services Administration for rent; and (10) 
     $420,206,000 shall be for other activities, including the 
     Office of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Office of 
     Foods and Veterinary Medicine, the Office of Medical and 
     Tobacco Products, the Office of Global and Regulatory Policy, 
     the Office of Operations, the Office of the Chief Scientist, 
     and central services for these offices:  Provided further, 
     That not to exceed $25,000 of this amount shall be for 
     official reception and representation expenses, not otherwise 
     provided for, as determined by the Commissioner:  Provided 
     further, That any transfer of funds pursuant to section 
     770(n) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
     379dd(n)) shall only be from amounts made available under 
     this heading for other activities:  Provided further, That of 
     the amounts that are made available under this heading for 
     ``other activities'', and that are not derived from user 
     fees, $1,500,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Department of Health and Human Services--
     Office of Inspector General'' for oversight of the programs 
     and operations of the Food and Drug Administration and shall 
     be in addition to funds otherwise made available for 
     oversight of the Food and Drug Administration:  Provided 
     further, That funds may be transferred from one specified 
     activity to another with the prior approval of the Committees 
     on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
       In addition, mammography user fees authorized by 42 U.S.C. 
     263b, export certification user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 
     381, priority review user fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360n 
     and 360ff, food and feed recall fees, food reinspection fees, 
     and voluntary qualified importer program fees authorized by 
     21 U.S.C. 379j-31, outsourcing facility fees authorized by 21 
     U.S.C. 379j-62, prescription drug wholesale distributor 
     licensing and inspection fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 
     353(e)(3), third-party logistics provider licensing and 
     inspection fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360eee-3(c)(1), 
     third-party auditor fees authorized by 21 U.S.C. 384d(c)(8), 
     and medical countermeasure priority review voucher user fees 
     authorized by 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-4a, shall be credited to this 
     account, to remain available until expended.

                        buildings and facilities

       For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, 
     alteration, demolition, and purchase of fixed equipment or 
     facilities of or used by the Food and Drug Administration, 
     where not otherwise provided, $11,788,000, to remain 
     available until expended.

                   fda innovation account, cures act

       For necessary expenses to carry out the purposes described 
     under section 1002(b)(4) of the 21st Century Cures Act, in 
     addition to amounts available for such purposes under the 
     heading ``Salaries and Expenses'', $70,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended:  Provided, That amounts 
     appropriated in this paragraph are appropriated pursuant to 
     section 1002(b)(3) of the 21st Century Cures Act, are to be 
     derived from amounts transferred under section 1002(b)(2)(A) 
     of such Act, and may be transferred by the Commissioner of 
     Food and Drugs to the appropriation for ``Department of 
     Health and Human Services--Food and Drug Administration--
     Salaries and Expenses'' solely for the purposes provided in 
     such Act:  Provided further, That upon a determination by the 
     Commissioner that funds transferred pursuant to the previous 
     proviso are not necessary for the purposes provided, such 
     amounts may be transferred back to the account:  Provided 
     further, That such transfer authority is in addition to any 
     other transfer authority provided by law.

                           INDEPENDENT AGENCY

                       Farm Credit Administration

                 limitation on administrative expenses

       Not to exceed $74,600,000 (from assessments collected from 
     farm credit institutions, including the Federal Agricultural 
     Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated during the current 
     fiscal year for administrative expenses as authorized under 
     12 U.S.C. 2249:  Provided, That this limitation shall not 
     apply to expenses associated with receiverships:  Provided 
     further, That the agency may exceed this limitation by up to 
     10 percent with notification to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

                               TITLE VII

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

             (including rescissions and transfers of funds)

       Sec. 701.  Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law, 
     appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of 
     Agriculture for the current fiscal year under this Act shall 
     be available for the purchase, in addition to those 
     specifically provided for, of not to exceed 71 passenger 
     motor vehicles of which 68 shall be for replacement only, and 
     for the hire of such vehicles:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding this section, the only purchase of new 
     passenger vehicles shall be for those determined by the 
     Secretary to be necessary for transportation safety, to 
     reduce operational costs, and for the protection of life, 
     property, and public safety.
       Sec. 702.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
     the Secretary of Agriculture may transfer unobligated 
     balances of discretionary funds appropriated by this Act or 
     any other available unobligated discretionary balances that 
     are remaining available of the Department of Agriculture to 
     the Working Capital Fund for the acquisition of plant and 
     capital equipment necessary for the delivery of financial, 
     administrative, and information technology services of 
     primary benefit to the agencies of the Department of 
     Agriculture, such transferred funds to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided,

[[Page H384]]

     That none of the funds made available by this Act or any 
     other Act shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund 
     without the prior approval of the agency administrator:  
     Provided further, That none of the funds transferred to the 
     Working Capital Fund pursuant to this section shall be 
     available for obligation without written notification to and 
     the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of 
     both Houses of Congress:  Provided further, That none of the 
     funds appropriated by this Act or made available to the 
     Department's Working Capital Fund shall be available for 
     obligation or expenditure to make any changes to the 
     Department's National Finance Center without written 
     notification to and prior approval of the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress as required by 
     section 717 of this Act:  Provided further, That none of the 
     funds appropriated by this Act or made available to the 
     Department's Working Capital Fund shall be available for 
     obligation or expenditure to initiate, plan, develop, 
     implement, or make any changes to remove or relocate any 
     systems, missions, or functions of the offices of the Chief 
     Financial Officer or any personnel from the National Finance 
     Center prior to written notification to and prior approval of 
     the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 
     and in accordance with the requirements of section 717 of 
     this Act:  Provided further, That the Secretary of 
     Agriculture and the offices of the Chief Financial Officer 
     shall actively market to existing and new Departments and 
     other government agencies National Finance Center shared 
     services including, but not limited to, payroll, financial 
     management, and human capital shared services and allow the 
     National Finance Center to perform technology upgrades:  
     Provided further, That of annual income amounts in the 
     Working Capital Fund of the Department of Agriculture 
     attributable to the amounts in excess of the true costs of 
     the shared services provided by the National Finance Center 
     and budgeted for the National Finance Center, the Secretary 
     shall reserve not more than 4 percent for the replacement or 
     acquisition of capital equipment, including equipment for the 
     improvement, delivery, and implementation of financial, 
     administrative, and information technology services, and 
     other systems of the National Finance Center or to pay any 
     unforeseen, extraordinary cost of the National Finance 
     Center:  Provided further, That none of the amounts reserved 
     shall be available for obligation unless the Secretary 
     submits written notification of the obligation to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress:  
     Provided further, That the limitations on the obligation of 
     funds pending notification to Congressional Committees shall 
     not apply to any obligation that, as determined by the 
     Secretary, is necessary to respond to a declared state of 
     emergency that significantly impacts the operations of the 
     National Finance Center; or to evacuate employees of the 
     National Finance Center to a safe haven to continue 
     operations of the National Finance Center.
       Sec. 703.  No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
     fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
       Sec. 704.  No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to 
     pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements 
     or similar arrangements between the United States Department 
     of Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 
     percent of the total direct cost of the agreement when the 
     purpose of such cooperative arrangements is to carry out 
     programs of mutual interest between the two parties. This 
     does not preclude appropriate payment of indirect costs on 
     grants and contracts with such institutions when such 
     indirect costs are computed on a similar basis for all 
     agencies for which appropriations are provided in this Act.
       Sec. 705.  Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture 
     for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in 
     the current fiscal year shall remain available until expended 
     to disburse obligations made in the current fiscal year for 
     the following accounts: the Rural Development Loan Fund 
     program account, the Rural Electrification and 
     Telecommunication Loans program account, and the Rural 
     Housing Insurance Fund program account.
       Sec. 706.  None of the funds made available to the 
     Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire 
     new information technology systems or significant upgrades, 
     as determined by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
     without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the 
     concurrence of the Executive Information Technology 
     Investment Review Board:  Provided, That notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, none of the funds appropriated or 
     otherwise made available by this Act may be transferred to 
     the Office of the Chief Information Officer without written 
     notification to and the prior approval of the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress:  Provided further, 
     That, notwithstanding section 11319 of title 40, United 
     States Code, none of the funds available to the Department of 
     Agriculture for information technology shall be obligated for 
     projects, contracts, or other agreements over $25,000 prior 
     to receipt of written approval by the Chief Information 
     Officer:  Provided further, That the Chief Information 
     Officer may authorize an agency to obligate funds without 
     written approval from the Chief Information Officer for 
     projects, contracts, or other agreements up to $250,000 based 
     upon the performance of an agency measured against the 
     performance plan requirements described in the explanatory 
     statement accompanying Public Law 113-235.
       Sec. 707.  Funds made available under section 524(b) of the 
     Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)) in the current 
     fiscal year shall remain available until expended to disburse 
     obligations made in the current fiscal year.
       Sec. 708.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 
     former RUS borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, 
     direct or guaranteed loan under the Rural Electrification Act 
     of 1936, or any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to 
     receive an insured or direct loan under such Act, shall be 
     eligible for assistance under section 313(b)(2)(B) of such 
     Act in the same manner as a borrower under such Act.
       Sec. 709.  Except as otherwise specifically provided by 
     law, not more than $20,000,000 in unobligated balances from 
     appropriations made available for salaries and expenses in 
     this Act for the Farm Service Agency shall remain available 
     through September 30, 2020, for information technology 
     expenses:  Provided, That except as otherwise specifically 
     provided by law, unobligated balances from appropriations 
     made available for salaries and expenses in this Act for the 
     Rural Development mission area shall remain available through 
     September 30, 2020, for information technology expenses.
       Sec. 710.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used for first-class travel by 
     the employees of agencies funded by this Act in contravention 
     of sections 301-10.122 through 301-10.124 of title 41, Code 
     of Federal Regulations.
       Sec. 711.  In the case of each program established or 
     amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79), 
     other than by title I or subtitle A of title III of such Act, 
     or programs for which indefinite amounts were provided in 
     that Act, that is authorized or required to be carried out 
     using funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation--
       (1) such funds shall be available for salaries and related 
     administrative expenses, including technical assistance, 
     associated with the implementation of the program, without 
     regard to the limitation on the total amount of allotments 
     and fund transfers contained in section 11 of the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714i); and
       (2) the use of such funds for such purpose shall not be 
     considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of 
     applying the limitation on the total amount of allotments and 
     fund transfers contained in such section.
       Sec. 712.  Of the funds made available by this Act, not 
     more than $2,900,000 shall be used to cover necessary 
     expenses of activities related to all advisory committees, 
     panels, commissions, and task forces of the Department of 
     Agriculture, except for panels used to comply with negotiated 
     rule makings and panels used to evaluate competitively 
     awarded grants.
       Sec. 713.  None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
     to pay indirect costs charged against any agricultural 
     research, education, or extension grant awards issued by the 
     National Institute of Food and Agriculture that exceed 30 
     percent of total Federal funds provided under each award:  
     Provided, That notwithstanding section 1462 of the National 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
     1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310), funds provided by this Act for grants 
     awarded competitively by the National Institute of Food and 
     Agriculture shall be available to pay full allowable indirect 
     costs for each grant awarded under section 9 of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
       Sec. 714. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used to maintain or establish a computer network 
     unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and 
     exchanging of pornography.
       (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds 
     necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law 
     enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal 
     investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities.
       Sec. 715.  Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 14222 
     of Public Law 110-246 (7 U.S.C. 612c-6; in this section 
     referred to as ``section 14222''), none of the funds 
     appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other 
     Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of 
     personnel to carry out a program under section 32 of the Act 
     of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c; in this section referred 
     to as ``section 32'') in excess of $1,299,600,000 (exclusive 
     of carryover appropriations from prior fiscal years), as 
     follows: Child Nutrition Programs Entitlement Commodities--
     $485,000,000; State Option Contracts-- $5,000,000; Removal of 
     Defective Commodities--$2,500,000; Administration of Section 
     32 Commodity Purchases--$35,853,000:  Provided, That of the 
     total funds made available in the matter preceding this 
     proviso that remain unobligated on October 1, 2019, such 
     unobligated balances shall carryover into fiscal year 2020 
     and shall remain available until expended for any of the 
     purposes of section 32, except that any such carryover funds 
     used in accordance with clause (3) of section 32 may not 
     exceed $350,000,000 and may not be obligated until the 
     Secretary of Agriculture provides written notification of the 
     expenditures to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
     Houses of Congress at least two weeks in advance:  Provided 
     further, That, with the exception of any available carryover 
     funds authorized in any prior appropriations Act to be used 
     for the purposes of clause (3) of section 32, none of the 
     funds appropriated or otherwise made available by

[[Page H385]]

     this or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries or 
     expenses of any employee of the Department of Agriculture to 
     carry out clause (3) of section 32.
       Sec. 716.  None of the funds appropriated by this or any 
     other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of 
     personnel who prepare or submit appropriations language as 
     part of the President's budget submission to the Congress for 
     programs under the jurisdiction of the Appropriations 
     Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies that assumes 
     revenues or reflects a reduction from the previous year due 
     to user fees proposals that have not been enacted into law 
     prior to the submission of the budget unless such budget 
     submission identifies which additional spending reductions 
     should occur in the event the user fees proposals are not 
     enacted prior to the date of the convening of a committee of 
     conference for the fiscal year 2020 appropriations Act.
       Sec. 717. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, or 
     provided by previous appropriations Acts to the agencies 
     funded by this Act that remain available for obligation or 
     expenditure in the current fiscal year, or provided from any 
     accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of fees 
     available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be 
     available for obligation or expenditure through a 
     reprogramming, transfer of funds, or reimbursements as 
     authorized by the Economy Act, or in the case of the 
     Department of Agriculture, through use of the authority 
     provided by section 702(b) of the Department of Agriculture 
     Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2257) or section 8 of Public 
     Law 89-106 (7 U.S.C. 2263), that--
       (1) creates new programs;
       (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity;
       (3) increases funds or personnel by any means for any 
     project or activity for which funds have been denied or 
     restricted;
       (4) relocates an office or employees;
       (5) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities; or
       (6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities 
     presently performed by Federal employees;
     unless the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services (as the case may be) notifies in 
     writing and receives approval from the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days in 
     advance of the reprogramming of such funds or the use of such 
     authority.
       (b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by 
     previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this 
     Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in 
     the current fiscal year, or provided from any accounts in the 
     Treasury derived by the collection of fees available to the 
     agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for 
     obligation or expenditure for activities, programs, or 
     projects through a reprogramming or use of the authorities 
     referred to in subsection (a) involving funds in excess of 
     $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, that--
       (1) augments existing programs, projects, or activities;
       (2) reduces by 10 percent funding for any existing program, 
     project, or activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent 
     as approved by Congress; or
       (3) results from any general savings from a reduction in 
     personnel which would result in a change in existing 
     programs, activities, or projects as approved by Congress; 
     unless the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services (as the case may be) notifies in 
     writing and receives approval from the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days in 
     advance of the reprogramming or transfer of such funds or the 
     use of such authority.
       (c) The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services shall notify in writing and receive 
     approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
     of Congress before implementing any program or activity not 
     carried out during the previous fiscal year unless the 
     program or activity is funded by this Act or specifically 
     funded by any other Act.
       (d) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by 
     previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this 
     Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in 
     the current fiscal year, or provided from any accounts in the 
     Treasury derived by the collection of fees available to the 
     agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for--
       (1) modifying major capital investments funding levels, 
     including information technology systems, that involves 
     increasing or decreasing funds in the current fiscal year for 
     the individual investment in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent 
     of the total cost, whichever is less;
       (2) realigning or reorganizing new, current, or vacant 
     positions or agency activities or functions to establish a 
     center, office, branch, or similar entity with five or more 
     personnel; or
       (3) carrying out activities or functions that were not 
     described in the budget request; unless the agencies funded 
     by this Act notify, in writing, the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days in 
     advance of using the funds for these purposes.
       (e) As described in this section, no funds may be used for 
     any activities unless the Secretary of Agriculture or the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services receives from the 
     Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 
     written or electronic mail confirmation of receipt of the 
     notification as required in this section.
       Sec. 718.  Notwithstanding section 310B(g)(5) of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1932(g)(5)), the Secretary may assess a one-time fee for any 
     guaranteed business and industry loan in an amount that does 
     not exceed 3 percent of the guaranteed principal portion of 
     the loan.
       Sec. 719.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available to the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug 
     Administration, or the Farm Credit Administration shall be 
     used to transmit or otherwise make available reports, 
     questions, or responses to questions that are a result of 
     information requested for the appropriations hearing process 
     to any non-Department of Agriculture, non-Department of 
     Health and Human Services, or non-Farm Credit Administration 
     employee.
       Sec. 720.  Unless otherwise authorized by existing law, 
     none of the funds provided in this Act, may be used by an 
     executive branch agency to produce any prepackaged news story 
     intended for broadcast or distribution in the United States 
     unless the story includes a clear notification within the 
     text or audio of the prepackaged news story that the 
     prepackaged news story was prepared or funded by that 
     executive branch agency.
       Sec. 721.  No employee of the Department of Agriculture may 
     be detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by 
     this Act or any other Act to any other agency or office of 
     the Department for more than 60 days in a fiscal year unless 
     the individual's employing agency or office is fully 
     reimbursed by the receiving agency or office for the salary 
     and expenses of the employee for the period of assignment.
       Sec. 722.  There is hereby appropriated $2,000,000 for a 
     pilot program to provide competitive grants to State 
     departments of agriculture, State cooperative extension 
     services, and nonprofit organizations to carry out programs 
     to address farmer stress and suicide.
       Sec. 723.  Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, the 
     Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and the 
     Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration shall submit to 
     the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a 
     detailed spending plan by program, project, and activity for 
     all the funds made available under this Act including 
     appropriated user fees, as defined in Senate Report 115-259.
       Sec. 724.  Of the unobligated balances from amounts made 
     available for the supplemental nutrition program as 
     authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
     (42 U.S.C. 1786), $501,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
       Sec. 725.  The Secretary shall continue an intermediary 
     loan packaging program based on the pilot program in effect 
     for fiscal year 2013 for packaging and reviewing section 502 
     single family direct loans. The Secretary shall continue 
     agreements with current intermediary organizations and with 
     additional qualified intermediary organizations. The 
     Secretary shall work with these organizations to increase 
     effectiveness of the section 502 single family direct loan 
     program in rural communities and shall set aside and make 
     available from the national reserve section 502 loans an 
     amount necessary to support the work of such intermediaries 
     and provide a priority for review of such loans.
       Sec. 726.  For loans and loan guarantees that do not 
     require budget authority and the program level has been 
     established in this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may 
     increase the program level for such loans and loan guarantees 
     by not more than 25 percent:  Provided, That prior to the 
     Secretary implementing such an increase, the Secretary 
     notifies, in writing, the Committees on Appropriations of 
     both Houses of Congress at least 15 days in advance.
       Sec. 727.  None of the credit card refunds or rebates 
     transferred to the Working Capital Fund pursuant to section 
     729 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
     Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 
     (7 U.S.C. 2235a; Public Law 107-76) shall be available for 
     obligation without written notification to, and the prior 
     approval of, the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
     of Congress:  Provided, That the refunds or rebates so 
     transferred shall be available for obligation only for the 
     acquisition of plant and capital equipment necessary for the 
     delivery of financial, administrative, and information 
     technology services of primary benefit to the agencies of the 
     Department of Agriculture.
       Sec. 728.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement, administer, or enforce the ``variety'' 
     requirements of the final rule entitled ``Enhancing Retailer 
     Standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
     (SNAP)'' published by the Department of Agriculture in the 
     Federal Register on December 15, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 90675) 
     until the Secretary of Agriculture amends the definition of 
     the term ``variety'' as de fined in section 
     278.1(b)(1)(ii)(C) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     and ``variety'' as applied in the definition of the term 
     ``staple food'' as defined in section 271.2 of title 7, Code 
     of Federal Regulations, to increase the number of items that 
     qualify as acceptable varieties in each staple food category 
     so that the total number of such items in each staple food 
     category exceeds the number of such items in each staple food 
     category included in the final rule as published on December 
     15, 2016:

[[Page H386]]

      Provided, That until the Secretary promulgates such 
     regulatory amendments, the Secretary shall apply the 
     requirements regarding acceptable varieties and breadth of 
     stock to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program retailers 
     that were in effect on the day before the date of the 
     enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-
     79).
       Sec. 729.  None of the funds made available by this Act or 
     any other Act may be used--
       (1) in contravention of section 7606 of the Agricultural 
     Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940); or
       (2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or 
     use of industrial hemp, or seeds of such plant, that is grown 
     or cultivated in accordance with subsection section 7606 of 
     the Agricultural Act of 2014, within or outside the State in 
     which the industrial hemp is grown or cultivated.
       Sec. 730.  Funds provided by this or any prior 
     Appropriations Act for the Agriculture and Food Research 
     Initiative under 7 U.S.C. 450i(b) shall be made available 
     without regard to section 7128 of the Agricultural Act of 
     2014 (7 U.S.C. 3371 note), under the matching requirements in 
     laws in effect on the date before the date of enactment of 
     such section:  Provided, That the requirements of 7 U.S.C. 
     450i(b)(9) shall continue to apply.
       Sec. 731.  In carrying out subsection (h) of section 502 of 
     the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472), the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall have the same authority with respect to 
     loans guaranteed under such section and eligible lenders for 
     such loans as the Secretary has under subsections (h) and (j) 
     of section 538 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1490p-2) with respect 
     to loans guaranteed under such section 538 and eligible 
     lenders for such loans.
       Sec. 732.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to propose, promulgate, or implement any rule, or 
     take any other action with respect to, allowing or requiring 
     information intended for a prescribing health care 
     professional, in the case of a drug or biological product 
     subject to section 503(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
     Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 353(b)(1)), to be distributed to such 
     professional electronically (in lieu of in paper form) unless 
     and until a Federal law is enacted to allow or require such 
     distribution.
       Sec. 733.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to notify a sponsor or otherwise acknowledge receipt 
     of a submission for an exemption for investigational use of a 
     drug or biological product under section 505(i) of the 
     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) or 
     section 351(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     262(a)(3)) in research in which a human embryo is 
     intentionally created or modified to include a heritable 
     genetic modification. Any such submission shall be deemed to 
     have not been received by the Secretary, and the exemption 
     may not go into effect.
       Sec. 734.  None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be used to carry out the final rule promulgated 
     by the Food and Drug Administration and put into effect 
     November 16, 2015, in regards to the hazard analysis and 
     risk-based preventive control requirements of the current 
     good manufacturing practice, hazard analysis, and risk-based 
     preventive controls for food for animals rule with respect to 
     the regulation of the production, distribution, sale, or 
     receipt of dried spent grain byproducts of the alcoholic 
     beverage production process.
       Sec. 735.  There is hereby appropriated $1,996,000 to carry 
     out section 1621 of Public Law 110-246.
       Sec. 736.  No partially hydrogenated oils as defined in the 
     order published by the Food and Drug Administration in the 
     Federal Register on June 17, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 34650 et 
     seq.) shall be deemed unsafe within the meaning of section 
     409(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
     348(a)) and no food that is introduced or delivered for 
     introduction into interstate commerce that bears or contains 
     a partially hydrogenated oil shall be deemed adulterated 
     under sections 402(a)(1) or 402(a)(2)(C)(i) of this Act by 
     virtue of bearing or containing a partially hydrogenated oil 
     until the compliance date as specified in such order (June 
     18, 2018).
       Sec. 737.  There is hereby appropriated $10,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended, to carry out section 6407 of 
     the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 
     8107a):  Provided, That the Secretary may allow eligible 
     entities to offer loans to customers in any part of their 
     service territory and to offer loans to replace a 
     manufactured housing unit with another manufactured housing 
     unit, if replacement would be more cost effective in saving 
     energy.
       Sec. 738.  For fiscal years 2019 through 2025, the 
     Administrators of the Agricultural Research Service and the 
     Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service may make not to 
     exceed 50 appointments in any fiscal year for employees of 
     such agencies at the National Bio- and Agro-defense Facility 
     (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas:  Provided, That such 
     appointments may be made in the manner provided by 7 U.S.C. 
     7657(b)(4)(A)(i-v):  Provided further, That such appointments 
     may be made at a rate of basic pay that exceeds the rate 
     payable for such positions under the General Schedule or the 
     Executive Schedule, or other applicable schedule, as 
     appropriate.
       Sec. 739.  There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000 for the 
     Secretary to carry out a pilot program that provides forestry 
     inventory analysis, forest management and economic outcomes 
     modelling for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve 
     Program participants. The Secretary shall allow the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation to enter into agreements with and provide 
     grants to qualified non-profit organizations dedicated to 
     conservation, forestry and wildlife habitats, that also have 
     experience in conducting accurate forest inventory analysis 
     through the use of advanced, cost-effective technology. The 
     Secretary shall focus the analysis on lands enrolled for at 
     least eight years and located in areas with a substantial 
     concentration of acres enrolled under conservation practices 
     devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species 
     including CP03, CP03A, CP11, CP22, CP31 and CP40.
       Sec. 740.  During fiscal year 2019, the Food and Drug 
     Administration shall not allow the introduction or delivery 
     for introduction into interstate commerce of any food that 
     contains genetically engineered salmon until the FDA 
     publishes final labeling guidelines for informing consumers 
     of such content.
       Sec. 741.  In addition to amounts otherwise made available 
     by this Act and notwithstanding the last sentence of 16 
     U.S.C. 1310, there is appropriated $4,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended, to implement non-renewable 
     agreements on eligible lands, including flooded agricultural 
     lands, as determined by the Secretary, under the Water Bank 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 1301-1311).
       Sec. 742. (a)(1) No Federal funds made available for this 
     fiscal year for the rural water, waste water, waste disposal, 
     and solid waste management programs authorized by sections 
     306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 306E, and 310B of the Consolidated 
     Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926 et seq.) shall 
     be used for a project for the construction, alteration, 
     maintenance, or repair of a public water or wastewater system 
     unless all of the iron and steel products used in the project 
     are produced in the United States.
       (2) In this section, the term ``iron and steel products'' 
     means the following products made primarily of iron or steel: 
     lined or unlined pipes and fittings, manhole covers and other 
     municipal castings, hydrants, tanks, flanges, pipe clamps and 
     restraints, valves, structural steel, reinforced precast 
     concrete, and construction materials.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any case or category 
     of cases in which the Secretary of Agriculture (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Secretary'') or the designee of 
     the Secretary finds that--
       (1) applying subsection (a) would be inconsistent with the 
     public interest;
       (2) iron and steel products are not produced in the United 
     States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or 
     of a satisfactory quality; or
       (3) inclusion of iron and steel products produced in the 
     United States will increase the cost of the overall project 
     by more than 25 percent.
       (c) If the Secretary or the designee receives a request for 
     a waiver under this section, the Secretary or the designee 
     shall make available to the public on an informal basis a 
     copy of the request and information available to the 
     Secretary or the designee concerning the request, and shall 
     allow for informal public input on the request for at least 
     15 days prior to making a finding based on the request. The 
     Secretary or the designee shall make the request and 
     accompanying information available by electronic means, 
     including on the official public Internet Web site of the 
     Department.
       (d) This section shall be applied in a manner consistent 
     with United States obligations under international 
     agreements.
       (e) The Secretary may retain up to 0.25 percent of the 
     funds appropriated in this Act for ``Rural Utilities 
     Service--Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account'' for 
     carrying out the provisions described in subsection (a)(1) 
     for management and oversight of the requirements of this 
     section.
       (f) Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a 
     project for which the engineering plans and specifications 
     include use of iron and steel products otherwise prohibited 
     by such subsection if the plans and specifications have 
     received required approvals from State agencies prior to the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (g) For purposes of this section, the terms ``United 
     States'' and ``State'' shall include each of the several 
     States, the District of Columbia, and each federally 
     recognized Indian tribe.
       Sec. 743.  The Secretary shall set aside for Rural Economic 
     Area Partnership (REAP) Zones, until August 15, 2019, an 
     amount of funds made available in title III under the 
     headings of Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account, 
     Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants, Rural Housing Assistance 
     Grants, Rural Community Facilities Program Account, Rural 
     Business Program Account, Rural Development Loan Fund Program 
     Account, and Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account, 
     equal to the amount obligated in REAP Zones with respect to 
     funds provided under such headings in the most recent fiscal 
     year any such funds were obligated under such headings for 
     REAP Zones.
       Sec. 744.  For the purposes of determining eligibility or 
     level of program assistance for Rural Development programs 
     the Secretary shall not include incarcerated prison 
     populations.
       Sec. 745.  There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended, for a pilot program for the 
     Secretary to provide grants to qualified non-profit 
     organizations and public housing authorities to provide 
     technical assistance, including financial and legal services, 
     to RHS multi-family housing borrowers to facilitate the

[[Page H387]]

     acquisition of RHS multi-family housing properties in areas 
     where the Secretary determines a risk of loss of affordable 
     housing, by non-profit housing organizations and public 
     housing authorities as authorized by law that commit to keep 
     such properties in the RHS multi-family housing program for a 
     period of time as determined by the Secretary.
       Sec. 746.  None of the funds appropriated by this Act may 
     be used in any way, directly or indirectly, to influence 
     congressional action on any legislation or appropriation 
     matters pending before Congress, other than to communicate to 
     Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 1913.
       Sec. 747. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a pilot 
     program during fiscal year 2019 with respect to the 2018 crop 
     year for county-level agriculture risk coverage payments 
     under section 1117(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
     U.S.C. 9017(b)(1)), that provides all or some of the State 
     Farm Service Agency offices in each State the opportunity to 
     provide agricultural producers in the State a supplemental 
     payment described in subsection (c) based on the alternate 
     calculation method described in subsection (b) for 1 or more 
     counties in a State if the office for that State determines 
     that the alternate calculation method is necessary to ensure 
     that, to the maximum extent practicable, there are not 
     significant yield calculation disparities between comparable 
     counties in the State.
       (b) The alternate calculation method referred to in 
     subsection (a) is a method of calculating the actual yield 
     for the 2018 crop year for county-level agriculture risk 
     coverage payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the 
     Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1)), under which--
       (1) county data of the National Agricultural Statistics 
     Service (referred to in this section as ``NASS data'') is 
     used for the calculations;
       (2) if there is insufficient NASS data for a county (as 
     determined under standards of the Secretary in effect as of 
     the date of enactment of this Act) or the available NASS data 
     produces a substantially disparate result, the calculation of 
     the county yield is determined using comparable contiguous 
     county NASS data as determined by the Farm Service Agency 
     office in the applicable State; and
       (3) if there is insufficient NASS data for a comparable 
     contiguous county (as determined under standards of the 
     Secretary in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act), 
     the calculation of the county yield is determined using 
     reliable yield data from other sources, such as Risk 
     Management Agency data, National Agricultural Statistics 
     Service district data, National Agricultural Statistics 
     Service State yield data, or other data as determined by the 
     Farm Service Agency office in the applicable State.
       (c)(1) A supplemental payment made under the pilot program 
     established under this section may be made to an agricultural 
     producer who is subject to the alternate calculation method 
     described in subsection (b) if that agricultural producer 
     would otherwise receive a county-level agriculture risk 
     coverage payment for the 2018 crop year in an amount that is 
     less than the payment that the agricultural producer would 
     receive under the alternate calculation method.
       (2) The amount of a supplemental payment to an agricultural 
     producer under this section may not exceed the difference 
     between--
       (A) the payment that the agricultural producer would have 
     received without the alternate calculation method described 
     in subsection (b); and
       (B) the payment that the agricultural producer would 
     receive using the alternate calculation method.
       (d)(1) There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of funds 
     of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2020, to carry out the 
     pilot program described in this section.
       (2) Of the funds appropriated, the Secretary shall use not 
     more than $5,000,000 to carry out the pilot program described 
     in this section.
       (e)(1) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary 
     shall select States to participate in the pilot program under 
     this section so the cost of the pilot program equals the 
     amount provided under subsection (d).
       (2) To the extent that the cost of the pilot program 
     exceeds the amount made available, the Secretary shall reduce 
     all payments under the pilot program on a pro rata basis.
       (f) Nothing in this section affects the calculation of 
     actual yield for purposes of county-level agriculture risk 
     coverage payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the 
     Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1)) other than 
     payments made in accordance with the pilot program under this 
     section.
       (g) A calculation of actual yield made using the alternate 
     calculation method described in subsection (b) shall not be 
     used as a basis for any agriculture risk coverage payment 
     determinations under section 1117 of the Agricultural Act of 
     2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017) other than for purposes of the pilot 
     program under this section.
       Sec. 748.  The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary's 
     designees are hereby granted the same access to information 
     and subject to the same requirements applicable to the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as provided in 
     section 453 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653) and 
     section 6103(1)(7)(D)(ix) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 (26 U.S.C. 1603(1)(7)(D)(ix)) to verify the income for 
     individuals participating in sections 502, 504, 521, and 542 
     of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472, 1474, 1490a, and 
     1490r), notwithstanding section 453(l)(1) of the Social 
     Security Act.
       Sec. 749.  In addition to any other funds made available in 
     this Act or any other Act, there is appropriated $5,000,000 
     to carry out section 18(g)(8) of the Richard B. Russell 
     National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g)), to remain 
     available until expended.
       Sec. 750.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Food and Drug Administration to develop, 
     issue, promote, or advance any regulations applicable to food 
     manufacturers for population-wide sodium reduction actions or 
     to develop, issue, promote or advance final guidance 
     applicable to food manufacturers for long term population-
     wide sodium reduction actions until the date on which a 
     dietary reference intake report with respect to sodium is 
     completed.
       Sec. 751.  There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2020, for the cost of 
     loans and grants that is consistent with section 4206 of the 
     Agricultural Act of 2014, for necessary expenses of the 
     Secretary to support projects that provide access to healthy 
     food in underserved areas, to create and preserve quality 
     jobs, and to revitalize low-income communities.
       Sec. 752.  For an additional amount for ``Animal and Plant 
     Health Inspection Service--Salaries and Expenses'', 
     $7,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, for 
     one-time control and management and associated activities 
     directly related to the multiple-agency response to citrus 
     greening.
       Sec. 753.  None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be used to enforce the final rule promulgated 
     by the Food and Drug Administration entitled ``Standards for 
     the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for 
     Human Consumption,'' and published on November 27, 2015, with 
     respect to the regulation of the production, distribution, 
     sale, or receipt of grape varietals that are grown, harvested 
     and used solely for wine and receive commercial processing 
     that adequately reduces the presence of microorganisms of 
     public health significance.
       Sec. 754.  There is hereby appropriated $20,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended, for an additional amount for 
     telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas, 
     as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., to help address the 
     opioid epidemic in rural America.
       Sec. 755.  There is hereby appropriated $5,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2020, for a pilot 
     program for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to 
     provide grants to nonprofit organizations for programs and 
     services to establish and enhance farming and ranching 
     opportunities for military veterans.
       Sec. 756.  There is hereby appropriated $425,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended, for an additional amount for 
     Sec. 779 of Public Law 115-141.
       Sec. 757.  For an additional amount for the cost of direct 
     loans and grants made under the ``Rural Water and Waste 
     Disposal Program Account'', $400,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended.
       Sec. 758.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel--
       (1) to inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603);
       (2) to inspect horses under section 903 of the Federal 
     Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 1901 
     note; Public Law 104-127); or
       (3) to implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code 
     of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
       Sec. 759.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to revoke an exception made--
       (1) pursuant to the final rule of the Department of 
     Agriculture entitled ``Exceptions to Geographic Areas for 
     Official Agencies Under the USGSA'' (68 Fed. Reg. 19137 
     (April 18, 2003)); and
       (2) on a date before April 14, 2017.
       Sec. 760.  The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide to 
     any State or county impacted by a volcanic eruption covered 
     by a major disaster declared by the President in calendar 
     year 2018 in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5170) technical assistance--
       (1) to assess damage to agricultural production and rural 
     infrastructure; and
       (2) to develop recovery plans for impacted farmers, 
     ranchers, and rural communities.


                     research on ocean agriculture

       Sec. 761.  (a) The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a working 
     group (referred to in this section as the ``working 
     group'')--
       (1) to study how mangroves, kelp forests, tidal marshes, 
     and seagrass meadows could help deacidify the oceans;
       (2) to study emerging ocean farming practices that use kelp 
     and seagrass to deacidify the oceans while providing 
     feedstock for agriculture and other commercial and industrial 
     inputs; and
       (3) to coordinate and conduct research to develop and 
     enhance pilot-scale research for farming of kelp and seagrass 
     in order--
       (A) to deacidify ocean environments;
       (B) to produce a feedstock for agriculture; and

[[Page H388]]

       (C) to develop other scalable commercial applications for 
     kelp, seagrass, or products derived from kelp or seagrass.
       (b) The working group shall include--
       (1) the Secretary of Agriculture;
       (2) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration;
       (3) representatives of any relevant offices within the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
       (4) the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency 
     and Renewable Energy.
       (c) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the working group shall submit to Congress a report 
     that includes--
       (1) the findings of the research described in subsection 
     (a);
       (2) the results of the pilot-scale research described in 
     subsection (a)(3); and
       (3) any policy recommendations based on those findings and 
     results.
       Sec. 762.  Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     submit to Congress a report describing the ways in which 
     conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources 
     Conservation Service may be better used for the conservation 
     of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and any action taken by the 
     Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service relating 
     to the conservation of ocelots.
       Sec. 763.  Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Rural Housing Service of the 
     Department of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report 
     including--
       (1) a description of--
       (A) the number of properties assisted under title V of the 
     Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) that are 
     reaching the end of their loan term;
       (B) the location of each property described in subparagraph 
     (A);
       (C) the number of units in each property described in 
     subparagraph (A); and
       (D) the date on which each the loan for each property 
     described in subparagraph (A) is expected to reach maturity;
       (2) the strategy of the Rural Housing Service to preserve 
     the long-term affordability of the properties described in 
     paragraph (1)(A) when the loan matures; and
       (3) a description of the resources and tools that the Rural 
     Housing Service needs from Congress in order to preserve the 
     long-term affordability of the properties described in 
     paragraph (1) (A).
       Sec. 764.  Out of amounts appropriated to the Food and Drug 
     Administration under title VI, the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and 
     Drugs, shall, not later than July 1, 2019, and following the 
     review required under Executive Order 12866 (5 U.S.C. 601 
     note; relating to regulatory planning and review), issue 
     advice revising the advice provided in the notice of 
     availability entitled ``Advice About Eating Fish, From the 
     Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug 
     Administration; Revised Fish Advice; Availability'' (82 Fed. 
     Reg. 6571 (January 19, 2017)), in a manner that is consistent 
     with nutrition science recognized by the Food and Drug 
     Administration on the net effects of seafood consumption.
       Sec. 765.  In administering the pilot program established 
     by section 779 of division A of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), the Secretary 
     of Agriculture shall--
       (1) ensure that applicants that are determined to be 
     ineligible for the pilot program have a means of appealing or 
     otherwise challenging that determination in a timely fashion; 
     and
       (2) in determining whether an entity may overbuild or 
     duplicate broadband expansion efforts made by any entity that 
     has received a broadband loan from the Rural Utilities 
     Service, not consider loans that were rescinded or defaulted 
     on, or loans the terms and conditions of which were not met, 
     if the entity under consideration has not previously 
     defaulted on, or failed to meet the terms and conditions of, 
     a Rural Utilities Service loan or had a Rural Utilities 
     Service loan rescinded.

        1890 land-grant colleges, including tuskegee university

       Sec. 767. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
     Act, the amounts made available by this Act to carry out 
     sections 1444 and 1445, respectively, of the National 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
     1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221, 3222) shall each be increased by 
     $3,000,000.
       (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the 
     amount made available under the heading ``(including 
     transfers of funds)'' under the heading ``Agriculture 
     Buildings and Facilities'' under the heading ``AGRICULTURAL 
     PROGRAMS'' in title I shall be decreased by $6,000,000.
       Sec. 768.  None of the funds made available by this Act 
     shall be used to enforce the requirement in the final rule 
     entitled ``Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and 
     Supplement Facts Labels'', published in the Federal Register 
     on May 27, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 33742), that any single 
     ingredient sugar, honey, agave, or syrup (including maple 
     syrup) that is packaged and offered for sale as a single 
     ingredient food bear the declaration ``Includes `X'g Added 
     Sugars''.
       Sec. 769.  The explanatory statement regarding division C 
     of H.R. 21, printed in the Congressional Record on January 3, 
     2019, and submitted by the Chair of the Committee on 
     Appropriations, shall have the same effect with respect to 
     allocation of funds and implementation of this Act as if it 
     were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of 
     conference.
       Sec. 770. (a) Employees furloughed as a result of any lapse 
     in appropriations beginning on or about December 22, 2018 and 
     ending on the date of enactment of this Act shall be 
     compensated at their standard rate of compensation, for the 
     period of such lapse in appropriations, as soon as 
     practicable after such lapse in appropriations ends.
       (b) For purposes of this section, ``employees'' means any 
     Federal employees whose salaries and expenses are provided in 
     this Act.
       (c) All obligations incurred in anticipation of the 
     appropriations made and authority granted by this Act for the 
     purposes of maintaining the essential level of activity to 
     protect life and property and bringing about orderly 
     termination of Government functions, and for purposes as 
     otherwise authorized by law, are hereby ratified and approved 
     if otherwise in accord with the provisions of this Act.
       Sec. 771. (a) If a State (or another Federal grantee) used 
     State funds (or the grantee's non-Federal funds) to continue 
     carrying out a Federal program or furloughed State employees 
     (or the grantee's employees) whose compensation is advanced 
     or reimbursed in whole or in part by the Federal Government--
       (1) such furloughed employees shall be compensated at their 
     standard rate of compensation for such period;
       (2) the State (or such other grantee) shall be reimbursed 
     for expenses that would have been paid by the Federal 
     Government during such period had appropriations been 
     available, including the cost of compensating such furloughed 
     employees, together with interest thereon calculated under 
     section 6503(d) of title 31, United States Code; and
       (3) the State (or such other grantee) may use funds 
     available to the State (or the grantee) under such Federal 
     program to reimburse such State (or the grantee), together 
     with interest thereon calculated under section 6503(d) of 
     title 31, United States Code.
       (b) For purposes of this section, the term ``State'' and 
     the term ``grantee,'' including United States territories and 
     possessions, shall have the meaning given such terms under 
     the applicable Federal program under subsection (a). In 
     addition, ``to continue carrying out a Federal program'' 
     means the continued performance by a State or other Federal 
     grantee, during the period of a lapse in appropriations, of a 
     Federal program that the State or such other grantee had been 
     carrying out prior to the period of the lapse in 
     appropriations.
       (c) The authority under this section applies with respect 
     to any period in fiscal year 2019 (not limited to periods 
     beginning or ending after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act) during which there occurs a lapse in appropriations with 
     respect to any department or agency of the Federal Government 
     receiving funding in this Act which, but for such lapse in 
     appropriations, would have paid, or made reimbursement 
     relating to, any of the expenses referred to in this section 
     with respect to the program involved. Payments and 
     reimbursements under this authority shall be made only to the 
     extent and in amounts provided in advance in appropriations 
     Acts.
       This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill shall be debatable for 1 hour, 
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees.
  The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Aderholt) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, today marks the 20th day of the partial government 
shutdown. Each day pushes many of our government's vital services to 
the breaking point, further jeopardizing the 800,000 Federal employees 
who are furloughed and the countless other Americans feeling the 
shutdown's impact.
  The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act is a critically important piece of 
legislation for our Nation. From the food we eat to the medications we 
depend on, this bill touches the lives of every American.

[[Page H389]]

  It must be passed now, and the furloughed employees at these vital 
Federal agencies, our farmers, our agribusinesses, and the other 
Americans who are depending on their livelihoods must be brought back 
to work.
  Because of the shutdown, USDA has stopped making loans and grants for 
rural development programs such as housing, water and wastewater 
facilities, and community facilities. New grants to our universities 
for agriculture research can't be made.
  Across the Nation, Farm Service Agency county offices have been 
closed since December 28. Farmers applying for relief from retaliatory 
tariffs are in limbo, waiting for the shutdown to end. Nearly 33,000 
USDA employees who are funded by this bill are currently furloughed.
  At the Food and Drug Administration, more than 10,000 employees are 
working without pay, while another 7,000 have been furloughed, which is 
impacting everything from user fee collections to the reduction of food 
safety inspections, jeopardizing the food we eat. According to USDA, 
nearly 9,000 people are working without pay to inspect our meat, 
poultry, and egg products.
  This bill would fund the Food Safety and Inspection Service at over 
$1 billion and restore our safety.
  I will be the first person to admit that this bill is not perfect, 
but no bill ever is. However, this is about opening the government and 
putting it back to work for the American people.
  This bill has passed the Senate by a vote of 92-6. There is no reason 
why we should not pass this bill since it has already been adopted by 
the leadership of the Senate and the Members of the Senate 
overwhelmingly, so that we can put American workers back on the job.
  Specifically, this legislation provides over $23 billion in 
discretionary funding for USDA and FDA. That is $225 million above the 
2018 enacted level.
  It provides $2.73 billion for agriculture research conducted by the 
Agricultural Research Service and NIFA, an increase of $114 million 
from fiscal year 2018. These increases will help to ensure American 
agriculture remains competitive with other nations.
  The Farm Service Agency, whose county offices were shuttered on 
December 28, is funded at $1.6 billion. In my district, all the county 
offices are now closed. These offices are the primary line of 
communication for our farmers and our ranchers, providing critical 
data, processing loans, and answering questions. Without this 
assistance and information, they are left in the dark when it comes to 
planning for next year's harvest.
  Peanut sellers and cotton growers, who suffered from Hurricane 
Michael recently, are at a loss. They have product that is stored in 
warehouses that they need to sell in order to get income, but they 
can't get those sales accomplished without an okay from the Farm 
Service Agency. Those offices are closed. Nobody is there.
  This legislation also makes significant investments in rural 
development by providing $3.8 billion. It takes a balanced approach 
with investments in water and wastewater facilities, broadband, 
housing, and rural businesses.
  Again, right now, as a result of the shutdown, loans and grants that 
help small towns and rural communities all across the country are not 
being made.
  This legislation rejects the President's proposed elimination of the 
Food for Peace program and instead funds it at $1.716 billion, which is 
$216 million above the House bill. The McGovern-Dole program, which was 
also proposed for elimination by the President, is funded at $210 
million, slightly above the House level. I might note that the House 
funded both of these, contrary to the President's wishes.

  Finally, this legislation funds the Food and Drug Administration at 
$2.97 billion, which is $159 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted 
level, a 6 percent increase.
  I would also like to point out that this bill does better than the 
House in addressing the opioid crisis that is hitting every single 
district in the country.
  It also provides more funding for food safety than the House bill.
  After nearly 3 weeks of uncertainty, it looks like the nearly 40 
million people who are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program benefits will be able to keep their benefits at least through 
February. However, the funds for SNAP beneficiaries, for a single 
mother or a small shopkeeper, will run dry in March.
  This bill, which provides $73.2 billion in mandatory funding for 
SNAP, will end any doubt about this, and it will give these recipients 
the peace of mind that they deserve.
  Through a diverse urban-rural coalition, this legislation includes 
our farmer safety net, our food and nutrition programs.
  Families, farmers, ranchers, and producers go to work every morning; 
so should their government.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the bill that is before us. I 
not only oppose the bill that is before us, but I also have to oppose 
the process by which the remaining fiscal year 2019 bills are being 
dealt with by the new majority.
  Anything but a full open rule on appropriations bills was absolutely 
condemned by the Democrats for the past 8 years. However, the new 
majority, as one of their first actions, has proposed a closed rule for 
all four appropriations bills this week.

                              {time}  1245

  I, along with my colleagues, am dismayed at the prospect of adopting 
the Senate-passed Agriculture appropriations bill to represent the 
House's position on funding and policy matters for our farmers, 
ranchers, producers, consumers, and nearly all the citizens impacted by 
the great work that has been done by USDA, FDA, and the CFTC.
  The priorities of literally hundreds of Members were part of the 
original FY19 Republican-led legislation.
  Around 10 months ago, we began the process of developing a House bill 
with House priorities. We drafted H.R. 5961 after holding five 
oversight hearings, after receiving and reviewing nearly 6,000 bills 
and report requests that were submitted by over 350 Members of 
Congress, after we incorporated bipartisan House Member requests 
covering House priorities from every corner of the Nation and from all 
demographics, after we held a subcommittee markup with full 
participation by the Agriculture Subcommittee members, and after we 
held a full committee markup that lasted several hours and was an open 
process by which all the members of the committee, Democrats and 
Republicans, could offer amendments.
  The House Members invested hundreds of hours to produce a spending 
bill that is best for the needs and the priorities of the constituents 
back home, whether they came from rural, whether they came from 
suburban, or whether they come from urban communities.
  Starting this past summer, we started the process of negotiating the 
House and Senate bills and reports to arrive at a four-corner agreement 
between the House and the Senate. The House and the Senate majority and 
minority parties made tremendous progress in coming along with a 
negotiated agreement.
  After all of that time and effort that was invested in the process, 
why would we throw it all away today?
  I want to point out that over the course of the past 10 months and 
during my 6 years that I have served as chairman of the Appropriations 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Subcommittee, it has been an honor to work beside my 
friend and my colleague and now the incoming chairman, Mr. Bishop of 
Georgia, as we develop the bills to meet the needs of our fellow 
citizens.
  But now we have an Agriculture appropriations bill in front of us 
today which totals $23.1 billion and $101 million below the Senate-
passed Agriculture appropriations bill. And I will point out that the 
$101 million represents a change to the Senate bill made by the House 
majority to reduce funding for the Special Supplemental Feeding Program 
for Women, Infants, and Children.
  Let me provide this Chamber with a few of the examples where this 
current bill fails to fund House Member priorities:

[[Page H390]]

  Regarding public health, the House Republican bill included $3.1 
billion for the Food and Drug Administration, while the new Democratic 
proposal that is before us includes only $2.9 billion for the Food and 
Drug Administration. The higher levels in the Republican bill are 
critical to helping industry advance their medical product innovations 
to the marketplace sooner, safer, and with greater efficiency. The 
ultimate beneficiary is the American consumer or the patient.
  Also, compared to the House Republican bill, the Democratic bill 
fails to include two provisions that place limits on chicken imported 
from China. The Republican bill includes an outright ban on Chinese 
chicken in school meals, while the Democratic bill fails to include 
this protection for our children.
  Regarding rural broadband, in FY 2018, we established a pilot program 
to expand broadband infrastructure to rural communities. One of the 
greatest needs that I have heard when talking to my constituents in 
rural Alabama--and I know this is the same from other Members whom I 
have talked to across the Nation--this bill provides $125 million less 
than what we provided in the House bill.
  When it comes to agriculture research, our Republican bill included 
nearly $30 million more for National Institute of Food and Agriculture 
for research priorities of House Members who are not included in the 
Democratic proposal.
  When it comes to rural infrastructure, the Republican bill included 
language to secure set-aside funds for persistent poverty counties in 
rural areas. This provision is vital to rural communities across the 
country that face challenges escaping poverty. This language is not 
included in the Democratic bill, and so the new majority chose to 
dismiss this protection for the rural poor.
  These are just a few examples of why the new House majority's 
adoption of a Senate-passed bill is not going in the right direction.
  The other side wants to claim that these bills are bipartisan, but 
they are clearly not bicameral, and they have no input from the 435 
House Members.
  Some of the great House appropriators of our time on both sides of 
the aisle would probably be rolling over in their graves right now if 
they knew of such a move to take up Senate spending bills without any 
House input.
  So I urge my fellow Members to stand up for the House priorities for 
public health and for rural development and reject a strategy of 
passing the Senate bills, which at the end of the day is not going to 
bring us any closer to resolving the partial government shutdown.
  To paraphrase the President's remarks two nights ago: In order for us 
to resolve this funding dispute, we need to invest in border security 
not because we hate the people on the outside of our borders, but 
because we love the people within our borders. The only thing that is 
immoral is for politicians to stand by and do nothing.
  So I would encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), who is the first female chair 
of the United States House Committee on Appropriations.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 20th day. 
More than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, many while 
they are still working and the American people are being denied vital 
services.
  Due to President Trump's shutdown over his demands for a wasteful 
border wall, the Food and Drug Administration cannot conduct routine 
inspections for food safety and has slowed evaluation of new drugs and 
medical products.
  USDA is no longer able to provide farmers and rural communities with 
loans and grants to assist housing, utilities, or economic development. 
And approximately 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP for food 
assistance, including more than 3 million New Yorkers, have faced 
unnecessary fear and uncertainty about whether they are weeks away from 
going hungry.
  House Democrats have passed bills to open the government, but the 
President and Senate Republicans continue to obstruct instead of 
working with us to get the people's business done.
  In my judgment, the solution to this crisis is simple: Let's pass the 
bills where we can agree, where there is bipartisan support, and let's 
extend funding for Homeland Security for 30 days--1 month--to allow 
time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy. This 
seems to me, in my judgment, to be fair, to be thoughtful, and to be 
the way for us to get together and open this government. I do hope that 
my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this 
ridiculous Trump shutdown.
  We can begin this bipartisan path by passing the bill before us. This 
bill passed the Senate in September with a vote of 92-6. This bill 
would open the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug 
Administration and adequately fund these services through the end of 
the fiscal year.
  Sadly, to date, my Republican colleagues have followed the 
President's blind lead all while jeopardizing these vital services upon 
which American families and businesses rely.
  Let's pass the bill today and put USDA and FDA back to work for the 
American people.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Yoho), who serves on the authorizing committee, the 
Agriculture Committee.
  Mr. YOHO. Madam Speaker, the President has shown his willingness to 
negotiate and has negotiated. The President has proposed various dollar 
amounts he is willing to accept for border security, has said he is 
ready to discuss DACA, and has listened to the other side's request for 
materials other than concrete to be considered for a structure on our 
southern border.
  The crisis at the southern border should not be a partisan issue. It 
is an American and immigrant crisis. The solution should be one that is 
best for America and not a party; for if it is best for America, we all 
benefit from that. Yet the Democrats continue to dig in their heels and 
not budge. Republicans have shown time and again that they are willing 
to talk.
  The House should oppose this bill that will not bring our country any 
closer to a border security solution or resolve the partial government 
shutdown.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 
minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a member of 
the Committee on Appropriations and chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and is the 
former chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of Appropriations.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, the President is holding the country 
hostage, putting hundreds of thousands of families at great risk.
  The President has manufactured a crisis at the border that has no 
basis in fact and has used the wall to incite fear. Vital agriculture 
programs, which millions of families and farmers depend on, are at 
risk.
  At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farm service loans are 
stalled, family farmers need the capital to buy seed and equipment for 
the approaching planting season. Rural development programs are at 
risk.
  Food stamps, food banks, and food programs are down to their last 
dollars. School lunch programs and other nutrition programs are at 
risk. Forty-seven million Americans could go hungry.
  Let's take a look at the Food and Drug Administration, because our 
food supply is at risk. When you go to the grocery store, you can't be 
sure that the product you are buying is safe because almost all food 
safety inspectors have been furloughed. The FDA remains understaffed 
for food surveillance and food recall operations.
  The Commissioner of the FDA, Scott Gottlieb, said routine food safety 
inspections are not taking place. The FDA has stopped posting warning 
letters. Routine inspections of food facilities are not taking place, 
and FDA's work finalizing guidance and implementing rules related to 
the Food Safety Modernization Act is in limbo.
  Foodborne illness kills 3,000 Americans every year, and because of 
the

[[Page H391]]

President's manufactured crisis, the safety of every American is in 
question. We have a duty to our constituents and their safety. We 
cannot stand by while this President holds the country hostage. Their 
physical and their financial well-being is at stake.
  Let's pass this bipartisan bill so that hungry families can eat, 
consumers can be safe, and farmers can do their job.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo), who serves on the Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Subcommittee. He has been a vital part of that 
subcommittee.
  Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, there is a host of things wrong with bringing this 
bill to the floor. By bringing forth the Senate version of this bill, 
it completely ignores all of the work this subcommittee has done over 
the past year. It ignores Members' priorities, and all of the testimony 
that we received that served as the basis of the House version of the 
Agriculture bill.
  I will name a few examples of what this looks like. First, for the 
Food and Drug Administration, Madam Speaker, the House bill included 
$3.1 billion for the FDA. The Senate bill before us today includes $2.9 
billion.
  The additional $149 million in the original House bill supported a 
number of medical product initiatives above the level in the Senate 
bill, including initiatives like the promotion of domestic 
manufacturing, the new domestic drug industry, and the new medical data 
enterprise initiative.
  Madam Speaker, the higher levels in the Republican bill are critical 
to helping industry advance medical products to the marketplace sooner, 
safer, and with greater efficiency. The ultimate beneficiary is the 
American consumer or patient.
  Lastly, an issue that is very important to my home State of 
Mississippi and the Nation at large: rural broadband. The House 
Republican bill made a major investment in a broadband pilot program 
for rural America. We included $550 million to expand broadband 
infrastructure for some of our country's most underserved communities.
  The appropriation in this bill before us today falls short of meeting 
this critical priority. Madam Speaker, ultimately bringing the Senate 
version of this bill to the floor is just plain lazy, as it ignores the 
will of this House and all of the hard work Members from both sides of 
the aisle have put into this process.
  Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the legislation.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Let me just say that, as we said before, this bill is not perfect, 
but we should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Chief among 
the funding in this bill is funding that is included to combat one of 
the biggest public health risks today which is opioids. The bill 
provides strong support for the FDA to combat this opioid epidemic.
  In addition to funds provided last year, it provides $59 million to 
continue the activities involved in inspecting, investigating, and 
screening of opioids. As the agency that oversees these drugs, the FDA 
has a vital responsibility, I agree, to make sure that the public 
health impacts of opioid abuse is mitigated, but this funding is just 
one part of a broad strategy to address opioids.
  The committee strongly supports the FDA's role in intergovernmental 
efforts to confront the crisis, but since we must move forward and open 
the government, we urge adoption of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Lee), a member of the Committee on Appropriations, co-chair of the 
House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and a long-time 
advocate for the elimination of persistent poverty in America and 
across the world.
  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, let me thank Chairman Bishop 
for bringing forth this bill and for his tremendous leadership.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the fiscal 2019 
Agriculture appropriations bill, which provides more than $23 billion 
to partially reopen the government. This critical bill would ensure 
that struggling families do not go hungry.
  Madam Speaker, there are 38 million families who rely on SNAP food 
stamps to help put food on the table. And while USDA has said they will 
pay for SNAP and WIC in February, there is no guarantee for families in 
March. Let's be clear. We are talking about 38 million Americans going 
hungry.
  Already, SNAP benefits are woefully insufficient to feed a family. No 
one can make a meal off of $1.40 a meal, and now families may be left 
with nothing.
  Madam Speaker, contrary to what President Trump says, food banks and 
charities cannot make up the difference. They are already struggling 
with the volume of need in our communities throughout the country. This 
is simply immoral.
  I am reminded of a very difficult period when I was a young, single 
mother raising two little boys and had to rely on food stamps to get my 
family through some very difficult, tough times. It was a bridge over 
troubled water. That lifeline should be there for all families all of 
the time.
  Our billionaire President may not know what it is like to choose 
between putting food on the table or gas in the car, but I tell you, I 
do.
  And forcing the choice on families because of a manufactured showdown 
is unconscionable. So let's pass the bill to reopen the government. 
Let's get Federal employees back to work, and get them the paychecks 
they need.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and 
``yes'' to reopen the government. The American people deserve no less.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield such time as she 
may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the new 
ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 265.
  Unfortunately, moving this bill across the House floor will not 
resolve the partial government shutdown. As the President has said, he 
will not sign this bill into law.

  It is the job and responsibility of the Congress to appropriate 
funds, who must come together to find a solution that will reopen the 
government and fund border security. We need a compromise that 
represents the will of both Chambers and the American people.
  By considering the Senate-passed versions of the appropriations 
bills, we are eliminating House Members' involvement in the process. 
When it comes to investment in agriculture, rural development, and 
public health programs that are important to Americans across the 
country, H.R. 265 funds Senate priorities by shortchanging House 
priorities.
  For example, this bill provides less funding for food and drug safety 
and public health. For the average American, this means decreased 
access to medical products because there are less resources to bring 
those products to market in a safe and efficient manner.
  This bill also leaves behind funding to address persistent poverty in 
rural areas. This is a vital resource as rural communities across the 
country seek to break the cycle of poverty. We can and we must do 
better.
  Madam Speaker, Republicans stand ready and willing to negotiate with 
our friends on the other side of the aisle on legislation that includes 
priorities of both Houses, and both Chambers. This is how this 
legislative body and our system of government are designed to work.
  I want to thank my colleague from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt) for his 
efforts today and over the last several months to ensure that the 
House's voice is heard in this debate.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  It has been said many times that we shouldn't pass this bill which 
has previously been adopted by the Senate because the President will 
not sign it.
  Well, I believe that we have three branches of government, and it is 
our obligation as the legislative branch to pass the laws. If we do our 
job, then we will let the President be held responsible for his failure 
to do his. We must keep this government open for the American people.

[[Page H392]]

  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. 
Pingree), a member of the Committee on Appropriations and a member of 
the Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies.
  Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Bishop of Georgia, our future 
chair, for yielding me the time. I rise in support of H.R. 265, the 
fiscal year 2019 Agriculture appropriations bill.
  There is no reason we cannot pass these individual appropriations 
bills that have nothing to do with border security and have strong 
bipartisan support.
  The fiscal year 2019 Agriculture appropriations bill includes robust 
funding for the USDA and the FDA, two Federal agencies that touch the 
lives of every American.
  President Trump's obsession with the wall should not jeopardize 
Americans' access to important food, housing, and farm programs at USDA 
and FDA.
  The shutdown is having real impacts back in my home State of Maine: 
for the farmer who would lose their family farm before refinancing of 
their FSA mortgage can be approved; for the single parent trying to 
make ends meet and not knowing whether their SNAP benefits will be 
there next month; and for the couple who won't be able to close on 
their dream home because they can't access a rural housing loan.
  These are just a few examples of how disruptive this shutdown has 
been in my district. Just last month we finalized the 2018 farm bill, 
finally giving farmers and families certainty about these important 
USDA programs. That certainty was ripped away from them because the 
USDA can't start implementing the new farm bill until the shutdown 
ends.
  Additionally, recent reports that the FDA is no longer conducting 
routine food safety inspections are alarming and totally unacceptable. 
The fiscal year 2019 Agriculture appropriations bill will provide the 
funding necessary for the USDA and FDA to once again fulfill their 
regulatory duties and provide resources to Americans who are counting 
on them.
  Let's reopen our local USDA offices. Let's restart routine 
inspections to ensure safety of our food system, and let's keep 
nutrition assistance programs going to make sure hungry families have 
food on their tables.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the fiscal year 2019 
Agriculture appropriations bill and end the shutdown.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Mitchell), who serves on the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and also the Armed 
Services Committee.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, you may wonder why I am down here. It is 
because agriculture is huge in Michigan's 10th Congressional District. 
Earlier this week, I spoke with most of the agriculture leaders in my 
district about these bills.
  I would be supporting these bills under other conditions. It supports 
farm safety net programs as have been described. It provides support 
for rural development, including rural infrastructure and broadband 
access, which is sorely needed in the 10th Congressional District of 
Michigan.
  It provides food and drug safety inspections for the FDA and USDA, 
and nutrition assistance programs that my colleague discussed.
  However, I cannot support these bills because it is being brought up 
in bad faith. Let's be honest. It is a charade. It is not a serious 
attempt to fund agriculture or any other programs in my district or 
throughout this country. This vote is dead on arrival.
  It is a messaging point by the Democrat majority. It is an attempt to 
delay and distract from the real problem. The real problem is securing 
our borders, a comprehensive package to secure our borders that the 
President, the administration, has provided to the Democrat majority.

  We have spent hours on the floor here talking about various bills to 
fund the majority. Yet, somehow, rather than negotiate, the Democrat 
majority will go to the White House and say nothing for the wall; 
nothing for border security to put a barrier up. We will simply talk 
about, nope, we are not going to do that. We want to put the squeeze on 
the American people.
  They are squeezing the people in multiple ways. People won't get 
their paychecks tomorrow. I am sorry. Really, guys? Come on. We have 
farmers that are struggling, waiting to get loans so that they can 
plant. We are not securing our border.
  We had a humanitarian crisis. Thirty percent of the women that are 
arriving at the border--Doctors Without Borders data, not anybody 
else's--have been sexually assaulted on the way to the border. This 
proposal includes money to provide for applying for asylum in their 
home countries. Why are we not doing this?
  Why are we not addressing a comprehensive border security package and 
passing all of these appropriations bills and moving on to other 
priorities? We may disagree about those.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the 
gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, we may disagree about what some of those 
priorities are, but why are we spending 2 weeks rather than spend 2 
hours negotiating an outcome and getting done with this problem? Let's 
grow up. Let's be adults and solve the problems instead of bickering.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair reminds Members to address their 
remarks to the Chair.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, at this point I would just like to say that it is 
unconscionable that we will hold the American people hostage in denying 
them the services and the protections of their government, the much-
needed paychecks for the workers employed by these agencies, simply to 
satisfy the ego of someone at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Pallone), who is the chairman of the authorizing Committee on 
Energy and Commerce.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee 
for yielding me the time.
  Madam Speaker, this bill is really important. It would provide 
funding for our critical food, nutrition, and rural development 
agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration.
  What we are really asking is to keep the government open. There may 
be disagreement about the wall and some aspects of border security, but 
that shouldn't hold hostage these important spending bills that keep 
the government going.
  I wanted to talk about the FDA. The FDA is one of our most critical 
public health agencies overseeing food, medical products, cosmetics, 
and tobacco, products that account for 20 cents of every dollar spent 
by U.S. consumers.
  As a result of the Trump government shutdown, the FDA has had to 
cease a number of important activities that keep our Nation's food and 
drugs safe for all Americans.
  For example, the FDA has stopped conducting nearly two-thirds of the 
domestic food inspections that the agency typically conducts, putting 
our Nation's food supply and food safety system at risk. This comes on 
the heels of a multi-State national recall of romaine lettuce in 
November and December. This stoppage should be alarming to all of us.
  The FDA has halted routine inspections at food, drug, device, and 
compounding facilities. It stopped accepting any new medical product 
applications unless the application is within a small subset that did 
not require a user fee. This includes applications for new generic 
drugs that may bring further competition to the pharmaceutical market.
  The FDA has ceased any activities related to over-the-counter 
products.
  It put on hold any enforcement activities related to medical products 
or facilities that have been found to be in violation of the law.
  What we are seeing are no inspections, no enforcement activities. 
And, today, more than 6,000 FDA employees are furloughed, and another 
1,000 are working without pay.
  This Trump shutdown has had a dramatic effect on our economy, our 
Federal employees, and the functioning of our government. Agency heads 
are

[[Page H393]]

being forced to plan without knowledge of whether the shutdown will 
last another day, another week, or another month. These are real lives 
that are being impacted.
  Madam Speaker, I urge the Senate majority leader and the President to 
support this bill so we can restore funding to the FDA so that 
consumers continue to have safe food and medical supplies.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
the State of Washington (Mr. Newhouse), who serves on the 
Appropriations Committee.
  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the ranking member 
on the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Mr. Aderholt, for 
yielding, as well as for his strong leadership on behalf of our 
agricultural community.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the bill before us today. 
Throughout last year, the House Appropriations Committee worked on a 
bipartisan basis to find common ground for fiscal year 2019 
appropriations bills, including the vitally important Agriculture 
appropriations legislation.
  Unfortunately, the bill before us today does not reflect those 
bipartisan efforts. As I have been sharing with my constituents, the 
bill before us has never had a hearing in this body, has never had a 
markup in this body, and now has no opportunity for amendments to be 
offered.
  By taking up this bill, unfortunately, House Democrats are 
effectively writing off the people's House and shirking our 
responsibilities by deferring to the U.S. Senate. My constituents' 
priorities--and I would submit those of constituents of my colleagues 
across the aisle--deserve to be heard.
  I offered two important amendments to the Agriculture appropriations 
bill in the Rules Committee this week. Both amendments previously 
passed unanimously in the Appropriations Committee and, rightfully, 
should be in the bill before us.
  The first was a bipartisan amendment I offered with my colleague, 
Sanford Bishop, who was the then-ranking member of the Agriculture, 
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Subcommittee. The amendment would have upheld the longstanding 
prohibition of releasing proprietary SNAP sales data of food retailers.
  Due to a decision last year in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, 
USDA will be required to release the SNAP redemption data of all retail 
stores across the United States. The result will be irreparable harm to 
competition in the food retail marketplace. My amendment sought to 
prevent the closure of grocery stores in both rural and urban areas by 
upholding this longstanding USDA practice.
  The second bipartisan amendment passed unanimously in the 
Appropriations Committee directed USDA to work with H-2A agency 
partners to modernize, develop, and implement an online application 
system for the H-2A program.
  I constantly hear from farmers in central Washington about how 
inefficient the H-2A program operates due to the continued use of 
paper-only applications. Many farmers have had to deal with lost 
applications and other logistical inefficiencies, making the H-2A 
program inconsistent and all too often an unreliable program for 
farmers.
  This amendment supported the administration's regulatory task force 
reform efforts to modernize that program with technological 
advancements that would make the program more user-friendly. It 
demonstrated an important step to providing relief for farmers facing a 
broken bureaucratic maze when trying to access a reliable workforce.

  Madam Speaker, these are just two of the many reasons that I am not 
supporting the bill before us. But there are other issues that must be 
pointed out, like the fact that the House bill made a major investment 
in the new broadband pilot program for rural America by adding an 
additional $550 million in infrastructure for the unserved and 
underserved. This bill undercuts that by $125 million.
  In regard to the important matter of food and drug safety, our House 
bill included higher levels of funding for the FDA, which is critical 
to helping industry advance their medical products to the marketplace 
sooner, safer, and with greater efficiency.
  The House bill included language to secure set-aside funds for 
persistent poverty counties in rural areas. This provision was vital to 
rural communities across the country that face challenges escaping 
poverty. Unfortunately, that is not included in this bill.
  Lastly, the House bill included nearly $30 million more for the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture for research that is vital 
to our Nation's food security priorities. Again, that is not included 
in this bill.
  Madam Speaker, as a proud member of the Appropriations Committee, I 
urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation. The bipartisan 
work conducted by House appropriators must be honored. We should not 
abdicate our responsibility and the voices of our constituents to the 
Senate.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume to just say that the gentleman from Washington makes some 
salient points. I agree with the gentleman that the Freedom of 
Information Act and the SNAP retail sales language is something that we 
would love to have and should be in this legislation.
  Also, I look forward to working with the gentleman to take care of 
that as we move forward in the 116th Congress, as well as our work on 
the H-2A program, which is in bad need of repair. And persistent 
poverty, the 10-20-30 program, we are happy that the gentleman is 
supportive and that the committee has been supportive. We look forward 
to making sure that that is implemented fully as we move forward.
  But, right now, we have to open the government. We cannot afford to 
let this government remain closed to continue to hurt the American 
people.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Scott), who is my classmate and the chair of the Committee on Education 
and Labor.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Bishop for his 
distinguished leadership, and I thank the gentleman for the opportunity 
to mention several of the issues relevant to the jurisdiction of the 
Education and Labor Committee.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation funds critical nutrition assistance 
programs that serve children and families. Nutrition programs are among 
the most important and cost-effective investments in the Federal 
budget.
  Study after study demonstrates that freedom from hunger is the 
foundation that children and families need to lift themselves out of 
poverty. Beyond the tragedy of any child going to school on an empty 
stomach, we cannot expect hungry children to reach their full potential 
at school or to grow up into healthy adults unless they have proper 
nutrition.
  This reckless shutdown has left our constituents with uncertainty and 
anxiety about their access to programs they rely on, such as WIC, SNAP, 
or school meals. Now, while these programs are still available and USDA 
is temporarily paying benefits, it is imperative that we secure funding 
for these vital programs to ensure that children and families are not 
left behind.
  This should not be a controversial bill. But the shutdown has created 
a crisis, so we are not going to go back and forth over the details. We 
are going to pass a bill.
  The Republican Senate passed this exact language with overwhelming 
support last year, and we have to pass something. Some have said we 
shouldn't pass this bill, but they have not said we should pass 
anything. We have to pass a bill to reopen the government.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Costa), who is a member of the 
authorizing House Committee on Agriculture. He represents an area in 
California that is called the salad bowl of our country.
  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation, along with the other bills that we 
have been voting on, is about doing our job.

[[Page H394]]

It is about reopening government. It is about reestablishing Congress 
as a coequal branch of government.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan funding bill for 
the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
  The day before the government shutdown began, the President signed 
into law the 2018 farm bill, after much debate and work. As a member of 
the conference committee, we negotiated the farm bill in good faith. 
Therefore, it has been incredibly disappointing to see the shutdown 
prevent key pieces of the legislation from taking effect. Examples of 
the impacts in my district are the following.
  One such program allows a company in my district to deliver fresh 
California produce to our local school districts to improve the quality 
of food for the children. This contractor now is not allowed to be 
paid.
  They are among many of the subcontractors who do business with 
governmental entities. Because of the shutdown, the USDA cannot pay 
them to provide services, putting in jeopardy the future of their 
businesses and people who work for them, and the delivery, in this 
case, of healthy fruits and vegetables to our local schools.
  Additionally, if the shutdown lingers into March, it is uncertain how 
millions of Americans, including one-quarter of my constituents, will 
receive SNAP benefits. These are young people; these are elderly; and 
these are part of the working poor. The future funding for the Women, 
Infants and Children's Nutrition Program is also at risk.

  Without passing the bill before us today, valley dairymen and almond 
farmers in my district, and many other producers across the Nation, 
will not be able to sign up for retaliatory tariff relief payments, and 
the impacts of these tariff wars have been significant throughout the 
country.
  In addition, farmers cannot sign up for newly revamped conservation 
programs that I helped pass in the farm bill. These programs are vital 
for California agriculture, where farmers work through drought years 
and continue their responsible stewardship of the land.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from 
California an additional 20 seconds.
  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, farmers cannot sign up for new crop 
insurance as well to help them manage risks as we approach the planting 
season, and farming is a risky business.
  What is more, food safety is put at risk while food inspectors are 
forced to work without pay.
  Madam Speaker, it is time to pass this bill so that the USDA and the 
FDA can go back to work for Americans. We should do our job. It is 
irresponsible to shut down government and leverage American citizens in 
this fashion.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time 
remains.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia has 5\1/4\ 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from Alabama has 10\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), who is a member of the House 
Committee on Ways and Means and who is also the chief deputy whip.
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for 
his leadership in bringing this legislation, which I support, to the 
floor, legislation that would fund the Department of Agriculture for 
the rest of the year.
  This bill would end part of the shutdown that this President has 
orchestrated and fund the Department of Agriculture, which helps people 
from going hungry and supports our farmers.

                              {time}  1330

  With the shutdown of the Department of Agriculture, we are not 
implementing the farm bill that we passed here, which means we are not 
helping increase access to fruits and vegetables through programs like 
the Double Up Food Bucks program in Michigan. We are not helping 
struggling farmers sign up for crop insurance, our best risk mitigation 
tool. The agriculture industry is already being hurt by President 
Trump's poor trade practices. This is just another attack on them.
  Also, programs cannot proceed to address drinking water needs in our 
rural communities. We have places like Oscoda in my home district 
experiencing a drinking water emergency from PFAS. They have relied on 
the Department of Agriculture for help. That help won't be available.
  By passing this bill, we put thousands of Michigan workers back to 
work. We ensure families who rely on food nutrition assistance will get 
the help they need. Right now, they are only guaranteed that help 
through the end of February.
  Additionally, there are contractors who are essentially doing much of 
the same work as government employees but are not getting paid and will 
not see a paycheck when all of this is over.
  During this Trump shutdown, these hardworking employees don't know 
where their next paycheck is coming from. They can't turn to their 
parents like some can when they run out of money to pay their bills. 
They need help for healthcare. They need help to pay for childcare. 
They need to be able to cover their housing costs. They need to be able 
to buy food for their families. They can't plan for their own future 
when they don't know what they are going to be able to do next week.
  President Trump is using these families and farmers who work or 
depend on the Department of Agriculture as pawns in a political game. 
We may have disagreements, but we should never, ever shut the 
government down in order to achieve something that the President and 
his party are unwilling to submit to the legislative process.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As I noted earlier, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee 
received over 350 Members who came before our subcommittee and 
submitted requests. Many of those requests included support for animal 
disease and for plant pests destroying agriculture products. Let me 
just give an example of some that we heard.
  The House bill included $15 million to fight the pest from China 
called the spotted lanternfly. This pest is destroying fruits, 
vegetables, and ornamentals in the mid-Atlantic States.
  The House bill included $5 million more for the oriental fruit fly 
that ravaged south Florida.
  The House bill and also the House report included higher amounts for 
the citrus greening disease killing the orange groves across Florida.
  I can give numerous examples of other House priorities and directives 
included in the House bill and report by the majority that have been 
dismissed by the Senate bill. Like I said, these are just some examples 
that our Members have requested. It has been important to their 
districts. They thought it was very important for agriculture in their 
regions.
  Again, by us adopting the bill today, we would be doing this for 
nothing.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chair-designate 
of Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 
Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge Congress to pass this bill, which 
would fund agricultural and nutrition programs that are vital to our 
Nation's farmers and well-being. I also rise to ask that my colleagues 
refrain from turning millions of hardworking SNAP recipients into pawns 
in a shutdown fight over a feckless border wall.
  While the President continues to insist on shutting down key agencies 
like the USDA, our Nation's farmers are facing uncertainty. Every 
month, USDA releases the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates 
report, which provides important information about the size of crop 
harvests. However, due to the shutdown, the USDA is unable to send out 
this highly anticipated report, casting doubt on the agricultural 
commodities markets.
  Even worse, the shutdown has forced USDA to stop providing assistance 
to

[[Page H395]]

the thousands of farmers feeling intense pressure from President 
Trump's ridiculous trade war. Agriculture is the number two economic 
driver of Florida's economy.
  This shutdown could also potentially affect our public health. The 
FDA cannot accept any new regulatory submissions during the shutdown. 
This means that food and drug manufacturers can't provide documentation 
to the agency to verify compliance with safety regulations.
  The FDA has also been forced to cut back inspections of food 
processing facilities, putting public health at risk. Essential 
inspectors are working without pay. The FDA sets targets for 
inspections, and the shutdown will prevent the agency from meeting 
those targets.
  Finally, we must pass this bill to avoid potentially disastrous 
effects on Americans suffering from food insecurity. SNAP, also known 
as food stamps, is a crucial program that helps these Americans put 
food on the table, but SNAP is estimated to have only enough funding to 
last until February. After that, Federal law requires USDA to ration 
any available funding among SNAP recipients.
  If President Trump continues to refuse to reopen the government, 
almost 3.7 million people in Florida may lose the assistance that helps 
feed their families. That would be a shameful situation for the 
wealthiest nation on Earth.
  The longer the shutdown goes on, the bigger the impact will be on our 
Nation's food safety and health. I urge my colleagues to vote for this 
bill because people's livelihoods and well-being are on the line.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), who is another member of the Appropriations 
Committee. He, of course, chaired the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee in the 115th Congress.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, here is the sad truth which, by the 
way, everybody knows, unfortunately: This bill, if passed, will not 
reopen the Federal Government.
  By the way, how do I know that? Because this bill already passed last 
week. It is sitting in the Senate. It has not reopened the Federal 
Government. This is another false attempt to fool the American people.
  Some of the great Appropriations members of our time would be rolling 
in their graves right now if they knew that the House is taking up a 
Senate bill with zero input and zero amendments from any Member of the 
House--not one Member of the House. So, obviously, we should reject 
this flawed strategy.
  But I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Aderholt, for speaking 
about some of the specifics. I want to just talk about a couple of 
specifics in this bill where it falls, frankly, very, very, very, very 
short. Let me talk about a couple issues that are very important to 
Florida.
  Citrus is a key, critical industry for Florida. This bill does not 
adequately fund citrus greening research. It falls seriously short on 
funding something that is so important for the survival of our farmers 
and the industry in Florida.
  Also, Mr. Speaker, it falls short on combating the oriental fruit 
fly, another critical issue for our farmers in Florida.
  We have to recall that Florida is still recovering from the 
devastation caused by recent hurricanes. This bill falls short in 
helping the farmers in the State of Florida.
  But as I said at the beginning, Mr. Speaker, if that wasn't enough, 
this is all a charade.
  By the way, do you know what the sad part is, Mr. Speaker? I am going 
to be proven right.
  Last week, a lot of us said that about those bills that our friends 
on the other side of the aisle said were going to reopen the 
government. Do you know who was proven right and who was proven wrong? 
We are going to be proven right again.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jeffries). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Florida an 
additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. This is a sham. I would ask, respectfully, to defeat 
this bill, which is a charade, a sham, and will not open the Federal 
Government. Everybody knows that. Everybody knows that it will not 
reopen the Federal Government. It doesn't have any input from the House 
and falls shorts for Florida farmers and other farmers around the 
country.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, as it has already been said by many 
of my colleagues here on the Republican side, that this bill serves 
only to give a false impression that the new majority is trying to 
resolve our funding differences.
  The American people want and need both enhanced border security and 
funding of remaining government agencies that are operating on limited 
staff currently, as we speak. This bill is really an affront to the 
House of Representatives and to the citizens who elected them to serve 
them because, as has been said over and over this afternoon, there has 
been no input from any of the 435 House Members into this legislation.
  Therefore, in closing, Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to 
vote ``no'' on this legislation that is before us this afternoon, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), as I prepare to 
close and urge my colleagues to open the Department of Agriculture, the 
Food and Drug Administration, and all the agencies. He is a member of 
the House Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Ways and Means. He 
also represents the salad bowl of this country.
  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, today, we, unfortunately, are enduring our 
government's second longest government shutdown since 1981.
  I realize that some call it a partial government shutdown, but let me 
tell you, there is nothing partial about the lost wages that our 
Federal workers are encountering, there is nothing partial about the 
lost income that our small business owners are enduring, and there is 
nothing partial about the lost services that my farmers in the salad 
bowl of the world will experience during this shutdown.
  That is why it has fallen on all of us in this Congress to make whole 
the victims of the shutdown. And it starts today by passing this 
Agriculture Appropriations act.
  As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I was proud to have 
passed and have signed into law the 2018 farm bill. But if this 
shutdown doesn't end soon, there are many provisions of that farm bill 
that will not be implemented.
  Why? The USDA is closed, the Farm Service Agency is shuttered, 
agricultural research is suspended, organic certification programs are 
stopped, and families may not get their benefits through the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
  Those are just part of the problems with this partial government 
shutdown, a shutdown in which all of our farmers will be affected. That 
is why all of us in this government must do our job and live up to our 
responsibility to govern. Some may call it a charade. We call it 
governing. That is why I ask my colleagues to pass this Agriculture 
Appropriations Act.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in supporting House 
passage today of the long overdue FY 2019 Department of Agriculture, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill which 
will help bring an end to the reckless shutdown for the agencies, 
programs, and federal employees that are covered by this measure.
  We need to pass this bill today, and the Senate needs to follow suit, 
to help stave off some of the worst consequences that face some of the 
most vulnerable as a result of the President's reckless decision.
  If the partial government shutdown, which the President is so proud 
to have caused, continues there may not be sufficient appropriations 
for food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
(SNAP) to provide full benefits or any benefits. USDA recently 
announced it was making moves to try and delay the inevitable for these 
programs. But that is just a stall--one of the many desperate actions 
by an Administration

[[Page H396]]

apparently just now starting to realize the damage it is inflicting 
across America.
  To make his case, the President held a national press conference 
earlier this week to sell his made up ``crisis'' along the Southern 
border. A ``crisis'' that experts say is not happening. Border 
apprehensions are at lows not seen in nearly two decades. The 
``crisis,'' if any exists, is his policy of denying asylum seekers 
their legal right to make their claims.
  President Trump inflicted this chaotic shutdown on the American 
people to try and bully the nation into building his vanity wall.
  Well, let me tell you about the real crisis that he is creating in 
millions of households across the country from the dedicated federal 
employees who have been sent home without pay or those working without 
pay who are wondering how they will pay rent or their mortgage and 
their bills now that the federal government has broken faith with them.
  Or the real crisis this Administration is creating for the millions 
of families and individuals who depend on SNAP and WIC to help keep 
food on the table. In my home state, that includes hundreds of 
thousands of women, children, seniors, low-income military veterans, 
and the disabled who are already struggling. These harms aren't 
hypothetical, folks. Hunger is real in our country and millions of 
Americans are struggling to put food on the table. And the Trump 
Shutdown is only making it harder to do.
  One estimate is that if USDA does not have enough funding on hand to 
pay full benefits and provide partial funding spread evenly across all 
SNAP households, it would result in an average benefit cut per 
household of at least $90 or close to 40 percent.
  Similarly, benefits available through the Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are at risk. 
WIC is such an important program that helps provide targeted nutrition 
and other services to at-risk women. This program has helped improve 
breastfeeding rates among its target population and saves lives and 
money for the taxpayer. Over 7 million mothers, pregnant women, and 
children rely on WIC.
  WIC clinics are currently open and operating normally but that 
funding will run out if the shutdown continues. If the shutdown 
continues as long as the President wants it to, WIC agencies may be 
forced to start waiting lists for benefits, freeze new applications, 
furlough staff, or close clinics in the face of declining or no 
funding.
  And even with doors open, the uncertainty created by the shutdown may 
be discouraging eligible individuals from reaching out to WIC for 
support, undermining the program's purpose.
  And we will all pay in the end if taxpayers have to bear health care 
expenses and other costs for individuals that could have been avoided.
  The bill before us, that the Senate Appropriations Committee 
unanimously approved last year, will ensure that these critical 
benefits continue to be paid and that families can continue to put food 
on the table.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this special order 
to speak against the devastating cuts being proposed for the Farm 
Bill's Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP).
  The $20.5 billion cuts would remove 2 million Americans from the food 
assistance program, and 210,000 children would lose access to free 
school meals.
  The House Democrats' bill, is virtually identical to legislation that 
has already passed the Senate on a 92-6 vote, will reopen these 
agencies and stop some the worst impacts of the Trump Shutdown on 
families, businesses, and communities.
  It provides $23.235 billion in discretionary funding, $225 million 
above the FY2018 enacted level. In addition, it provides the latest 
estimates for mandatory programs required by law--including the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Child Nutrition Programs. 
It will ensure that the Department of Agriculture and the FDA are both 
able to operate through September 30.
  This bill rejects President Trump's proposed budget cuts to 
agriculture, rural development, and conservation programs. It includes 
funding for rural broadband that President Trump had proposed 
eliminating.
  Finally, the bill rejects President Trump's proposed elimination of 
Food for Peace and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education 
and Child Nutrition Program, both which provide lifesaving food 
assistance overseas.
  For one in six Americans hunger is real and far too many people 
assume that problems with hunger are isolated in small pockets of the 
country. That is not the case--hunger is persistent and the impacts 
real for millions of people who struggle to find enough to eat.
  According to Feeding America:
  In 2016, 46.2 million people were in poverty, 1.1 million people are 
food insecure in the Houston area, 2.4 million rural households face 
hunger;
  Three-quarters of the counties with the highest rates of food 
insecurity are in rural areas;
  86% of the counties with the highest rates of child food insecurity 
are rural;
  In 2017, there were 39.7 million people in poverty.
  There are 3.7 million Texans at risk of losing Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the Trump Shutdown does not end.
  The more important statistic is how many other Americans will have 
their local grocery store put at risk of closing or having reduced 
supplies of groceries to serve their customers because of the economic 
chaos that will ensue if SNAP benefits across the nation are ended due 
to the shutdown.
  Most Americans have no idea how SNAP, Women, Infants and Children's 
(WIC) Food and Nutrition Service and other federal food subsidy 
programs contribute to the affordability of food found in grocery 
stores.
  For grocers, convenience stores and other food retailers, the 
suspension of funding for the food-stamp program, or SNAP, comes at a 
time when they cannot afford to lose sales.
  Over 3,500 grocery and convenience stores operate on a 1% profit 
margin, with the proposed cuts to the SNAP program, these stores will 
experience a large decrease in profit.
  There is no feasible way to absorb any kind of decrease in sales.
  The abrupt end of SNAP, WIC and other Federal food subsidy program 
funding that is spent at local grocers would be devastating to all 
large grocery store chains.
  In 2016, more than 52% of SNAP dollars, or $33 billion, were redeemed 
at big-box stores such as Walmart Inc. and Target Corp., up from 47% in 
2015, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show.
  Big retailers routinely notice a bump in sales around the time states 
disperse SNAP money to recipients each month.
  Walmart generates roughly $13 billion in annual sales from SNAP 
transactions, accounting for around 18% of the money spent through the 
program nationwide.
  Some retailers serve regions where more than one-third of shoppers 
buy groceries with food stamps, without this money most of these stores 
will not be able to maintain the diverse food choices that are usually 
available to their consumers.
  The retailer with the highest risk of lost sales is Walmart which 
receives roughly 56% of its food sales.
  Dollar General, gets about 5 percent of its sales from SNAP benefits 
and their traffic slowed tremendously during the last government 
shutdown, they can't afford the same outcome this year.
  President Trump has previously demonstrated a hostility towards the 
SNAP program in his proposal that retailers pay a fee for authorization 
to accept food stamps.
  The government's overall SNAP spending declines when the economy 
improves and fewer people rely on the program and this means that 
grocery store customers are instead using funds from employment or 
other sources instead.
  A government shutdown will have a depressing effect on grocery store 
sales and compounding this will be a cut in SNAP and WIC funds.
  Government low wage workers will be seeking SNAP and WIC assistance 
as they work to cope with not being paid.
  Dean said cutting benefits when people's financial situations are not 
improving could mean they use money they otherwise would have spent on 
needs like clothing or even medicine to make up for the gaps in their 
food budget. So there's still an impact to the overall economy, she 
said.
  A report by the USDA in 2010 also said that boosting SNAP benefits 
during economic downturns starts a ``multiplier process'' in 
transactions and consumption. It found that boosting SNAP expenditures 
by $1 billion was estimated to increase economic activity by $1.79 
billion.
  Unfortunately, benefits cannot be increased as a direct consequence 
of the shutdown.
  SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of low income 
individuals and families. SNAP is the largest program in the American 
domestic hunger safety net.
  If the Trump Shutdown extends for weeks or months, the damage to the 
food economy may not be easily repaired.
  The Child Nutrition Programs, including School Lunch, School 
Breakfast, Child and Adult Care Feeding, Summer Food Service and 
Special Milk will continue operations into February according to the 
Department of Agriculture.
  We cannot afford to create food deserts and greater hunger in our 
country.
  While prices for agricultural products are not expected to be 
significantly altered in the short term, an extended shutdown coupled 
with ongoing trade tensions could impact the ability for farmers to 
operate in the domestic and international marketplace.
  The following USDA activities have been shut down during the 
government funding lapse:

[[Page H397]]

  Provision of new rural development loans and grants for housing, 
community facilities, utilities and businesses.
  All recreation sites across the U.S. National Forest System, unless 
they are operated by external parties under a recreational special use 
permit.
  New timber sales.
  Most forest fuels reduction activities in and around communities.
  National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) statistics, World 
Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, and other agricultural 
economic and statistical reports and projections. Investigation of 
packers and stockyards related to fraudulent and anti-competitive 
activities.
  Assistance for the control of most plant and animal pests and 
diseases unless funded by cooperators or other non-appropriated 
sources.
  Research facilities except for the care for animals, plants and 
associated infrastructure to preserve agricultural research. Provision 
of new grants or processing of payments for existing grants to support 
research, education, and extension.
  ERS Commodity Outlook Reports, Data Products, research reports, staff 
analysis, and projections. The ERS public website has been taken 
offline.
  Most departmental management, administrative and oversight functions, 
including civil rights, human resources, financial management, audit, 
investigative, legal and information technology activities.
  Mandatory Audits (Financial Statements, FISMA, and potentially 
Improper Payments) will be suspended and may not be completed and 
released on the date mandated by law.
  Farm loans and some farm payments (including direct payments, market 
assistance loans, market facilitation payments for those producers who 
have not certified production, and disaster assistance programs).
  The Agriculture Industry has been harmed by the tariff battles that 
President Trump started and continues to wage.
  Funding was put in the Farm Bill that passed in December to offer 
some relief that will not come until the shutdown ends.
  I ask my Colleagues to join me in voting for the passage of this 
bill.
  President Trump needs to end this shutdown now.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 28, the previous question is ordered on 
the bill.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.


                           Motion to Recommit

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
  Mr. ADERHOLT. I am, in its current form.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to 
recommit.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Mr. Aderholt moves to recommit the bill H.R. 265 to the 
     Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report the 
     same back to the House forthwith with the following 
     amendments:
       Page 2, line 7, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $19,000,000)''.
       Page 2, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $12,000,000)''.
       Page 2, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $12,000,000)''.
       Page 3, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 3, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 4, line 15, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $6,000,000)''.
       Page 5, line 3, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $34,000,000)''.
       Page 5, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 5, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $3,000,000)''.
       Page 6, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $58,000,000)''.
       Page 17, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $3,000,000)''.
       Page 66, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 100, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $125,000,000)''.

  Mr. ADERHOLT (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alabama?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order on the 
gentleman's motion.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. A point of order is reserved.
  Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt) is 
recognized for 5 minutes in support of his motion.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit restores a House 
priority that had overwhelming support when we put together the FY 2019 
Agriculture bill during the last Congress.
  As I mentioned in my opening statement, our House bill last year 
placed a high priority on delivery of broadband to the unserved and 
underserved populations in rural America. Eighty percent of the 24 
million American households that do not have reliable, affordable, 
high-speed internet, are in rural areas.

                              {time}  1345

  That is according to the most recent report by the Federal 
Communications Commission. Again, 80 percent are in rural areas.
  Reliable and affordable internet connectivity is fundamental for 
economic activity throughout the United States. It is also a 
fundamental need for rural American households, for schools, and for 
healthcare centers.
  The National Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Task Force recommended 
connectivity for all rural Americans because it has become a modern-day 
necessity. It is not simply an amenity anymore. In today's information 
age and where we live today, it is driving our global economy.
  Our House appropriation bill last year included $550 million for this 
new pilot program. This motion that is now before us will simply add an 
additional $125 million to the $440 million in the bill before us 
today.
  This higher level will not fully address the multi-billion-dollar 
requirement to address rural broadband internet needs, but it is a wise 
and necessary investment.
  The new rural broadband program that was designed by USDA this year 
takes into account lessons learned from prior-year broadband 
initiatives.
  The new pilot program is a good balance between grants to the 
neediest communities and low-cost loans to those communities and 
citizens that can afford the loans.
  Mr. Speaker, you might not find a great deal of agreement between the 
priorities of President Trump and former President Obama, but the vital 
need for rural broadband is one of those things. This motion is a 
modest proposal that all of us feel obligated to support, regardless of 
your politics.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of a 
point of order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The reservation of a point of order is 
withdrawn.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the 
motion to recommit.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as many know, I have been and 
will continue to be an advocate and a supporter of rural broadband 
expansion. I view it as an obligation to provide adequate service for 
everyone, as it is vital to health, safety, the economy, and the 
welfare of all of our rural communities.
  The $425 million that is provided in this bill will complement the 
$600 million that was provided in the FY 2018 bill, which has not yet 
been spent.
  USDA recently completed the program design, and it can now begin 
implementing and, if this bill is enacted, awarding over $1 billion in 
broadband expansion funding to the communities that need it the most.
  This funding is in addition to the other programs that assist 
communities in getting broadband services, including the Community 
Connect Program, the Broadband Loan Program, and the Distance Learning 
and Telecommunication Program.
  We have funding in the works to accomplish the needs for rural 
broadband. We need to pass this bill because we need to open the 
government. We need to make sure that USDA and the Food and Drug 
Administration and all of the agencies that are shut down will open, 
and open quickly, to support the needs of the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge that this motion to recommit be rejected, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H398]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the motion to recommit.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appeared to have it.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

                          ____________________