[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23887-23923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2744, AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD 
 AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

  Mr. LaHood submitted the following conference report and statement on 
the bill (H.R. 2744), making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes:

                  Conference Report (H. Rept. 109-255)

       The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
     2744) ``making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and 
     for other purposes'', having met, after full and free 
     conference, have agreed to recommend and do recommend to 
     their respective Houses as follows:
       That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
     amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an 
     amendment, as follows:
       In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
     amendment, insert:

     That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, 
     Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2006, and for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                         AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                  Production, Processing and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, $5,127,000: Provided, That not to exceed $11,000 
     of this amount shall be available for official reception and 
     representation expenses, not otherwise provided for, as 
     determined by the Secretary.

                          Executive Operations


                            chief economist

       For necessary expenses of the Chief Economist, including 
     economic analysis, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, 
     energy and new uses, and the functions of the World 
     Agricultural Outlook Board, as authorized by the Agricultural 
     Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622g), $10,539,000.


                       National Appeals Division

       For necessary expenses of the National Appeals Division, 
     $14,524,000.


                 Office of Budget and Program Analysis

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program 
     Analysis, $8,298,000.


                        Homeland Security Staff

       For necessary expenses of the Homeland Security Staff, 
     $934,000.

                Office of the Chief Information Officer

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief 
     Information Officer, $16,462,000.

                      Common Computing Environment

       For necessary expenses to acquire a Common Computing 
     Environment for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
     the Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service, and Rural 
     Development mission areas for information technology, 
     systems, and services, $110,072,000, to remain available 
     until expended, for the capital asset acquisition of shared 
     information technology systems, including services as 
     authorized by 7 U.S.C. 6915-16 and 40 U.S.C. 1421-28: 
     Provided, That obligation of these funds shall be consistent 
     with the Department of Agriculture Service Center 
     Modernization Plan of the county-based agencies, and shall be 
     with the concurrence of the Department's Chief Information 
     Officer: Provided further, That of the funds provided under 
     this section, the Secretary shall acquire one meter natural 
     color digital ortho-imagery of the entire state of Utah.

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial 
     Officer, $5,874,000: Provided, That hereafter the Chief 
     Financial Officer shall actively market and expand cross-
     servicing activities of the National Finance Center: Provided 
     further, That no funds made available by this appropriation 
     may be obligated for FAIR Act or Circular A-76 activities 
     until the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress and the Committee 
     on Government Reform of the House of Representatives a report 
     on the Department's contracting out policies, including 
     agency budgets for contracting out.

           Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, $821,000.

                         Office of Civil Rights

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, 
     $20,109,000.

          Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Administration, $676,000.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to 
     Public Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 
     delegation of authority from the Administrator of General 
     Services to the Department of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 
     486, for programs and activities of the Department which are 
     included in this Act, and for 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, $187,734,000, to 
     remain available until expended, as follows: for payments to 
     the General Services Administration and the Department of 
     Homeland Security for building security, $147,734,000, and 
     for buildings operations and maintenance, $40,000,000: 
     Provided, That amounts which are made available for space 
     rental and related costs for the Department of Agriculture in 
     this Act may be transferred between such appropriations to 
     cover the costs of additional, new, or replacement space 15 
     days after notice thereof is transmitted to the 
     Appropriations Committees of both Houses of Congress.

                     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.), $12,000,000, 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.

                      Departmental Administration


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For Departmental Administration, $23,103,000, 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, That this appropriation shall be 
     reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for 
     travel expenses incident to the holding of hearings as 
     required by 5 U.S.C. 551-558.

     Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations to carry out 
     the programs funded by this Act, including programs involving 
     intergovernmental affairs and liaison within the executive 
     branch, $3,821,000: Provided, That these funds 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 by this 
     appropriation 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: Provided 
     further, That no other funds appropriated to the Department 
     by this Act shall be available to the Department for support 
     of activities of congressional relations.

                        Office of Communications

       For necessary expenses to carry out services relating to 
     the coordination of programs involving public affairs, for 
     the dissemination of agricultural information, and the 
     coordination of information, work, and programs authorized by

[[Page 23888]]

     Congress in the Department, $9,509,000: Provided, That not to 
     exceed $2,000,000 may be used for farmers' bulletins.

                    Office of the Inspector General

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector 
     General, including employment pursuant to the Inspector 
     General Act of 1978, $80,336,000, 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, 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 
     Public Law 95-452 and section 1337 of Public Law 97-98.

                     Office of the General Counsel

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the General 
     Counsel, $39,351,000.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics to 
     administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Economic 
     Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics 
     Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and the 
     Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
     $598,000.

                       Economic Research Service

       For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service in 
     conducting economic research and analysis, $75,931,000: 
     Provided, That none of the funds made available by this Act 
     or any other Act may be used by the Department of Agriculture 
     to publish, disseminate, or distribute, internally or 
     externally, Agriculture Information Bulletin Number 787: 
     Provided further, That of the funds provided to the Economic 
     Research Service, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use 
     $350,000 to enter into an agreement for a comprehensive 
     report on the economic development and current status of the 
     sheep industry in the United States to be prepared by the 
     National Academy of Sciences.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

       For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural 
     Statistics Service in conducting statistical reporting and 
     service work, $140,700,000, of which up to $29,115,000 shall 
     be available until expended for the Census of Agriculture.

                     Agricultural Research Service


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural Research 
     Service to perform agricultural research and demonstration 
     relating to production, utilization, marketing, and 
     distribution (not otherwise provided for); home economics or 
     nutrition and consumer use including the acquisition, 
     preservation, and dissemination of agricultural information; 
     and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or 
     purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, and for land 
     exchanges where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value 
     or shall be equalized by a payment of money to the grantor 
     which shall not exceed 25 percent of the total value of the 
     land or interests transferred out of Federal ownership, 
     $1,135,004,000: 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 $375,000, except for headhouses or 
     greenhouses which shall each be limited to $1,200,000, and 
     except for 10 buildings to be constructed or improved at a 
     cost not to exceed $750,000 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 
     $375,000, whichever is greater: Provided further, That the 
     limitations on alterations contained in this Act shall not 
     apply to modernization or replacement of existing facilities 
     at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That 
     appropriations hereunder shall be available for granting 
     easements at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center: 
     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 
     the foregoing limitations shall not apply to the purchase of 
     land at Florence, South Carolina: 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: Provided further, That the Secretary, through the 
     Agricultural Research Service, or successor, is authorized to 
     lease approximately 40 acres of land at the Central Plains 
     Experiment Station, Nunn, Colorado, to the Board of Governors 
     of the Colorado State University System, for its Shortgrass 
     Steppe Biological Field Station, on such terms and conditions 
     as the Secretary deems in the public interest: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary understands that it is the intent 
     of the University to construct research and educational 
     buildings on the subject acreage and to conduct agricultural 
     research and educational activities in these buildings: 
     Provided further, That as consideration for a lease, the 
     Secretary may accept the benefits of mutual cooperative 
     research to be conducted by the Colorado State University and 
     the Government at the Shortgrass Steppe Biological Field 
     Station: Provided further, That the term of any lease shall 
     be for no more than 20 years, but a lease may be renewed at 
     the option of the Secretary on such terms and conditions as 
     the Secretary deems in the public interest: Provided further, 
     That the Agricultural Research Service may convey all rights 
     and title of the United States, to a parcel of land 
     comprising 19 acres, more or less, located in Section 2, 
     Township 18 North, Range 14 East in Oktibbeha County, 
     Mississippi, originally conveyed by the Board of Trustees of 
     the Institution of Higher Learning of the State of 
     Mississippi, and described in instruments recorded in Deed 
     Book 306 at pages 553-554, Deed Book 319 at page 219, and 
     Deed Book 33 at page 115, of the public land records of 
     Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, including facilities, and 
     fixed equipment, to the Mississippi State University, 
     Starkville, Mississippi, in their ``as is'' condition, when 
     vacated by the Agricultural Research Service: Provided 
     further, That none of the funds appropriated under this 
     heading shall be available to carry out research related to 
     the production, processing, or marketing of tobacco or 
     tobacco products.


                        Buildings and Facilities

       For acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, 
     extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or 
     facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural 
     research programs of the Department of Agriculture, where not 
     otherwise provided, $131,195,000, to remain available until 
     expended.

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


                   Research and Education Activities

       For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for 
     cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and 
     for other expenses, $676,849,000, as follows: to carry out 
     the provisions of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361a-i), 
     $178,757,000; for grants for cooperative forestry research 
     (16 U.S.C. 582a through a-7), $22,230,000; for payments to 
     the 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University 
     and West Virginia State University (7 U.S.C. 3222), 
     $37,591,000, of which $1,507,496 shall be made available only 
     for the purpose of ensuring that each institution shall 
     receive no less than $1,000,000; for special grants for 
     agricultural research (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)), $128,223,000; for 
     special grants for agricultural research on improved pest 
     control (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)), $14,798,000; for competitive 
     research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), $183,000,000; for the 
     support of animal health and disease programs (7 U.S.C. 
     3195), $5,057,000; for supplemental and alternative crops and 
     products (7 U.S.C. 3319d), $1,187,000; for grants for 
     research pursuant to the Critical Agricultural Materials Act 
     (7 U.S.C. 178 et seq.), $1,102,000, to remain available until 
     expended; for the 1994 research grants program for 1994 
     institutions pursuant to section 536 of Public Law 103-382 (7 
     U.S.C. 301 note), $1,039,000, to remain available until 
     expended; for rangeland research grants (7 U.S.C. 3333), 
     $1,000,000; for higher education graduate fellowship grants 
     (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)), $3,738,000, to remain available until 
     expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); for a veterinary medicine loan 
     repayment program pursuant to section 1415A of the National 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
     1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), $500,000; for higher education 
     challenge grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)), $5,478,000; for a 
     higher education multicultural scholars program (7 U.S.C. 
     3152(b)(5)), $998,000, to remain available until expended (7 
     U.S.C. 2209b); for an education grants program for Hispanic-
     serving Institutions (7 U.S.C. 3241), $6,000,000; for 
     noncompetitive grants for the purpose of carrying out all 
     provisions of 7 U.S.C. 3242 (section 759 of Public Law 106-
     78) to individual eligible institutions or consortia of 
     eligible institutions in Alaska and in Hawaii, with funds 
     awarded equally to each of the States of Alaska and Hawaii, 
     $3,250,000; for a secondary agriculture education program and 
     2-year post-secondary education (7 U.S.C. 3152(j)), 
     $1,000,000; for aquaculture grants (7 U.S.C. 3322), 
     $3,968,000; for sustainable agriculture research and 
     education (7 U.S.C. 5811), $12,400,000; for a program of 
     capacity building grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)) to colleges 
     eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 
     U.S.C. 321-326 and 328), including Tuskegee University and 
     West Virginia State University, $12,312,000, to remain 
     available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); for payments to 
     the 1994 Institutions pursuant to section 534(a)(1) of Public 
     Law 103-382, $2,250,000; for resident instruction grants for 
     insular areas under section 1491 of the National Agricultural 
     Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
     U.S.C. 3363), $500,000; and for necessary expenses of 
     Research and Education Activities, $50,471,000, of which 
     $2,587,000 for the Research, Education, and Economics 
     Information System and $2,051,000 for the Electronic Grants 
     Information System, are to remain available until expended: 
     Provided, That none of the funds appropriated under this 
     heading shall be available to carry out research related to 
     the production, processing, or marketing of tobacco or 
     tobacco products: Provided further, That this paragraph shall 
     not apply to research on the medical, biotechnological, food, 
     and industrial uses of tobacco.


              Native American Institutions Endowment Fund

       For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund 
     authorized by Public Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), 
     $12,000,000, to remain available until expended.


                          Extension Activities

       For payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
     Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern 
     Marianas, and American

[[Page 23889]]

     Samoa, $455,955,000, as follows: payments for cooperative 
     extension work under the Smith-Lever Act, to be distributed 
     under sections 3(b) and 3(c) of said Act, and under section 
     208(c) of Public Law 93-471, for retirement and employees' 
     compensation costs for extension agents, $275,730,000; 
     payments for extension work at the 1994 Institutions under 
     the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)), $3,273,000; 
     payments for the nutrition and family education program for 
     low-income areas under section 3(d) of the Act, $62,634,000; 
     payments for the pest management program under section 3(d) 
     of the Act, $9,960,000; payments for the farm safety program 
     under section 3(d) of the Act, $4,563,000; payments for New 
     Technologies for Ag Extension under Section 3(d) of the Act, 
     $1,500,000; payments to upgrade research, extension, and 
     teaching facilities at the 1890 land-grant colleges, 
     including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State 
     University, as authorized by section 1447 of Public Law 95-
     113 (7 U.S.C. 3222b), $16,777,000, to remain available until 
     expended; payments for youth-at-risk programs under section 
     3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act, $7,728,000; for youth farm 
     safety education and certification extension grants, to be 
     awarded competitively under section 3(d) of the Act, 
     $444,000; payments for carrying out the provisions of the 
     Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 et 
     seq.), $4,060,000; payments for Indian reservation agents 
     under section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever Act, $1,996,000; 
     payments for sustainable agriculture programs under section 
     3(d) of the Act, $4,067,000; payments for rural health and 
     safety education as authorized by section 502(i) of Public 
     Law 92-419 (7 U.S.C. 2662(i)), $1,965,000; payments for 
     cooperative extension work by the colleges receiving the 
     benefits of the second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328) 
     and Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University, 
     $33,868,000, of which $1,724,884 shall be made available only 
     for the purpose of ensuring that each institution shall 
     receive no less than $1,000,000; for grants to youth 
     organizations pursuant to section 7630 of title 7, United 
     States Code, $2,000,000; and for necessary expenses of 
     Extension Activities, $25,390,000.


                         Integrated Activities

       For the integrated research, education, and extension 
     grants programs, including necessary administrative expenses, 
     $55,792,000, as follows: for competitive grants programs 
     authorized under section 406 of the Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626), 
     $45,792,000, including $12,867,000 for the water quality 
     program, $14,847,000 for the food safety program, $4,167,000 
     for the regional pest management centers program, $4,464,000 
     for the Food Quality Protection Act risk mitigation program 
     for major food crop systems, $1,389,000 for the crops 
     affected by Food Quality Protection Act implementation, 
     $3,106,000 for the methyl bromide transition program, and 
     $1,874,000 for the organic transition program; for a 
     competitive international science and education grants 
     program authorized under section 1459A of the National 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
     1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292b), to remain available until expended, 
     $1,000,000; for grants programs authorized under section 
     2(c)(1)(B) of Public Law 89-106, as amended, $744,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2007 for the critical 
     issues program, and $1,334,000 for the regional rural 
     development centers program; and $10,000,000 for the Food and 
     Agriculture Defense Initiative authorized under section 1484 
     of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
     Teaching Act of 1977, to remain available until September 30, 
     2007.


              Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

       For grants and contracts pursuant to section 2501 of the 
     Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
     U.S.C. 2279), $6,000,000, to remain available until expended.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs to 
     administer programs under the laws enacted by the Congress 
     for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; the 
     Agricultural Marketing Service; and the Grain Inspection, 
     Packers and Stockyards Administration; $724,000.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service


                         Salaries and Expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary to 
     prevent, control, and eradicate pests and plant and animal 
     diseases; to carry out inspection, quarantine, and regulatory 
     activities; and to protect the environment, as authorized by 
     law, $815,461,000, of which $4,140,000 shall be available for 
     the control of outbreaks of insects, plant diseases, animal 
     diseases and for control of pest animals and birds to the 
     extent necessary to meet emergency conditions; of which 
     $39,000,000 shall be used for the boll weevil eradication 
     program for cost share purposes or for debt retirement for 
     active eradication zones; of which $33,340,000 shall be 
     available for a National Animal Identification program: 
     Provided, That no funds shall be used to formulate or 
     administer a brucellosis eradication program for the current 
     fiscal year that does not require minimum matching by the 
     States of at least 40 percent: Provided further, That this 
     appropriation shall be available for the operation and 
     maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed 
     four, of which two shall be for replacement only: Provided 
     further, That, in addition, in emergencies which threaten any 
     segment of the agricultural production industry of this 
     country, the Secretary may transfer from other appropriations 
     or funds available to the agencies or corporations of the 
     Department such sums as may be deemed necessary, to be 
     available only in such emergencies for the arrest and 
     eradication of contagious or infectious disease or pests of 
     animals, poultry, or plants, and for expenses in accordance 
     with 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 2006, the agency is authorized to collect 
     fees to cover the total costs of providing technical 
     assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other 
     political subdivisions, domestic and international 
     organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided 
     that such fees are structured such that any entity's 
     liability for such fees is reasonably based on the technical 
     assistance, goods, or services provided to the entity by the 
     agency, and such fees shall be credited to this account, to 
     remain available until expended, without further 
     appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or 
     services.


                        Buildings and Facilities

       For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, 
     environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, 
     and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized 
     by 7 U.S.C. 2250, and acquisition of land as authorized by 7 
     U.S.C. 428a, $4,996,000, to remain available until expended.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           Marketing Services

       For necessary expenses to carry out services related to 
     consumer protection, agricultural marketing and distribution, 
     transportation, and regulatory programs, as authorized by 
     law, and for administration and coordination of payments to 
     States, $75,376,000, including funds for the wholesale market 
     development program for the design and development of 
     wholesale and farmer market facilities for the major 
     metropolitan areas of the country: Provided, That this 
     appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 
     2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and 
     improvements, but the cost of altering any one building 
     during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the 
     current replacement value of the building.
       Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization 
     activities, as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 
     U.S.C. 9701).


                 limitation on administrative expenses

       Not to exceed $65,667,000 (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, including not less than $20,000,000 for 
     replacement of a system to support commodity purchases, 
     except for: (1) transfers to the Department of Commerce as 
     authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956; 
     (2) transfers otherwise provided in this Act; and (3) not 
     more than $16,055,000 for formulation and administration of 
     marketing agreements and orders pursuant to the Agricultural 
     Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and the Agricultural Act of 
     1961.


                   Payments to States and Possessions

       For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and 
     departments of markets, and similar agencies for marketing 
     activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing 
     Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)), $3,847,000, of which not less 
     than $2,500,000 shall be used to make a grant under this 
     heading.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
     United States Grain Standards Act, for the administration of 
     the Packers and Stockyards Act, for certifying procedures 
     used to protect purchasers of farm products, and the 
     standardization activities related to grain under the 
     Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, $38,443,000: Provided, 
     That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 
     U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and 
     improvements, but the cost of altering any one building 
     during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the 
     current replacement value of the building.


        Limitation on Inspection and Weighing Services Expenses

       Not to exceed $42,463,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
     obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and 
     weighing services: Provided,

[[Page 23890]]

     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 salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Food Safety to administer the laws 
     enacted by the Congress for the Food Safety and Inspection 
     Service, $602,000.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

       For necessary expenses to carry out services authorized by 
     the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products 
     Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, 
     including not to exceed $50,000 for representation allowances 
     and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved 
     August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), $837,756,000, of which no 
     less than $753,252,000 shall be available for Federal food 
     safety inspection; 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 no fewer than 63 full time 
     equivalent positions above the fiscal year 2002 level shall 
     be employed during fiscal year 2006 for purposes dedicated 
     solely to inspections and enforcement related to the Humane 
     Methods of Slaughter Act: Provided further, That of the 
     amount available under this heading, notwithstanding section 
     704 of this Act $4,000,000, available until September 30, 
     2007, shall be obligated to include the Humane Animal 
     Tracking System as part of the Field Automation and 
     Information Management System following notification to the 
     Committees on Appropriations, which shall include a detailed 
     explanation of the components of such system: Provided 
     further, That of the total amount made available under this 
     heading, no less than $20,653,000 shall be obligated for 
     regulatory and scientific training: Provided further, That 
     this appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 
     U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and 
     improvements, but the cost of altering any one building 
     during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the 
     current replacement value of the building.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to 
     administer the laws enacted by Congress for the Farm Service 
     Agency, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Risk Management 
     Agency, and the Commodity Credit Corporation, $635,000.

                          Farm Service Agency


                         Salaries and Expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration 
     and implementation of programs administered by the Farm 
     Service Agency, $1,030,000,000: Provided, That the Secretary 
     is authorized to use the services, facilities, and 
     authorities (but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation to make program payments for all programs 
     administered by the Agency: Provided further, That other 
     funds made available to the Agency for authorized activities 
     may be advanced to and merged with this account: Provided 
     further, That none of the funds made available by this Act 
     may be used to pay the salaries or expenses of any officer or 
     employee of the Department of Agriculture to close any local 
     or county office of the Farm Service Agency unless the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, not later than 30 days after the 
     date on which the Secretary proposed the closure, holds a 
     public meeting about the proposed closure in the county in 
     which the local or county office is located, and, after the 
     public meeting but not later than 120 days before the date on 
     which the Secretary approves the closure, notifies the 
     Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate, and the members of Congress 
     from the State in which the local or county office is located 
     of the proposed closure.


                         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), 
     $4,250,000.


               GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM

       For necessary expenses to carry out wellhead or groundwater 
     protection activities under section 12400 of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-2), $3,750,000, 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, $100,000, 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, Indian tribe land 
     acquisition loans (25 U.S.C. 488), and boll weevil loans (7 
     U.S.C. 1989), to be available from funds in the Agricultural 
     Credit Insurance Fund, as follows: farm ownership loans, 
     $1,608,000,000, of which $1,400,000,000 shall be for 
     guaranteed loans and $208,000,000 shall be for direct loans; 
     operating loans, $2,074,632,000, of which $1,150,000,000 
     shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans, $274,632,000 
     shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans and $650,000,000 
     shall be for direct loans; Indian tribe land acquisition 
     loans, $2,020,000; and for boll weevil eradication program 
     loans, $100,000,000: Provided, That the Secretary shall deem 
     the pink bollworm to be a boll weevil for the purpose of boll 
     weevil eradication program loans.
       For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the 
     cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm ownership 
     loans, $17,370,000, of which $6,720,000 shall be for 
     guaranteed loans, and $10,650,000 shall be for direct loans; 
     operating loans, $133,849,000, of which $34,845,000 shall be 
     for unsubsidized guaranteed loans, $34,329,000 shall be for 
     subsidized guaranteed loans, and $64,675,000 shall be for 
     direct loans; and Indian tribe land acquisition loans, 
     $81,000.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $312,591,000, of 
     which $304,591,000 shall be transferred to and merged with 
     the appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.
       Funds appropriated by this Act to the Agricultural Credit 
     Insurance Program Account for farm ownership and operating 
     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

       For administrative and operating expenses, as authorized by 
     section 226A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization 
     Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6933), $77,048,000: 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).

                              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

       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 II

                         CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment to 
     administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Forest 
     Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
     $744,000.

                 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

[[Page 23891]]

     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, $839,519,000, to remain available 
     until May 31, 2007, of which not less than $10,650,000 is for 
     snow survey and water forecasting, and not less than 
     $10,547,000 is for operation and establishment of the plant 
     materials centers, and of which not less than $27,500,000 
     shall be for the grazing lands conservation initiative: 
     Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available 
     pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of 
     buildings and public improvements at plant materials centers, 
     except that the cost of alterations and improvements to other 
     buildings and other public improvements shall not exceed 
     $250,000: Provided further, That when buildings or other 
     structures are erected on non-Federal land, that the right to 
     use such land is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a: 
     Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available 
     for technical assistance and related expenses to carry out 
     programs authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the 
     Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (43 U.S.C. 
     1592(c)): Provided further, That qualified local engineers 
     may be temporarily employed at per diem rates to perform the 
     technical planning work of the Service.


                     Watershed Surveys and Planning

       For necessary expenses to conduct research, investigation, 
     and surveys of watersheds of rivers and other waterways, and 
     for small watershed investigations and planning, in 
     accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 1001-1009), $6,083,000.


               Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations

       For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, 
     including but not limited to research, engineering 
     operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of 
     vegetation, rehabilitation of existing works and changes in 
     use of land, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and 
     Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001-1005 and 1007-1009), the 
     provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), 
     and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating to the 
     activities of the Department, $75,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended; of which up to $10,000,000 may be 
     available for the watersheds authorized under the Flood 
     Control Act (33 U.S.C. 701 and 16 U.S.C. 1006a): Provided, 
     That not to exceed $30,000,000 of this appropriation shall be 
     available for technical assistance: Provided further, That 
     not to exceed $1,000,000 of this appropriation is available 
     to carry out the purposes of the Endangered Species Act of 
     1973 (Public Law 93-205), including cooperative efforts as 
     contemplated by that Act to relocate endangered or threatened 
     species to other suitable habitats as may be necessary to 
     expedite project construction.


                    Watershed Rehabilitation Program

       For necessary expenses to carry out rehabilitation of 
     structural measures, in accordance with section 14 of the 
     Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1012), and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating 
     to the activities of the Department, $31,561,000, to remain 
     available until expended.


                 Resource Conservation and Development

       For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out 
     projects for resource conservation and development and for 
     sound land use pursuant to the provisions of sections 31 and 
     32 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010-1011; 
     76 Stat. 607); the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f); 
     and subtitle H of title XV of the Agriculture and Food Act of 
     1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451-3461), $51,300,000, to remain available 
     until expended: Provided, That the Secretary shall enter into 
     a cooperative or contribution agreement, within 45 days of 
     enactment of this Act, with a national association regarding 
     a Resource Conservation and Development program and such 
     agreement shall contain the same matching, contribution 
     requirements, and funding level, set forth in a similar 
     cooperative or contribution agreement with a national 
     association in fiscal year 2002: Provided further, That not 
     to exceed $3,411,000 shall be available for national 
     headquarters activities.

                               TITLE III

                       RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Rural Development to administer programs 
     under the laws enacted by the Congress for the Rural Housing 
     Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the 
     Rural Utilities Service, $635,000.


                  Rural Community Advancement Program

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, 
     as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, 1926d, and 
     1932, except for sections 381E-H and 381N of the Consolidated 
     Farm and Rural Development Act, $701,941,000, to remain 
     available until expended, of which $82,620,000 shall be for 
     rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of 
     such Act; of which $530,100,000 shall be for the rural 
     utilities programs described in sections 381E(d)(2), 
     306C(a)(2), and 306D of such Act, of which not to exceed 
     $500,000 shall be available for the rural utilities program 
     described in section 306(a)(2)(B) of such Act, and of which 
     not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be available for the rural 
     utilities program described in section 306E of such Act; and 
     of which $89,221,000 shall be for the rural business and 
     cooperative development programs described in sections 
     381E(d)(3) and 310B(f) of such Act: Provided, That of the 
     total amount appropriated in this account, $25,000,000 shall 
     be for loans and grants to benefit Federally Recognized 
     Native American Tribes, including grants for drinking water 
     and waste disposal systems pursuant to section 306C of such 
     Act, of which $4,464,000 shall be available for community 
     facilities grants to tribal colleges, as authorized by 
     section 306(a)(19) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act, and of which $250,000 shall be available for 
     a grant to a qualified national organization to provide 
     technical assistance for rural transportation in order to 
     promote economic development: Provided further, That of the 
     amount appropriated for rural community programs, $6,350,000 
     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 of the amount 
     appropriated for the rural business and cooperative 
     development programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall be made 
     available for a grant to a qualified national organization to 
     provide technical assistance for rural transportation in 
     order to promote economic development; $2,000,000 shall be 
     for grants to the Delta Regional Authority (7 U.S.C. 1921 et 
     seq.) for any purpose under this heading: Provided further, 
     That of the amount appropriated for rural utilities programs, 
     not to exceed $25,000,000 shall be for water and waste 
     disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the United 
     States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to section 
     306C of such Act; $25,000,000 shall be for water and waste 
     disposal systems for rural and native villages in Alaska 
     pursuant to section 306D of such Act, with up to 2 percent 
     available to administer the program and/or improve 
     interagency coordination may be transferred to and merged 
     with the appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and 
     Expenses'', of which $100,000 shall be provided to develop a 
     regional system for centralized billing, operation, and 
     management of rural water and sewer utilities through 
     regional cooperatives, of which 25 percent shall be provided 
     for water and sewer projects in regional hubs, and the State 
     of Alaska shall provide a 25 percent cost share, and grantees 
     may use up to 5 percent of grant funds, not to exceed $35,000 
     per community, for the completion of comprehensive community 
     safe water plans; not to exceed $18,250,000 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 
     $5,600,000 shall be for Rural Community Assistance Programs 
     and not less than $850,000 shall be for a qualified national 
     Native American organization to provide technical assistance 
     for rural water systems for tribal communities; and not to 
     exceed $13,750,000 shall be for contracting with qualified 
     national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide 
     technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided 
     further, That of the total amount appropriated, not to exceed 
     $21,367,000 shall be available through June 30, 2006, for 
     authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and 
     communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as 
     Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones; of which $1,067,000 
     shall be for the rural community programs described in 
     section 381E(d)(1) of such Act, of which $12,000,000 shall be 
     for the rural utilities programs described in section 
     381E(d)(2) of such Act, and of which $8,300,000 shall be for 
     the rural business and cooperative development programs 
     described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided 
     further, That of the amount appropriated for rural community 
     programs, $18,000,000 shall be to provide grants for 
     facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and 
     severe economic depression (Public Law 106-387), with 5 
     percent for administration and capacity building in the State 
     rural development offices: Provided further, That of the 
     amount appropriated, $26,000,000 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 cost 
     energy grants authorized by section 19 of the Rural 
     Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901(19)) shall be 
     transferred to and merged with the ``Rural Utilities Service, 
     High Energy Costs Grants Account''.

                Rural Development Salaries and Expenses


                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration 
     and implementation of programs in the Rural Development 
     mission area, including activities with institutions 
     concerning the development and operation of agricultural 
     cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements;

[[Page 23892]]

     $164,625,000: Provided, That of the funds appropriated under 
     this title for salaries and expenses, $11,147,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2007, shall be used to complete 
     the consolidation of Rural Development activities in St. 
     Louis, Missouri: Provided further, That notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, funds appropriated under this section 
     may be used for advertising and promotional activities that 
     support the Rural Development mission area: Provided further, 
     That not more than $10,000 may be expended to provide modest 
     nonmonetary awards to non-USDA employees: Provided further, 
     That any balances available from prior years for the Rural 
     Utilities Service, Rural Housing Service, and the Rural 
     Business-Cooperative Service salaries and expenses accounts 
     shall be transferred to and merged with this appropriation.

                         Rural Housing Service


              Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
     and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing 
     Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing 
     insurance fund, as follows: $4,821,832,000 for loans to 
     section 502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of 
     which $1,140,799,000 shall be for direct loans, and of which 
     $3,681,033,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; 
     $35,000,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; 
     $100,000,000 for section 515 rental housing; $100,000,000 for 
     section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; $5,000,000 
     for section 524 site loans; $11,500,000 for credit sales of 
     acquired property, of which up to $1,500,000 may be for 
     multi-family credit sales; and $5,048,000 for section 523 
     self-help housing land development loans.
       For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the 
     cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 
     loans, $170,837,000, of which $129,937,000 shall be for 
     direct loans, and of which $40,900,000, to remain available 
     until expended, shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; 
     section 504 housing repair loans, $10,238,000; repair, 
     rehabilitation, and new construction of section 515 rental 
     housing, $45,880,000; section 538 multi-family housing 
     guaranteed loans, $5,420,000; multi-family credit sales of 
     acquired property, $681,000; and section 523 self-help 
     housing and development loans, $52,000: Provided, That of the 
     total amount appropriated in this paragraph, $2,500,000 shall 
     be available through June 30, 2006, for authorized 
     empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities 
     designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic 
     Area Partnership Zones: Provided further, That any funds 
     under this paragraph initially allocated by the Secretary for 
     housing projects in the State of Alaska that are not 
     obligated by September 30, 2006, shall be carried over until 
     September 30, 2007, and made available for such housing 
     projects only in the State of Alaska.
       For additional costs to conduct a demonstration program for 
     the preservation and revitalization of the section 515 multi-
     family rental housing properties, $9,000,000: Provided, That 
     funding made available under this heading shall be used to 
     restructure existing section 515 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 including reducing or eliminating interest; 
     deferring loan payments, subordinating, reducing or 
     reamortizing loan debt; and other financial assistance 
     including advances and incentives required by the Secretary.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $454,809,000, 
     which shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and 
     Expenses'', of which not less than $1,000,000 shall be made 
     available for the Secretary to contract with third parties to 
     acquire the necessary automation and technical services 
     needed to restructure section 515 mortgages.


                       Rental Assistance Program

       For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed 
     pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or 
     agreements entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or 
     payments for eligible households as authorized by section 
     502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, $653,102,000; and, 
     in addition, such sums as may be necessary, as authorized by 
     section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior 
     to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance 
     program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of 
     this amount, up to $8,000,000 shall be available for debt 
     forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized 
     by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $50,000 
     per project for advances to nonprofit organizations or public 
     agencies to cover direct costs (other than purchase price) 
     incurred in purchasing projects pursuant to section 
     502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Provided further, That agreements 
     entered into or renewed during the current fiscal year shall 
     be funded for a four-year period: Provided further, That any 
     unexpended balances remaining at the end of such four-year 
     agreements may be transferred and used for the 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 that is recovered from 
     projects that are subject to prepayment shall be deobligated 
     and reallocated for vouchers and debt forgiveness or payments 
     consistent with the requirements of this Act for purposes 
     authorized under section 542 and section 502(c)(5)(D) of the 
     Housing Act of 1949, as amended.


                     Rural Housing Voucher Program

       For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under 
     section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949, (without regard to 
     section 542(b)), $16,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended: Provided, That such vouchers shall be available 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 the 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 for section 8 housing vouchers administered by the 
     Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
     (including the ability to pay administrative costs related to 
     delivery of the voucher funds).


                  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), $34,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended: Provided, That of the total 
     amount appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be available through 
     June 30, 2006, for authorized empowerment zones and 
     enterprise communities and communities designated by the 
     Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership 
     Zones.


                    Rural Housing Assistance Grants

       For grants and contracts for very low-income housing 
     repair, supervisory and technical assistance, compensation 
     for construction defects, and rural housing preservation made 
     by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 
     1474, 1479(c), 1490e, and 1490m, $43,976,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That $2,976,000 shall be 
     made available for loans to private non-profit organizations, 
     or such non-profit organizations' affiliate loan funds and 
     State and local housing finance agencies, to carry out a 
     housing demonstration program to provide revolving loans for 
     the preservation of low-income multi-family housing projects: 
     Provided further, That loans under such demonstration program 
     shall have an interest rate of not more than 1 percent direct 
     loan to the recipient: Provided further, That the Secretary 
     may defer the interest and principal payment to the Rural 
     Housing Service for up to 3 years and the term of such loans 
     shall not exceed 30 years: Provided further, That of the 
     total amount appropriated, $1,200,000 shall be available 
     through June 30, 2006, for authorized empowerment zones and 
     enterprise communities and communities designated by the 
     Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership 
     Zones.


                       Farm Labor Program Account

       For the cost of direct loans, grants, and contracts, as 
     authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1484 and 1486, $31,168,000, to remain 
     available until expended, for direct farm labor housing loans 
     and domestic farm labor housing grants and contracts.

                  Rural Business--Cooperative Service


              Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by 
     the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)), 
     $34,212,000.
       For the cost of direct loans, $14,718,000, as authorized by 
     the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)), of which 
     $1,724,000 shall be available through June 30, 2006, for 
     Federally Recognized Native American Tribes and of which 
     $3,449,000 shall be available through June 30, 2006, for 
     Mississippi Delta Region counties (as determined in 
     accordance with Public Law 100-460): Provided, That of such 
     amount made available, the Secretary may provide up to 
     $1,500,000 for the Delta Regional Authority (7 U.S.C. 1921 et 
     seq.): Provided further, That such costs, including the cost 
     of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 
     of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, 
     That of the total amount appropriated, $887,000 shall be 
     available through June 30, 2006, for the cost of direct loans 
     for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities 
     and communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as 
     Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     direct loan programs, $4,793,000 shall be transferred to and 
     merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Development, 
     Salaries and Expenses''.


            Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account

                    (including rescission of funds)

       For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized 
     under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the 
     purpose of promoting rural economic development and job 
     creation projects, $25,003,000.
       For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of 
     modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $4,993,000, to remain 
     available until expended.
       Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit 
     payments, as authorized by

[[Page 23893]]

     section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, 
     $170,000,000 shall not be obligated and $170,000,000 are 
     rescinded.


                  Rural Cooperative Development Grants

       For rural cooperative development grants authorized under 
     section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $29,488,000, of which 
     $500,000 shall be for a cooperative research agreement with a 
     qualified academic institution to conduct research on the 
     national economic impact of all types of cooperatives; and of 
     which $2,500,000 shall be for cooperative agreements for the 
     appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program: 
     Provided, That not to exceed $1,488,000 shall be for 
     cooperatives or associations of cooperatives whose primary 
     focus is to provide assistance to small, minority producers 
     and whose governing board and/or membership is comprised of 
     at least 75 percent minority; and of which $20,500,000, to 
     remain available until expended, shall be for value-added 
     agricultural product market development grants, as authorized 
     by section 6401 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
     of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note).


       Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Grants

       For grants in connection with second and third rounds of 
     empowerment zones and enterprise communities, $11,200,000, to 
     remain available until expended, for designated rural 
     empowerment zones and rural enterprise communities, as 
     authorized by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Omnibus 
     Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
     1999 (Public Law 105-277): Provided, That of the funds 
     appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be made available to third 
     round empowerment zones, as authorized by the Community 
     Renewal Tax Relief Act (Public Law 106-554).


                        Renewable Energy Program

       For the cost of a program of direct loans, loan guarantees, 
     and grants, under the same terms and conditions as authorized 
     by section 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
     of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106), $23,000,000 for direct and 
     guaranteed renewable energy loans and grants: Provided, That 
     the cost of direct loans and 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 Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of 
     the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be 
     made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, 
     $100,000,000; municipal rate rural electric loans, 
     $100,000,000; loans made pursuant to section 306 of that Act, 
     rural electric, $2,700,000,000; Treasury rate direct electric 
     loans, $1,000,000,000; guaranteed underwriting loans pursuant 
     to section 313A, $1,500,000,000; 5 percent rural 
     telecommunications loans, $145,000,000; cost of money rural 
     telecommunications loans, $424,000,000; and for loans made 
     pursuant to section 306 of that Act, rural telecommunications 
     loans, $125,000,000.
       For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
     modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by 
     sections 305 and 306 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
     (7 U.S.C. 935 and 936), as follows: cost of rural electric 
     loans, $6,160,000, and the cost of telecommunications loans, 
     $212,000: Provided, That notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of 
     the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, borrower interest 
     rates may exceed 7 percent per year.
       In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
     out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $38,784,000 
     which shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Rural Development, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.


                  Rural Telephone Bank Program Account

              (including transfer and rescission of funds)

       The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such 
     expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such 
     corporation in accord with law, and to make such contracts 
     and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
     provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control 
     Act, as may be necessary in carrying out its authorized 
     programs.
       For administrative expenses, including audits, necessary to 
     continue to service existing loans, $2,500,000, which shall 
     be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for 
     ``Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses''.
       Of the unobligated balances from the Rural Telephone Bank 
     Liquidating Account, $2,500,000 shall not be obligated and 
     $2,500,000 are rescinded.


         Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program

       For the principal amount of direct distance learning and 
     telemedicine loans, $25,000,000; and for the principal amount 
     of broadband telecommunication loans, $500,000,000.
       For the cost of direct loans and grants for telemedicine 
     and distance learning services in rural areas, as authorized 
     by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $30,375,000, to remain available 
     until expended, of which $375,000 shall be for direct loans: 
     Provided, That the cost of direct loans shall be as defined 
     in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 
     Provided further, That $5,000,000 shall be made available to 
     convert analog to digital operation those noncommercial 
     educational television broadcast stations that serve rural 
     areas and are qualified for Community Service Grants by the 
     Corporation for Public Broadcasting under section 396(k) of 
     the Communications Act of 1934, including associated 
     translators and repeaters, regardless of the location of 
     their main transmitter, studio-to-transmitter links, and 
     equipment to allow local control over digital content and 
     programming through the use of high-definition broadcast, 
     multi-casting and datacasting technologies.
       For the cost of broadband loans, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 
     901 et seq., $10,750,000, to remain available until September 
     30, 2007: Provided, That the interest rate for such loans 
     shall be the cost of borrowing to the Department of the 
     Treasury for obligations of comparable maturity: Provided 
     further, That the cost of direct loans shall be as defined in 
     section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
       In addition, $9,000,000, 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.

                                TITLE IV

                         DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
     Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to 
     administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food and 
     Nutrition Service, $599,000.

                       Food and Nutrition Service


                        Child Nutrition Programs

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses to carry out the National School 
     Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section 21, and 
     the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), 
     except sections 17 and 21; $12,660,829,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2007, of which $7,473,208,000 
     is hereby appropriated and $5,187,621,000 shall be derived by 
     transfer from funds available under section 32 of the Act of 
     August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Provided, That none of the 
     funds made available under this heading shall be used for 
     studies and evaluations: Provided further, That up to 
     $5,235,000 shall be available for independent verification of 
     school food service claims.


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), 
     $5,257,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 
     2007, of which such sums as are necessary to restore the 
     contingency reserve to $125,000,000 shall be placed in 
     reserve, to remain available until expended, to be allocated 
     as the Secretary deems necessary, notwithstanding section 
     17(i) of such Act, to support participation should cost or 
     participation exceed budget estimates: Provided, That of the 
     total amount available, the Secretary shall obligate not less 
     than $15,000,000 for a breastfeeding support initiative in 
     addition to the activities specified in section 17(h)(3)(A): 
     Provided further, That only the provisions of section 
     17(h)(10)(B)(i) and section 17(h)(10)(B)(ii) shall be 
     effective in 2006; including $14,000,000 for the purposes 
     specified in section 17(h)(10)(B)(i) and $20,000,000 for the 
     purposes specified in section 17(h)(10)(B)(ii): Provided 
     further, That funds made available for the purposes specified 
     in section 17(h)(10)(B)(ii) shall only be made available upon 
     a determination by the Secretary that funds are available to 
     meet caseload requirements without the use of the contingency 
     reserve funds: Provided further, That none of the funds made 
     available under this heading shall be used for studies and 
     evaluations: Provided further, That none of the funds in this 
     Act shall be available to pay administrative expenses of WIC 
     clinics except those that have an announced policy of 
     prohibiting smoking within the space used to carry out the 
     program: Provided further, That none of the funds provided in 
     this account shall be available for the purchase of infant 
     formula except in accordance with the cost containment and 
     competitive bidding requirements specified in section 17 of 
     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.


                           Food Stamp Program

       For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 
     U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $40,711,395,000, of which 
     $3,000,000,000 to remain available through September 30, 
     2007, shall be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts 
     and at such times as may become necessary to carry out 
     program operations: Provided, That none of the funds made 
     available under this heading shall be used for studies and 
     evaluations: Provided further, That of the funds made 
     available under this heading and not already appropriated to 
     the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) 
     established under section 4(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
     (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)), not less than $3,000,000 shall be used to 
     purchase bison meat for the FDPIR from Native American bison 
     producers as well as from producer-owned cooperatives of 
     bison ranchers: Provided further, That funds provided herein 
     shall be expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food 
     Stamp Act: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be 
     subject to any work registration or workfare requirements as 
     may be required by law: Provided further, That funds made 
     available for Employment and Training under this heading 
     shall remain available until expended, as authorized by 
     section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp Act: Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding section 5(d) of the Food Stamp

[[Page 23894]]

     Act of 1977, any additional payment received under chapter 5 
     of title 37, United States Code, by a member of the United 
     States Armed Forces deployed to a designated combat zone 
     shall be excluded from household income for the duration of 
     the member's deployment if the additional pay is the result 
     of deployment to or while serving in a combat zone, and it 
     was not received immediately prior to serving in the combat 
     zone.


                      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 (in a form determined by the 
     Secretary of Agriculture) 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, 
     $179,366,000, to remain available through September 30, 2007: 
     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 2006 to support the 
     Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by 
     section 4402 of Public Law 107-171, such funds shall remain 
     available through September 30, 2007: Provided further, That 
     of the funds made available under section 27(a) of the Food 
     Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the Secretary may 
     use up to $10,000,000 for costs associated with the 
     distribution of commodities.


                   Nutrition Programs Administration

       For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic 
     nutrition assistance programs funded under this Act, 
     $140,761,000.

                                TITLE V

                FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

                      Foreign Agricultural Service


                         Salaries and Expenses

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, 
     including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 
     1954 (7 U.S.C. 1761-1768), market development activities 
     abroad, and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and 
     integrate activities of the Department in connection with 
     foreign agricultural work, including not to exceed $158,000 
     for representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to 
     section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), 
     $147,901,000: Provided, That the Service may utilize advances 
     of funds, or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures 
     made on behalf of Federal agencies, public and private 
     organizations and institutions under agreements executed 
     pursuant to the agricultural food production assistance 
     programs (7 U.S.C. 1737) and the foreign assistance programs 
     of the United States Agency for International Development.


  Public Law 480 Title I Direct Credit and Food for Progress Program 
                                Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of agreements under the 
     Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, 
     and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, including the cost of 
     modifying credit arrangements under said Acts, $65,040,000, 
     to remain available until expended: Provided, That the 
     Secretary of Agriculture may implement a commodity 
     monetization program under existing provisions of the Food 
     for Progress Act of 1985 to provide no less than $5,000,000 
     in local-currency funding support for rural electrification 
     development overseas.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     credit program of title I, Public Law 83-480, and the Food 
     for Progress Act of 1985, to the extent funds appropriated 
     for Public Law 83-480 are utilized, $3,385,000, of which 
     $168,000 may be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriation for ``Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries 
     and Expenses'', and of which $3,217,000 may be transferred to 
     and merged with the appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, 
     Salaries and Expenses''.


        Public Law 480 Title I Ocean Freight Differential Grants

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For ocean freight differential costs for the shipment of 
     agricultural commodities under title I of the Agricultural 
     Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 and under the 
     Food for Progress Act of 1985, $11,940,000, to remain 
     available until expended: Provided, That funds made available 
     for the cost of agreements under title I of the Agricultural 
     Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 and for title I 
     ocean freight differential may be used interchangeably 
     between the two accounts with prior notice to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.


                     Public Law 480 Title II Grants

       For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise 
     recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including 
     interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade Development 
     and Assistance Act of 1954, for commodities supplied in 
     connection with dispositions abroad under title II of said 
     Act, $1,150,000,000, to remain available until expended.


       Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation's export guarantee program, GSM 102 and 
     GSM 103, $5,279,000; to cover common overhead expenses as 
     permitted by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
     Charter Act and in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform 
     Act of 1990, of which $3,440,000 may be transferred to and 
     merged with the appropriation for ``Foreign Agricultural 
     Service, Salaries and Expenses'', and of which $1,839,000 may 
     be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for 
     ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses''.


  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), $100,000,000, 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.

                                TITLE VI

           RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration


                         Salaries and Expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration, 
     including hire and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for 
     payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public 
     Law 92-313 for programs and activities of the Food and Drug 
     Administration which are included in this Act; for rental of 
     special purpose space in the District of Columbia or 
     elsewhere; 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; $1,838,567,000: Provided, 
     That of the amount provided under this heading, $305,332,000 
     shall be derived from prescription drug user fees authorized 
     by 21 U.S.C. 379h, shall be credited to this account and 
     remain available until expended, and shall not include any 
     fees pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 379h(a)(2) and (a)(3) assessed for 
     fiscal year 2007 but collected in fiscal year 2006; 
     $40,300,000 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; and $11,318,000 
     shall be derived from animal drug user fees authorized by 21 
     U.S.C. 379j, and shall be credited to this account and remain 
     available until expended: Provided further, That fees derived 
     from prescription drug, medical device, and animal drug 
     assessments received during fiscal year 2006, including any 
     such fees assessed prior to the current fiscal year but 
     credited during the current year, shall be subject to the 
     fiscal year 2006 limitation: Provided further, That none of 
     these funds shall be used to develop, establish, or operate 
     any program of user fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701: 
     Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated: (1) 
     $443,153,000 shall be for the Center for Food Safety and 
     Applied Nutrition and related field activities in the Office 
     of Regulatory Affairs; (2) $520,564,000 shall be for the 
     Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and related field 
     activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (3) 
     $178,714,000 shall be for the Center for Biologics Evaluation 
     and Research and for related field activities in the Office 
     of Regulatory Affairs; (4) $99,787,000 shall be for the 
     Center for Veterinary Medicine and for related field 
     activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (5) 
     $245,770,000 shall be for the Center for Devices and 
     Radiological Health and for related field activities in the 
     Office of Regulatory Affairs; (6) $41,152,000 shall be for 
     the National Center for Toxicological Research; (7) 
     $58,515,000 shall be for Rent and Related activities, of 
     which $21,974,000 is for White Oak Consolidation, other than 
     the amounts paid to the General Services Administration for 
     rent; (8) $134,853,000 shall be for payments to the General 
     Services Administration for rent; and (9) $116,059,000 shall 
     be for other activities, including the Office of the 
     Commissioner; the Office of Management; the Office of 
     External Relations; the Office of Policy and Planning; and 
     central services for these offices: 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 may be credited to this account, to remain available 
     until expended.
       In addition, export certification user fees authorized by 
     21 U.S.C. 381 may be credited to this account, to remain 
     available until expended.


                        Buildings and Facilities

       For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, 
     alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of 
     or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not 
     otherwise provided, $8,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

       For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
     Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), including the 
     purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles, and the rental 
     of space (to include multiple year leases) in the District of 
     Columbia and elsewhere, $98,386,000,

[[Page 23895]]

     including not to exceed $3,000 for official reception and 
     representation expenses.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 Limitation on Administrative Expenses

       Not to exceed $44,250,000 (from assessments collected from 
     farm credit institutions and from the Federal Agricultural 
     Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated during the current 
     fiscal year for administrative expenses as authorized under 
     12 U.S.C. 2249: Provided, That this limitation shall not 
     apply to expenses associated with receiverships.

                               TITLE VII

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

             (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 320 passenger 
     motor vehicles, of which 320 shall be for replacement only, 
     and for the hire of such vehicles.
       Sec. 702. Hereafter, funds appropriated by this or any 
     other Appropriations Act to the Department of Agriculture 
     (excluding the Forest Service) shall be available for 
     uniforms or allowances as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-
     5902).
       Sec. 703. Hereafter, funds appropriated by this or any 
     other Appropriations Act to the Department of Agriculture 
     (excluding the Forest Service) shall be available for 
     employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) 
     of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 (7 
     U.S.C. 2225) and 5 U.S.C. 3109.
       Sec. 704. New obligational authority provided for the 
     following appropriation items in this Act shall remain 
     available until expended: Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
     Service, the contingency fund to meet emergency conditions, 
     information technology infrastructure, fruit fly program, 
     emerging plant pests, boll weevil program, low pathogen avian 
     influenza program, up to $33,340,000 in animal health 
     monitoring and surveillance for the animal identification 
     system, up to $1,500,000 in the scrapie program for 
     indemnities, up to $3,000,000 in the emergency management 
     systems program for the vaccine bank, up to $1,000,000 for 
     wildlife services methods development, up to $1,000,000 of 
     the wildlife services operations program for aviation safety, 
     and up to 25 percent of the screwworm program; Food Safety 
     and Inspection Service, field automation and information 
     management project; Cooperative State Research, Education, 
     and Extension Service, funds for competitive research grants 
     (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), funds for the Research, Education, and 
     Economics Information System, and funds for the Native 
     American Institutions Endowment Fund; Farm Service Agency, 
     salaries and expenses funds made available to county 
     committees; Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income 
     country training 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.
       Sec. 705. The Secretary of Agriculture may transfer 
     unobligated balances of discretionary funds appropriated by 
     this Act or other available unobligated discretionary 
     balances 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: Provided, That none of the funds made available 
     by this Act or any other Act shall be transferred to the 
     Working Capital Fund without the prior approval of the agency 
     administrator: Provided further, That none of the funds 
     transferred to the Working Capital Fund pursuant to this 
     section shall be available for obligation without the prior 
     approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
     of Congress.
       Sec. 706. No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
     fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
       Sec. 707. Hereafter, not to exceed $50,000 in each fiscal 
     year of the funds appropriated by this or any other 
     Appropriations Act to the Department of Agriculture 
     (excluding the Forest Service) shall be available to provide 
     appropriate orientation and language training pursuant to 
     section 606C of the Act of August 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1766b).
       Sec. 708. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to 
     pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements 
     or similar arrangements between the United States Department 
     of Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 
     percent of the total direct cost of the agreement when the 
     purpose of such cooperative arrangements is to carry out 
     programs of mutual interest between the two parties. This 
     does not preclude appropriate payment of indirect costs on 
     grants and contracts with such institutions when such 
     indirect costs are computed on a similar basis for all 
     agencies for which appropriations are provided in this Act.
       Sec. 709. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
     to pay indirect costs charged against competitive 
     agricultural research, education, or extension grant awards 
     issued by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
     Extension Service that exceed 20 percent of total Federal 
     funds provided under each award: Provided, That 
     notwithstanding section 1462 of the National Agricultural 
     Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
     U.S.C. 3310), funds provided by this Act for grants awarded 
     competitively by the Cooperative State Research, Education, 
     and Extension Service shall be available to pay full 
     allowable indirect costs for each grant awarded under section 
     9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
       Sec. 710. Hereafter, loan levels provided in this or any 
     other Appropriations Act to the Department of Agriculture 
     shall be considered estimates, not limitations.
       Sec. 711. 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 cover 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. 712. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more 
     than $1,800,000 shall be used to cover necessary expenses of 
     activities related to all advisory committees, panels, 
     commissions, and task forces of the Department of 
     Agriculture, except for panels used to comply with negotiated 
     rule makings and panels used to evaluate competitively 
     awarded grants.
       Sec. 713. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be 
     used to carry out section 410 of the Federal Meat Inspection 
     Act (21 U.S.C. 679a) or section 30 of the Poultry Products 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 471).
       Sec. 714. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may 
     be detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by 
     this Act to any other agency or office of the Department for 
     more than 30 days unless the individual's employing agency or 
     office is fully reimbursed by the receiving agency or office 
     for the salary and expenses of the employee for the period of 
     assignment.
       Sec. 715. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available to the Department of Agriculture or the Food and 
     Drug Administration shall be used to transmit or otherwise 
     make available to any non-Department of Agriculture or non-
     Department of Health and Human Services employee questions or 
     responses to questions that are a result of information 
     requested for the appropriations hearing process.
       Sec. 716. None of the funds made available to the 
     Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire 
     new information technology systems or significant upgrades, 
     as determined by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
     without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the 
     concurrence of the Executive Information Technology 
     Investment Review Board: Provided, That notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, none of the funds appropriated or 
     otherwise made available by this Act may be transferred to 
     the Office of the Chief Information Officer without the prior 
     approval of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
     of Congress: Provided further, That none of the funds 
     available to the Department of Agriculture for information 
     technology shall be obligated for projects over $25,000 prior 
     to receipt of written approval by the Chief Information 
     Officer.
       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 of the United States derived by the 
     collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this 
     Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure through 
     a reprogramming of funds which--
       (1) creates new programs;
       (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity;
       (3) increases funds or personnel by any means for any 
     project or activity for which funds have been denied or 
     restricted;
       (4) relocates an office or employees;
       (5) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities; or
       (6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities 
     presently performed by Federal employees; unless the 
     Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are 
     notified 15 days in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
       (b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by 
     previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this 
     Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in 
     the current fiscal year, or provided from any accounts in the 
     Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of 
     fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be 
     available for obligation or expenditure for activities, 
     programs, or projects through a reprogramming of funds in 
     excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, which-ever 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 Committees on Appropriations 
     of both Houses of Congress are notified 15 days in advance of 
     such reprogramming of funds.
       (c) The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services, or the Chairman of the Commodity Futures 
     Trading Commission shall notify the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress before implementing 
     a 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.

[[Page 23896]]

       Sec. 718. With the exception of funds needed to administer 
     and conduct oversight of grants awarded and obligations 
     incurred in prior fiscal years, none of the funds 
     appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other 
     Act may be used to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel 
     to carry out the provisions of section 401 of Public Law 105-
     185, the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems 
     (7 U.S.C. 7621).
       Sec. 719. 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 of 
     the United States 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 2007 
     appropriations Act.
       Sec. 720. None of the funds made available by this or any 
     other Act may be used to close or relocate a State Rural 
     Development office unless or until cost effectiveness and 
     enhancement of program delivery have been determined.
       Sec. 721. In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated or 
     made available by this Act, $2,500,000 is appropriated for 
     the purpose of providing Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland 
     Hunger Fellowships, through the Congressional Hunger Center.
       Sec. 722. Hereafter, notwithstanding section 412 of the 
     Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 
     U.S.C. 1736f), any balances available to carry out title III 
     of such Act as of the date of enactment of this Act, and any 
     recoveries and reimbursements that become available to carry 
     out title III of such Act, may be used to carry out title II 
     of such Act.
       Sec. 723. There is hereby appropriated $1,250,000 for a 
     grant to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, to 
     remain available until expended.
       Sec. 724. The Secretary of Agriculture shall--
       (1) as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, conduct an evaluation of any impacts of the court 
     decision in Harvey v. Veneman, 396 F.3d 28 (1st Cir. Me. 
     2005); and
       (2) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, submit to Congress a report that--
       (A) describes the results of the evaluation conducted under 
     paragraph (1);
       (B) includes a determination by the Secretary on whether 
     restoring the National Organic Program, as in effect on the 
     day before the date of the court decision described in 
     paragraph (1), would adversely affect organic farmers, 
     organic food processors, and consumers;
       (C) analyzes issues regarding the use of synthetic 
     ingredients in processing and handling;
       (D) analyzes the utility of expedited petitions for 
     commercially unavailable agricultural commodities and 
     products; and
       (E) considers the use of crops and forage from land 
     included in the organic system plan of dairy farms that are 
     in the third year of organic management.
       Sec. 725. Hereafter, of any shipments of commodities made 
     pursuant to section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 
     U.S.C. 1431(b)), the Secretary of Agriculture shall, to the 
     extent practicable, direct that tonnage equal in value to not 
     more than $25,000,000 shall be made available to foreign 
     countries to assist in mitigating the effects of the Human 
     Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency 
     Syndrome on communities, including the provision of--
       (1) agricultural commodities to--
       (A) individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus or 
     Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in the communities; and
       (B) households in the communities, particularly individuals 
     caring for orphaned children; and
       (2) agricultural commodities monetized to provide other 
     assistance (including assistance under microcredit and 
     microenterprise programs) to create or restore sustainable 
     livelihoods among individuals in the communities, 
     particularly individuals caring for orphaned children.
       Sec. 726. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Natural Resources Conservation Service shall provide 
     financial and technical assistance--
       (1) from funds available for the Watershed and Flood 
     Prevention Operations program--
       (A) to the Kane County, Illinois, Indian Creek Watershed 
     Flood Prevention Project, in an amount not to exceed 
     $1,000,000;
       (B) for the Muskingam River Watershed, Mohican River, 
     Jerome and Muddy Fork, Ohio, obstruction removal projects, in 
     an amount not to exceed $1,800,000;
       (C) to the Hickory Creek Special Drainage District, Bureau 
     County, Illinois, in an amount not to exceed $50,000; and
       (D) to the Little Red River Irrigation project, Arkansas, 
     in an amount not to exceed $210,000;
       (2) through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations 
     program for--
       (A) the Matanuska River erosion control project in Alaska;
       (B) the Little Otter Creek project in Missouri;
       (C) the Manoa Watershed project in Hawaii;
       (D) the West Tarkio project in Iowa;
       (E) the Steeple Run and West Branch DuPage River Watershed 
     projects in DuPage County, Illinois; and
       (F) the Coal Creek project in Utah;
       (3) through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations 
     program to carry out the East Locust Creek Watershed Plan 
     Revision in Missouri, including up to 100 percent of the 
     engineering assistance and 75 percent cost share for 
     construction cost of site RW1; and
       (4) through funds of the Conservation Operations program 
     provided for the Utah Conservation Initiative for completion 
     of the American Fork water quality and habitat restoration 
     project in Utah.
       Sec. 727. Hereafter, none of the funds made available in 
     this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or 
     instrumentality of the United States Government, except 
     pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority 
     provided in, this or any other appropriation Act.
       Sec. 728. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of 
     the funds made available in this Act for competitive research 
     grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), the Secretary may use up to 22 
     percent of the amount provided to carry out a competitive 
     grants program under the same terms and conditions as those 
     provided in section 401 of the Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7621).
       Sec. 729. None of the funds appropriated or made available 
     by this or any other Act may be used to pay the salaries and 
     expenses of personnel to carry out section 14(h)(1) of the 
     Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1012(h)(1)).
       Sec. 730. None of the funds made available to the Food and 
     Drug Administration by this Act shall be used to close or 
     relocate, or to plan to close or relocate, the Food and Drug 
     Administration Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis in St. 
     Louis, Missouri, outside the city or county limits of St. 
     Louis, Missouri.
       Sec. 731. None of the funds appropriated or made available 
     by this or any other Act may be used to pay the salaries and 
     expenses of personnel to carry out subtitle I of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009dd 
     through dd-7).
       Sec. 732. Hereafter, agencies and offices of the Department 
     of Agriculture may utilize any unobligated salaries and 
     expenses funds to reimburse the Office of the General Counsel 
     for salaries and expenses of personnel, and for other related 
     expenses, incurred in representing such agencies and offices 
     in the resolution of complaints by employees or applicants 
     for employment, and in cases and other matters pending before 
     the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal 
     Labor Relations Authority, or the Merit Systems Protection 
     Board with the prior approval of the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
       Sec. 733. None of the funds appropriated or made available 
     by this or any other Act may be used to pay the salaries and 
     expenses of personnel to carry out section 6405 of Public Law 
     107-171 (7 U.S.C. 2655).
       Sec. 734. 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 enroll in excess of 
     150,000 acres in the calendar year 2006 wetlands reserve 
     program as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 3837.
       Sec. 735. 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 who carry out an 
     environmental quality incentives program authorized by 
     chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act 
     of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) in excess of 
     $1,017,000,000.
       Sec. 736. 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 expend the $23,000,000 
     made available by section 9006(f) of the Farm Security and 
     Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106(f)).
       Sec. 737. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available under this or any other Act shall be used to pay 
     the salaries and expenses of personnel to expend the 
     $80,000,000 made available by section 601(j)(1) of the Rural 
     Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(j)(1)).
       Sec. 738. None of the funds made available in fiscal year 
     2006 or preceding fiscal years for programs authorized under 
     the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 
     (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) in excess of $20,000,000 shall be 
     used to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for the 
     release of eligible commodities under section 302(f)(2)(A) of 
     the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1): 
     Provided, That any such funds made available to reimburse the 
     Commodity Credit Corporation shall only be used pursuant to 
     section 302(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian 
     Trust Act.
       Sec. 739. 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 expend the $120,000,000 
     made available by section 6401(a) of Public Law 107-171.
       Sec. 740. Notwithstanding subsections (c) and (e)(2) of 
     section 313A of the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 
     940c(c) and (e)(2)) in implementing section 313A of that Act, 
     the Secretary shall, with the consent of the lender, 
     structure the schedule for payment of the annual fee, not to 
     exceed an average of 30 basis points per year for the term of 
     the loan, to ensure that sufficient funds are available to 
     pay the subsidy costs for note guarantees under that section.
       Sec. 741. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this or any other

[[Page 23897]]

     Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of 
     personnel to carry out a Conservation Security Program 
     authorized by 16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq., in excess of 
     $259,000,000.
       Sec. 742. 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 section 2502 
     of Public Law 107-171 in excess of $43,000,000.
       Sec. 743. Of the unobligated balances available in the 
     Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, 
     and Children reserve account, $32,000,000 is hereby 
     rescinded.
       Sec. 744. 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 section 2503 
     of Public Law 107-171 in excess of $73,500,000.
       Sec. 745. With the exception of funds provided in fiscal 
     year 2005, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this or any other Act shall be used to carry out 
     section 6029 of Public Law 107-171.
       Sec. 746. Hereafter, none of the funds appropriated or 
     otherwise made available in this Act shall be expended to 
     violate Public Law 105-264.
       Sec. 747. 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 ground and 
     surface water conservation program authorized by section 2301 
     of Public Law 107-171 in excess of $51,000,000.
       Sec. 748. None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to issue a final rule in furtherance of, or otherwise 
     implement, the proposed rule on cost-sharing for animal and 
     plant health emergency programs of the Animal and Plant 
     Health Inspection Service published on July 8, 2003 (Docket 
     No. 02-062-1; 68 Fed. Reg. 40541).
       Sec. 749. Hereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary of Agriculture may use appropriations 
     available to the Secretary for activities authorized under 
     sections 426-426c of title 7, United States Code, under this 
     or any other Act, to enter into cooperative agreements, with 
     a State, political subdivision, or agency thereof, a public 
     or private agency, organization, or any other person, to 
     lease aircraft if the Secretary determines that the 
     objectives of the agreement will: (1) Serve a mutual interest 
     of the parties to the agreement in carrying out the programs 
     administered by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
     Service, Wildlife Services; and (2) all parties will 
     contribute resources to the accomplishment of these 
     objectives; award of a cooperative agreement authorized by 
     the Secretary may be made for an initial term not to exceed 5 
     years.
       Sec. 750. 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 section 9010 
     of Public Law 107-171 in excess of $60,000,000.
       Sec. 751. Hereafter, agencies and offices of the Department 
     of Agriculture may utilize any available discretionary funds 
     to cover the costs of preparing, or contracting for the 
     preparation of, final agency decisions regarding complaints 
     of discrimination in employment or program activities arising 
     within such agencies and offices.
       Sec. 752. Funds made available under section 1240I and 
     section 1241(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 in the 
     current fiscal year shall remain available until expended to 
     cover obligations made in the current fiscal year, and are 
     not available for new obligations.
       Sec. 753. There is hereby appropriated $750,000, to remain 
     available until expended, for the Denali Commission to 
     address deficiencies in solid waste disposal sites which 
     threaten to contaminate rural drinking water supplies.
       Sec. 754. Notwithstanding any other provision of law--
       (1) the City of Palmer, Alaska shall be eligible to receive 
     a water and waste disposal grant under section 306(a) of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1926(a)) in an amount that is equal to not more than 75 
     percent of the total cost of providing water and sewer 
     service to the proposed hospital in the Matanuska-Susitna 
     Borough, Alaska;
       (2) or any percentage of cost limitation in current law or 
     regulations, the construction projects known as the Tri-
     Valley Community Center addition in Healy, Alaska; the Cold 
     Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska; and the 
     University of Alaska-Fairbanks Allied Health Learning Center 
     skill labs/classrooms shall be eligible to receive Community 
     Facilities grants in amounts that are equal to not more than 
     75 percent of the total facility costs: Provided, That for 
     the purposes of this paragraph, the Cold Climate Housing 
     Research Center is designated an ``essential community 
     facility'' for rural Alaska;
       (3) for any fiscal year and hereafter, in the case of a 
     high cost isolated rural area in Alaska that is not connected 
     to a road system, the maximum level for the single family 
     housing assistance shall be 150 percent of the median 
     household income level in the nonmetropolitan areas of the 
     State and 115 percent of all other eligible areas of the 
     State; and
       (4) any former RUS borrower that has repaid or prepaid an 
     insured, direct or guaranteed loan under the Rural 
     Electrification Act, 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. 755. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended, for a grant to the Ohio 
     Livestock Expo Center in Springfield, Ohio.
       Sec. 756. Hereafter, notwithstanding the provisions of the 
     Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (including the 
     associated regulations) governing the Community Facilities 
     Program, the Secretary may allow all Community Facility 
     Program facility borrowers and grantees to enter into 
     contracts with not-for-profit third parties for services 
     consistent with the requirements of the Program, grant, and/
     or loan: Provided, That the contracts protect the interests 
     of the Government regarding cost, liability, maintenance, and 
     administrative fees.
       Sec. 757. 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 an 
     Agricultural Management Assistance Program as authorized by 
     section 524 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act in excess of 
     $6,000,000 (7 U.S.C. 1524).
       Sec. 758. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make funding and 
     other assistance available through the emergency watershed 
     protection program under section 403 of the Agricultural 
     Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203) to repair and prevent 
     damage to non-Federal land in watersheds that have been 
     impaired by fires initiated by the Federal Government and 
     shall waive cost sharing requirements for the funding and 
     assistance.
       Sec. 759. 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 Biomass 
     Research and Development Program in excess of $12,000,000, as 
     authorized by Public Law 106-224 (7 U.S.C. 7624 note).
       Sec. 760. None of the funds provided in this Act may be 
     used for salaries and expenses to carry out any regulation or 
     rule insofar as it would make ineligible for enrollment in 
     the conservation reserve program established under subchapter 
     B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) land that is 
     planted to hardwood trees as of the date of enactment of this 
     Act and was enrolled in the conservation reserve program 
     under a contract that expired prior to calendar year 2002.
       Sec. 761. Notwithstanding 40 U.S.C. 524, 571, and 572, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture may sell the US Water Conservation 
     Laboratory, Phoenix, Arizona, and credit the net proceeds of 
     such sale as offsetting collections to its Agricultural 
     Research Service Buildings and Facilities account. Such funds 
     shall be available until September 30, 2007 to be used to 
     replace these facilities and to improve other USDA-owned 
     facilities.
       Sec. 762. None of the funds provided in this Act may be 
     used for salaries and expenses to draft or implement any 
     regulation or rule insofar as it would require 
     recertification of rural status for each electric and 
     telecommunications borrower for the Rural Electrification and 
     Telecommunication Loans program.
       Sec. 763. The Secretary of Agriculture may use any 
     unobligated carryover funds made available for any program 
     administered by the Rural Utilities Service (not including 
     funds made available under the heading ``Rural Community 
     Advancement Program'' in any Act of appropriation) to carry 
     out section 315 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 
     U.S.C. 940e).
       Sec. 764. There is hereby appropriated $650,000, to remain 
     available until expended, to carry out provisions of section 
     751 of division A of Public Law 108-7.
       Sec. 765. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     and until the receipt of the decennial Census in the year 
     2010, the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider--
       (1) the City of Bridgeton, New Jersey, the City of Kinston, 
     North Carolina, and the City of Portsmouth, Ohio as rural 
     areas for the purposes of Rural Housing Service Community 
     Facilities Program loans and grants;
       (2) the Township of Bloomington, Illinois (including 
     individuals and entities with projects within Township) shall 
     be eligible for Rural Housing Service Community Facilities 
     Programs loans and grants;
       (3) the City of Lone Grove, Oklahoma (including individuals 
     and entities with projects within the city) shall be eligible 
     for Rural Housing Service Community Facilities Program loans 
     and grants;
       (4) the City of Butte/Silverbow, Montana, rural areas for 
     purposes of eligibility for Rural Utilities Service water and 
     waste water loans and grants and Rural Housing Service 
     Community Facilities Program loans and grants;
       (5) Cleburne County, Arkansas, rural areas for purposes of 
     eligibility of Rural Utilities Service water and waste water 
     loans and grants;
       (6) the designated Census track areas for the Upper Kanawha 
     Valley Enterprise Community, West Virginia, rural areas for 
     purposes of eligibility for rural empowerment zones and 
     enterprise community programs in the rural development 
     mission area;
       (7) the Municipality of Carolina, Puerto Rico, as meeting 
     the eligibility requirements for Rural Utilities Service 
     water and waste water loans and grants;
       (8) the Municipalities of Vega Baja, Manati, Guayama, 
     Fajardo, Humacao, and Naguabo, Puerto Rico, (including 
     individuals and entities with projects within the 
     Municipalities) shall be eligible for Rural Community 
     Advancement Program loans and grants and intermediate 
     relending programs;
       (9) the City of Hidalgo, Texas as a rural area for the 
     purpose of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service Rural 
     Business Enterprise Grant Program;

[[Page 23898]]

       (10) the City of Elgin, Oklahoma (including individuals and 
     entities with projects within the city) shall be eligible for 
     Rural Utilities Service water and waste water loans and 
     grants; and
       (11) the City of Lodi, California, the City of Atchison, 
     Kansas, and the City of Belle Glade, Florida as rural areas 
     for the purposes of the Rural Utilities Service water and 
     waste water loans and grants.
       Sec. 766. There is hereby appropriated $200,000 for a grant 
     to Alaska Village Initiatives for the purpose of 
     administering a private lands wildlife management program in 
     Alaska.
       Sec. 767. There is hereby appropriated $2,250,000, to 
     remain available until expended, for a grant to the Wisconsin 
     Federation of Cooperatives for pilot Wisconsin-Minnesota 
     health care cooperative purchasing alliances.
       Sec. 768. The counties of Burlington and Camden, New Jersey 
     (including individuals and entities with projects within 
     these counties) shall be eligible for loans and grants under 
     the Rural Community Advancement Program for fiscal year 2006 
     to the same extent they were eligible for such assistance 
     during the fiscal year 2005 under section 106 of Chapter 1 of 
     Division B of Public Law 108-324 (188 Stat. 1236).
       Sec. 769. Hereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, funds made available to States administering the Child 
     and Adult Care Food Program, for the purpose of conducting 
     audits of participating institutions, funds identified by the 
     Secretary as having been unused during the initial fiscal 
     year of availability may be recovered and reallocated by the 
     Secretary: Provided, That States may use the reallocated 
     funds until expended for the purpose of conducting audits of 
     participating institutions.
       Sec. 770. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and 
     directed to quitclaim to the City of Elkhart, Kansas, all 
     rights, title and interests of the United States in that 
     tract of land comprising 151.7 acres, more or less, located 
     in Morton County, Kansas, and more specifically described in 
     a deed dated March 11, 1958, from the United States of 
     America to the City of Elkhart, State of Kansas, and filed of 
     record April 4, 1958 at Book 34 at Page 520 in the office of 
     the Register of Deeds of Morton County, Kansas.
       Sec. 771. There is hereby appropriated $2,500,000 to carry 
     out the Healthy Forests Reserve Program authorized under 
     Title V of Public Law 108-148 (16 U.S.C. 6571-6578).
       Sec. 772. 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. 773. In addition to other amounts appropriated or 
     otherwise made available by this Act, there is hereby 
     appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture $7,000,000, of 
     which not to exceed 5 percent may be available for 
     administrative expenses, to remain available until expended, 
     to make specialty crop block grants under section 101 of the 
     Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-
     465; 7 U.S.C. 1621 note).
       Sec. 774. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 is amended 
     by inserting after section 315 (7 U.S.C. 940e) the following:
       ``Sec. 316. Extension of Period of Existing Guarantee. (a) 
     In General.--Subject to the limitations in this section and 
     the provisions of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, as 
     amended, a borrower of a loan made by the Federal Financing 
     Bank and guaranteed under this Act may request an extension 
     of the final maturity of the outstanding principal balance of 
     such loan or any loan advance thereunder. If the Secretary 
     and the Federal Financing Bank approve such an extension, 
     then the period of the existing guarantee shall also be 
     considered extended.
       ``(b) Limitations.--
       ``(1) Feasibility and security.--Extensions under this 
     section shall not be made unless the Secretary first finds 
     and certifies that, after giving effect to the extension, in 
     his judgment the security for all loans to the borrower made 
     or guaranteed under this Act is reasonably adequate and that 
     all such loans will be repaid within the time agreed. 
       ``(2) Extension of useful life or collateral.--Extensions 
     under this section shall not be granted unless the borrower 
     first submits with its request either--
       ``(A) evidence satisfactory to the Secretary that a Federal 
     or State agency with jurisdiction and expertise has made an 
     official determination, such as through a licensing 
     proceeding, extending the useful life of a generating plant 
     or transmission line pledged as collateral to or beyond the 
     new final maturity date being requested by the borrower, or
       ``(B) a certificate from an independent licensed engineer 
     concluding, on the basis of a thorough engineering analysis 
     satisfactory to the Secretary, that the useful life of the 
     generating plant or transmission line pledged as collateral 
     extends to or beyond the new final maturity date being 
     requested by the borrower.
       ``(3) Amount eligible for extension.--Extensions under this 
     section shall not be granted if the principal balance 
     extended exceeds the appraised value of the generating plant 
     or transmission line referred to in subsection paragraph (2).
       ``(4) Period of extension.--Extensions under this section 
     shall in no case result in a final maturity greater than 55 
     years from the time of original disbursement and shall in no 
     case result in a final maturity greater than the useful life 
     of the plant.
       ``(5) Number of extensions.--Extensions under this section 
     shall not be granted more than once per loan advance.
       ``(c) Fees.--
       ``(1) In general.--A borrower that receives an extension 
     under this section shall pay a fee to the Secretary which 
     shall be credited to the Rural Electrification and 
     Telecommunications Loans Program account. Such fees shall 
     remain available without fiscal year limitation to pay the 
     modification costs for extensions.
       ``(2) Amount.--The amount of the fee paid shall be equal to 
     the modification cost, calculated in accordance with section 
     502 of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, as amended, of 
     such extension.
       ``(3) Payment.--The borrower shall pay the fee required 
     under this section at the time the existing guarantee is 
     extended by making a payment in the amount of the required 
     fee.''.
       Sec. 775. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, on behalf of the United States may, whenever 
     the Secretary deems desirable, relinquish to the State of 
     Arkansas all or part of the jurisdiction of the United States 
     over the lands and properties encompassing the Jefferson Labs 
     campus in the State of Arkansas that are under the 
     supervision or control of the Secretary.
       (b) Terms.--Relinquishment of jurisdiction under this 
     section may be accomplished, under terms and conditions that 
     the Secretary deems advisable,
       (1) by filing with the Governor of the State of Arkansas a 
     notice of relinquishment to take effect upon acceptance 
     thereof; or
       (2) as the laws of such State may otherwise provide.
       (c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Jefferson Labs 
     campus'' means the lands and properties of the National 
     Center for Toxicological Research and the Arkansas Regional 
     Laboratory.
       Sec. 776. Section 204(b)(3)(A) of the Child Nutrition and 
     WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (118 Stat. 781; 42 U.S.C. 
     1751 note) is amended by striking ``July 1, 2006'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2005''.
       Sec. 777. (a) Section 18(f)(1)(B) of the Richard B. Russell 
     National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(f)(1)(B)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``April 2004'' and inserting ``June 2005''; 
     and
       (2) in clause (ii), by striking ``66.67'' and inserting 
     ``75''.
       (b) The amendments made by subsection (a) take effect on 
     January 1, 2006.
       Sec. 778. None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
     retire more than 5 percent of the Class A stock of the Rural 
     Telephone Bank, except in the event of liquidation or 
     dissolution of the telephone bank during fiscal year 2006, 
     pursuant to section 411 of the Rural Electrification Act of 
     1936, as amended, or to maintain any account or subaccount 
     within the accounting records of the Rural Telephone Bank the 
     creation of which has not specifically been authorized by 
     statute: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available in this Act may be used to transfer to the Treasury 
     or to the Federal Financing Bank any unobligated balance of 
     the Rural Telephone Bank telephone liquidating account which 
     is in excess of current requirements and such balance shall 
     receive interest as set forth for financial accounts in 
     section 505(c) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
       Sec. 779. There is hereby appropriated $6,000,000 to carry 
     out Section 120 of Public Law 108-265 in Utah, Wisconsin, New 
     Mexico, Texas, Connecticut, and Idaho.
       Sec. 780. Section 508(a)(4)(B) of the Federal Crop 
     Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(4)(B)) is amended by 
     inserting ``or similar commodities'' after ``the commodity''.
       Sec. 781. (a) Notwithstanding subtitles B and C of the 
     Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4501 et 
     seq.), during fiscal year 2006, the National Dairy Promotion 
     and Research Board may obligate and expend funds for any 
     activity to improve the environment and public health.
       (b) The Secretary of Agriculture shall review the impact of 
     any expenditures under subsection (a) and include the review 
     in the 2007 report of the Secretary to Congress on the dairy 
     promotion program established under subtitle B of the Dairy 
     Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.).
       Sec. 782. The Federal facility located at the South 
     Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, 
     Mississippi, and known as the ``Southern Horticultural 
     Laboratory'', shall be known and designated as the ``Thad 
     Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory'': Provided, That 
     any reference in law, map, regulation, document, paper, or 
     other record of the United States to such Federal facility 
     shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Thad Cochran 
     Southern Horticultural Laboratory''.
       Sec. 783. As soon as practicable after the Agricultural 
     Research Service operations at the Western Cotton Research 
     Laboratory located at 4135 East Broadway Road in Phoenix, 
     Arizona, have ceased, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     convey, without consideration, to the Arizona Cotton Growers 
     Association and Supima all right, title, and interest of the 
     United States in and to the real property at that location, 
     including improvements.
       Sec. 784. (a) In General.--In carrying out a livestock 
     assistance, compensation, or feed program, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall include

[[Page 23899]]

     horses and deer within the definition of ``livestock'' 
     covered by the program.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 602(2) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 
     U.S.C. 1471(2)) is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``horses, deer,'' after ``bison,''; and
       (B) by striking ``equine animals used for food or in the 
     production of food,''.
       (2) Section 806 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
     and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-387; 114 Stat. 1549A-51) is amended 
     by inserting ``(including losses to elk, reindeer, bison, 
     horses, and deer)'' after ``livestock losses''.
       (3) Section 10104(a) of the Farm Security and Rural 
     Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1472(a)) is amended by 
     striking ``and bison'' and inserting ``bison, horses, and 
     deer''.
       (4) Section 203(d)(2) of the Agricultural Assistance Act of 
     2003 (Public Law 108-7; 117 Stat. 541) is amended by striking 
     ``and bison'' and inserting ``bison, horses, and deer''.
       (c) Applicability.--
       (1) In general.--This section and the amendments made by 
     this section apply to losses resulting from a disaster that 
     occurs on or after July 28, 2005.
       (2) Prior losses.--This section and the amendments made by 
     this section do not apply to losses resulting from a disaster 
     that occurred before July 28, 2005.
       Sec. 785. Amounts made available for the Plant Materials 
     Center in Fallon, Nevada, under the heading ``conservation 
     operations'' under the heading ``natural resources 
     conservation service'' of title II of the Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-447; 118 
     Stat. 2823) shall remain available until expended.
       Sec. 786. None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to study, complete a study of, or enter into a 
     contract with a private party to carry out, without specific 
     authorization in a subsequent Act of Congress, a competitive 
     sourcing activity of the Secretary of Agriculture, including 
     support personnel of the Department of Agriculture, relating 
     to rural development or farm loan programs.
       Sec. 787. None of the funds made available under this Act 
     shall be available to pay the administrative expenses of a 
     State agency that, after the date of enactment of this Act 
     and prior to receiving certification in accordance with the 
     provisions set forth in section 17(h)(11)(E) of the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966, authorizes any new for-profit 
     vendor(s) to transact food instruments under the Special 
     Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 
     Children (WIC) if it is expected that more than 50 percent of 
     the annual revenue of the vendor from the sale of food items 
     will be derived from the sale of supplemental foods that are 
     obtained with WIC food instruments, except that the Secretary 
     may approve the authorization of such a vendor if the 
     approval is necessary to assure participant access to program 
     benefits.
       Sec. 788. Of the unobligated balances under section 32 of 
     the Act of August 24, 1935, $37,601,000 are hereby rescinded.
       Sec. 789. None of the funds provided in this Act may be 
     obligated or expended for any activity the purpose of which 
     is to require a recipient of any grant that was funded in 
     Public Law 102-368 and Public Law 103-50 for ``Rural Housing 
     for Domestic Farm Labor'' in response to Hurricane Andrew to 
     pay the United States any portion of any interest earned with 
     respect to such grants: Provided, That such funds are 
     expended by the grantee within 18 months of the date of 
     enactment of this section for the purposes of providing farm 
     labor housing consistent with the purpose authorized in Title 
     V of the Housing Act of 1949, as determined by the Secretary.
       Sec. 790. There is hereby appropriated $140,000 to remain 
     available until expended, for a grant to the University of 
     Nevada at Reno; $400,000 to remain available until expended 
     for a grant to the Ohio Center for Farmland Policy Innovation 
     at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; $200,000 to remain 
     available until expended, for a grant to Utah State 
     University for a farming and dairy training initiative; 
     $500,000, to remain available until expended, for a grant to 
     the Nueces County, Texas Regional Fairground; and $350,000 to 
     provide administrative support for a world hunger 
     organization: Provided, That none of the funds may be used 
     for a monetary award to an individual.
       Sec. 791. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000 to 
     establish a demonstration intermediate relending program for 
     the construction and rehabilitation of housing for the 
     Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians: Provided, That the 
     interest rate for direct loans shall be 1 percent: Provided 
     further, That no later than one year after the establishment 
     of this program the Secretary shall provide the Committees on 
     Appropriations with a report providing information on the 
     program structure, management, and general demographic 
     information on the loan recipients.
       Sec. 792. Section 285 of the Agriculture Marketing Act of 
     1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638d) is amended by striking ``2006'' and 
     inserting ``2008''.
       Sec. 793. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act shall be used to pay salaries and 
     expenses of personnel who implement or administer Section 
     508(e)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1508(e)(3)) or any regulation, bulletin, policy or agency 
     guidance issued pursuant to Section 508(e)(3) of such Act for 
     the 2007 reinsurance year.
       Sec. 794. Effective 120 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, none of the funds made available in this Act may be 
     used to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel to inspect 
     horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
     U.S.C. 603) or under the guidelines issued under section 903 
     the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 
     U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 104-127).
       Sec. 795. (a) Subject to subsection (b), none of the funds 
     made available in this Act may be used to--
       (1) grant a waiver of a financial conflict of interest 
     requirement pursuant to section 505(n)(4) of the Federal 
     Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(n)(4)) for any 
     voting member of an advisory committee or panel of the Food 
     and Drug Administration; or
       (2) make a certification under section 208(b)(3) of title 
     18, United States Code, for any such voting member.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a waiver or 
     certification if--
       (1) not later than 15 days prior to a meeting of an 
     advisory committee or panel to which such waiver or 
     certification applies, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services discloses on the Internet website of the Food and 
     Drug Administration--
       (A) the nature of the conflict of interest at issue; and
       (B) the nature and basis of such waiver or certification 
     (other than information exempted from disclosure under 
     section 552 of title 5, United States Code (popularly known 
     as the Freedom of Information Act)); or
       (2) in the case of a conflict of interest that becomes 
     known to the Secretary less than 15 days prior to a meeting 
     to which such waiver or certification applies, the Secretary 
     shall make such public disclosure as soon as possible 
     thereafter, but in no event later than the date of such 
     meeting.
       (c) None of the funds made available in this Act may be 
     used to make a new appointment to an advisory committee or 
     panel of the Food and Drug Administration unless the 
     Commissioner of Food and Drugs submits a quarterly report to 
     the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services and the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     and Senate on the efforts made to identify qualified persons 
     for such appointment with minimal or no potential conflicts 
     of interest.
       Sec. 796. Section 274(a)(1) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324(a)(1)) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(C) It is not a violation of clauses (ii) or (iii) of 
     subparagraph (A), or of clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) 
     except where a person encourages or induces an alien to come 
     to or enter the United States, for a religious denomination 
     having a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the 
     United States, or the agents or officers of such denomination 
     or organization, to encourage, invite, call, allow, or enable 
     an alien who is present in the United States to perform the 
     vocation of a minister or missionary for the denomination or 
     organization in the United States as a volunteer who is not 
     compensated as an employee, notwithstanding the provision of 
     room, board, travel, medical assistance, and other basic 
     living expenses, provided the minister or missionary has been 
     a member of the denomination for at least one year.''.
       Sec. 797. (a) Section 2111(a)(1) of the Organic Foods 
     Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6510(a)(1)) is amended by 
     inserting ``not appearing on the National List'' after 
     ``ingredient''.
       (b) Section 2118 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 
     1990 (7 U.S.C. 6517) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``IN ORGANIC 
     PRODUCTION AND HANDLING OPERATIONS'' after ``SUBSTANCES'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) in clause (i), by inserting ``or'' at the end; and
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at the end and 
     inserting ``and''; and
       (C) by striking clause (iii); and
       (2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) Expedited petitions for commercially unavailable 
     organic agricultural products constituting less than 5 
     percent of an organic processed product.--The Secretary may 
     develop emergency procedures for designating agricultural 
     products that are commercially unavailable in organic form 
     for placement on the National List for a period of time not 
     to exceed 12 months.''.
       (c) Section 2110(e)(2) of the Organic Foods Production Act 
     of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6509(e)(2)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``A dairy'' and inserting the following:
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     a dairy''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Transition guideline.--Crops and forage from land 
     included in the organic system plan of a dairy farm that is 
     in the third year of organic management may be consumed by 
     the dairy animals of the farm during the 12-month period 
     immediately prior to the sale of organic milk and milk 
     products.''.
       Sec. 798. (a) Amenable Species.--The Federal Meat. 
     Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, 
     mules, and other equines'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``amenable species'';
       (2) in section 1, by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:

[[Page 23900]]

       ``(w) The term `amenable species' means--
       ``(1) those species subject to the provisions of the Act on 
     the day before the date of the enactment of the Agriculture, 
     Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006; and
       ``(2) any additional species of livestock that the 
     Secretary considers appropriate.''; and
       (3) in section 19--
       (A) by striking ``horses, mules, or other equines'' and 
     inserting ``species designated by regulations in effect on 
     the day before the date of the enactment of the Agriculture, 
     Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006''; and
       (B) by striking ``cattle, sheep, swine, or goats'' and 
     inserting ``other amenable species''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect of the day after the effective date of 
     section 794 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
     2006.
       Sec. 799. Public Law 109-54, the Department of the 
     Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 2006 is amended as follows:
       (a) Under the heading National Park Service, Construction 
     by:
       (1) Striking ``of which'' after ``$301,291,000, to remain 
     available until expended,'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``and'';
       (2) In the sixth proviso, striking ``hereinafter'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``hereafter'' and, after ``Annex'', 
     inserting ``and the Blue Ridge Parkway Regional Destination 
     Visitor Center''; and
       (3) In the seventh proviso, striking ``solicitation and 
     contract'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``solicitations and 
     contracts'';
       (b) Under the heading National Park Service, Land 
     Acquisition and State Assistance by striking `$74,824,000'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``$64,909,000'';
       (c) Under the heading Departmental Management, Salaries and 
     Expenses by striking ``$127,183,000'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``$117,183,000'';
       (d) Under the heading Title II--Environmental Protection 
     Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants by:
       (1) Before the period at the end of the first paragraph, 
     inserting ``: Provided further, That of the funds made 
     available under this heading in Division I of Public Law 108-
     447, $300,000 is for the Haleyville, AL, North Industrial 
     Area Water Storage Tank project: Provided further, That the 
     referenced statement of the managers under the heading 
     Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance 
     Grants in Public Law 107-73, in reference to item 184, is 
     deemed to be amended by striking ``$2,000,000'' and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``$29,945'' and by inserting after 
     ``improvements'': ``, $500,000 to the City of Sheridan for 
     water system improvements, $500,000 to Meagher County/
     Martinsdale Water and Sewer District for Martinsdale Water 
     System Improvements, and $970,055 to the City of Bozeman for 
     Hyalite Waterline and Intake''; and
       (2) In the second paragraph, striking the word 
     ``original'';
       (e) Under the heading Forest Service, Land Acquisition by 
     striking ``land that are encumbered'' and all that follows 
     through ``under this section,'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``lands that are encumbered by unpatented claims acquired 
     under this section, or with previously appropriated funds,''; 
     and
       (f) At the end of Title IV--General Provisions, insert the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 440. REDESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS.

       (a) Redesignation.--Section 140(c)(4) of Division E of 
     Public Law 108-447 is amended by striking ``National''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     ``Gaylord A. Nelson National Wilderness'' shall be deemed to 
     be a reference to the ``Gaylord A. Nelson Wilderness''.''
       This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural 
     Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006''.
       And the Senate agree to the same.
     Henry Bonilla,
     Jack Kingston,
     Tom Latham,
     Jo Ann Emerson,
     Virgil Goode, Jr.,
     Ray LaHood,
     John T. Doolittle,
     Rodney Alexander,
     Jerry Lewis,
                                Managers on the part of the House.

     R.F. Bennett,
     Thad Cochran,
     Arlen Specter,
     Chris Bond,
     Mitch McConnell,
     Ted Stevens,
     Herb Kohl,
     Dianne Feinstein,
     Richard Durbin,
     Mary Landrieu,
     Robert C. Byrd,
                               Managers on the part of the Senate.

       Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference

       The managers on the part of the House and Senate at the 
     conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
     amendment of the Senate to bill (H.R. 2744), making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 and for other purposes, 
     submit the following joint statement to the House and Senate 
     in explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon by the 
     managers and recommended in the accompanying conference 
     report.

                        CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES

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

                     TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary

       The conference agreement provides $5,127,000 for the Office 
     of the Secretary as proposed by the House and the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides the fiscal year 2005 
     funding level for cross-cutting trade negotiations and 
     biotechnology resources in the following accounts: Office of 
     the Secretary; Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; 
     Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; and 
     the Foreign Agricultural Service.
       The conferees appreciate receiving the detailed information 
     provided in the Explanatory Notes prepared by the Department 
     and rely heavily on this information when considering budget 
     proposals. These materials have traditionally been prepared 
     for the sole use of the Committees on Appropriations in a 
     format consistent with the organization and operation of the 
     programs and the structure of the Appropriations Act. At the 
     direction of the Office of Management and Budget, the 
     Department has changed the format and content of these 
     materials to focus on broader goals and objectives rather 
     than the major program structure followed in the Act, and in 
     the actual conduct of the programs. The new organization and 
     content does not present budget information in a format 
     useful to the deliberations of the Committees. For fiscal 
     year 2007 and future years, the Department is directed to 
     present Explanatory Notes in a format consistent with the 
     presentation used for the fiscal year 2002 Budget. Any 
     deviations from that format are to be approved in advance by 
     the Committees.
       The conferees direct the Secretary to advise the Committees 
     on Appropriations in writing of the status of all reports 
     requested of the Department by the committees, at the time of 
     submission of the fiscal year 2007 budget and quarterly 
     thereafter.
       The conferees are concerned by protocols employed by 
     various food aid agencies related to measuring the quality of 
     food products offered for international humanitarian 
     assistance. The Secretary is encouraged to work with 
     appropriate organizations to determine what actions may be 
     proper to improve the nutritional integrity of food aid 
     commodities and the consistency of testing methods. The 
     Secretary is further encouraged, if appropriate, to work with 
     groups experienced in food aid quality and tracking systems 
     to carry out authorities provided in section 3013 of Public 
     Law 107-171. The Committees on Appropriations expect a report 
     on this subject no later than March 1, 2006.
       The conferees are aware of the various USDA agencies that 
     were affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and other storm 
     events in recent months. As a result of the dislocation of 
     many individuals employed by these agencies, the conferees 
     expect the Department to initiate all safe harbor means 
     available to ensure safe and adequate relief and recovery for 
     these employees until full restoration of agency facilities 
     is complete and agency personnel are able to return to their 
     homes. The conferees expect the Secretary to provide a report 
     to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate 
     on actions taken in this regard by March 1, 2006.
       The conferees take note of the heightened awareness and 
     concern surrounding the potential for an avian flu pandemic. 
     The Secretary is directed to instruct all agencies with 
     jurisdiction over possible introduction of foreign animal 
     disease into this country to take all necessary steps, 
     including increased surveillance and ensuring they have

[[Page 23901]]

     all the necessary authorities to provide the greatest level 
     of safeguard against the introduction of highly pathogenic 
     avian flu into the United States. The Secretary is further 
     directed to report to the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House and Senate on this subject by March 1, 2006.
       The conferees remain committed to provide funding for 
     federal, state university, and other arenas of research and 
     development activities to support U.S. agriculture. Given 
     current budget constraints, this conference agreement 
     provides the highest levels of funding possible for various 
     research programs under the jurisdiction of this Act. In 
     addition, the conferees urge the Secretary, and others in the 
     Executive Branch, to increase public sector investment in 
     this important area.
       The conference agreement does not include language proposed 
     by the Senate which would have conditioned imports of beef 
     from Japan until that country takes steps toward opening its 
     market to U.S. beef products. Nonetheless, the conferees 
     strongly urge the Secretary to continue ongoing negotiations 
     with the Japanese government to open this important market. 
     The conferees are encouraged by recent movement in these 
     negotiations, but clearly reserve the right to impose 
     restrictions similar to those suggested by the Senate if 
     there is not a swift resolution to this issue.
       The conferees direct the Secretary to submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate, as a 
     supplement to the President's fiscal year 2007 budget 
     request, a report on measures identified to address bark 
     beetle infestations. This report should include information 
     regarding resources identified in the fiscal year 2007 budget 
     request, including assistance under the authorities of the 
     Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, relating to bark 
     beetles. It is expected that the Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall coordinate these activities with the Secretary of the 
     Interior.
       The conferees remain aware of public attention to animal 
     health issues, especially those that have implications for 
     food safety and other aspects of human public health issues. 
     Following the discovery of a BSE-infected cow in Washington 
     State in December of 2003, the Secretary of Agriculture 
     imposed a ban on the entry of non-ambulatory beef cattle into 
     the food supply. The conferees note the continuing strong 
     interest among the American consuming public regarding this 
     policy and direct the Secretary to notify and closely confer 
     with the Committees on Appropriations of the House and 
     Senate, and appropriate authorizing committees, before the 
     Department takes any actions that would weaken this 
     safeguard. In addition, the conferees encourage the Secretary 
     to initiate an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on this 
     subject. Finally, the conferees urge the Secretary to 
     continue efforts for enhanced surveillance of animal health 
     through sampling tissues and other materials retrieved from 
     rendering facilities or places where non-ambulatory animals 
     are otherwise disposed.
       The conferees recognize the importance of public and 
     private contributions to relieve world hunger. Human 
     suffering related to food shortages resulting from famine, 
     natural disaster, civil unrest, and similar circumstances is 
     one of the greatest tragedies of current times. Further, 
     world hunger complicates international relations where civil 
     unrest leads to national destabilization and sympathies 
     toward terrorist organizations. The conferees are aware of 
     the organization which annually awards the World Food Prize 
     for outstanding work in the field of humanitarian food 
     assistance, and encourages the Secretary to work with this 
     organization in any form appropriate to support its 
     activities and to further its goal of relieving world hunger. 
     The Secretary is directed to report to the Committees by 
     March 1, 2006, on ways in which the Department can 
     participate in support of this organization.
       The conferees are aware that the Department intends to 
     release an interim report on a feasibility study on 
     converting sugar into ethanol by December 15, 2005. The 
     conferees encourage the Department to release the interim 
     report to Congress by December 15, 2005 and final report not 
     later that July 1, 2006.
       The conferees are aware that the state of Texas has 
     recently entered into a contract to privatize certain 
     operations of the Food Stamp program. It is the conferees' 
     understanding that USDA has worked with the State in order to 
     ensure that this contract will not result in a higher food 
     stamp error rate or reduced access to the program. Therefore, 
     the conferees direct the Secretary to provide quarterly 
     reports, beginning 30 days after enactment of this Act, on 
     the status of this contract, including the effects it is 
     having on program access, error rates, and spending on 
     administrative expenses.

                          Executive Operations


                            CHIEF ECONOMIST

       The conference agreement provides $10,539,000 for the 
     Office of the Chief Economist as proposed by the House and 
     the Senate.


                       NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION

       The conference agreement provides $14,524,000 for the 
     National Appeals Division, as proposed by the House and the 
     Senate.


                 OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS

       The conference agreement provides $8,298,000 for the Office 
     of Budget and Program Analysis as proposed by the House and 
     the Senate.


                        HOMELAND SECURITY STAFF

       The conference agreement provides $934,000 for Homeland 
     Security Staff as proposed by the House instead of $1,166,000 
     as proposed by the Senate.

                Office of the Chief Information Officer

       The conference agreement provides $16,462,000 for the 
     Office of the Chief Information Officer as proposed by the 
     House instead of $16,726,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                      Common Computing Environment

       The conference agreement provides $110,072,000 for common 
     computing environment instead of $60,725,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $118,072,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees direct the Department to continue reporting 
     to the Committees on Appropriations on a quarterly basis on 
     the implementation of the common computing environment.
       Since fiscal year 2000, Congress has appropriated over 
     $500,000,000 for the modernization and integration of 
     information systems in USDA's county field offices. The 
     conferees have fully supported this effort, but will expect 
     to see reduced or level funding levels for this account in 
     future budget submissions as a result of anticipated 
     efficiencies and economies of scale.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement's 
     recommendation:

                         [Dollars in thousands]

CCE base infrastructure........................................$ 19,735
FSA specific.....................................................74,000
NRCS specific....................................................11,137
RD specific.......................................................4,000
Interagency e-Gov.................................................1,200
                                                       ________________
                                                             $110,072

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer

       The conference agreement provides $5,874,000 for the Office 
     of the Chief Financial Officer as proposed by the House and 
     the Senate.
       The conferees direct USDA to work with the Office of 
     Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management 
     to investigate the feasibility of creating a public/private 
     partnership to help leverage scarce federal resources to 
     expand upon the existing e-payroll program to include such 
     functions as automated data processing, cross-servicing 
     capabilities, and other beneficial services to federal 
     agencies. The conferees encourage the Secretary to continue 
     these expansions and to give close consideration for the 
     continuity of National Finance Center (NFC) operations in 
     Louisiana.
       The conferees commend the employees of the NFC in suburban 
     New Orleans for their outstanding work in continuing the 
     payrolls and cross-servicing operations of more than 130 
     government agencies during the devastation of Hurricane 
     Katrina. The conferees note that several hundred NFC 
     employees have been relocated to other work sites because of 
     hurricane damage and directs the Secretary to report to the 
     Committees on Appropriations by January 31, 2006 on the 
     continuity of operations of the NFC and the reestablishment 
     of payroll and cross-servicing operations and functions in 
     New Orleans and plans for back-up facilities.

                          Working Capital Fund

       The conference agreement includes a general provision that 
     authorizes the Secretary to transfer unobligated balances of 
     other accounts to the Working Capital Fund.

           Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

       The conference agreement provides $821,000 for the Office 
     of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights as proposed by 
     the Senate instead of $811,000 as proposed by the House.

                         Office of Civil Rights

       The conference agreement provides $20,109,000 for the 
     Office of Civil Rights as proposed by the House and the 
     Senate.

          Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

       The conference agreement provides $676,000 for the Office 
     of the Assistant Secretary for Administration as proposed by 
     the House and the Senate.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments

       The conference agreement provides $187,734,000 for 
     agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments as 
     proposed by the Senate instead of $183,133,000 as proposed by 
     the House. The conference agreement provides an increase of 
     $4,601,000 for building operations and maintenance to be 
     applied to the highest priority needs for which additional 
     funding was requested.

                     Hazardous Materials Management

       The conference agreement provides $12,000,000 for Hazardous 
     Materials Management as proposed by the Senate instead of 
     $15,644,000 as proposed by the House.

                      Departmental Administration

       The conference agreement provides $23,103,000 for 
     Departmental Administration as proposed by the House and the 
     Senate.

[[Page 23902]]



     Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations

       The conference agreement provides $3,821,000 for the Office 
     of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations as 
     proposed by the House instead of $3,846,000 as proposed by 
     the Senate.

                        Office of Communications

       The conference agreement provides $9,509,000 for the Office 
     of Communications as proposed by the House and the Senate.
       The conferees direct the Office of Communications to 
     continue providing the Committees with copies of open source 
     news material made available to USDA officials through the 
     use of appropriated funds.

                    Office of the Inspector General

       The conference agreement provides $80,336,000 for the 
     Office of the Inspector General instead of $79,626,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $81,045,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement includes a program increase of 
     $1,010,000, for computer forensics evidence storage and other 
     high priority budgeted increases.

                     Office of the General Counsel

       The conference agreement provides $39,351,000 for the 
     Office of the General Counsel instead of $38,439,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $40,263,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement provides an increase of $2,908,000 
     for 2 staff years for additional legal services for the 
     Marketing and Regulatory Programs and for the highest 
     priority needs for which additional funding was requested.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

       The conference agreement provides $598,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics 
     as proposed by the House and the Senate.

                       Economic Research Service

       The conference agreement provides $75,931,000 for the 
     Economic Research Service as proposed by the House instead of 
     $78,549,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides an increase of 
     $1,000,000, of which $350,000 is for an agreement with the 
     National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive 
     report on the economic development and current status of the 
     sheep industry in the United States and $650,000 is to be 
     applied to the highest priority needs for which additional 
     funding was requested.
       Also, within the funds provided, the conferees expect not 
     later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with the 
     Secretary of Energy, to provide to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of both Houses of Congress, a report that 
     describes the impact of increased prices of gas, natural gas, 
     and diesel on agricultural producers, ranchers, and rural 
     communities.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

       The conference agreement provides $140,700,000 for the 
     National Agricultural Statistics Service instead of 
     $136,241,000 as proposed by the House and $145,159,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides an increase of $5,367,000 
     for agricultural estimates to be applied to the highest 
     priority needs for which additional funding was requested.

                     Agricultural Research Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $1,135,004,000 for the 
     Agricultural Research Service, Salaries and Expenses, instead 
     of $1,035,475,000 as proposed by the House and $1,109,981,000 
     as proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees note that the Agricultural Research Service 
     has had the authority to construct certain buildings provided 
     by 7 U.S.C. 2250 for several years. The conferees direct the 
     Agricultural Research Service to notify the Committees on 
     Appropriations on the use of this authority on a semi-annual 
     basis beginning January 1, 2006.
       The conferees expect the agency to promptly implement 
     programs and allocate funds provided for the purposes 
     identified by the Congress.
       In complying with the conferees' directives, ARS is 
     expected not to redirect support for programs from one State 
     to another without prior notification to and approval of the 
     Committees on Appropriations in accordance with the 
     reprogramming procedures specified in this Act. Unless 
     otherwise directed, the agency shall implement appropriations 
     by programs, projects, and activities as specified by the 
     Appropriations Committees. Unspecified reductions necessary 
     to carry out the provisions of this Act are to be implemented 
     in accordance with the definitions contained in the 
     ``Program, Project, and Activity'' section of this Act.
       The conference agreement continues the fiscal year 2005 
     level of funding for all research projects proposed to be 
     terminated in the President's budget as provided in House 
     Report 109-102 and Senate Report 109-92 accompanying the 
     fiscal year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bills, including 
     hyperspectral imaging in New Orleans, LA.
       The conferees have agreed to fund budgeted increases for 
     the following areas of research:
       Emerging Diseases of Livestock/Crops--Develop Systems for 
     Rapid Response to Bioterrorism Agents--Laramie, WY, $250,000; 
     Athens, GA, $175,000; Vaccinology Research for Control and 
     Eradication of Biological Threat Agents--Ames, IA, $450,000; 
     Plum Island, NY, (Antigen Delivery Systems) $250,000; Plum 
     Island, NY, (Foot and Mouth Disease) $150,000; Advance 
     Intervention Strategies for Emerging Diseases of Livestock 
     and Poultry--Ames, IA, $300,000; Develop Diagnostics for 
     Rapid, Practical, Identification of Pathogens--Parlier, CA, 
     $150,000; Ft. Pierce, FL, $150,000; Salinas, CA, $175,000; 
     Develop Taxonomy, Biology, and Genetics of Pathogens--St. 
     Paul, MN, Pullman, WA, others (Wheat Stripe Initiative), 
     $500,000; Pullman, WA (Rust Disease of Wheat), $175,000; Ft. 
     Pierce, FL, $300,000; Develop Science-Based Forecasting 
     Systems for Each Pathogen/Crop Combination--Ft. Detrick, MD, 
     $250,000; Develop Integrated Disease Management Strategies 
     and Tools--Stoneville, MS, $240,000; Ames, IA, $150,000; 
     Raleigh, NC, $150,000; Urbana, IL, $150,000; Charleston, SC, 
     $50,000; and, Tifton, GA, $50,000.
       Food Safety--Develop Food Animal Surveillance and 
     Epidemiology Programs for Early Detection of Epizootic 
     Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance--Athens, GA, $250,000; 
     Beltsville, MD, $250,000; Genomics to Analyze Microbial 
     Communities to Control Food Pathogens in Preharvest Stage--
     Clay Center, NE, $50,000; College Station, TX, $50,000; 
     Fungal Genomics to Identify Improved Control Strategies for 
     Mycotoxins--New Orleans, LA, $150,000; Develop Sampling 
     Systems and Protocols in Detecting Intentional 
     Contamination--Beltsville, MD, $150,000; Develop Rapid 
     Systems to Maximize Detection Potential of Pathogens in 
     Foods--Albany, CA, $50,000; Develop Detection and Processing 
     Intervention Systems for Liquid Egg Products--Wyndmoor, PA, 
     $250,000, Athens, GA, $150,000; Identification of Toxic 
     Chemical Residues and Heavy Metals--Beltsville, MD, $125,000; 
     and, Biological Toxins--Albany, CA, $150,000.
       Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Research--Implement 
     an Integrated Zoonotic Research Program (BSE) in 
     Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, and Intervention--Ames, IA, (Risk 
     Assessment of BSE) $900,000; Albany, CA, (Pathophysiology of 
     BSE) $450,000; Pullman, WA, $500,000; Ames, IA, (Pre-Clinical 
     Live Animal Test) $250,000; and, Albany, CA, (Prion 
     Deactivation for Decontamination of Feed) $250,000.
       Obesity/Nutrition--Understanding Dietary Patterns That 
     Contribute to Obesity in Low Socioeconomic and Minority 
     Populations in the U.S.--Beltsville, MD, $250,000; Determine 
     the Energy and Nutrient Content of Foods Consumed by U.S. 
     Minority Populations--Grand Forks, ND, $200,000; Address the 
     Obesity Epidemic and Promote a Healthier Lifestyle--Davis, 
     CA, $150,000; Boston, MA, $150,000; Little Rock, AR, 
     $150,000; Houston, TX, $200,000; Baton Rogue, LA, $200,000; 
     and, Grand Forks, ND, $70,000.
       Invasive Species--Conduct Research to Control Sudden Oak 
     Death, Tamarisk, Emerald Ash Borer, Yellow Starthistle, Asian 
     Long Horned Beatle, Lobate Lac Scale, Swallow--Worts, and 
     Teasel--Corvalis, OR, $150,000; Ft. Detrick, MD, $150,000; 
     Newark, DE, $137,500; Ithaca, NY, $150,000; Ft. Lauderdale, 
     FL, $75,000; Reno, NV, $200,000; Develop IPM Components and 
     Systems for Invasive Insects--Mt. Pellier, France, $100,000; 
     Peoria, IL, $100,000; Columbia, MO, $100,000; Improve 
     Taxonomic Knowledge of Invasive Species--Beltsville, MD, 
     $150,000; and, Identify the Genes in the Red Invasive Fire 
     Ant and Develop Better Bait Controls--Gainesville, FL, 
     $150,000.
       Air and Water Quality--Reduce Gaseous Particulate Matter 
     Emissions from Animal Feeding Operations--Bushland, TX, 
     $150,000.
       Biobased Products/Bioenergy Research--Improve the Quality 
     and Quantity of Agricultural Biomass Feedstock for Production 
     of Energy and Biobased Products--Peoria, IL, $250,000; 
     Develop Technologies to Produce Biofuels and Co products from 
     Agricultural Commodities and Byproducts--Beltsville, MD, 
     $150,000; Wyndmoor, PA, $150,000; and, Develop Technologies 
     Leading to New Value Added Products from Food Animal 
     Byproducts--Wyndmoor, PA, $162,500.
       Genetic Resources--Genetic Resource Enhancement--Aberdeen, 
     ID, $100,000; Miami, FL, $125,000; Raleigh, NC, $125,000; 
     Madison, WI, $125,000; Genetic Resource Acquisition, 
     Maintenance, and Characterization--Stuttgart, AR, $125,000; 
     Ft. Collins, CO, $125,000; and, Ithaca, NY, $125,000.
       Genomics--Collect Phenotypic Data and Use Genome Sequence--
     Derived Markers to Characterize Available Germplasm of 
     Economic Importance in Food Animals--Miles City, MT, 
     $150,000; Identify and Characterize Genes That Affect Feed 
     Efficiency, Reproduction, Animal Well-being, Disease 
     Resistance Product Quality, and Other Economically Important 
     Production Traits in Food Animals--Clay Center, NE, $350,000; 
     Discover, Characterize and Localize Genes that Medicate 
     Expression of Economically Important Traits in Plants--
     Salinas, CA, $112,500; St. Paul, MN, $200,000; and Baton 
     Rogue, LA, $375,000.
       Characterize Functional Products of Important Genes That 
     Influence Productivity and Product Quality in Plants--
     Manhattan, KS, $150,000.
       Agricultural Information--Ensure Long-term Access to 
     National Digital Library for Agriculture--Beltsville, MD, 
     $200,000.

[[Page 23903]]

       The conference agreement includes increased funding in 
     fiscal year 2006 to expand the following research projects: 
     Agroforestry (Shiitake Mushroom, $50,000), Booneville, AR--
     $130,000; Animal Vaccines, Greenport, NY--$60,000; 
     Appalachian Horticulture (University of TN/TN State), 
     Poplarville, MS--$150,000; Arid Lands, Las Cruces, NM--
     $120,000; Barley Yellow Dwarf, West Lafayette, IN--$75,000; 
     Binational Agricultural Research and Development Program, 
     $32,000; Bioinformatics, Santa Fe, NM--$100,000; Biological 
     Weed Control, Sidney, MT--$120,000; Bioremediation, $120,000; 
     Bovine Genetics, Beltsville, MD (University of CT/University 
     of IL)--$300,000; Broomweed, Albany, CA--$100,000; Catfish 
     Genome, Auburn, AL--$75,000; Center for Food Safety and Post-
     Harvest Technology, $449,000; Cereal Crops Research, Madison, 
     WI--$250,000; Chloroplast Genetic Engineering, Urbana, IL 
     (University of Central FL)--$80,000; Coffee/Cocoa, 
     Beltsville, MD(H/S)/Miami, FL(S)--$120,000; Corn Rootworm, 
     Ames, IA--$100,000; Cotton Ginning, Stoneville, MS--$50,000; 
     Cropping Systems Research, Stoneville, MS (University of TN/
     Western TN Ag Experiment Station)--$150,000; Dairy Forage, 
     Madison, WI--$510,000; Delta Human Nutrition Research, 
     Stoneville, MS--$300,000; Delta Human Nutrition Research 
     Initiative, Little Rock, AR--$100,000; Floriculture and 
     Nursery Crops, $250,000; Forage and Range Research, Logan, 
     UT--$250,000; Formosan Termites, New Orleans, LA--$120,000; 
     Ft. Pierce Horticulture Research Lab, Ft. Pierce, FL--
     $250,000; Grape Genetics, Geneva, NY--$100,000; Grapefruit 
     Juice/Drug Interaction, Winterhaven, FL--$80,000; Great Lakes 
     Aquaculture, Madison, WI--$30,000; Greenhouse Lettuce 
     Germplasm, Salinas, CA--$150,000; Improved Forage and 
     Livestock Production, Lexington, KY (University of KY)--
     $120,000; Invasive Aquatic Weeds, Ft. Lauderdale, FL--
     $100,000; Invasive Ludwigia, Davis, CA--$100,000; Karnal 
     Bunt, Manhattan, KS--$80,000; Medicinal and Bioactive Crops, 
     Steven F. Austin State University/University of MD--$240,000; 
     Mid-west/Mid-South Irrigation, Columbia, MO (Delta Center, 
     University of MO)--$68,000; Mosquito Biological Control, 
     (Stoneville, MS)--$210,000; National Cold Water Marine 
     Aquaculture, Franklin, ME--$160,000; National Sclerotinia 
     Initiative, $300,000; National Soil Dynamics, Auburn, AL--
     $120,000; Natural Products, Oxford, MS--$180,000; Northeast 
     Plant Soil and Water Lab, Orono, ME--$80,000; NutriCore, 
     National Center for Excellence in Foods and Nutrition 
     Research--$42,000; Ogallala Aquifer, Bushland, TX (Texas A&M, 
     Texas Tech, & Kansas State University)--$1,375,000; Peanut 
     Production, Dawson, GA--$75,000; Peanut Variety, Stillwater, 
     OK--$180,000; Pear Thrips, Ithaca, NY (University of 
     Vermont)--$50,000; Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged 
     Sharpshooter, Parlier, CA--$25,000; Plant Genetic Diversity 
     and Gene Discovery, Logan, UT--$180,000; Plant Protein 
     Grazing Livestock, El Reno, OK--$100,000; Potato Blight, 
     Orono, ME--$80,000; Quantify Basin Water Budget Components in 
     the Southwest, Tucson, AZ--$200,000; Range and Forage 
     Management (Sage Grouse), Burns, OR--$180,000; Regional 
     Grains Genotyping Research, Raleigh, NC--$178,000; 
     Salmonella, Listeria, E.coli, and Other Food Pathogens, 
     Wyndmoor, PA--$100,000; Seafood Waste, Fairbanks, AK--
     $75,000; Seasonal Grazing, Coshocton, OH--$100,000; Soybean 
     Research South, Stoneville, MS--$240,000; Sugarcane Breeding 
     and Harvesting, Houma, LA--$100,000; Sustainable Aquaculture 
     Feeds, Aberdeen, ID--$100,000; Swine Lagoon Alternatives, 
     Florence, SC--$100,000; Turf Grass Research, Beaver, WV--
     $180,000; U.S. National Arboretum (Germplasm/Ornamental 
     Horticulture), Washington, D.C.--$250,000; Vaccines and 
     Microbe Control for Fish Health, Auburn, AL--$80,000; 
     Viticulture, Corvallis, OR--$150,000; Waste Management, 
     Bowling Green, KY (Western KY University)--$120,000; and, 
     Winter Grain Legume, Pullman, WA--$120,000.
       The conference agreement provides an increase of $200,000 
     above the fiscal year 2005 level for additional research at 
     the Southwest Watershed Research Center at Tucson, Arizona 
     instead of at the ARS Research Laboratory at Maricopa, 
     Arizona and at the University of Arizona as proposed by the 
     House.


                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

       The conference agreement provides $131,195,000 for the 
     Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities, 
     instead of $87,300,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $160,645,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The following items reflect the conference agreement: 
     National Center for Animal Health (Ames, Iowa), $58,800,000; 
     Grape Genomics Research Center (Davis, California), 
     $3,625,000; U.S. Agricultural Research Station (Salinas, 
     California), $3,625,000; U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural 
     Research Center (Hilo, Hawaii), $3,625,000; Aquaculture 
     Facility (Aberdeen/Bilingsley Creek, Idaho) $1,000,000; 
     National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research 
     (Peoria, Illinois), $3,625,000; Animal Waste Management 
     Research Laboratory (Bowling Green, Kentucky), $3,000,000; 
     Forage-Animal Research Laboratory (Lexington, Kentucky) 
     $4,000,000; ARS Sugarcane Research Laboratory (Houma, 
     Louisiana), $3,625,000; National Marine Cold Water 
     Aquaculture Research Center (Orono/Franklin, Maine), 
     $2,500,000; Beltsville Agricultural Research Center 
     (Beltsville, Maryland), $3,625,000; Biotechnology Laboratory, 
     Alcorn State (Lorman, MS), $2,000,000; Poultry Science 
     Research Facility (Starkville, Mississippi), $5,000,000; 
     National Plant and Genetics Security Center (Columbia, 
     Missouri), $3,725,000; Animal Bioscience Facility (Bozeman, 
     Montana), $4,000,000; Center for Grape Genetics (Geneva, New 
     York), $3,625,000; Center for Crop-based Health Genomics 
     (Ithaca, New York), $3,625,000; University of Toledo (Toledo, 
     Ohio), $1,600,000; U.S. Vegetable Laboratory (Charleston, 
     South Carolina), $2,000,000; ARS Research Laboratory 
     (Pullman, Washington), $3,625,000; Appalachian Fruit 
     Laboratory (Kearneysville, West Virginia), $2,045,000; 
     Nutrient Management Research Laboratory (Leetown, West 
     Virginia), $900,000; and, Nutrient Management Laboratory 
     (Marshfield, Wisconsin), $8,000,000.

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


                   RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

       The conference agreement provides $676,849,000 for research 
     and education activities instead of $662,546,000 as proposed 
     by the House and $652,231,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $500,000 for resident 
     instruction grants for insular areas.
       The conference agreement provides $500,000 for the 
     implementation of the National Veterinary Medical Services 
     Act.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

[[Page 23904]]

     TH26OC05.001
     


[[Page 23905]]

     TH26OC05.002
     


[[Page 23906]]

     TH26OC05.003
     


[[Page 23907]]

     TH26OC05.004
     


[[Page 23908]]

     TH26OC05.005
     


[[Page 23909]]

     TH26OC05.006
     
      

[[Page 23910]]

       The conference agreement does not provide funding, within 
     the National Research Initiative, for the competitive grants 
     program as authorized under section 406 of the Agricultural 
     Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 as 
     proposed by the House.
       The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 for Applied 
     Agricultural and Environmental Research of which $150,000 
     shall be for California State-Poly, and the remaining funds 
     shall be equally divided among California State-Fresno, 
     California State-San Luis Obispo, California State-Pomona, 
     and California State-Chico.
       The conference agreement provides $350,000 to continue 
     physical assessments of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo watershed to 
     evaluate the hydrological feasibility of water management 
     improvements.
       The conference agreement provides $300,000 for air quality 
     research of which $150,000 each shall be for the University 
     of California at Davis and Fresno State University to 
     supplement existing research initiatives for bovine emissions 
     and manure lagoon emissions.
       The conference agreement does not include language proposed 
     by the House regarding Polymer-based University Research.
       The conference agreement provides $1,612,000 for the Food 
     and Agriculture Policy Research Institute. Of that amount, 
     the conferees provide an increase of $75,000 above the fiscal 
     year 2005 level for the Center for Agricultural and Trade 
     Policies for the Northern Plains Region at North Dakota State 
     University.
       The conference agreement provides $736,000 for grain 
     sorghum research of which $210,000 is for Texas Tech, 
     $149,000 is for Texas A&M, and $377,000 is for Kansas State.
       The conference agreement provides $9,548,000 for the 
     Tropical and Subtropical Research program for Florida and 
     Hawaii as proposed by the House instead of $4,699,000 for 
     Hawaii as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $600,000 for aquaculture 
     research of which $300,000 shall be for Florida, and $150,000 
     each for California (Hubbs Research Institute) and Texas 
     (Mote Marine Laboratory/University of Texas).


              NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND

       The conference agreement provides $12,000,000 for the 
     Native American Institutions Endowment Fund as proposed by 
     both the House and Senate.


                          EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

       The conference agreement provides $455,955,000 for 
     extension activities instead of $444,871,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $453,438,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes $2,000,000 for grants to 
     youth organizations instead of $2,646,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

[[Page 23911]]

     TH26OC05.007
     


[[Page 23912]]

     TH26OC05.008
     



                          INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES

       The conference agreement provides $55,792,000 for 
     integrated activities instead of $15,513,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $55,784,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:
       TH26OC05.009
       

[[Page 23913]]

              OUTREACH FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS

       The conference agreement provides $6,000,000 for Outreach 
     for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers instead of $7,810,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $5,888,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

       The conference agreement provides $724,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs 
     as proposed by the House and the Senate.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $815,461,000 for the 
     Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) instead of 
     $842,520,000 as proposed by the House and $807,768,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides specific amounts for each 
     program administered by APHIS, and directs appropriations for 
     a number of projects and activities within the programs. 
     Unless otherwise directed, APHIS shall implement 
     appropriations by program, projects, and activities as 
     specified by the Committees on Appropriations. The conferees 
     expect APHIS to provide the specified amount for each program 
     or activity, and expect that there will not be any 
     redirection of funds without prior notification to and 
     approval by the Committees on Appropriations, in accordance 
     with the reprogramming procedures specified in this Act.
       The conference agreement does not assume Animal Welfare Act 
     user fees of $10,858,000, as proposed in the President's 
     budget request. Such fees are not authorized.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                       [In thousands of dollars]


        Program                       FY 2006 Conference Recommendation
Pest and Disease Exclusion:
  Agricultural quarantine inspection.............................27,524
  Cattle ticks....................................................7,627
  Foreign animal diseases/FMD.....................................8,743
  Fruit fly exclusion and detection..............................59,976
  Import-export inspection.......................................12,493
  Screwworm......................................................28,000
  Trade issues resolution management.............................12,583
  Tropical bont tick................................................426
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Pest and Disease Exclusion...........................157,372
Plant and Animal Health Monitoring:
  Animal health monitoring & surveillance.......................147,449
  Animal and plant health regulatory enforcement.................10,399
  Bio Survelllance................................................2,007
  Emergency management systems...................................13,686
  Pest detection.................................................27,316
  Select Agents...................................................3,519
  Wildlife Disease Monitoring and Surveillance...................... --
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Plant & Animal Health Monitoring.....................204,376
Pest and Disease Management:
  Aquaculture.....................................................1,262
  Biological control..............................................9,579
  Boll weevil....................................................39,000
  Brucellosis....................................................10,453
  Chronic wasting disease........................................18,710
  Emerging plant pests..........................................100,217
  Golden nematode...................................................808
  Grasshopper and Mormon cricket..................................5,555
  Gypsy moth......................................................4,818
  Imported fire ant...............................................2,154
  Johnes disease.................................................13,189
  Low pathogen avian influenza...................................13,837
  Noxious weeds...................................................1,920
  Pink bollworm...................................................5,221
  Plum pox........................................................2,216
  Pseudorabies....................................................4,391
  Scrapie........................................................18,600
  Tuberculosis...................................................15,001
  Wildlife services operations...................................77,927
  Witchweed.......................................................1,527
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Pest and Disease Management..........................346,385
Animal Care:
  Animal welfare.................................................17,478
  Horse protection..................................................497
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Animal Care...........................................17,975
Scientific and Technical Services:
  Biosecurity.....................................................1,972
  Information technology infrastructure...........................4,552
  Biotechnology regulatory services...............................?,574
  Environmental compliance........................................2,653
  Plant methods development labs..................................8,535
  Veterinary biologics...........................................15,647
  Veterinary diagnostics.........................................22,890
  Wildlife services methods development..........................17,390
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total, Scientific and Technical Services.....................84,213
Contingency fund..................................................4,140
Physical security.................................................1,000
                                                             __________
                                                             
      Total, Salaries and Expenses.............................$815,461
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

       For fiscal year 2006, the conferees provide $27,524,000 for 
     the AQI appropriated account, which includes an increase of 
     $52,000 over the fiscal year 2005 funding level for interline 
     activities in Hawaii. The conference agreement includes 
     $2,514,000 for the National Germplasm and Biotechnology 
     Laboratory to operate its biosecurity level 3 greenhouse, and 
     support detection of high-risk plant pathogens to protect the 
     agriculture sector.
       The conferees include $59,976,000 for fruit fly exclusion 
     and detection. Of that amount, $2,758,000 is for fruit fly 
     control in Texas, as requested.
       The conferees are aware of the development of a strategic 
     plan to address the threat of multiple fruit fly species to 
     U.S. agriculture. While APHIS does participate in sterile fly 
     production relating to the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, there are 
     three other fruit fly species in Hawaii which pose serious 
     threats to agricultural production in that and other states. 
     The conferees are aware of an existing agency facility 
     located on the island of Oahu which has been used to produce 
     sterile fruit flies, and the Secretary is directed to take no 
     action toward the dismantling or demolition of that facility 
     since it may play a role in developing a multi-species fruit 
     fly strategy for U.S. tropical and subtropical agriculture. 
     The Secretary is also directed to work with representatives 
     of the Hawaii agriculture sector in developing such a 
     strategy and for possible inclusion of the existing APHIS 
     facility in that regard.
       The conferees provide $12,493,000 for import-export 
     inspection, including $1,000,000 for a cooperative agreement 
     with the California County Pest Detection Augmentation 
     Program.
       The conference agreement includes $147,449,000 for Animal 
     Health Monitoring and Surveillance. Within that amount, the 
     conference agreement provides $33,340,000 for the National 
     Animal Identification System (NAIS), as requested. The 
     conference agreement also includes an increase of $2,500,000 
     for the Comprehensive Surveillance System.
       The conference agreement provides the full amount 
     requested, $17,184,000, for surveillance and other activities 
     related to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
       The conference agreement includes: $600,000 for the Farm 
     Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) program; funding of 
     the New Mexico Rapid Syndrome Validation Program at $547,000 
     to support early detection of pathogens in animals and 
     prevent their spread; $375,000 for Iowa State's work 
     regarding risk assessments of genetically modified 
     agricultural products; $325,000 to address bio-safety issues 
     relating to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in 
     Vermont; $50,000 for animal tracking in Washington; and 
     $50,000 for the Population Management Center, a collaboration 
     between the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Davee Center for 
     Epidemiology in Chicago, Illinois.
       The conference agreement includes $3,571,000 for 
     cooperative agreements with states, $1,900,000 for 
     cooperative agreements as part of the National Animal Health 
     Laboratory Network, and $8,930,000 for FMD/FAD surveillance.
       The conference agreement includes $13,686,000 for emergency 
     management systems, which includes a total of $4,307,000 for 
     emergency coordinators and a total of $3,000,000 for the 
     vaccine bank.
       The conference agreement includes $27,316,000 for pest 
     detection, including $200,000 for a remote sensing, 
     hyperspectral imaging and light detection and ranging 
     project; an increase of $100,000 for a cooperative agreement 
     with California; and an increase of $1,546,000 for surveys 
     through the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Surveys system.
       The conference agreement provides a total of $3,519,000 for 
     the Select Agents program. The funding for this program was 
     transferred from the Import/Export and Pest Detection line 
     items, as proposed in the President's budget request.
       The conferees provide an increase of $50,000 above the 
     fiscal year 2005 level for the Greater Yellowstone 
     Interagency Brucellosis Committee and an increase of $50,000 
     for Montana.
       For chronic wasting disease, the conferees provide 
     $18,710,000. The program provides funding to states in which 
     the disease has been found, including West Virginia. The 
     conferees direct that of the total, $1,750,000 is for 
     Wisconsin; $246,000 for Utah; $247,000 for the Conservation 
     Medicine Center of Chicago; $50,000 for Colorado; and 
     $150,000 for Alaska to monitor chronic wasting disease.
       The conferees direct the Secretary to publish in the 
     Federal Register proposed regulations relating to the control 
     of chronic wasting disease. The Secretary is further directed 
     to provide notice to the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House and Senate if this directive has not been achieved 
     within 90 days of enactment and such notice shall include a 
     description of actions taken and a timetable for publication 
     in the Federal Register.

[[Page 23914]]

       The conference agreement includes $100,217,000 for plant 
     pests. The conferees provide $36,629,000 for citrus canker 
     eradication; $24,250,000 for Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged 
     sharpshooter; $10,000,000 for Emerald Ash borer; $1,500,000 
     for Karnal Bunt; and $3,076,000 for Sudden Oak Death. The 
     conferees provide $500,000 for hydrilla eradication around 
     Lake Gaston in Virginia and North Carolina. Funding for olive 
     fruit fly is continued at the fiscal year 2005 level.
       The conference agreement includes $20,000,000 for Asian 
     longhorned beetle activities. The conferees direct that no 
     less than the fiscal year 2005 level be provided for 
     activities in Chicago, Illinois. The conferees also direct 
     that sufficient resources be allocated for activities in New 
     York.
       The conferees note their continued concern regarding the 
     devastation caused by citrus canker. The conference agreement 
     includes $36,629,000 for eradication and control activities. 
     Additional funds have recently been made available by the 
     Administration. In September 2005, the Secretary announced 
     that USDA had provided $53,750,000 in emergency funding for 
     eradication and control, and in October 2005, he announced 
     $200,000,000 in disaster relief funding to compensate 
     commercial growers for losses. Although the conferees 
     understand that these funds do not cover total needs, 
     particularly since the hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004 
     contributed to the spread of disease, the investment to date 
     has been substantial. In total, over $740,000,000 in federal 
     funding has been provided to address needs related to citrus 
     canker. The conferees will continue to monitor the situation, 
     and encourage the Administration to continue its support of 
     the industry.
       The conferees expect the Secretary of Agriculture to 
     continue to utilize his authority to transfer funds from the 
     Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to assist states with the 
     arrest and eradication of animal and plant pests and diseases 
     that threaten American agriculture.
       The conference agreement provides $13,189,000 for Johne's 
     Disease. Of that amount, no less than the fiscal year 2005 
     level shall be available for activities in Wisconsin.
       The conferees note that a total of $28,337,000 is available 
     for activities related to the prevention, control, and 
     eradication of avian influenza, including $12,000,000 in 
     carryover funds for indemnities. A program increase of 
     $3,000,000 for detection, control, and eradication activities 
     is provided in the conference agreement.
       The conferees provide $1,920,000 for the noxious weeds 
     account. This amount includes $50,000 for weed management in 
     Nevada.
       The conference agreement includes the amount requested, 
     $2,216,000, for surveillance and control of the plum pox 
     virus. In addition, approximately $600,000 is available for 
     the program from carryover funds. The conferees understand 
     that the virus has not moved beyond the borders of 
     Pennsylvania, but are concerned about recent positive 
     findings in the state. The conferees expect that if the 
     incidence of plum pox virus increases, APHIS will use its 
     authorities for emergency funding to support surveillance and 
     removal and destruction of infected trees.
       The conferees are aware of an outbreak of bovine 
     tuberculosis in New Mexico and, in response, that an MOU has 
     been executed between USDA and that state. The conferees urge 
     the Secretary to use authorities and resources of the 
     Department to provide testing, monitoring, surveillance, and 
     other services, as needed, toward the control and eradication 
     of this disease.
       The conferees direct that, other than funding for the 
     specific items noted in this statement, the funds provided in 
     the Wildlife Services Operations line item are available for 
     general operations needs.
       The conferees do not concur with the President's request to 
     reduce funding in the Wildlife Services account to allow 
     cooperators to assume a larger share of the costs associated 
     with these activities.
       The conferees provide $1,200,000 for wolf predation 
     management, of which $1,050,000 is for Wisconsin, Minnesota, 
     and Michigan, and $150,000 is for New Mexico and Arizona.
       The conference agreement continues funding for the 
     following projects: $300,000 for beaver management in North 
     Carolina; $250,000 for crop and aquaculture losses in 
     Southeast Missouri; $625,000 for game bird predation work 
     with the University of Georgia; $150,000 for predation 
     wildlife services in western and southside Virginia; $135,000 
     for blackbird control in Louisiana; $1,337,000 for predator 
     control programs in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming; $1,000,000 
     for wildlife services in Texas; $225,000 for beaver 
     management and damage in Wisconsin; $50,000 for control of 
     feral hogs in Missouri; $1,000,000 for cormorant control in 
     New York; $200,000 for cormorant control in Michigan; 
     $150,000 for cormorant control in the Lake Champlain basin; 
     $750,000 for wildlife service operations with the South 
     Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks; $539,000 for the 
     management of beavers in Mississippi; $380,000 to continue 
     control measures for minimizing blackbird damage to 
     sunflowers in North Dakota and South Dakota; $172,000 for 
     Kansas blackbird control; $342,000 for the Jack Berryman 
     Institute, Utah; $247,000 for Kentucky State operations; 
     $321,000 for Delta states operations; $196,000 for geese 
     control in New York; and $250,000 for the New Hampshire State 
     operations. The conference agreement does not include 
     $100,000 increases for state operations in Alaska, Tennessee 
     or Pennsylvania, as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes $10,700,000 for wildlife 
     control in Western states.
       The conference agreement provides $404,000 for activities 
     in Hawaii and Guam. The conferees expect these funds to be 
     used to enhance activities for control of pest species. In 
     addition, the conference agreement provides $950,000 for 
     brown tree snake control.
       The conference agreement includes $23,580,000 for a 
     cooperative oral rabies vaccination program, an increase of 
     $2,000,000 over the fiscal year 2005 level. The conferees 
     encourage APHIS to make use of existing funds to 
     appropriately address rabies in Broward County, Florida.
       Within the amount provided for wildlife surveillance, the 
     conference agreement provides an increase of $100,000 for 
     remote diagnostics and wildlife disease surveillance 
     activities with North Dakota State University and Dickinson 
     State University.
       The conferees provide an increase of $1,900,000 for the 
     National Animal Health Laboratory Network, as requested. 
     Within the total, $375,000 is included for an agriculture 
     biosecurity center in Kansas.
       The conference agreement includes $17,390,000 for wildlife 
     services methods development. Within that amount, the 
     conferees provide $419,000 in funding for the National 
     Wildlife Research Station in Kingsville, Texas, to address 
     emerging infectious disease issues associated with wildlife 
     populations; an increase of $175,000 for the Jack Berryman 
     Institute, Mississippi; and an increase of $118,000 for the 
     Utah Predator Research Station.
       The conferees support the microchipping of pets for 
     identification under a system of open microchip technology in 
     which all scanners can read all chips. The conferees direct 
     APHIS to develop the appropriate regulations that allow for 
     universal reading ability and best serve the interests of pet 
     owners. The conferees also direct APHIS to take into 
     consideration the effect such regulation may have on the 
     current practice of microchipping pets in this country, and 
     to report to the Committees on Appropriations within 90 days 
     of the date of enactment of this Act on progress toward that 
     end.
       The conferees are aware of the scientific achievements that 
     have been made possible through the use of laboratory 
     animals. However, the conferees also strongly support strict 
     enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, including regulatory 
     oversight of the trade by Class B animal dealers. The 
     Secretary is directed to report to the Appropriations 
     Committees of the House and Senate by March 1, 2006, on 
     enforcement actions taken in the regulation of Class B animal 
     dealers. Such report should also include information 
     regarding the frequency of inspection of Class B dealers, the 
     allocation of resources for that purpose, and other actions 
     of the Department.


                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

       The conference agreement provides $4,996,000 for Animal and 
     Plant Health Inspection Service Buildings and Facilities as 
     proposed by the House and the Senate.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           MARKETING SERVICES

       The conference agreement provides $75,376,000 for the 
     Agricultural Marketing Service instead of $78,032,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $76,643,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. The conference agreement does not include $2,918,000 
     in standardization fees, as proposed in the President's 
     budget. These fees are not currently authorized in law.
       The conference agreement does not include funding under 
     this account for a web-based supply chain management system, 
     but does provide funding for the system under the Funds for 
     Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply (section 32) 
     Account.
       The conferees provide $2,026,000 for activities relating to 
     organic standards, $15,262,000 for the Pesticide Data 
     Program, and $2,927,000 for Pesticide Recordkeeping, as 
     requested in the budget, and an increase of $1,000,000 for 
     activities related to country of origin labeling enforcement.
       The conference agreement includes $1,000,000 for the 
     Farmers' Market Promotion Program, to make grants to eligible 
     entities for the purposes of establishing, expanding, and 
     promoting farmers' markets. The conferees direct that no 
     entity shall receive more than $75,000 in funding from the 
     program, and request a report on the grants made, including 
     the entity, purpose, and location, and administrative costs 
     of the program within 180 days of enactment.


                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $65,667,000 as proposed 
     by both the House and Senate.


    FUNDS FOR STRENGTHENING MARKETS, INCOME, AND SUPPLY (SECTION 32)

       The conference agreement provides $16,055,000 for Funds for 
     Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply as proposed by the 
     House and the Senate.

[[Page 23915]]

       In addition, the conferees provide not less than 
     $20,000,000 for the first phase of development of the Web-
     based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system, which will 
     benefit the programs of the Agricultural Marketing Service, 
     the Farm Service Agency, and the Food and Nutrition Service, 
     as well as enhancing food distribution to schools and other 
     feeding outlets. The conferees note that administrative 
     expenses to support commodity purchases are expressly allowed 
     in the authorizing legislation, and Section 32 funds, 
     accordingly, should be used to fund the development of the 
     WBSCM system.


                   PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS

       The conference agreement provides $3,847,000 for Payments 
     to States and Possessions as proposed by the Senate instead 
     of $1,347,000 as proposed by the House.
       The conference agreement includes bill language and funding 
     for a specialty markets grant as proposed by the Senate.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $38,443,000 for the Grain 
     Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration as proposed 
     by the Senate instead of $38,400,000 as proposed by the 
     House.
       The conference agreement fully funds the requested increase 
     for pay costs and the development of an information disaster 
     recovery program, and provides an increase of $225,000 for 
     other high priority budgeted increases. The conference 
     agreement does not include $24,701,000 in grain 
     standardization and Packers and Stockyards licensing fees, as 
     proposed in the President's budget. These fees are not 
     currently authorized in law.
       The conferees remain very interested in the study on 
     marketing arrangements that GIPSA has undertaken with 
     $4,500,000 provided in fiscal year 2003 for that purpose. 
     Although the study was delayed, the conferees have been 
     informed that it is scheduled for completion in mid-2006 and 
     that the total cost is not affected. The conferees direct 
     GIPSA to provide quarterly updates and report the study 
     findings to the Committees on Appropriations by June 30, 
     2006.
       The conference agreement includes $500,000 to continue the 
     product verification protocols pilot program, in conjunction 
     with the Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa Corn Growers 
     Associations. The pilot program is to establish controls for 
     regulated seed varieties and augment grain marketing.


        LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $42,463,000 for 
     limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses as 
     proposed by the House and Senate.

             Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety

       The conference agreement provides $602,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Food Safety as proposed by the 
     Senate instead of $590,000 as proposed by the House.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

       The conference agreement provides $837,756,000 for the Food 
     Safety and Inspection Service, instead of $837,264,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $836,818,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. The conference agreement does not assume Food Safety 
     Inspection user fees of $139,000,000, as proposed in the 
     President's budget request. Such fees are not authorized.
       The conferees include bill language, as proposed by the 
     Senate, regarding full-time equivalent positions for 
     inspections and enforcement of laws and regulations related 
     to the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
       The conference agreement provides $4,000,000 for FSIS to 
     continue the incorporation of the Humane Activities Tracking 
     (HAT) system into the Field Automation and Information 
     Management (FAIM) system at slaughter plants throughout the 
     country. This system will assist in connecting the HAT data 
     into FSIS' broader food safety and food security 
     communications infrastructure. In addition, this will provide 
     FSIS with access to real-time information, assisting in the 
     detection and prevention of potential food safety problems at 
     FSIS-inspected facilities throughout the country.
       The conference agreement provides the following increases: 
     $2,236,000 for frontline inspection improvement; $1,008,000 
     for food safety employee training; $417,000 for 
     biosurveillance; and $2,500,000 for laboratory capacity. The 
     conference agreement also provides $2,976,000 for BSE 
     surveillance, as requested, and $2,000,000 for 
     microbiological baseline studies.

        Food Safety and Inspection Service, Funding by Activity

                       [In thousands of dollars]

Food Safety & Inspection:
  Federal......................................................$753,252
  State..........................................................53,790
  International..................................................19,551
Codex.............................................................3,002
FAIM Project......................................................8,161
                                                             __________
                                                             
    Total.......................................................837,756

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

       The conference agreement provides $635,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
     Services as proposed by the House and the Senate.

                          Farm Service Agency


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $1,030,000,000 for the 
     Farm Service Agency instead of $1,023,738,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $1,043,555,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes the following increases: 
     $15,944,000 for pay cost; $15,018,000 to maintain staffing 
     levels being funded from carryover balances in fiscal year 
     2005; $2,900,000 for the National Agricultural Imagery 
     Program, of which $300,000 is for a pilot Automated Crop 
     Cultivation Assessment Tool; and $1,500,000 for the 
     enhancement and management of the agriculture imagery catalog 
     repositories and data warehouses as proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees direct that of the funds available to the 
     Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, $24,000,000 shall 
     be for the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP). This 
     amount is in addition to any provided by cooperating funds 
     from any other federal, state, or local government funding 
     for NAIP.
       The conferees note that USDA has set aside the FSA Tomorrow 
     plan and expect USDA to exercise a cautious approach toward 
     any county or local office closures.
       The conferees are aware of the successful partnership 
     between FSA and the National Tribal Development Authority in 
     providing credit outreach to American Indian producers, which 
     offers tribal members an equal opportunity to participate in 
     farm loan programs. The National FSA American Indian Credit 
     Outreach initiative reaches tribal members across the 
     country, and has demonstrated continued success in increasing 
     participation and reducing defaults since its inception in 
     2001. Recent funding concerns have created some uncertainty 
     for the future of this program. The conferees encourage FSA 
     to continue its partnership with NTDA for its credit outreach 
     initiatives.


                         STATE MEDIATION GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $4,250,000 for State 
     Mediation Grants, as proposed by the House and Senate.


               GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $3,750,000 for the 
     Grassroots Source Water Protection Program instead of no 
     funding as proposed by the House and $4,250,000 as proposed 
     by the Senate.
       Funding for this program in previous fiscal years has been 
     provided through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.


                        DAIRY INDEMNITY program

       The conference agreement provides $100,000 for the Dairy 
     Indemnity Program, as proposed by the House and Senate.


           AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Farm Ownership Loans:
    Direct...............................................($208,000,000)
    Subsidy..................................................10,650,000
    Guaranteed..........................................(1,400,000,000)
    Subsidy...................................................6,720,000
Farm Operating Loans:
    Direct................................................(650,000,000)
    Subsidy..................................................64,675,000
    Unsubsidized Guaranteed.............................(1,150,000,000)
    Subsidy..................................................34,845,000
    Subsidized Guaranteed.................................(274,632,000)
    Subsidy..................................................34,329,000
    Indian Tribe Land Acquisition...........................(2,020,000)
    Subsidy......................................................81,000
    Boll Weevil Eradication...............................(100,000,000)
    Subsidy...........................................................0
ACIF Expenses:
    Salaries and Expenses...................................304,591,000
    Administrative Expenses...................................8,000,000

       The conference agreement provides for a transfer of 
     $304,591,000 to salaries and expenses instead of $297,127,000 
     as proposed by the House and $309,137,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate. Of this amount, $4,194,000 shall be used for 
     increased salary costs, $7,483,000 shall be used for the 
     highest priority operating expenses, and no less than 
     $1,500,000 shall be used to hire and train additional farm 
     loan officers and managers.
       The conference agreement provides no new budget authority 
     for the emergency loan program. Currently, this loan program 
     has over $152,000,000 available for eligible producers. Based 
     on historical loan activity, this amount should meet all 
     needs for emergency loans in this fiscal year.

                         Risk Management Agency

       The conference agreement provides $77,048,000 for the Risk 
     Management Agency instead of $77,806,000 as proposed by the 
     House and $73,448,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $3,600,000 in 
     discretionary funds for data mining and data warehousing 
     activities to address the program compliance and integrity 
     functions of the federal crop insurance program. The 
     conferees will only provide one-time funding for these 
     activities within discretionary funds, and recommend the 
     Agency seek mandatory funds as previously authorized under 
     the Federal Crop Insurance

[[Page 23916]]

     Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 1501-1524) as proposed by the House.
       Within the total funding for the Risk Management Agency, 
     the conference agreement provides an increase of $1,000,000 
     for the Agency's Emerging Information Technology Architecture 
     initiative, instead of $1,463,000 as proposed by the House.
       The conferees urge the Risk Management Agency to initiate a 
     pilot program that would evaluate the effectiveness of lamb 
     price insurance for sheep producers of all size operations 
     and geography as proposed by the House, and a second that 
     would conduct an actuarial study, in conjunction with North 
     Dakota State University, addressing an optional insurance 
     program in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota on 
     wheat, barley, soybeans, and corn as proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees are aware of aerial platform multi-spectral 
     digital imaging and its potential application in facilitating 
     the accurate measurement of crop insurance claims. The 
     conferees encourage the Secretary to consider the development 
     of a pilot program with the University of Minnesota to 
     advance the application of this technology to the claims 
     process.

                Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund

       The conference agreement provides an appropriation of such 
     sums as may be necessary for the Federal Crop Insurance 
     Corporation Fund (estimated to be $3,159,379,000 in the 
     President's fiscal year 2006 Budget Request), as proposed by 
     the House and Senate.

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund


                 REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES

       The conference agreement provides an appropriation of such 
     sums as may be necessary for Reimbursement for Net Realized 
     Losses of the Commodity Credit Corporation (estimated to be 
     $25,690,000,000 in the President's fiscal year 2006 Budget 
     Request), as proposed by the House and Senate.


                       HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

       The conference agreement provides a limitation of 
     $5,000,000 for Hazardous Waste Management, as proposed by the 
     House and Senate.

                    TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

       The conference agreement provides $744,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment 
     as proposed by the House and the Senate.
       The conferees note that the Natural Resources Conservation 
     Service underwent a reorganization in early 2004. In 
     discussions about the reorganization with the Committees on 
     Appropriations, the Department agreed to revisit the 
     reorganization in two to three years to determine its 
     effectiveness and address any concerns of the Committees. The 
     conferees direct the Department to consult with the 
     Committees prior to conducting an analysis of the 
     reorganization, and describing how it has met the needs of 
     the Service, Congress, and stakeholders.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                        CONSERVATION OPERATIONS

       The conference agreement includes $839,519,000 for 
     Conservation Operations, instead of $773,640,000 as proposed 
     by the House and $819,561,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $27,500,000 for the 
     Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, $10,650,000 for snow 
     surveys, $10,547,000 for Plant Materials Centers, and 
     $88,149,000 for the Soil Surveys Program. The budget 
     authority provided for the Plant Materials Centers does not 
     include funds for completion of the Alaska Plant Materials 
     Center, as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement requires funds appropriated for 
     Conservation Operations be available until May 31, 2007. The 
     conferees direct the Secretary to report to the Committees no 
     later than July 1, 2006, on any projects or activities for 
     which funds have been specifically provided by this Act that 
     have not been obligated by that date. Such a report shall 
     include the reasons for which the obligations have not been 
     made and a timetable indicating when those obligations shall 
     occur.
       Funding for fiscal year 2005 projects is not continued in 
     fiscal year 2006 unless specifically mentioned in this 
     statement of the managers. The following funds are directed 
     to be used in cooperative agreements continued with the same 
     cooperator entities as in the fiscal year 2005 agreements, 
     except as noted: Cooperative agreement between the Alabama 
     Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the 
     Alabama Wildlife Federation for conservation education (AL)--
     $446,000; Cooperative agreement with the Alabama Association 
     of Conservation Districts (AL)--$100,000; Obtain/evaluate 
     materials for cold region seeds of plants in conjunction w/
     Alaska Division of Agriculture (AK)--$300,000; Native Plant 
     Materials (commercialization) (AK)--$300,000; NRI pilot 
     development (AK)--$500,000; Cooperative agreement w/Soil and 
     Water Conservation Districts (AK)--$1,488,000; National Water 
     Management Center (AR)--$2,750,000; Study to determine 
     logistics of transportation/coordination of excess nutrients 
     (AR)--$225,000; Small Farm Wetlands Management Center w/
     University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (AR)--$125,000; East 
     Valley Conservation District/Santa Ana Watershed Authority 
     Plant Removal (CA)--$1,000,000; Monterey Bay Sanctuary (CA)--
     $600,000; Cooperative agreement with the Municipal Water 
     District of Orange County California (CA)--$200,000; 
     Cooperative agreement w/Tufts University to improve 
     conservation practices (CT)--$500,000; Pilot projects for 
     technology systems resulting in nutrient reduction (FL)--
     $6,000,000; Manatee Agriculture Reuse System (FL)--
     $2,000,000; Lake Okeechobee Watershed project planning (FL)--
     $350,000; Suwannee, Dixie, and Lafayette Counties dairy and 
     poultry waste treatment (FL)--$1,000,000; Cooperative 
     agreement w/Green Institute (FL)--$400,000; Georgia Soil and 
     Water Conservation Commission Cooperative Agreement (GA)--
     $3,700,000; Community nutrient management facilities (GA)--
     $350,000; Cooperative agreement w/GSU for the Altamaha River 
     Basin water quality project (GA)--$100,000; Agricultural 
     development/resource conservation (HI)--$900,000; Idaho One 
     Plan (ID)--$200,000; cooperative agreement w/the College of 
     S. Idaho (ID)--$125,000; Trees Forever Program (IL)--
     $100,000; Illinois River Agricultural Conservation Project w/ 
     Ducks Unlimited (IL)--$242,000; Wildlife habitat education 
     program in conjunction w/ National Wild Turkey Federation 
     (IL)--$242,000; Kane County, Smart Growth Floodplain 
     Monitoring Project (IL)--$600,000; Planning/ops in Illinois 
     River watershed w/ Peoria County (IL)--$175,000; Hungry 
     Canyon/Loess Hills Erosion Control/Western Iowa (IA)--
     $1,200,000; Trees Forever Program (IA)--$100,000; CEMSA w/
     Iowa Soybean Association (IA)--$432,000; Cooperative 
     agreement w/ Northern Iowa University (IA)--$446,000; Soil 
     erosion control cost-share program/soil survey program (KY)--
     $3,00,000; Technical assistance to provide grants to Soil 
     Conservation Districts (KY)--$1,000,000; Cooperative 
     agreement w/ Western Ky. University (KY)--$396,000; Dairy 
     waste remediation-Lake Ponchartrain Basin (LA)--$295,000; 
     Cooperative agreement w/ LSU on effectiveness of agriculture 
     and forestry (LA)--$400,000; False River sedimentation/Bayou 
     Grosse (LA)--$200,000; Union-Lincoln Parish Regional Water 
     Conservation w/Lincoln Parish (LA)--$125,000; Chesapeake Bay 
     activities (MD)--$6,000,000; Conservation related to 
     cranberry production (MA/WI)--$600,000; Weed It Now-Taconic 
     Mountains (MA/NY/CT)--$200,000; Great Lakes pilot program for 
     conservation (MI)--$600,000; Conservation in the Driftless 
     area w/Southwest Badger RC&D (MN/WI)--$263,000; Mississippi 
     Conservation Initiative (MS)--$10,000,000; Delta Water 
     Resources Study (MS)--694,000; Delta Conservation 
     Demonstration Center, Washington County (MS)--$1,389,000; 
     Soil erosion/Alcorn State (MS)--$192,000; Cattle and nutrient 
     management in stream crossings (MS)--$893,000; Choctaw County 
     feasibility study for surface impoundment (MS)--$250,000; 
     Wildlife Habitat Management Institute (MS)--$5,776,000; 
     Alluvial Floodplain Conservation (MS)--$750,000; Soil 
     Monitoring Pilot Project (MT)--$150,000; Upper White River 
     Water Quality Project in southern MO--$431,000; Carson City 
     Erosion Control Project w/ Carson City (NV)--$375,000; 
     Rangeland Conservation w/ Nevada Fire Safety Council (NV)--
     $125,000; State conservation cost share program (NJ)--
     $1,000,000; Riparian restoration activities along Rio Grande 
     and Pecos (NM)--$537,000; Pastureland Management/Rotational 
     Grazing (NY)--$600,000; Best management practices/Skaneateles 
     and Owasco Watersheds (NY)--$325,000; Address non-point 
     pollution in Onondaga and Oneida Lake Watersheds (NY)--
     $500,000; Phase II/Watershed Agriculture Council in Walton 
     (NY)--$720,000; Pace University Land Use Law Center (NY)--
     $200,000; New York State Agriculture and Environment Program 
     (NY)--$800,000; Long Island Sound watershed initiative (NY)--
     $200,000; Erosion control/stabilization for Hudson River 
     shoreline (NY)--$250,000; Technical assistance to livestock/
     poultry industry (NC)--$450,000; West Cary Watershed and 
     Farmland Protection Project (NC)--$298,000; North Central 
     Planning Council water utilization/ Devil's Lake (ND)--
     $350,000; Maumee Watershed Hydrological Study and Flood 
     Mitigation Plan (OH)--$1,000,000; Lake Erie Wetlands 
     Conservation Corridors Project (OH)--$125,000; Cooperative 
     agreement with Chemeketa Community College for the Oregon 
     Garden, Silverton (OR) --$350,000; Conservation in Klamath 
     and Lake Co. w/ Klamath County Economic Development 
     Association (OR)--$175,000; Soil Survey Work in the State w/ 
     MapCoast Partnership (RI)--$100,000; Study to characterize 
     land use change while preserving natural resources in 
     cooperation with Clemson University (SC)--$1,190,000; Bexar, 
     Medina, Uvalde Counties irrigation in Edwards Aquifer (TX)--
     $500,000; Field office telecommunications pilot program/
     advanced soil survey methods (TX)--$2,400,000; Range 
     vegetation pilot project, Ft. Hood (TX)--$500,000; Texas 
     Water Resources Institute cooperative agreement for Tarrant 
     County ($500,000) and Hood County ($100,000) (TX)--$600,000; 
     AFO/CAFO Pilot Project (UT)--$300,000; Study to examine 
     effects of vegetative manipulation on water yields w/ Utah 
     State (UT)--$800,000; Washington Fields (UT)--$3,000,000; 
     Utah

[[Page 23917]]

     Conservation Initiative (UT)--$5,000,000; Reduce phosphorus 
     loading into Lake Champlain (VT)--$300,000; Pilot farm 
     viability program project (VT)--$300,000; Walla Walla 
     watershed alliance (WA)--$500,000; Design/implement natural 
     stream restoration initiatives (WV)--$800,000; Soil survey 
     geographic database in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands (WV)--
     $200,000; Poultry Litter Composting (WV)--$160,000; Potomac 
     and Ohio River Basin Soil Nutrient Project (WV)--$300,000; 
     Appalachian Small Farmer Outreach Program (WV)--$860,000; GIS 
     Center of Excellence, West Virginia University (WV)--
     $4,500,000; Multiflora Rose Control w/ West Virginia State 
     Conservation Agency (WV)--$750,000; Grazing Lands Initiative/
     Wisconsin Department of Agriculture (WI)--$950,000; 
     Conservation land internship program (WI)--$120,000; 
     Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Committee cooperative 
     agreement (WI)--$300,000; Cooperative agreement with Sand 
     County Foundation (WI)--$1,200,000; University of Wisconsin 
     cooperative agreement on conservation tech transfer (WI)--
     $300,000; Cooperative agreement Pioneer Farm (WI)--$300,000; 
     Soil survey mapping project (WY)--$300,000; Audubon at Home 
     Pilot Program--$500,000; Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil & 
     Erosion Sediment--$2,500,000; On-Farm Management Systems 
     Evaluation Network--$250,000; Watershed management demo 
     program/NPPC--$548,000; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
     Partnerships--$3,000,000; and Operation Oak to restore 
     hardwoods--$400,000. The conference agreement includes 
     funding for the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program in 
     a separate account.
       The conferees direct that the funding included in this 
     account for the Community Nutrient Management Facilities 
     project and the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation 
     Commission Cooperative Agreement be provided to the 
     Commission through the state NRCS office in a timely manner 
     and in total, not in part, so that vital water projects in 
     Georgia are not delayed. Of the funds provided for the 
     Community Nutrient Management Facilities, $100,000 is for a 
     contract with the Georgia Rural Water Association to continue 
     the Lagoon Waste Management Demonstration program at 
     agricultural and municipal sludge disposal facilities.
       The conference agreement provides $6,000,000 for the 
     continued implementation of pilot projects for innovative 
     technology systems resulting in a 75 percent reduction in 
     nutrients of waste stream discharged by animal feeding 
     operations to be managed by Farm Pilot Project Coordination, 
     Inc. The Secretary is directed to release these funds after 
     submitting a report to the Committees on Appropriations that 
     a satisfactory cooperative agreement between the NRCS and 
     Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc. has been consummated.
       The conference agreement provides $27,500,000 for the 
     Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. This is $4,188,000 
     more than the fiscal year 2005 level. The conferees expect 
     the additional funds will be used to enhance efforts to 
     manage and prevent the spread of invasive species. The 
     conferees encourage the agency to make western range lands a 
     priority when allocating funding.
       The conferees support the NRCS proposal to use Conservation 
     Innovation Grants to support the goals of the Wildlife 
     Habitat Management Institute.


                     WATERSHED SURVEYS AND PLANNING

       The conference agreement provides $6,083,000 for Watershed 
     Surveys and Planning instead of $7,026,000 as proposed by the 
     House and $5,141,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees direct that the Chief of the Natural 
     Resources Conservation Service evaluate and rank efforts 
     currently underway in order to fund and complete the most 
     promising projects, based upon merit, and notify the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate on the 
     selected watershed projects. In addition, the agency is 
     directed not to initiate any new planning starts for projects 
     not otherwise specifically provided for by this Act.


               WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS

       The conference agreement provides $75,000,000 for Watershed 
     and Flood Prevention Operations instead of $60,000,000 as 
     proposed by the House and the Senate.
       The conferees include bill language which limits the amount 
     spent on technical assistance to not more than $30,000,000.


                    WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $31,561,000 for the 
     Watershed Rehabilitation Program instead of $47,000,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $27,313,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conferees direct that funding under this program be 
     provided for rehabilitation of structures determined to be of 
     high priority need in order to protect property and ensure 
     public safety.


                 RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

       The conference agreement provides $51,300,000 for Resource 
     Conservation and Development instead of $51,360,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $51,228,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conferees include bill language as proposed by the 
     House that directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement 
     with a national association related to the Resource 
     Conservation and Development program, and directs that such 
     an agreement must maintain the same matching, contribution 
     requirements and funding set forth in previous agreements.
       The conferees also include bill language that limits 
     funding for national headquarters activities as proposed by 
     the House.
       The conference agreement restores this account, rather than 
     accepting the budget proposal to defund the 189 Resource 
     Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils that have been 
     in existence for twenty years or more. The conferees would 
     expect any such budget proposal to be based on the 
     effectiveness and performance of the Councils rather than on 
     Council age. The conferees direct that NRCS work with the 
     Councils to develop appropriate measures of effectiveness for 
     both conservation and economic development.

                 TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

       The conference agreement provides $635,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Rural Development as proposed by 
     the Senate instead of $627,000 as proposed by the House.
       The conferees direct the Under Secretary to give 
     consideration to the following projects or organizations 
     requesting financial and/or technical assistance, and grants 
     and/or loans made available under the Rural Development 
     mission area: Farm Counseling Project of Rural Services of 
     Indiana (IN), to start a co-op; Northeast Texas (TX) 
     Community College/Hanson-Sewell Center, to build a community 
     outreach center; Navajo Tribal Utility Authority-Crownpoint 
     Chapter (NM); a water and waste water system for Franklin 
     County (ID); a water and waste water system for Franklin City 
     (ID); a water and waste system for Dayton City (ID); a water 
     and waste system for Preston City (ID); a water and waste 
     system for Weston City (ID); Tuscarora Township (MI), Indian 
     River wastewater system; Hartselle (AL), water works 
     environmental education; Orangeburg County (SC), Felderville 
     Church Road water project; Decatur County (IA), Decatur 
     County Development Corporation; Franklin Furnace (OH), sewer 
     and road improvements; Assumption Parish (LA), water and 
     waste water infrastructure; a water and waste system for Lodi 
     (CA); Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (VT), 
     farmers market; Scottsville Streetscape Project (VA); and the 
     Chautauqua County (KS) Rural Water District No. 4.
       The conferees expect the Under Secretary to approve these 
     projects only when such applications are judged to be 
     meritorious when subject to established review procedures.
       The conferees are aware that the Department has previously 
     provided funding for the National Rural Development 
     Partnership (NRDP). The NRDP, and its associated State Rural 
     Development Councils, facilitate interagency coordination and 
     provide programmatic guidance for rural development at 
     several levels. The State Rural Development Councils are 
     uniquely positioned to support the work of the National Rural 
     Development Coordinating Committee (NRDCC), which recently 
     began operations. The conferees expect funds to be provided 
     for the NRDP and State Rural Development Councils at a level 
     comparable to fiscal year 2004. The Department is strongly 
     encouraged to utilize funds outside of the Rural Development 
     mission area and to solicit the participation of federal 
     departments and agencies, nongovernmental organizations 
     serving rural stakeholders, and State Rural Development 
     Councils in support of the work of the NRDCC.


                  RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $701,941,000 for the 
     Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) instead of 
     $657,389,000 as proposed by the House and $705,106,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $82,620,000 for rural 
     community programs; $530,100,000 for rural utilities 
     programs, of which $1,000,000 is for grants to nonprofit 
     organizations to finance construction, refurbishing, and 
     servicing of individually-owned household water well systems 
     in rural areas, and of which $500,000 is for revolving funds 
     for financing water and wastewater projects; and $89,221,000 
     is for rural business and cooperative development programs.
       The conference agreement provides $25,000,000 for loans and 
     grants to benefit Federally Recognized Native American 
     Tribes.
       The conference agreement provides $4,464,000 for community 
     facilities grants to tribal colleges.
       The conference agreement provides $6,350,000 for the Rural 
     Community Development Initiative.
       The conference agreement does not include in this account, 
     $140,000 for a feasibility study for a cooperative sheep 
     slaughter facility.
       The conference agreement provides $2,000,000 for grants to 
     the Delta Regional Authority.
       The conference agreement provides $25,000,000 for rural and 
     native villages in Alaska.

[[Page 23918]]

       The conference agreement provides $18,250,000 for technical 
     assistance grants for rural water and waste systems, unless 
     the Secretary makes a determination of extreme need.
       The conference agreement provides $5,600,000 for the Rural 
     Community Assistance Programs and not less than $850,000 
     shall be for a qualified national Native American 
     organization to provide technical assistance for rural water 
     systems for tribal communities.
       The conference agreement provides $13,750,000 for a circuit 
     rider program.
       The conference agreement provides $18,000,000 for 
     facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and 
     severe economic depression.
       The conference agreement provides $26,000,000 to be 
     transferred to the Rural Utilities Service, High Energy Cost 
     Grants Account.
       The following table indicates the distribution of funding 
     for the RCAP:

Community:
  Community facility loan subsidies.........................$10,806,000
  Community facility grants..................................17,000,000
  Economic impact initiative grants..........................18,000,000
  High energy costs grants...................................26,000,000
  Rural community development initiative......................6,350,000
  Tribal college grants.......................................4,464,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Subtotal, community......................................82,620,000
Business:
  Business and industry guaranteed loan subsidies............44,221,000
  Rural business enterprise grants...........................40,000,000
  Rural business opportunity grants...........................3,000,000
  Delta regional authority....................................2,000,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Subtotal, business.......................................89,221,000
Utilities:
  Water and waste disposal direct loan subsidies.............69,100,000
  Water and waste disposal grants...........................456,000,000
  Solid waste management grants...............................3,500,000
  Well system grants..........................................1,000,000
  Water and wastewater revolving funds..........................500,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Subtotal, utilities.....................................530,100,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Total, loan subsidies and grants.....................$701,941,000
                                                       ================

Directed spending:
  Federally Recognized Native American Tribes................25,000,000
  Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation.................750,000
  Colonias...................................................25,000,000
  Alaska Villages............................................25,000,000
  Technical Assistance.......................................18,250,000
  Circuit Rider..............................................13,750,000
  EZ/EC and REAP.............................................21,367,000
  RCAP........................................................5,600,000

                Rural Development Salaries and Expenses

       The conference agreement provides $164,625,000 for Rural 
     Development Salaries and Expenses instead of $152,623,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $164,773,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement provides an increase of 
     $11,147,000 within the Rural Development Salaries and 
     Expenses account to complete the consolidation of St. Louis 
     Rural Development activities at the Goodfellow facility. 
     Rural Development reported to the Committees on 
     Appropriations on July 18, 2005, that this amount is based on 
     revised numbers resulting from discussions between the 
     General Services Administration and Rural Development to 
     accomplish the move. The conferees request the Department to 
     provide the Committees on Appropriations a report on the 
     status of the consolidation within 60 days after enactment of 
     this Act and quarterly thereafter.

                         Rural Housing Service


              RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
     $242,108,000 for activities under the Rural Housing Insurance 
     Fund Program Account instead of $233,391,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $228,983,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides for an estimated loan 
     program level of $5,078,380,000 instead of $5,079,349,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $4,927,581,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement provides for a transfer of 
     $454,809,000 to salaries and expenses instead of $455,242,000 
     as proposed by the House and $465,886,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement includes a provision authorizing 
     housing funds initially allocated to Alaska to be available 
     until September 30, 2007.
       The conference agreement includes bill language making the 
     section 515 rental housing program available for repair, 
     rehabilitation, and new construction.
       The conference agreement provides $9,000,000 to carry out a 
     demonstration program for projects financed under the section 
     515 program. The conferees intend that the Department assist 
     section 515 owners in revitalizing and preserving the section 
     515 portfolio through financial options provided in this 
     demonstration and consistent with recommendations provided in 
     the Comprehensive Property Assessment report released by the 
     Department in 2004. The conferees expect that owners assisted 
     under this demonstration program shall be required to 
     maintain the housing assisted under this demonstration as 
     affordable, as determined by the Secretary, for the remaining 
     term of the original loan or the term of a restructured loan, 
     whichever is longer.
       The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 for the 
     Secretary to acquire the necessary automation and technical 
     support needed to restructure section 515 mortgages. The 
     conferees encourage the Secretary to contract with third 
     parties with expertise in multifamily housing finance, 
     mortgage restructuring, development, market analysis, 
     management, finance, taxation and other requirements as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       The following table indicates loan and subsidy levels 
     provided in the conference agreement:

              Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account

Loan authorizations:
  Single family direct (sec. 502)......................($1,140,799,000)
  Single family unsubsidized guaranteed.................(3,681,033,000)
  Housing repair (sec. 504)................................(35,000,000)
  Rental housing (sec. 515)...............................(100,000,000)
  Site development loans (sec. 524).........................(5,000,000)
  Multi-family guarantees (sec. 538)......................(100,000,000)
  Multi-family housing credit sales.........................(1,500,000)
  Single family housing credit sales.......................(10,000,000)
  Self help housing land development........................(5,048,000)
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total, Loan authorizations.........................($5,078,380,000)
                                                       ================

Loan subsidies:
  Single family direct (sec. 502)..........................$129,937,000
  Single family unsubsidized guaranteed......................40,900,000
  Housing repair (sec. 504)..................................10,238,000
  Rental housing (sec. 515)..................................45,880,000
  Site development loans (sec. 524)..................................--
  Multi-family guarantees (sec. 538)..........................5,420,000
  Multi-family housing credit sales.............................681,000
  Single family housing credit sales.................................--
  Self help housing land development.............................52,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Subtotal, Loan subsidies................................233,108,000
                                                       ================

  Multi-family housing preservation...........................9,000,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Total, Loan subsidies................................$242,108,000
                                                       ================

RHIF administration expenses (transfer to RD)..............$454,809,000
                                                       ================



                       RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $653,102,000 for the 
     Rental Assistance Program as proposed by the Senate instead 
     of $650,026,000 as proposed by the House. Of this amount, the 
     conference agreement includes up to $8,000,000 for debt 
     forgiveness and payments to enhance preservation efforts and 
     not to exceed $50,000 per project for advances to nonprofit 
     organizations or public agencies to cover direct costs 
     incurred in purchasing projects.
       The conference agreement provides additional funding above 
     the budget request for debt forgiveness. The conference 
     agreement also includes a provision that will deobligate the 
     cost of rental assistance in section 515 projects that are 
     subject to prepayment and reallocate these funds through a 
     separate funding stream for the cost of the vouchers and debt 
     forgiveness consistent with the requirements of this Act. 
     These funds are in addition to funds otherwise provided for 
     such activities in this Act.


                     RURAL HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $16,000,000 for the Rural 
     Housing Voucher Program as proposed by the Senate. The House 
     did not provide funding for this program.
       The conference agreement provides adequate funding for 
     vouchers as a safety net to prevent the displacement of low-
     income rural tenants that currently reside in section 515 
     projects that are subject to prepayment or foreclosure of 
     their existing loans. The conference agreement does not alter 
     prepayment restrictions or intend for vouchers to be used in 
     a property that would not be eligible or able to prepay 
     without the use of such voucher.


                  MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $34,000,000 for Mutual 
     and Self-Help Housing Grants as proposed by the House and 
     Senate.

[[Page 23919]]




                    RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $43,976,000 for Rural 
     Housing Assistance Grants as proposed by the Senate instead 
     of $41,000,000 as proposed by the House.
       The conferees provide $2,976,000 for the preservation of 
     the section 515 multi-family housing portfolio.


                       FARM LABOR PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides $31,168,000 for the Farm 
     Labor Program Account instead of $32,728,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $29,607,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides for an estimated loan 
     program level of $38,502,000, $17,168,000 for loan subsidies, 
     and $14,000,000 for grants.

                  Rural Business--Cooperative Service


              RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides an estimated loan program 
     level of $34,212,000 with a subsidy of $14,718,000 for the 
     Rural Development Loan Fund as proposed by the House and 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement provides for a transfer of 
     $4,793,000 to the Rural Development salaries and expense 
     account instead of $4,719,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $6,656,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes $3,449,000 for 
     Mississippi Delta Region counties, of which up to $1,500,000 
     is for the Delta Regional Authority.


            RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides an estimated loan program 
     level of $25,003,000 with a subsidy of $4,993,000 for the 
     Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account as proposed 
     by the House and Senate.


                  RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $29,488,000 for Rural 
     Cooperative Development Grants instead of $64,000,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $24,988,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $20,500,000 for value-
     added agricultural product market development grants.
       The conference agreement provides $1,488,000 for 
     cooperatives or associations of cooperatives to assist 
     minority producers.
       The conference agreement provides $500,000 for a 
     cooperative research agreement with a qualified academic 
     institution to conduct research on the national economic 
     impact of all types of cooperatives.


       RURAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES AND ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $11,200,000 for Rural 
     Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Grants instead 
     of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House and $12,400,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conferees are concerned that rural empowerment zones, 
     particularly zones selected because of outmigration, are 
     having a difficult time successfully competing for USDA Rural 
     Development program funds. This difficulty is occurring 
     because many Rural Development programs fail to consider 
     outmigration as a factor when awarding grants. Additional 
     funding from competitive grant programs, which supplements 
     funding Congress has set-aside for empowerment zones over the 
     last several years, is essential for the advancement of 
     economic development in these communities. The conferees 
     strongly encourage the Department to consider outmigration 
     when awarding competitive grants.
       The conferees further recognize that third round rural 
     empowerment zones have not received funding at the same level 
     as first and second round rural empowerment zones. The 
     conferees believe that the competitive grant process is one 
     way to address this disparity. The Department is strongly 
     encouraged to give priority consideration to applications for 
     Rural Development competitive grants from third round rural 
     empowerment zones.


                        RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $23,000,000 for the 
     Renewable Energy Program as proposed by the House and the 
     Senate.

                        Rural Utilities Service


   RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
     $6,372,000 for activities under the Rural Electrification and 
     Telecommunications Loans Program Account as proposed by the 
     House and Senate. The conference agreement provides for an 
     estimated loan program level of $6,094,000,000 instead of 
     $4,994,000,000 as proposed by the House and $6,095,000,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides for a transfer of 
     $38,784,000 to the Rural Development salaries and expenses 
     account instead of $38,907,000 as proposed by the House and 
     $39,933,000 as proposed by the Senate.
       The following table indicates loan and subsidy levels 
     provided in the conference agreement:

   Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account

Loan authorizations:
                                                              Electric:
    Direct, 5 percent....................................($100,000,000)
    Direct, Muni..........................................(100,000,000)
    Direct, FFB.........................................(2,600,000,000)
    Direct, Treasury rate...............................(1,000,000,000)
    Guaranteed............................................(100,000,000)
    Guaranteed underwriting.............................(1,500,000,000)
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Subtotal..........................................(5,400,000,000)
                                                       ================

Telecommunications:
    Direct, 5 percent.....................................(145,000,000)
    Direct, Treasury rate.................................(424,000,000)
    Direct, FFB...........................................(125,000,000)
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Subtotal..............................................(694,000,000)
                                                       ================

        Total, loan authorizations......................(6,094,000,000)
                                                       ================

Loan subsidies:
                                                              Electric:
    Direct, 5 percent...........................................920,000
    Direct, Muni..............................................5,050,000
    Direct, Treasury rate.......................................100,000
    Guaranteed...................................................90,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Subtotal................................................6,160,000
                                                       ================

Telecommunications:
    Direct, Treasury rate.......................................212,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
        Total, loan subsidies.................................6,372,000
                                                       ================

    RETLP administrative expenses (transfer to RD)...........38,784,000


                  RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT

       The conference agreement provides for a transfer of 
     $2,500,000 to the Rural Development salaries and expenses 
     account as proposed by the House and the Senate.


         DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides for an estimated loan 
     program level of $25,000,000 for distance learning and 
     telemedicine and $500,000,000 for broadband 
     telecommunications.
       The conference agreement includes $375,000 for distance 
     learning and telemedicine loan subsidy and $30,000,000 for 
     distance learning and telemedicine grants, of which 
     $5,000,000 is for public broadcasting system grants.
       The conference agreement includes $10,750,000 for broadband 
     telecommunications loan subsidy, and $9,000,000 for broadband 
     telecommunications grants.

                    TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

       The conference agreement provides $599,000 for the Office 
     of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer 
     Services, as proposed by the House and the Senate.
       The conferees encourage the Agency to conduct a feasibility 
     study, in consultation with WIC State agencies, to explore a 
     common cost effective strategy to implement the cash value 
     voucher for fruits and vegetables that may be adopted in 
     response to recommendations outlined in the Institute of 
     Medicine report on the food packages provided by the Special 
     Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and 
     Children (WIC).

                       Food and Nutrition Service


                        CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

       The conference agreement provides $12,660,829,000 for Child 
     Nutrition Programs, instead of $12,412,027,000 as proposed by 
     the House and $12,422,027,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
     Included in the total is an appropriated amount of 
     $7,473,208,000 and a transfer from section 32 of 
     $5,187,621,000.
       The conferees are aware that USDA, through its Team 
     Nutrition program, recently updated its dietary guidelines 
     and published My Pyramid and My Pyramid for Kids, which are 
     updates to the former food guide pyramids. The conferees are 
     also aware that FNS is currently working to publicize these 
     nutrition standards. The conferees encourage FNS to use all 
     available resources to ensure that funding for Team Nutrition 
     remains at a level which will allow it to effectively provide 
     this important nutrition information to both adults and 
     children.
       The conference agreement provides the following for Child 
     Nutrition programs:

                      Total Obligational Authority

Child Nutrition Programs:
  School lunch program...................................$7,415,142,000
  School breakfast program................................2,076,141,000
  Child and adult care food program.......................2,159,711,000
  Summer food service program...............................300,226,000
  Special milk program.......................................14,499,000
  State administrative expenses.............................156,061,000
  Commodity procurement and computer support................522,732,000
  School meals initiative/Team nutrition.....................10,025,000
  Food safety education.......................................1,000,000
  Coordinated review effort...................................5,235,000
  Program pay cost...............................................57,000
                                                       ________________
                                                       
    Total................................................12,660,829,000


SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN 
                                 (WIC)

       The conference agreement provides $5,257,000,000 for the 
     Special Supplemental

[[Page 23920]]

     Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as 
     proposed by both the House and Senate.
       The conference agreement includes $15,000,000 for 
     continuation of the breastfeeding peer counselor program. In 
     addition, the conference agreement provides $20,000,000 for 
     investments in management information systems, if the 
     Secretary determines that those funds are not needed to 
     maintain caseload and will not require use of the contingency 
     fund.
       The conference agreement does not include language 
     regarding adjunct eligibility restrictions.
       The conference agreement includes such sums as are 
     necessary to restore the contingency reserve to $125,000,000, 
     to be allocated as the Secretary deems necessary, as proposed 
     by the Senate.


                           FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $40,711,395,000 for the 
     Food Stamp Program, as proposed by the House and the Senate. 
     Included in this amount is a reserve of $3,000,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2007.
       The conference agreement includes $36,049,026,000 for 
     program expenses, $1,522,369,000 for grants to Puerto Rico 
     and Samoa, and $140,000,000 for commodity purchase for The 
     Emergency Food Assistance Program.
       The conference agreement includes a provision allowing for 
     purchase of bison meat, in an amount not less than 
     $3,000,000, for the Food Distribution Program on Indian 
     Reservations (FDPIR).
       The conference agreement includes statutory language to 
     exclude special pay for military personnel deployed to 
     designated combat areas when determining food stamp 
     eligibility.


                      COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

       The conference agreement provides $179,366,000 for the 
     Commodity Assistance Program instead of $178,797,000 as 
     proposed by the House and $179,935,000 as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $108,285,000 for the 
     Commodity Supplemental Food Program. According to the USDA's 
     latest estimates, approximately $6,020,000 in commodity 
     inventory is expected to be available to CSFP in fiscal year 
     2006, making the total available for the program 
     approximately $114,305,000. The conferees strongly encourage 
     USDA to make every effort to maintain the fiscal year 2005 
     caseload by making full use of CSFP inventory and carryover 
     from preceding years, and to access all available resources 
     from bonus commodity holdings and CCC stocks.
       The conferees provide $50,000,000 for administration 
     (processing, storage, transport, and distribution--of The 
     Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The conference 
     agreement includes a provision that provides the Secretary 
     authority to transfer up to an additional $10,000,000 from 
     TEFAP commodities for this purpose.
       The conference agreement includes $20,000,000 for the 
     Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
       The conferees note that $15,000,000 in funding is available 
     for the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in fiscal 
     year 2006 through the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
     of 2002.


                   NUTRITION PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION

       The conference agreement provides $140,761,000 for 
     Nutrition Programs Administration as proposed by the House 
     and the Senate. The conference agreement does not include 
     language regarding limitations on the amount specified for 
     certain administrative activities.
       The conferees direct the Department to promptly publish 
     interim final regulations regarding WIC vendor cost 
     containment, as described in the legislative history of the 
     Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. The conferees 
     also expect the Department to work with the WIC State 
     agencies to implement the interim final regulations regarding 
     vendor cost containment in accordance with the provisions set 
     forth in section 17(h)(11)(G) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
     1966. In the event the WIC State agencies should fail to 
     implement the interim final regulations before the enactment 
     of this Act, the conferees have provided an extension of the 
     moratorium on authorization of new `WIC-only' stores until 
     implementation of the regulations by the WIC State agencies. 
     This moratorium is not intended to restrict the transfer or 
     relocation of existing `WIC-only' stores.

            TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

                      Foreign Agricultural Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides $147,901,000 for the 
     Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and Expenses instead 
     of $148,224,000 as proposed by the House and $147,868,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes the following increases: 
     $1,788,000 for pay costs; $1,200,000 for ICASS; $4,000,000 to 
     offset the increased costs in overseas wages and currency 
     rates, of which $2,000,000 shall remain available until 
     expended; $300,000 for increased FAS presence in Baghdad; 
     $2,743,000 for the capital surcharge being levied by the 
     State Department; and $200,000 for technical assistance for 
     the promotion of specialty crop exports.
       The conference agreement provides $951,000 for 
     administering Title I Food for Progress grant programs.


     PUBLIC LAW 480 TITLE I AND TITLE II PROGRAM AND GRANT ACCOUNTS

       The conference agreement provides $65,040,000 for Title I 
     loan subsidies for a loan level of $74,032,000 as proposed by 
     the House and the Senate.
       The conference agreement includes bill language providing 
     that the Secretary of Agriculture may implement a commodity 
     monetization program under existing provisions of the Food 
     for Progress Act of 1985 to provide no less than $5,000,000 
     in local-currency funding support for rural electrification 
     overseas as proposed by the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $11,940,000 for Ocean 
     Freight Differential as proposed by the House and the Senate.
       The conference agreement provides $1,150,000,000 for 
     international food assistance through PL 480 title II grants.
       The conferees take the responsibilities of meeting 
     humanitarian needs very seriously, and given current budget 
     constraints, this conference agreement provides the highest 
     levels of funding possible for various international food 
     assistance programs. Under this conference agreement, title 
     II grants under PL 480, one of the primary international food 
     assistance programs, are funded at a level $265,000,000 
     higher than the President's request. The conferees encourage 
     the Executive Branch to restore, through future budget 
     requests, funding levels for international food assistance 
     under the jurisdiction of the appropriations subcommittees of 
     the House and Senate which fund USDA programs, more closely 
     in line with historic levels. The conferees further admonish 
     the Executive Branch to refrain from proposals which place at 
     risk a carefully balanced coalition of interests which have 
     served the interests of international food assistance 
     programs well for more than fifty years.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement for 
     Public Law 480 program accounts:

                             Public Law 480

Title 1--Program account:
  Loan authorization, direct..............................($74,032,000)
  Loan subsidies.............................................65,040,000
  Ocean freight differential.................................11,940,000
Title II--Commodities for disposition abroad:
  Program level.........................................(1,150,000,000)
  Appropriation...........................................1,150,000,000
Salaries and expenses:
  Foreign Agricultural Service (transfer).......................168,000
  Farm Service Agency (transfer)..............................3,217,000

       Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account

       The conference agreement provides $5,279,000 for the 
     Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account as 
     proposed by the House and the Senate.


  MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION 
                             PROGRAM GRANTS

       The conference agreement provides $100,000,000 for the 
     McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child 
     Nutrition Program as proposed by the House and the Senate.

      TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

       The conference agreement provides total appropriations, 
     including Prescription Drug User Fee Act, Medical Device User 
     Fee Act, and Animal Drug User Fee Act collections, of 
     $1,838,567,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Food and 
     Drug Administration, instead of $1,837,928,000, as proposed 
     by the House and $1,841,959,000 as proposed by the Senate, 
     and provides specific amounts by FDA activity as reflected in 
     the following table.

                               FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, SALARIES AND EXPENSES
                                            [In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Prescription    Medical
                    Program                        Budget      drug user   device user  Animal drug     Total
                                                 authority       fees          fees      user fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foods.........................................      443,153  ............  ...........  ...........      443,153

[[Page 23921]]

 
Human Drugs...................................      300,723       219,841  ...........  ...........      520,564
Biologics.....................................      122,238        47,675        8,801  ...........      178,714
Animal Drugs and Feeds........................       90,486  ............  ...........        9,301       99,787
Medical Devices...............................      222,792  ............       22,978  ...........      245,770
National Center for Toxicological Research....       41,152  ............  ...........  ...........       41,152
Other Activities..............................       85,762        25,116        4,535          646      116,059
Rent and Rent-related Activities..............       57,732             0          783  ...........       58,515
Rental Payments to GSA........................      117,579        12,700        3,203        1,371      134,853
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Recommendation......................    1,481,617       305,332       40,300       11,318    1,838,567
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       The conference agreement also makes mammography user fees 
     and export certification user fees available to the agency. 
     The conference agreement includes bill language related to 
     the White Oak consolidation, as proposed by the House, and 
     does not contain a provision relating to Congressional 
     testimony, as proposed by the House.
       Within the total funding for the Food and Drug 
     Administration, the following increases above the fiscal year 
     2005 level are provided: $10,000,000 for activities related 
     to food safety and food defense; $7,827,000 for medical 
     device review; $10,000,000 for drug safety activities; 
     $884,000 for activities related to direct-to-consumer 
     advertising; $750,000 to support research with the Critical 
     Path Institute; $200,000 for agricultural product testing at 
     the Physical Science Laboratory at New Mexico State 
     University; $300,000 for the National Center for Natural 
     Products Research; $4,128,000 for relocation expenses related 
     to the move to the consolidated White Oak campus; and 
     $4,100,000 in rent paid to GSA. The conference agreement 
     assumes reductions of $1,554,000 in administrative 
     efficiencies and $5,116,000 in IT reductions, as proposed in 
     the request.
       The conference agreement provides $14,696,000 for Orphan 
     Product grants, not less than $4,000,000 for the Office of 
     Women's Health, and not less than $56,228,000 for the generic 
     drug program.
       The conference agreement provides the $5,000,000 increase 
     for the Office of Drug Safety as requested in the budget. In 
     addition, the conference agreement provides an increase of 
     $5,000,000 for drug safety activities within CDER. The 
     conferees intend that these increases be used for FDA's 
     highest priority drug safety needs that were not funded in 
     fiscal year 2005, such as hiring of additional scientists or 
     the acquisition of databases to which FDA does not now have 
     access to help track adverse drug events. The conferees 
     direct FDA to provide a report to the Committees on 
     Appropriations within 30 days of enactment, setting forth its 
     proposed use of these funds in detail, including an object 
     class breakout for the $10,000,000 increase.
       The conference agreement provides no less than $29,556,000 
     for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as requested. The 
     conferees understand that this funding will support agency-
     wide BSE activities including conducting yearly inspections 
     of all renderers and feed mills processing products 
     containing prohibited materials, extending BSE inspections 
     into targeted segments of industries subject to the BSE Feed 
     regulation, validating test methods for the detection of 
     bovine-derived proteins in animal feed, and continuing to 
     conduct research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies 
     in FDA's product centers.
       Within the food safety and defense increase, the conference 
     agreement provides increases of $5,074,000 for food defense 
     research, $3,926,000 for the Food Emergency Response Network, 
     $500,000 for food defense bio-surveillance, and $500,000 to 
     improve and increase import surveillance of food.
       The conferees have serious concerns regarding seafood 
     safety issues posed by banned antibiotic contamination in 
     farm-raised shrimp imports. In addition, the conferees are 
     concerned that the FDA inspects less than 2 percent of shrimp 
     being imported into the United States. The conferees 
     recommend that the FDA, in cooperation with any state testing 
     programs, continue testing of farm-raised shrimp imports for 
     chloramphenicol and other related harmful antibiotics.
       The conference agreement includes total funding of 
     $5,360,000 for the CFSAN Adverse Events Reporting System, of 
     which approximately $1,500,000 is for dietary supplements. 
     This is $860,000 more than the amount in the budget request.
       The conference agreement fully funds the amount designated 
     for influenza in the budget request. The conferees encourage 
     the Administration to develop a comprehensive response plan 
     for dealing with potential human-to-human transmission of 
     avian influenza, including the availability of vaccine and 
     treatment. The conferees direct the agency to provide regular 
     updates to the Committees on its involvement in influenza 
     preparedness activities. Further, the conferees expect the 
     Administration to provide a supplemental request should the 
     need for additional influenza funding arise.
       The conferees support the work of the National 
     Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) and its 
     collaborative relationship between FDA, USDA, and the Centers 
     for Disease Control. The conferees expect the coordination of 
     activities among these three areas of government to result in 
     the most unbiased presentation of timely, accurate data in 
     the best interest of public health, and encourage FDA to 
     equally divide research funding among the three branches of 
     the program. Further, the conferees direct that FDA perform a 
     review of all components of the NARMS program to analyze the 
     program's scientific soundness and relevance to public 
     health, the criteria utilized to evaluate the program, the 
     transparency of the program, opportunities for public input, 
     and report the result to the Committees.
       The conference agreement provides an increase of $300,000 
     to enhance the collaboration between FDA and the National 
     Center for Natural Products Research and allow increased 
     participation by FDA staff in the research on botanicals and 
     dietary supplements being conducted at the National Center 
     for Natural Products Research in Oxford, MS.
       The conference agreement includes no more than $13,026,357 
     for the Unified Financial Management System (UFMS). Of this 
     amount, $9,720,374 is for development and implementation, and 
     $3,305,953 is for operations and maintenance of UFMS. The 
     conferees note that FDA has spent in excess of the amount 
     expressly appropriated for UFMS in previous fiscal years, and 
     direct FDA to provide quarterly reports on spending for this 
     system to ensure this does not continue.
       The conference agreement does not include funding for a 
     foods research center or a pilot program for compounded drug 
     monographs or directed inspection funding, as proposed by the 
     Senate.
       The conferees are aware of concerns about the regulation of 
     imports of ethnic foods in the Los Angeles district. Concerns 
     include the issues of communication to importers about 
     shipments being held by FDA, the amount of time that 
     shipments are held, and proper declaration of products. The 
     conferees understand that in 2004 FDA's Los Angeles District 
     implemented new operating procedures and held a public 
     meeting on these issues. Since two years have elapsed, the 
     conferees suggest that FDA now review the performance of the 
     program and solicit input from the import community.
       The conferees note that FDA may use available funds to 
     support review and action on new drug applications and 
     supplements seeking approval for replacement or alternative 
     abuse-resistant formulations of currently-available drug 
     products that include an active ingredient that is a listed 
     chemical under the Controlled Substances Act. Further, it is 
     the understanding of the conferees that these applications 
     may be considered under the expedited, priority review 
     process at FDA.
       The conferees are aware that the FDA issued a monograph for 
     sunscreen products in 2002, and the monograph was stayed 
     shortly thereafter so that FDA could address the issue of 
     measuring protection against UVA rays, which cause skin 
     cancer. Since that time, no further official action has been 
     taken by the FDA, although skin cancer rates continue to 
     rise, especially among young persons and women. The conferees 
     believe that a comprehensive monograph would be useful to 
     consumers. Therefore, the conferees direct FDA to issue a 
     comprehensive final monograph for over-the-counter sunscreen 
     products, including UVA and UVB labeling requirements, within 
     six months of enactment of this Act.
       The conferees do not include language in the House bill 
     that withheld five percent of the funds provided to FDA's 
     central offices pending a public hearing with the agency head 
     on the fiscal year 2006 budget, because this requirement was 
     satisfied by former Commissioner Crawford's testimony before 
     the House subcommittee in July. However, the conferees expect 
     the head of the agency to testify before the House and Senate 
     subcommittees on the fiscal year 2007 budget during the 
     regular course of budget hearings.

[[Page 23922]]

       The conferees appreciate the detailed information provided 
     in the budget justification prepared by the Food and Drug 
     Administration and rely heavily on this information when 
     considering budget proposals. These materials have 
     traditionally been prepared for the sole use of the 
     Committees on Appropriations in a format consistent with the 
     structure of the Appropriations Act. The account organization 
     in the fiscal year 2006 budget request does not present 
     information in a format that is useful to the Committees. 
     Therefore, the conferees do not approve the proposed 
     restructuring of FDA's budget for the field activities, rent 
     activities, and other activities accounts. The conferees 
     direct the Agency to submit the fiscal year 2007 budget 
     request in a format that follows the same account structure 
     as the fiscal year 2005 budget request unless otherwise 
     approved by the Committees.
       The conferees direct the Department of Health and Human 
     Services (HHS) to include all anticipated consolidations that 
     impact FDA in the FDA budget request submitted to Congress. 
     Further, the conferees direct that none of the funds made 
     available to FDA in this Act be used for any assessments, 
     fee, or charges by HHS unless such assessments, fees, or 
     charges are identified in the FDA budget justification and 
     expressly provided by Congress, or approved by Congress in 
     the official reprogramming process as required in the General 
     Provisions of this Act. The conferees further direct HHS to 
     include in the fiscal year 2007 budget submission all sources 
     of funding projected to be received by FDA from all other 
     federal agencies in fiscal years 2006 and 2007, by agency, 
     with a brief description of the reason for which the funds 
     are to be provided to FDA.
       In its fiscal year 2006 budget, FDA requested $146,213,000 
     for ``research, development and evaluation'' (RD&E) 
     activities. This amounts to about 10 percent of the agency's 
     discretionary request. FDA provided only general descriptions 
     of its planned RD&E activities within the context of its 
     strategic plan, without specifying the dollars requested, and 
     provided only total proposed expenditures for each ``research 
     theme.'' The conferees direct FDA to provide the same level 
     of budget justification for its research activities in the 
     fiscal year 2007 budget as it does other activities, 
     including a justification of both base spending and any 
     proposed increases by activity within center or office.
       The conference agreement provides $750,000 to support 
     collaborative research with the C-Path Institute and the 
     University of Utah on cardiovascular biomarkers predictive of 
     safety and clinical outcomes. The conferees understand the 
     research would involve identifying candidate genes and 
     proteins in University of Utah databases, designing and 
     conducting genomic and proteomic biomarker validation 
     experiments by the C-Path Institute, the University of Utah, 
     FDA and manufacturers, determining which biomarkers identify 
     heart failure patients who are most likely to respond 
     favorably to drug therapy and those at highest risk of 
     adverse events.
       The conferees remain concerned about the legal and 
     regulatory issues relating to approval of drugs as both 
     prescription and over the counter products, and urge FDA to 
     expedite rulemaking on this topic.


                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

       The conference agreement provides $8,000,000 for the Food 
     and Drug Administration Buildings and Facilities instead of 
     $5,000,000 as proposed by the House and $7,000,000 as 
     proposed by the Senate. Of the total, $4,000,000 is for the 
     repair and improvement of existing buildings and facilities, 
     and $4,000,000 is to complete the final phase of the Arkansas 
     Regional Laboratory.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

       The conference agreement provides $98,386,000 for the 
     Commodity Futures Trading Commission as proposed by the House 
     and the Senate. This is an increase of $4,814,000 over the 
     fiscal year 2005 level.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

       The conference agreement includes a limitation of 
     $44,250,000 on administrative expenses of the Farm Credit 
     Administration (FCA), as proposed by the House and the 
     Senate.
       The conference agreement does not include language allowing 
     some expenses associated with terminations to exceed the 
     limitation, as proposed by the Senate.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS


             (including rescissions and transfers of funds)

       Section 704.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding appropriation items, which shall remain available 
     until expended.
       Section 705.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that allows for unobligated balances to be transferred to the 
     Working Capital Fund.
       Section 709.--The conference agreement limits indirect 
     costs for grants awarded by the Cooperative State Research, 
     Education, and Extension Service to 20 percent.
       Section 712.--The conference agreement includes language 
     for funds to cover necessary expenses related to advisory 
     committees.
       Section 715.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the appropriations hearing process.
       Section 716.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the transfer of funds to the Office of the Chief 
     Information Officer and information technology funding 
     obligations.
       Section 717.--The conference agreement provides language 
     regarding the reprogramming of funds.
       Section 718.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food 
     Systems.
       Section 723.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that provides funding for the National Sheep Industry 
     Improvement Center.
       Section 724.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding conducting an evaluation of the impact of a court 
     decision.
       Section 725.--The conference agreement directs the 
     Secretary to make commodity tonnage available, to the extent 
     practicable, to assist foreign countries to mitigate the 
     effects of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired 
     Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
       Section 726.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding Natural Resources Conservation Service financial 
     and technical assistance for certain projects in Illinois, 
     Ohio, Arkansas, Alaska, Missouri, Hawaii, Iowa, and Utah.
       Section 729.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Dam Rehabilitation Program.
       Section 730.--The conference agreement includes language to 
     prohibit funds from being used to close or relocate the Food 
     and Drug Administration Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis.
       Section 731.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Rural Strategic Investment Program.
       Section 732.--The conference agreement allows unobligated 
     balances within the Department of Agriculture to be used to 
     reimburse the Office of the General Counsel for certain 
     services provided.
       Section 733.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Rural Firefighters and Emergency Personnel 
     Grant Program.
       Section 734.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Wetlands Reserve Program.
       Section 735.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
       Section 736.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the renewable energy program.
       Section 737.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the broadband telecommunications program.
       Section 738.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act.
       Section 739.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the value-added market development program.
       Section 741.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Conservation Security Program.
       Section 742.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.
       Section 743.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that rescinds certain unobligated balances.
       Section 744.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Farmland Protection Program.
       Section 745.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Rural Business Investment Program.
       Section 746.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding Public Law 105-264.
       Section 747.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the ground and surface water conservation program.
       Section 748.--The conference agreement includes language 
     related to final rulemaking on APHIS cost-sharing.
       Section 749.--The conference agreement gives the Secretary 
     of Agriculture the authority to enter into cooperative 
     agreements to lease aircraft.
       Section 750.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Bioenergy Program.
       Section 751.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the use of discretionary funds for certain 
     purposes.
       Section 752.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the availability of funds for certain conservation 
     programs.
       Section 753.--The conference agreement provides funding for 
     the Denali Commission.
       Section 754.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding eligibility for certain rural development programs.
       Section 755.--The conference agreement includes funds for a 
     certain grant.
       Section 756.--The conference agreement includes a provision 
     to allow Community Facility Program borrowers to enter into 
     contracts with third parties for necessary services.
       Section 757.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Agricultural Management Assistance program.
       Section 758.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
       Section 759.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that limits the Biomass Research and Development Program.

[[Page 23923]]

       Section 760.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding eligibility for the Conservation Reserve Program 
     for land planted in hardwood trees, and previously enrolled 
     in the program, to remain enrolled.
       Section 761.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the disposal of certain federal facilities in 
     Phoenix, AZ.
       Section 762.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the recertification of rural status.
       Section 763.--The conference agreement includes language 
     allowing use of unobligated balances in certain accounts 
     within the Rural Utilities Service for the purposes of 
     section 315 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
       Section 764.--The conference agreement includes funds for a 
     certain grant.
       Section 765.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that provides that certain locations shall be considered 
     eligible for certain rural development programs.
       Section 766.--The conference agreement includes funds for a 
     certain grant.
       Section 767.--The conference agreement includes funds for a 
     certain grant.
       Section 768.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that provides that certain locations shall be considered 
     eligible for certain rural development programs.
       Section 769.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding Child and Adult Care Food Program audit funds.
       Section 770.--The conference agreement includes language in 
     regard to the City of Elkhart, Kansas.
       Section 771.--The conference agreement includes language to 
     provide funding for the Healthy Forests Reserve program.
       Section 772.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that relates to government sponsored news stories.
       Section 773.--The conference agreement includes funding for 
     a specialty crops competitiveness program.
       Section 774.--The conference agreement includes language in 
     regard to the Federal Financing Bank.
       Section 775.--The conference agreement includes language in 
     regard to law enforcement at the National Center for 
     Toxicological Research and the Arkansas Regional Laboratory.
       Section 776.--The conference agreement includes a technical 
     correction regarding the Child Nutrition Act.
       Section 777.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Summer Food Service Program.
       Section 778.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Rural Telephone Bank.
       Section 779.--The conference agreement includes language in 
     regard to the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program.
       Section 780.--The conference agreement includes language 
     amending the Federal Crop Insurance Act.
       Section 781.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
       Section 782.--The conference agreement includes language 
     renaming the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station.
       Section 783.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the conveyance of certain federal facilities in 
     Phoenix, AZ.
       Section 784.--The conference agreement includes language 
     amending the Agricultural Act of 1949.
       Section 785.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the availability of funding for Conservation 
     Operations.
       Section 786.--The conference agreement includes language 
     related to competitive sourcing of rural development or farm 
     loan programs.
       Section 787.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding WIC-only vendors.
       Section 788.--The conference agreement includes language 
     that rescinds certain unobligated balances.
       Section 789.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Rural Housing for Domestic Farm Labor Program.
       Section 790.--The conference agreement includes funds for 
     certain grants.
       Section 791.--The conference agreement includes language in 
     regard to a demonstration intermediate relending program.
       Section 792.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding country of origin labeling.
       Section 793.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Federal Crop Insurance Act.
       Section 794.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding inspection activities under the Federal Meat 
     Inspection Act or the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
     Reform Act of 1966.
       It is the understanding of the conferees that the 
     Department is obliged under existing statutes to provide for 
     the inspection of meat intended for human consumption 
     (domestic and exported). The conferees recognize that the 
     funding limitation in Section 794 prohibits the use of 
     appropriated funds only for payment of salaries or expenses 
     of personnel to inspect horses.
       Section 795.--The conference agreement includes language in 
     regard to Food and Drug Administration waivers of a financial 
     conflict of interest.
       Section 796.--The conference agreement includes language 
     amending the Immigration and Nationality Act.
       Section 797.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding provisions of the Organic Foods Product Act.
       Section 798.--The conference agreement includes language 
     regarding the Federal Meat Inspection Act.
       Section 799.--The conference agreement makes technical 
     corrections to the Department of the Interior, Environment, 
     and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006. The 
     corrections for the Department of the Interior involve the 
     amounts appropriated for construction and land acquisition by 
     the National Park Service and for departmental management. 
     There is also a correction dealing with the construction of 
     the Blue Ridge Parkway Regional Destination Visitor Center. 
     In the Environmental Protection Agency, there are technical 
     corrections for two State and Tribal Assistance Grants 
     projects and for language associated with the rescission of 
     funds from various EPA accounts. In the Forest Service, there 
     is a correction to language dealing with a land acquisition 
     in the Thunder Mountain area of the Payette National Forest, 
     ID. In Title IV--General Provisions, there is a correction to 
     the name of the Gaylord A. Nelson Wilderness.

                   Conference Total--With Comparisons

       The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
     fiscal year 2006 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
     with comparisons to the fiscal year 2005 amount, the 2006 
     budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2006 
     follow:

                       [In thousands of dollars]

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2005.......$89,439,376
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal yea100,132,911
House bill, fiscal year 2006................................100,321,593
Senate bill, fiscal year 2006...............................100,722,949
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2006......................100,981,758
Conference agreement compared with:
  New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 2005.....+11,542,382
  Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal year+848,847
  House bill, fiscal year 2006.................................+660,165
  Senate bill, fiscal year 2006................................+258,809

     Henry Bonilla,
     Jack Kingston,
     Tom Latham,
     Jo Ann Emerson,
     Virgil H. Goode, Jr.,
     Ray LaHood,
     John T. Doolittle,
     Rodney Alexander,
     Jerry Lewis,
                                Managers on the Part of the House.

     R.F. Bennett,
     Thad Cochran,
     Arlen Specter,
     Chris Bond,
     Mitch McConnell,
     Ted Stevens,
     Herb Kohl,
     Dianne Feinstein,
     Richard Durbin,
     Mary Landrieu,
     Robert C. Byrd,
     Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                          ____________________