[House Report 104-357]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    104-357
_______________________________________________________________________


 
       STUTTGART NATIONAL AQUACULTURE RESEARCH CENTER ACT OF 1995

                                _______


 November 28, 1995.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany H.R. 33]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 33) to transfer the Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory 
in Stuttgart, Arkansas, to the Department of Agriculture, and 
for other purposes, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 
do pass.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 33 is to transfer the Fish Farming 
Experimental Laboratory in Stuttgart, Arkansas, to the 
Department of Agriculture and to rename the facility the 
Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory was authorized by 
the Fish and Rice Rotation Act of 1958 (Public Law 85-342). The 
original law that created this Federal lab provided that it be 
administered by the Department of Agriculture. However, because 
the Department of the Interior already had an established 
fisheries program, Congress assigned responsibility over the 
laboratory to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    The Secretary of the Interior purchased 86 acres of land 
near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The Laboratory was established in 
1960 for the purpose of conducting research and experimentation 
to develop methods for the commercial production of warmwater 
fish, with emphasis on channel catfish and bait minnows, and to 
publicize the results of these investigations. The initial 
laboratory facilities were constructed in 1961 and the present 
system of research ponds, which range in size from 0.1 to 3.0 
acres, was completed in 1963. A modern state-of-the-art 18,000-
square-foot research laboratory has been completed and was 
dedicated on August 27, 1992.
    In 1993, the Laboratory was instrumental in the development 
of techniques for the commercial production of catfish, 
baitfish, and other finfish worth more than $600 million. In 
1961, the Laboratory produced about $10 million worth of 
fisheries.
    The State of Arkansas is the largest producer of commercial 
baitfish and the second largest producer of catfish in the 
United States, accounting for nearly $100 million in annual 
revenue.
    At this time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's triploid 
grass carp certification inspection program is housed at the 
Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory. Services are provided to 
30 States with a total of more than 550 triploid verification 
inspections each year.
    In 1994, the Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory was 
transferred from the Fish and Wildlife Service to the National 
Biological Service (NBS). In its fiscal year 1996 budget 
submission, the Clinton Administration stated that ``the Fish 
Farming Experimental Laboratory conducts research on warmwater 
aquaculture, a low research priority for the NBS. Information 
transfer funds are used to provide technical assistance to the 
warmwater aquaculture industry. The Laboratory, including the 
technical assistance functions, is recommended for transfer to 
the Department of Agriculture.''
    For the upcoming fiscal year, the House of Representatives 
has approved the expenditure of approximately $1,025,000 for 
the Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory. Funding for the 
Laboratory consists of $600,000 from the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture and $425,000 from the Department of the Interior. 
This appropriation will provide operating funds and 
compensation for 17 Federal employees. In addition, the 
Committee report for the Interior and Related Agencies 
Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 1996 recommends that the 
Stuttgart facility be transferred to the Department of 
Agriculture.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 33 was introduced on January 4, 1995, by 
Representative Blanche Lambert Lincoln. The bill was referred 
to the Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans.
    On September 21, 1995, the Subcommittee held a hearing on 
H.R. 33 and other issues. The Honorable Blanche Lambert 
Lincoln; Mollie Beattie, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service; and Dr. Floyd Horn, Deputy Under Secretary for 
Research, Education, and Economics, Department of Agriculture, 
all testified in support of the transfer of the Laboratory to 
the Department of Agriculture. In her testimony, Representative 
Lincoln indicated that ``in Fiscal Year 1994 alone, over 11,000 
persons from around the country contacted the lab for technical 
assistance. Warmwater aquaculture is worth over $600 million at 
the farm level and is projected to increase.''
    On October 18, 1995, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, 
Wildlife and Oceans considered H.R. 33 in markup session and 
ordered it reported favorably, without amendment, to the Full 
Committee on Resources by voice vote.
    On November 15, 1995, the Committee on Resources met to 
consider H.R. 33. There were no amendments and the Committee 
ordered the bill reported to the House of Representatives by 
voice vote.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1. Short title.

    The short title of the bill is the ``Stuttgart National 
Aquaculture Research Center Act of 1995.''

Sec. 2. Transfer of functions to the Secretary of Agriculture

    Under subsection (a), the title of Public Law 85-342 is 
amended by striking ``Secretary of the Interior'' and inserting 
``Secretary of Agriculture.''
    Under subsection (b), all references to the Secretary of 
the Interior are changed to Secretary of Agriculture in the 
portion of the law establishing stations for fish research and 
experimentation. In addition, references to ``stations'' are 
changed to ``centers''.
    Under subsection (c), the statute is changed to reflect the 
transfer of the authority under which the Laboratory operates, 
including the authority to acquire lands, construct buildings, 
employ workers, and cooperate with other agencies, to the 
Department of Agriculture.
    Under subsection (d), the Secretary of the Interior is 
authorized to cooperate with the Department of Agriculture in 
carrying out the law.

Sec. 3. Transfer of Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory to Department 
        of Agriculture

    Subsection (a) renames the Fish Farming Experimental 
Laboratory located in Stuttgart, Arkansas, as the ``Stuttgart 
National Aquaculture Research Center'' and changes all 
references in a law, map, regulation, document or paper, or 
other record to reflect the new name of the facility.
    Under subsection (b), not later than 90 days after 
enactment, all personnel, assets, liabilities, contacts, real 
and personal property of the Laboratory, the records, and any 
unexpended appropriations, authorization, allocations, and 
other funds are to be transferred from the Department of the 
Interior to the Department of Agriculture.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                     Inflationary Impact Statement

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee estimates that the 
enactment of H.R. 33 will have no significant inflationary 
impact on prices and costs in the operation of the national 
economy.

                        Cost of the Legislation

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 33. However, clause 7(d) of that rule provides that this 
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in 
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     Compliance With House Rule XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 33 
does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, 
credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax 
expenditures.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 33.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 33 
from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                 Washington, DC, November 22, 1995.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed H.R. 33, the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research 
Center Act of 1995, as ordered reported by the House Committee 
on Resources on November 15, 1995. We estimate that 
implementing this bill would have no significant impact on the 
federal budget and no impact on those of state or local 
governments. H.R. 33 would not affect direct spending or 
receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
    H.R. 33 would transfer administrative jurisdiction of the 
Fish Farming Experimental Laboratory in Stuttgart, Arkansas 
from the Department of the Interior to the Department of 
Agriculture and rename the facility as the Stuttgart National 
Aquaculture Research Center. The facility's current funding 
level of about $1 million annually would not be affected by the 
transfer. Furthermore, we estimate that one-time federal costs 
incurred to revise maps and other documents to reflect the 
changes made by the bill would be minimal.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                             James L. Blum,
                                   (For June E. O'Neill, Director).

                          Departmental Reports

    The Committee has received no departmental reports on H.R. 
33.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                         ACT OF MARCH 15, 1958

   AN ACT To authorize the [Secretary of the Interior] Secretary of 
  Agriculture to establish a program for the purposes of carrying on 
    certain research and experimentation to develop methods for the 
commercial production of fish on flooded rice acreage in rotation with 
                rice field crops, and for other purposes

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
[Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed] 
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to 
establish an experiment station or stations for the purpose of 
carrying on a program of research and experimentation--
          (1) * * *
          (5) to determine, in cooperation with the [Department 
        of Agriculture] Secretary of the Interior, the effects 
        of fish-rice rotations, including crops other than rice 
        commonly grown on rice farms, upon both the fish and 
        other crops; and
          * * * * * * *
    Sec. 2. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of 
this Act[, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized], the 
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized (1) to acquire by 
purchase, condemnation, or otherwise such suitable lands, to 
construct buildings to acquire such equipment and apparatus, 
and to employ such officers and employees as he deems 
necessary; (2) to cooperate with State and other institutions 
and agencies upon such terms and conditions as he determines to 
be appropriate; and (3) to make public the results of such 
research and experiments conducted pursuant to the first 
section of this Act.
    Sec. 3. The [Department of Agriculture] Secretary of the 
Interior is authorized to cooperate in carrying out the 
provisions of this Act by furnishing such information and 
assistance as may be requested by the [Secretary of the 
Interior] Secretary of Agriculture.
          * * * * * * *

                                
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