[House Report 104-726]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     104-726
_______________________________________________________________________


 
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG 
   ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES PROGRAMS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 
           ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

                 July 30, 1996.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Skeen, from the committee of conference, submitted the following

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 3603]

                  Conference Report (H. Rept. 104-726)

      The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of 
the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill 
(H.R. 3603) ``making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, 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 Senate recede from its amendments numbered 5, 8, 
17, 18, 19, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 
41, 42, 43, 47, 50, 51, 53, 55, 57, 61, 71, 72, 73, 79, 87, 97, 
102, 107, 109, 110, 112, 116, 118, 119, 124, 128, 129, 132, 
134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141, 142, and 143.
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendments of the Senate numbered 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 20, 
22, 23, 27, 52, 54, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 78, 84, 85, 89, 90, 93, 
94, 95, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 113, 114, 115, 117, 
120, 121, 122, 123, 127, 130, 138, 144, 146, 147, and agree to 
the same.
      Amendment numbered 1:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 1, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken, amended to read as follows: 
: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act may be used to pay the salaries and 
expenses of personnel of the Department of Agriculture to carry 
out section 793(c)(1)(C) of Public Law 104-127; and the Senate 
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 2:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 2, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$23,505,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 3:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 3, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$144,053,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 9:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 9, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$716,826,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 11:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 11, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$69,100,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 15:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 15, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$49,767,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 16:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 16, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$94,203,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 24:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 24, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$10,249,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 25:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 25, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$421,504,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 26:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 26, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$61,591,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 28:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 28, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$2,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 44:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 44, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$12,066,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 45:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 45, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$425,520,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 46:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 46, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$434,909,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 48:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 48, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$38,507,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 49:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 49, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$23,128,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 56:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 56, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$34,653,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 58:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 58, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$499,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 59:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 59, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      Delete the matter proposed and restore the matter 
stricken by said amendment, amended as follows:
      In lieu of the first sum named in the matter restored, 
insert: $64,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 60:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 60, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$619,742,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 62:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 62, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$12,381,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 64:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 64, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
130,433,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 67:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 67, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$60,743,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 70:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 70, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$7,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 74:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 74, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, a follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$9,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 75:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 75, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$566,935,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 76:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 76, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$5,200,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 77:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 77, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$8,750,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 80:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 80, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$8,653,297,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 81:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 81, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$3,219,544,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 82:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 82, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$1,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 83:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 83, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
amendment, insert: : Provided further, That once the amount for 
fiscal year 1996 carryover funds has been determined by the 
Secretary, any funds in excess of $100,000,000 may be 
transferred by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Rural 
Utilities Assistance Program and/or to the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund for the cost of direct section 502 loans, 
including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 
502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974; and the Senate 
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 86:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 86, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$27,618,029,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 88:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 88, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum named in said amendment, insert: 
$3,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 91:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 91, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$106,128,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 92:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 92, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$135,561,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 96:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 96, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$226,900,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 98:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 98, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$185,589,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 99:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 99, and agree to the same with 
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert: 
$1,780,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 111:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 111, and agree to the same 
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended as 
follows:
      After ``2249'' insert: : Provided, That this limitation 
shall not apply to expenses associated with receiverships; and 
the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 125:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 125, and agree to the same 
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
      Sec. 735. 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; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 126:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 126, and agree to the same 
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert 
the following:
      Sec. 736. Section 747 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 is amended by inserting, 
``effective October 1, 1996,'' following ``The Secretary shall 
make grants'' in section 310B(e)(2) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act: Provided, That this section shall 
take effect upon enactment of this Act into law; and the Senate 
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 131:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 131, and agree to the same 
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:

SEC. 741. RURAL HOUSING PROGRAM EXTENSIONS.

      (a) Extension of Multifamily Rural Housing Loan 
Program.--
      (1) Authority to make loans.--Section 515(b)(4) of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(b)(4)) is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 1996'' and inserting ``September 30, 
1997''.
      (2) Set-aside for nonprofit entities.--The first sentence 
of section 515(w)(1) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1485(w)(1)) is amended by striking ``fiscal year 1996'' and 
inserting ``fiscal year 1997''.
      (b) Extension of Housing in Underserved Areas Program.--
The first sentence of section 509(f)(4)(A) of the Housing Act 
of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1479(f)(4)(A)) is amended by striking 
``fiscal year 1996'' and inserting ``fiscal year 1997''.
      (c) Reforms for Multifamily Rural Housing Loan Program.--
      (1) Limitation on project transfers.--Section 515 of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) is amended by inserting 
after subsection (g) the following new subsection:
      ``(h) Project Transfers.--After the date of the enactment 
of the Act entitled `An Act making appropriations for 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, 
and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1997, and for other purposes', the ownership or 
control of a project for which a loan is made or insured under 
this section may be transferred only if the Secretary 
determines that such transfer would further the provision of 
housing and related facilities for low-income families or 
persons and would be in the best interests of residents and the 
Federal Government.''.
      (2) Equity loans.--Section 515(t) of the Housing Act of 
1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(t)) is amended--
      (A) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5); and
      (B) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (8) as 
paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively.
      (3) Equity takeout loans to extend low-income use.--
      (A) Authority and limitation.--Section 502(c)(4)(B)(iv) 
of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(c)(4)(B)(iv)) is 
amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ``or under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 514(j), 
except that an equity loan referred to in this clause may not 
be made available after the date of the enactment of the Act 
entitled `An Act making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for 
other purposes', unless the Secretary determines that the other 
incentives available under this subparagraph are not adequate 
to provide a fair return on the investment of the borrower, to 
prevent prepayment of the loan insured under section 514 or 
515, or to prevent the displacement of tenants of the housing 
for which the loan was made''.
      (B) Approval of assistance.--Section 502(c)(4)(C) of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(c)(4)(C)) is amended by 
striking ``(C)'' and all that follows through ``provided--'' 
and inserting the following:
      ``(C) Approval of assistance.--The Secretary may approve 
assistance under subparagraph (B) for assisted housing only if 
the restrictive period has expired for any loan for the housing 
made or insured under section 514 or 515 pursuant to a contract 
entered into after December 21, 1979, but before the date of 
the enactment of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development Reform Act of 1989, and the Secretary determines 
that the combination of assistance provided--''.
      (C) Technical correction.--Section 515(c)(1) of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(c)(1)) is amended by 
striking ``December 21, 1979'' and inserting ``December 15, 
1989''.
      (d) Reform of Section 515.--Section 515 of the Housing 
Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) is amended--
      (1) by striking subsection (r) and inserting the 
following:
      ``(r)(1) The Secretary--
      ``(A) may require that the initial operating reserve 
under this section may be in the form of an irrevocable letter 
of credit; and
      ``(B) except as provided in paragraph (2), may require 
not more than a 3 percent contribution to equity, except that 
the Secretary shall require a 5 percent contribution in the 
case of a project that is allocated a low-income housing tax 
credit pursuant to section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986.
      ``(2) The Secretary may adjust the amount of equity 
contribution to ensure that assistance provided is not more 
than is necessary to provide affordable housing after taking 
account of assistance from all Federal, State, and local 
sources.
      ``(3) Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of the Act entitled `An Act making appropriations for 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, 
and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1997, and for other purposes', the Secretary 
shall issue regulations to implement subsection (r)(2) in 
accordance with the negotiated rulemaking procedures set forth 
in subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code: 
Provided, That if the negotiated rulemaking is not completed 
within the designated time, the Secretary shall proceed to 
promulgate regulations under the rulemaking authority contained 
in 5 U.S.C. 557.''; and
      (2) by striking subsection (z).
      (e) Equity Skimming Penalties.--
      (1) Insurance of loans for the provision of housing and 
related facilities for domestic farm labor.--Section 514 of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
      ``(j) Equity Skimming Penalty.--Whoever, as an owner, 
agent, or manager, or who is otherwise in custody, control, or 
possession of property that is security for a loan made or 
insured under this section willfully uses, or authorizes the 
use, of any part of the rents, assets, proceeds, income, or 
other funds derived from such property, for any purpose other 
than to meet actual or necessary expenses of the property, or 
for any other purpose not authorized by this title or the 
regulations adopted pursuant to this title, shall be fined not 
more than $250,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or 
both.''.
      (2) Direct and insured loans to provide housing and 
related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural 
areas.--Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1485), as amended by subsection (d)(2) of this section, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
      ``(z) Equity Skimming Penalty.--Whoever, as an owner, 
agent, or manager, or who is otherwise in custody, control, or 
possession of property that is security for a loan made or 
insured under this section willfully uses, or authorizes the 
use, of any part of the rents, assets, proceeds, income, or 
other funds derived from such property, for any purpose other 
than to meet actual or necessary expenses of the property, or 
for any other purpose not authorized by this title or the 
regulations adopted pursuant to this title, shall be fined not 
more than $250,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or 
both.''.
      (f) Prioritization of Assistance.--Section 532 of the 
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490l) is amended--
      (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
inserting ``Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), the 
Secretary''; and
      (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
      ``(c) Prioritization of Section 515 Housing Assistance.--
      ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make assistance 
under section 515 available pursuant to an objective procedure 
established by the Secretary, under which the Secretary shall 
identify counties and communities having the greatest need for 
such assistance and designate such counties and communities to 
receive such assistance.
      ``(2) Objective measures.--The Secretary shall use the 
following objective measures to determine the need for rental 
housing assistance under paragraph (1):
      ``(A) The incidence of poverty.
      ``(B) The lack of affordable housing and the existence of 
substandard housing.
      ``(C) The lack of mortgage credit.
      ``(D) The rural characteristics of the location.
      ``(E) Other factors as determined by the Secretary, 
demonstrating the need for affordable housing.
      ``(3) Information.--In administering this subsection, the 
Secretary shall use information from the most recent decennial 
census of the United States, relevant comprehensive affordable 
housing strategies under section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
National Affordable Housing Act, and other reliable sources 
obtained by the Secretary which demonstrate the need for 
affordable housing in rural areas.
      ``(4) Designation.--A designation under this subsection 
shall not be effective for a period of more than 3 years, but 
may be renewed by the Secretary in accordance with the 
procedure set forth in this subsection. The Secretary shall 
take such other reasonable actions as the Secretary considers 
to be appropriate to notify the public of such 
designations.''.; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 133:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 133, and agree to the same 
with an amendment, as follows:
      Retain the matter proposed by said amendment, amended as 
follows:
      On page 38, line 14, of the Senate engrossed amendments, 
insert after ``chapter 83'': or chapter 84; and the Senate 
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 145:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate numbered 145, and agree to the same 
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the first sum named in said amendment, insert 
the following: $32,244,000.
      In lieu of the second sum named in said amendment, insert 
the following: $110,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
                                   Joe Skeen,
                                   John T. Myers,
                                   James T. Walsh,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Jack Kingston,
                                   Frank Riggs,
                                   George R. Nethercutt, Jr.,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Richard J. Durbin,
                                   Marcy Kaptur,
                                   Ray Thornton,
                                   Vic Fazio,
                                   David R. Obey,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.
                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Christopher Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Mark O. Hatfield,
                                   Dale Bumpers,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   J. Robert Kerrey,
                                   J. Bennett Johnston,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   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 
amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3603) making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes, 
submit the following joint statement to the House and Senate in 
explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon the 
managers and recommended in the accompanying conference report.

                        congressional directives

      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.''
      Report language included by the House which is not 
changed by the report of the Senate, and Senate report language 
which is not changed by the conference are 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.

                     TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        office of the secretary

      Amendment No. 1: Deletes House language limiting the 
detail or assignment of personnel to any Under Secretary or 
Assistant Secretary office to not more than 30 days. The Senate 
bill and the conference agreement address this issue in 
Amendment No. 125. The conference agreement also removes a 
restriction on the amount of funding for rural housing that may 
be made available from the Fund for Rural America.

        agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments

      Amendment No. 2: Provides $23,505,000 for repairs, 
renovations, and construction of USDA buildings and facilities 
instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by the House and $23,505,400 
as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 3: Appropriates $144,053,000 for 
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments 
instead of $125,548,000 as proposed by the House and 
$144,053,400 as proposed by the Senate.

                      departmental administration

      Amendment No. 4: Appropriates $30,529,000 for 
Departmental Administration as proposed by the Senate instead 
of $28,304,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 5: Deletes Senate language earmarking not 
less than $11,774,000 of the amount appropriated for 
Departmental Administration for civil rights enforcement. The 
conferees expect that not less than $11,774,000 of the amount 
appropriated will be directed to civil rights enforcement.

     OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS

      Amendment No. 6: Appropriates $3,668,000 for the Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $3,728,000 as proposed by the 
House.

                       ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE

      Amendment No. 7: Appropriates $53,109,000 for the 
Economic Research Service as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$54,176,000 as proposed by the House.

                NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

      Amendment No. 8: Appropriates $100,221,000 for the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service as proposed by the 
House instead of $98,121,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                     AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

      Amendment No. 9: Appropriates $716,826,000 for the 
Agricultural Research Service instead of $702,831,000 as 
proposed by the House and $722,839,600 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                                            [In thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Conference  
                                                   1997 request     House bill      Senate bill      agreement  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 1996 appropriation...........................        710,000         710,000         710,000         710,000 
Transfer: working capital fund..................             55              55              55              55 
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted fiscal year 1996 appropriation.........        709,945         709,945         709,945         709,945 
Food safety research............................          7,500           4,000           7,500           5,500 
Genetic resources & biodiversity................          2,400             500             500             500 
Integrated pest management, biocontrol of pests.          6,932           3,000       \1\ 3,000       \2\ 3,000 
Alternatives to methyl bromide..................          1,000           1,000           1,000           1,000 
Integrated farming systems......................          3,500             500           1,000           1,000 
Waste management................................          2,000   ..............            500   ..............
South Florida everglades ecosystem..............          2,000          (2,000)         (2,000)         (2,000)
Biomass (electricity generation)................          2,000   ..............          2,000   ..............
Binational agricultural research and development                                                                
 (BARD).........................................          2,500   ..............  ..............  ..............
Operational requirements (pay costs, retirement,                                                                
 adm. O/H reduction)............................          6,576   ..............  ..............  ..............
Termination/reduction of ongoing projects.......       (-14,353)       (-10,224)      (-7,864.8)      (-3,646.8)
General reduction...............................        (-5,647)        (-7,140)      (-1,265.6)      (-5,647.2)
Budget amendment (program support of aquaculture                                                                
 facilities at Stuttgart, AR and Marion, AL)....          2,500   ..............  ..............  ..............
Alfalfa, Manhattan, KS..........................  ..............  ..............            300             250 
Aquaculture, Pine Bluff, AR.....................  ..............  ..............            250             150 
Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR...  ..............            100             425             500 
Club Wheat, Pullman, OR.........................  ..............  ..............            450             350 
Emerging infectious diseases....................  ..............            300   ..............            300 
Fish farming experiment lab, Stuttgart, AR......  ..............  ..............            250             150 
Floriculture/horticulture.......................  ..............            200   ..............            200 
Lower MS delta nutrition initiative.............  ..............  ..............          2,000             750 
NW small fruits research, Corvallis, OR.........  ..............            200             450             325 
Peanuts, Stillwater, OK.........................  ..............  ..............            250             150 
Phytoestrogens, New Orleans, LA.................  ..............            450   ..............            350 
Plant stress, Lubbock, TX.......................  ..............  ..............            150   ..............
Poultry disease (PEMS) research.................  ..............  ..............            200             100 
Sugarcane (biotechnology), Houma, LA............  ..............  ..............            500             400 
Warmwater aquaculture, MS.......................  ..............  ..............          1,300           1,200 
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Total fiscal year 1997 appropriation......        728,853         702,831       722,839.6         716,826 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 400 for tamarisks-NV.                                                                                       
\2\ No earmarks.                                                                                                

      The conferees provide continued funding at the fiscal 
year 1996 level for the following areas of research; management 
systems to emeliorate soils stress, Auburn, AL ($406,000); 
yellow star thistle integrated pest management, Albany, CA 
($93,900); sugar beet research, Ft. Collins, CO ($626,700); 
global change research, Ft. Collins, CO ($1,000,000); 
management of termites as urban pests in the American Pacific, 
Gainesville, FL ($145,500); manage diseases in forage and turf 
ecosystems, Tifton, GA ($141,000); aquaculture productivity 
reassert, Hilo, HI ($1,628,900); nontoxic control methods of 
fruit fly, Hilo, HI ($316,500); development and use of 
molecular techniques in oat enhancement, Aberdeen, ID 
($162,300); animal health consortium, Peoria, IL ($929,300); 
forage research, Ames, IA ($172,800); genetic characterization 
of soybean germplasm, Ames, IA ($180,700); genetic engineering 
of fungal phytase to reduce groundwater contamination, New 
Orleans, LA ($597,000); lyme disease research, Beltsville, MD 
($172,900); apple research, Beltsville, MD ($841,200); remote 
sensing and associated technologies for production, Beltsville, 
MD ($206,000); production and evaluation of tissue-cultured 
fruit crops, Beltsville, MD ($240,400); National Turfgrass 
Evaluation Program, Beltsville, MD ($55,800); wild rice 
research, St. Paul, MN ($150,300); herbicide research to 
improve weed control and crop productivity, St. Paul, MN 
($196,600); optimization of bacterial fibrolytic activity in 
meat animals, Clay Center, NE ($236,800); influence of 
gastrointestinal neuroendocrine peptides on food intake and 
growth of swine, Clay Center, NE ($210,600); genetic 
improvement of perennial grass germplasm, Lincoln, NE 
($270,100); biocontrol agents of pest insects of agricultural 
crops, Ithaca, NY ($50,100); texture control of sweet potato 
products, Raleigh, NC ($219,400); role of molybdenum-
independent nitrogenases in nature, Raleigh, NC ($235,000); 
development of soybean germplasm and production systems for 
high yield and drought-prone environments, Wooster, OH 
($212,300); development of efficient kenaf production systems, 
Lane, OK ($152,300); partitioning of photosynthate, Corvallis, 
OR ($177,600); characterization of environment and nutritional 
induced cytokinin changes in wheat, Corvallis, OR ($217,000); 
biology, ecology, and control of plant parasitic nematodes in 
field and range plants, Logan, UT ($149,800); and processing of 
forages to increase value, Madison, WI ($311,500).
      Amendment No. 10: Retains language proposed by the Senate 
transferring the property known as the National Agricultural 
Water Quality Laboratory in Durant, Oklahoma, to Southeastern 
Oklahoma State University. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.

                        buildings and facilities

      Amendment No. 11: Appropriates $69,100,000 for 
Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities instead 
of $59,600,000 as proposed by the House and $59,200,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                                            [In thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  1997                                          
                                                                request       House        Senate     Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  California:                                                                                                   
    U.S. Horticultural Crop and Water Management Research                                                       
     Laboratory, Parlier....................................       22,000  ...........       11,000  ...........
    Western Regional Research Center, Albany................        4,600        4,000  ...........        4,000
  Florida:                                                                                                      
    Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce..........       29,800       27,000       14,900       27,000
    Melaleuca Research and Quarantine Facility, Fort                                                            
     Lauderdale.............................................        4,000  ...........  ...........  ...........
  Illinois:                                                                                                     
    National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research,                                                      
     Peoria.................................................        1,500        1,500        1,500        1,500
    Ethanol Pilot Plant.....................................  ...........        1,500  ...........        1,500
  Kansas:                                                                                                       
    U.S. Grain Marketing Research Laboratory, Manhattan.....  ...........  ...........          500          500
  Maryland:                                                                                                     
    Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville................        4,500        4,500        4,500        4,500
  New York:                                                                                                     
    Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport............        5,000        5,000        5,000        5,000
  Pennsylvania:                                                                                                 
    Eastern Regional Research Center, Philadelphia..........        4,700        4,000        4,700        4,000
  South Carolina:                                                                                               
    U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston...................  ...........  ...........        3,000        3,000
  Texas:                                                                                                        
    Plant Stress and Water Conservation Laboratory, Lubbock.  ...........        8,100        8,100        8,100
    Subtropical Agricultural Research Laboratory, Weslaco...        4,000        4,000  ...........        4,000
  West Virginia:                                                                                                
    National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture,                                                        
     Leetown................................................  ...........  ...........        6,000        6,000
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
      Total, ARS, B&F.......................................       80,100       59,600       59,200       69,100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

                   research and education activities

      Amendment No. 12: Provides $168,734,000 for payments 
under the Hatch Act as proposed by the State instead of 
$163,671,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 13: Provides $20,497,000 for cooperative 
forestry research as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$19,882,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 14: Provides $27,735,000 for payments to 
1890 land-grant colleges and Tuskegee University as proposed by 
the Senate instead of $26,902,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 15: Provides $49,767,000 for special 
research grants instead of $44,235,000 as proposed by the House 
and $47,080,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 16: Provides $94,203,000 for competitive 
research grants instead of $96,735,000 as proposed by the House 
and $93,935,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 17: Provides $4,775,000 for animal and 
health disease programs as proposed by the House instead of 
$5,051,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 18: Provides $650,000 for supplemental and 
alternative crops as proposed by the House instead of $500,000 
as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes 
$500,000 for canola research and $150,000 for hesperaloe 
research.
      Amendment No. 19: Provides $500,000 for the Critical 
Agricultural Materials Act as proposed by the House instead of 
$700,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 20: Provides $1,500,000 for education 
grants for Hispanic-serving Institutions as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 21: Provides $8,000,000 for the sustainable 
agriculture research and education as proposed by the House 
instead of $8,100,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendments No. 22 and 23: Insert and delete a U.S. Code 
citation for capacity building grants for 1890 land-grant 
colleges as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 24: Provides $10,249,000 for Federal 
administration instead of $9,605,000 as proposed the House and 
$10,644,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 25: Appropriates $421,504,000 for 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
Research and Education Activities instead of $411,849,000 as 
proposed by the House and $419,370,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:


                          SCIENCE AND EDUCATION                         
                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            House    Senate   Conference
                                            bill      bill     agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH SERVICE                                   
                                                                        
    Payments Under Hatch Act............   163,671   168,734    168,734 
    Cooperative forestry research                                       
     (McIntire-Stennis).................    19,882    20,497     20,497 
    Payments to 1890 colleges and                                       
     Tuskegee...........................    26,902    27,735     27,735 
Special Research Grants (P.L. 89-106):                                  
    Aflatoxin (IL)......................       113  ........        113 
    Agricultural diversification (HI)...       131       131        131 
    Alliance for food protection (NE,                                   
     GA)................................       300       300        300 
    Alternative cropping systems                                        
     (Southeast)........................  ........       232  ..........
    Alternative crops (ND)..............       550       550        550 
    Alternative crops for arid lands                                    
     (TX)...............................        85  ........         85 
    Alternative Marine and Fresh Water                                  
     Species (MS).......................       308       308        308 
    Apple fire blight (NY, MI)..........       325       350        325 
    Aquaculture (IL)....................       169       169        169 
    Aquaculture (LA)....................       330       330        330 
    Aquaculture (MS)....................       592       592        592 
    Aquaculture (NC)....................       150  ........        150 
    Aquaculture marketing (RI, AR)......  ........       250  ..........
    Asian Products lab (OR).............       212  ........  ..........
    Babcock Institute (WI)..............  ........       312        312 
    Barley feed for rangeland cattle                                    
     (MT)...............................       250       500        500 
    Binational agriculture research and                                 
     development........................     2,500     2,500      2,000 
    Biodiesel research (MO).............       150       152        152 
    Biotechnology (OR)..................       217       250        250 
    Broom snakeweed (NM)................       175       169        175 
    Canola (KS).........................        85        85         85 
    Center for animal health and                                        
     productivity (PA)..................       113  ........        113 
    Center for innovative food                                          
     technology (OH)....................       181  ........        181 
    Center for rural studies (VT).......  ........        32         32 
    Chesapeake Bay aquaculture..........       370       370        370 
    Coastal cultivars...................       200  ........        200 
    Competitiveness of agricultural                                     
     products (WA)......................       677       677        677 
    Cool season legume research (ID, WA)       329       329        329 
    Cranberry/blueberry disease and                                     
     breeding (NJ)......................       220       220        220 
    Dairy and meat goat research (TX)...  ........        63         63 
    Delta rural revitalization (MS).....       148       148        148 
    Drought mitigation (NE).............       200       200        200 
    Environmental research (NY).........       486  ........        486 
    Environmental risk factors/cancer                                   
     (NY)...............................       100  ........        100 
    Expanded wheat pasture (OK).........       285       285        285 
    Farm and rural business finance (IL,                                
     AR)................................       106       106        106 
    Floriculture (HI)...................  ........       250        250 
    Food and Agriculture Policy                                         
     Institute (IA, MO).................       800       850        800 
    Food irradiation (IA)...............  ........       201        201 
    Food marketing policy center (CT)...       332       332        332 
    Food processing center (NE).........  ........        42         42 
    Food safety consortium (AR, KS, IA).     1,690     1,743      1,690 
    Food systems research group (WI)....       221       221        221 
    Forestry (AR).......................       523       723        523 
    Fruit and vegetable market analysis                                 
     (AZ, MO)...........................       296  ........        296 
    Generic commodity promotion research                                
     and evaluation (NY)................       212  ........        212 
    Global change.......................     1,567     1,615      1,567 
    Global marketing support service                                    
     (AR)...............................  ........        92         92 
    Grain sorghum (KA)..................  ........       106        106 
    Grass seed cropping systems for a                                   
     sustainable agriculture (WA, OR,                                   
     ID)................................  ........       423        423 
    Human nutrition (AR)................       425  ........  ..........
    Human nutrition (IA)................       473       473        473 
    Human nutrition (LA)................       752       752        752 
    Human nutrition (NY)................       622  ........        622 
    Illinois-Missouri Alliance for                                      
     Biotechnology......................     1,316     1,357      1,316 
    Improved dairy management practices                                 
     (PA)...............................       296  ........        296 
    Improved fruit practices (MI).......       445       445        445 
    Institute for Food Science and                                      
     Engineering (AR)...................       750       750        750 
    Integrated production systems (OK)..       161       161        161 
    International arid lands consortium.       329  ........        329 
    Iowa biotechnology consortium.......  ........     1,792      1,738 
    Jointed goatgrass (WA)..............       296       296        296 
    Landscaping for water quality (GA)..       300       300        300 
    Livestock and dairy policy (NY, TX).       445       445        445 
    Lowbush blueberry research (ME).....       220       220        220 
    Maple research (VT).................  ........        84         84 
    Michigan biotechnology consortium...       750       750        750 
    Midwest advanced food manufacturing                                 
     alliance...........................       423       423        423 
    Midwest agricultural products (IA)..       592       592        592 
    Milk safety (PA)....................  ........       268        268 
    Minor use animal drug...............       550       550        550 
    Molluscan shellfish (OR)............       300       400        400 
    Multi-commodity research (OR).......  ........       364        364 
    Multi-cropping strategies for                                       
     aquaculture (HI)...................  ........       127        127 
    National biological impact                                          
     assessment.........................       254       254        254 
    Nematode resistance genetic                                         
     engineering (NM)...................       127       127        127 
    Non-food agricultural products (NE).  ........        64         64 
    North central biotechnology                                         
     initiative.........................     1,940  ........      1,940 
    Oil resources from desert plants                                    
     (NM)...............................       175       169        175 
    Organic waste utilization (NM)......       100  ........        100 
    Pasture and forage research (UT)....  ........       200        200 
    Peach tree short life (SC)..........  ........       162        162 
    Pest control alternatives (SC)......  ........       106        106 
    Phytophthora root rot (NM)..........       127       127        127 
    Postharvest rice straws (CA)........       100  ........        100 
    Potato cultivars (AK)...............  ........       120        120 
    Potato research.....................     1,214     1,214      1,214 
    Preharvest food safety (KS).........       212       212        212 
    Preservation and processing research                                
     (OK)...............................       226  ........        226 
    Red River Corridor (NM, ND).........  ........       169        169 
    Regional barley gene mapping project       348       348        348 
    Regionalized implications of farm                                   
     programs (MO, TX)..................       294       294        294 
    Rice Modeling (AR)..................       395       395        395 
    Rural development centers (PA, IA                                   
     (ND), MS, OR)......................       423       423        423 
    Rural policies institute (NE, MO)...       644       644        644 
    Russian wheat aphid (WA, OR, CO, CA,                                
     ID)................................  ........       455  ..........
    Seafood and aquaculture harvesting,                                 
     processing, and marketing (MS).....       305       305        305 
    Small fruit research (OR, WA, ID)...       212       212        212 
    Southwest consortium for plant                                      
     genetics and water resources.......       338       338        338 
    Soybean cyst nematode (MO)..........       303       303        303 
    Spatial technologies for agriculture                                
     (MS)...............................  ........       500        350 
    STEEP II--water quality in Northwest       500       500        500 
    Sunflower insects (ND)..............  ........       127  ..........
    Sustainable agriculture (MI)........       445       445        445 
    Sustainable agriculture and natural                                 
     resources (PA).....................  ........        94         94 
    Sustainable agriculture systems (NE)  ........        59         59 
    Sustainable pest management for                                     
     dryland wheat (MT).................  ........       350        200 
    Swine waste management (NC).........       150       280        215 
    Tillage, silviculture, waste                                        
     management (LA)....................       212       212        212 
    Tropical and subtropical............     2,724     2,809      2,724 
    Urban pests (GA)....................        64        64         64 
    Viticulture consortium (NY, CA).....       500       500        500 
    Water conservation (KS).............        79        79         79 
    Water management (AL)...............  ........       337        170 
    Water quality.......................     2,757     2,757      2,757 
    Weed control (ND)...................  ........       423        423 
    Wheat genetic research (KS).........       176       176        176 
    Wood utilization research (OR, MS,                                  
     NC, MN, ME, MI)....................     3,536     3,758      3,536 
    Wool research (TX, MT, WY)..........       212       212        212 
                                         -------------------------------
        Total, Special Research Grants..    44,235    47,080     49,767 
                                         ===============================
Improved pest control:                                                  
    Critical issues.....................       200       200        200 
    Emerging pest and disease issues....     1,623     1,623      1,623 
    Expert IPM and decision support                                     
     issues.............................       177       177        177 
    Integrated pest management..........     2,731     2,731      2,731 
    Pesticide clearance (IR-4)..........     5,711     5,711      5,711 
    Pesticide impact assessment.........     1,327     1,327      1,327 
                                         -------------------------------
        Total, Improved pest control....    11,769    11,769     11,769 
                                         ===============================
Competitive research grants:                                            
    Plant systems.......................    37,000    35,744     36,044 
    Animal systems......................    23,750    23,136     23,104 
    Nutrition, food quality and health..     7,400     7,209      7,209 
    Natural resources and the                                           
     environment........................    17,650    17,194     17,194 
    Processes and new products..........     6,935     6,755      6,755 
    Markets, trade and policy...........     4,000     3,897      3,897 
                                         -------------------------------
        Total, Competitive research                                     
         grants.........................    96,735    93,935     94,203 
                                         ===============================
    Animal Health and Disease (Sec.                                     
     1433)..............................     4,775     5,051      4,775 
    Critical Agricultural Materials Act.       500       700        500 
    Aquaculture Centers (Sec. 1475).....     4,000     4,000      4,000 
    Rangeland Research Grants (Sec.                                     
     1480)..............................       475       475        475 
    Alternative Crops...................       650       500        650 
    Low-input agriculture...............     8,000     8,100      8,000 
    Capacity building grants............     9,200     9,200      9,200 
    Payments to the 1994 Institutions...     1,450     1,450      1,450 
    Graduate fellowship grants..........     3,000     3,000      3,000 
    Institution challenge grants........     4,000     4,000      4,000 
    Multicultural scholars program......     1,000     1,000      1,000 
    Hispanic-serving institutions.......     2,000     1,500      1,500 
Federal Administration:                                                 
    Agriculture development in American                                 
     Pacific............................       564       564        564 
    Alternative fuels characterization                                  
     lab (ND)...........................       218       218        218 
    Center for Agricultural and Rural                                   
     Development (IA)...................       655       655        355 
    Center for North American Studies                                   
     (TX)...............................        87        87         87 
    Data information system.............       400       400        400 
    Geographic information system.......       750       939        844 
    Mississippi Valley State University.       583       583        583 
    Nat'l Education Ctr for Agricultural                                
     Safety (IA)........................  ........       300        300 
    Office of grants and program systems       310       310        310 
    Pay costs and FERS (prior)..........       833       833        833 
    Peer panels.........................       350       350        350 
    PM-10 study (CA, WA)................       873       873        873 
    Rural partnership (NE)..............  ........       250        250 
    Shrimp aquaculture (AZ, HI, MS, MA,                                 
     SC)................................     3,054     3,354      3,354 
    Water quality (IL)..................       492       492        492 
    Water quality (ND)..................       436       436        436 
                                         -------------------------------
        Total, Federal Administration...     9,605    10,644     10,249 
                                         ===============================
        Total, Cooperative State                                        
         Research Service...............   411,849   419,370    421,504 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Potato research.--The conferees expect the Department to 
ensure that funds provided to CSREES for potato research are 
utilized for varietal development/testing. Further, these funds 
are to be awarded competitively after review by the USDA Potato 
Industry Working Group.
      Corn genome mapping.--The conference agreement provides 
no specific earmark for corn genome mapping but the conferees 
urge the Department to provide increased attention to this 
effort and develop a long-term approach for corn genome 
mapping.

                        Buildings and Facilities

      Amendment No. 26: Appropriates $61,591,000 for 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
Buildings and Facilities instead of $30,449,000 as proposed by 
the House and $55,668,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      As stated in the fiscal year 1996 conference report, the 
conferees, within available resources, would provide for 
completion of as many university facilities as possible during 
fiscal year 1997. Fourteen facilities are completed by this 
appropriation. The conferees expect any unfinished university 
project to obtain additional funding from other than Federal 
sources. The Department should not release additional funds to 
incomplete projects until all funding for completion is in 
place. The conferees expect universities to obtain funding 
within three years. It is anticipated that all unused funds 
would be rescinded. The conferees also agree with the 
reprogramming of funds as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:


                          SCIENCE AND EDUCATION                         
                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             House    Senate  Conference
                                              bill     bill    agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES                                      
                                                                        
Alabama:                                                                
  Poultry science facility, Auburn                                      
   University.............................  .......    4,140      4,140 
California:                                                             
  Alternative Pest Control Containment and                              
   Quarantine Facility, University of                                   
   California.............................    5,000  .......      3,500 
Colorado:                                                               
  Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology                                 
   Laboratory, Colorado State University..    1,100    1,100      1,100 
Connecticut:                                                            
  Agricultural biotechnology building,                                  
   University of Connecticut..............  .......    4,000      2,000 
Idaho:                                                                  
  Biotechnology facility, University of                                 
   Idaho..................................  .......    3,544      3,544 
Illinois:                                                               
  Biotechnology Center, Northwestern                                    
   University.............................    1,000    5,464      2,000 
  Science facility, DePaul University.....    2,000  .......      4,565 
Maryland:                                                               
  Institute for Natural Resources and                                   
   Environmental Science, University of                                 
   Maryland...............................    2,288    2,288      2,288 
Massachusetts:                                                          
  Center for Hunger, Poverty and Nutrition                              
   Policy, Tuffs University...............  .......    1,641        820 
Missouri:                                                               
  Center for Plant Biodiversity, St. Louis      500    3,161      3,161 
New Jersey:                                                             
  Plant Bioscience Facility, Rutgers                                    
   University.............................    3,850    1,000      1,000 
New Mexico:                                                             
  Center for Arid Land Studies, New Mexico                              
   State University.......................    7,318    5,044      5,044 
North Carolina:                                                         
  Bowman-Gray Center, Wake Forest.........    1,000    1,000      1,000 
Ohio:                                                                   
  Lake Erie Soil and Water Research and                                 
   Education Center.......................    2,308  .......      2,308 
Oregon:                                                                 
  Forest Ecosystem Research Lab, Oregon                                 
   State University.......................  .......    5,000      5,000 
South Dakota:                                                           
  Animal Resource Wing, South Dakota State                              
   University.............................  .......    2,700      2,700 
Tennessee:                                                              
  Agricultural, Biological and                                          
   Environmental Research Complex,                                      
   University of Tennessee in Knoxville...  .......    3,500      2,750 
  Horse Science and Teaching Center,                                    
   Middle Tennessee State University......    2,585  .......      2,585 
Texas:                                                                  
  Southern crop improvement, Texas A&M....  .......    4,508      4,508 
Washington:                                                             
  Animal Disease Biotechnology Facility,                                
   Washington State University............    1,500    7,578      7,578 
                                           -----------------------------
    Total, buildings and facilities.......   30,449   55,668     61,591 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          extension activities

      Amendment No. 27: Provides $268,493,000 for section 3(b) 
and 3(c) of the Smith-Lever Act as proposed by the Senate 
instead of $260,438,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 28: Provides $2,000,000 for extension work 
at the 1994 Institutions instead of $2,500,000 as proposed by 
the Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 29: Provides $58,695,000 for the expanded 
food and nutrition education program (EFNEP) as proposed by the 
House instead of $60,510,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 30: Provides $2,855,000 for farm safety as 
proposed by the House instead of $2,943,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The conference agreement earmarks $1,910,000 of the 
total for the AgrAbility project.
      Amendment No. 31: Provides $3,214,000 for pesticide 
impact assessment as proposed by the House instead of 
$3,313,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 32: Provides $7,549,000 for 1890 facilities 
grants as proposed by the House instead of $7,782,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 33: Deletes Senate language providing 
$1,700,000 for 1994 Institutions facilities grants. The House 
bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 34: Provides $908,000 for rural development 
centers as proposed by the House instead of $936,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 35: Provides $10,733,000 for water quality 
as proposed by the House instead of $11,065,000 as proposed by 
the Senate.
      Amendment No. 36: Provides $1,167,000 for agricultural 
telecommunications as proposed by the House instead of 
$1,203,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 37: Provides $9,554,000 for youth-at-risk 
programs as proposed by the House instead of $9,850,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 38: Provides $2,365,000 for food safety as 
proposed by the House instead of $2,438,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      Amendment No. 39: Provides $3,192,000 for the Renewable 
Resources Extension Act as proposed by the House instead of 
$3,291,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 40: Provides $1,672,000 for Indian 
reservation agents as proposed by the House instead of 
$1,724,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 41: Provides $3,309,000 for sustainable 
agriculture programs as proposed by the House instead of 
$3,411,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 42: Provides $2,628,000 for rural health 
and safety education as proposed by the House instead of 
$2,709,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement 
earmarks $2,150,000 of the total for the rural health program 
in Mississippi and $478,000 for the rural health and outreach 
initiative in Louisiana.
      Amendment No. 43: Provides $24,337,000 for the 1890 
colleges and Tuskegee University as proposed by the House 
instead of $25,090,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 44: Provides $12,066,000 for Federal 
administration of Extension Activities instead of $6,271,000 as 
proposed by the House and $11,381,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      Amendment No. 45: Appropriates $425,520,000 for Extension 
Activities instead of $409,670,000 as proposed by the House and 
$431,122,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                          SCIENCE AND EDUCATION                         
                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            House    Senate   Conference
                                            bill      bill     agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           EXTENSION ACTIVITIES                                         
                                                                        
Smith Lever 3(b) & 3(c).................   260,438   268,493    268,493 
  Smith Lever: 3(d):                                                    
    Pest management.....................    10,783    10,783     10,783 
    Water quality.......................    10,733    11,065     10,733 
    Farm safety.........................     2,855     2,943      2,855 
    Food and nutrition education (EFNEP)    58,695    60,510     58,695 
    Pesticide impact assessment.........     3,214     3,313      3,214 
    Rural development centers...........       908       936        908 
    Sustainable agriculture.............     3,309     3,411      3,309 
    Food safety.........................     2,365     2,438      2,365 
    Youth at risk.......................     9,554     9,850      9,554 
    Indian reservation agents...........     1,672     1,724      1,672 
1890's Colleges and Tuskegee............    24,337    25,090     24,337 
1890's facilities grants................     7,549     7,782      7,549 
1994 institutions facilities grants.....  ........     1,700  ..........
Renewable Resources Extension Act.......     3,192     3,291      3,192 
Agricultural telecommunications.........     1,167     1,203      1,167 
Rural health and safety education.......     2,628     2,709      2,628 
Extension services at the 1994                                          
 institutions...........................  ........     2,500      2,000 
                                         -------------------------------
      Subtotal..........................   403,399   419,741    413,454 
                                         ===============================
  Federal Administration and special                                    
 grants:                                                                
    General administration..............     4,995     5,162      4,995 
    Pilot tech. transfer (OK, MS).......  ........       326        326 
    Pilot tech. transfer (WI)...........       163  ........        163 
    Rural rehabilitation (GA)...........  ........       246        246 
    Income enhancement demonstration                                    
     (OH)...............................       246  ........        246 
    Rural development (NM)..............       227       227        227 
    Rural development (NE)..............  ........       386        386 
    Rural development (OK)..............  ........       296        296 
    Beef producers' improvement (AR)....  ........       197        197 
    Integrated cow/calf resources                                       
     management (IA)....................  ........       345        345 
    Extension specialist (AR)...........  ........        99         99 
    Extension specialist (MS)...........  ........        50         50 
    Rural center for the study and                                      
     promotion of HIV/STD prevention                                    
     (IN)...............................       246  ........        246 
    Delta teachers academy..............  ........     3,850      3,850 
    Wood biomass as an alternative farm                                 
     product (NY).......................       197  ........        197 
    Range improvement (NM)..............       197       197        197 
                                         -------------------------------
      Total, Federal Administration.....     6,271    11,381     12,066 
                                         ===============================
      Total, Extension Activities.......   409,670   431,122    425,520 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 46: Appropriates $434,909,000 for Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service, Salaries and Expenses 
instead of $435,428,000 as proposed by the House and 
$432,103,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes $500,000 for increased 
domestic agricultural quarantine inspection services in Hawaii 
instead of $700,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes $455,000 to maintain 
pesticide data program personnel at the Gulfport, Mississippi, 
Laboratory.
      The conference agreement includes $200,000, the same as 
the fiscal year 1996 level, for ongoing work at the University 
of Arkansas at Monticello for fire ant control methods and 
dissemination of information to the public.
      The conference agreement also includes increases of 
$100,000 for the wolf reintroduction program; $100,000 for ADC 
activities in the Western region; $125,000 for beaver damage 
control in Mississippi; and $100,000 for goatsrue eradication 
in Utah.
      Amendment No. 47: Provides $4,500,000 for the contingency 
fund of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as 
proposed by the House instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 FY 1996    House    Senate   Conference
                                 enacted    bill      bill     agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   PEST AND DISEASE EXCLUSION                                           
                                                                        
Agricultural quarantine                                                 
 inspection...................    24,914    26,047    26,747     26,547 
User fees.....................   100,254    98,000    98,000     98,000 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Agricultural                                            
       quarantine inspection..   125,168   124,047   124,747    124,547 
Cattle ticks..................     4,537     4,537     4,537      4,537 
Foot-and-mouth disease........     3,991     3,991     3,991      3,991 
Import-export inspection......     6,528     6,847     6,847      6,847 
International programs........     6,100     6,643     6,643      6,643 
Fruit fly exclusion and                                                 
 detection....................    16,151    21,161    21,161     21,161 
Screwworm.....................    33,969    31,713    31,713     31,713 
Tropical bont tick............       452       452       452        452 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Pest and disease                                           
       exclusion..............   196,896   199,391   200,091    199,891 
                               =========================================
     PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH                                            
          MONITORING                                                    
                                                                        
Animal health monitoring and                                            
 surveillance.................    59,276    60,831    60,831     60,831 
Animal and plant health                                                 
 regulatory enforcement.......     5,855     5,855     5,855      5,855 
Pest detection................     4,202     4,202     4,202      4,202 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Plant and animal                                           
       health monitoring......    69,333    70,888    70,888     70,888 
                               =========================================
   PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT                                          
           PROGRAMS                                                     
                                                                        
Animal damage control--                                                 
 operations...................    26,642    26,842    26,842     26,967 
Aquaculture...................       470       571       571        571 
Biocontrol....................     6,290     6,290     6,290      6,290 
Boll weevil...................    18,084    16,209    16,209     16,209 
Brucellosis eradication.......    23,360    23,360    19,962     21,661 
Golden nematode...............       435       444       444        444 
Grasshopper and Mormon cricket  ........  ........  ........  ..........
Gypsy moth....................     4,367     4,367     4,367      4,367 
Imported fire ant.............     1,000     1,000       800      1,000 
Miscellaneous plant diseases..     1,516     1,516     1,516      1,516 
Noxious weeds.................       338       304       404        404 
Pink bollworm.................     1,069     1,069     1,069      1,069 
Pseudorabies..................     4,543     4,518     4,518      4,518 
Scrapie.......................     2,967     2,967     2,967      2,967 
Sweet potato whitefly.........     2,398     1,888     1,888      1,888 
Tuberculosis..................     4,609     4,948     4,609      4,948 
Witchweed.....................     1,663     1,662     1,662      1,662 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Pest and disease                                           
       management programs....    99,751    97,955    94,118     96,481 
                               =========================================
           ANIMAL CARE                                                  
                                                                        
Animal welfare................     9,185     9,185     9,185      9,185 
Horse protection..............       362       360       360        360 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Animal care......     9,547     9,545     9,545      9,545 
                               =========================================
    SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL                                            
           SERVICES                                                     
                                                                        
ADC methods development.......     9,665    10,591    10,591     10,591 
Biotechnology/environmental                                             
 protection...................     7,677     7,677     7,677      8,132 
Integrated systems acquisition                                          
 project......................     4,055     4,000     4,000      4,000 
Plant methods development                                               
 laboratories.................     5,053     5,048     5,048      5,048 
Veterinary biologics..........    10,360    10,360    10,360     10,360 
Veterinary diagnostics........    14,785    15,473    14,785     15,473 
                               -----------------------------------------
      Total, Scientific and                                             
       technical services.....    51,595    53,149    52,461     53,604 
                               =========================================
Contingency fund..............     4,799     4,500     5,000      4,500 
                               =========================================
      Total, Salaries and                                               
       expenses...............   431,921   435,428   432,103    434,909 
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     Agricultural Marketing Service

                           Marketing Services

      Amendment No. 48: Appropriates $38,507,000 for 
Agricultural Marketing Service, Marketing Services instead of 
$37,592,000 as proposed by the House and $46,767,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement does not 
include funds to continue the Pesticide Data program. Funds 
have been included to provide an orderly shutdown of the 
program.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

      Amendment No. 49: Appropriates $23,128,000 for the Grain 
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration instead of 
$22,728,000 as proposed by the House and $23,928,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes 
$400,000 to carryout recommendations of the Agricultural 
Concentration Committee.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

      Amendment No. 50: Appropriates $574,000,000 for the Food 
Safety and Inspection Service as proposed by the House instead 
of $557,697,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conferees have recently become aware that, in 
planning for the location of field offices for the Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, a decision on the location of offices 
in Pennsylvania was reversed based on criteria other than the 
implementation of food safety standards and economies of 
operation. The conferees expect the Department to reconsider 
this decision.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Budget request      Senate           House        Conference  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slaughter Inspection............................    $325,283,000    $322,218,000  ..............    $325,283,000
Processing Inspection...........................     135,771,000     134,400,000  ..............     135,771,000
Egg Products Inspection.........................      11,272,000      11,272,000  ..............      11,272,000
Import/Export Inspection........................      12,674,000      12,674,000  ..............      12,674,000
Laboratory Services.............................      19,845,000      19,845,000  ..............      19,845,000
Pathogen Reduction Program......................      18,902,000      15,560,000  ..............      18,902,000
Field Automation and Info. Management Project...       8,525,000  ..............  ..............       8,525,000
Grants to States................................      41,728,000      41,728,000  ..............      41,728,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    $574,000,000    $557,697,000    $574,000,000    $574,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Amendment No. 51: Deletes Senate language earmarking up 
to $1,500,000 to establish a National Farm Identification Pilot 
Program for dairy cows to be conducted jointly by the Food 
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The conferees expect such a 
pilot program to be established with not to exceed $1,500,000 
of the funds appropriated to the FSIS account.
      The conferees have provided the full budget request for 
FSIS and expect the agency to manage its resources in such a 
way as to eliminate the need for supplemental funding.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

      Amendment No. 52: Makes a technical correction as 
proposed by the Senate to correct the official name of the Farm 
Service Agency. The conferees concur with the Senate report 
language relating to the criteria to be used for acreage bids 
and rebids into the Conservation Reserve Program.

                          Farm Service Agency

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 53: Appropriates $746,440,000 for Farm 
Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses as proposed by the House 
instead of $725,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                         state mediation grants

      Amendment No. 54: Appropriates $2,000,000 for State 
Mediation Grants as proposed by the Senate. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.

           agricultural credit insurance fund program account

      Amendment No. 55: Provides a total of $25,000,000 for 
emergency insured loans as proposed by the House instead of 
$75,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 56: Provides a loan level of $34,653,000 
for a pilot program for boll weevil eradication instead of 
$15,384,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees believe 
this program has merit and provides potential to reduce long-
term costs associated with the boll weevil eradication efforts. 
The conference agreement provides a small amount of startup 
funding and will evaluate the effectiveness of the loan program 
during fiscal year 1997. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.
      Amendment No. 57: Appropriates $6,365,000 for the subsidy 
cost of emergency insured loans as proposed by the House 
instead of $19,095,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 58: Appropriates $499,000 for the subsidy 
cost of boll weevil eradication loans instead of $2,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.

                       Office of Risk Management

      Amendment No. 59: Restores and amends House language for 
the Office of Risk Management appropriating $64,000,000 instead 
of $62,198,000 as proposed by the House and $70,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The Senate proposed language making the 
funds available subject to an official budget request.

                    TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service

                        conservation operations

      Amendment No. 60: Appropriates $619,742,000 for Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Operations instead 
of $619,392,000 as proposed by the House and $638,954,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes a total funding level 
of $350,000 for the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil and 
Erosion Sediment Control; $550,000 for design and technical 
assistance in Franklin County, Mississippi; $125,000 for Golden 
Meadows, Louisiana, Plant Materials Center; and $350,000 for 
technical assistance to the Embarras River watershed project.
      The conferees expect the Department to construct the 
plant materials center in Monroe County, West Virginia, from 
funds earmarked for this purpose in previous appropriations.
      The conferees expect progress to continue to complete the 
Upper Trinity River Basin cooperative study from funds 
available in the Watershed Surveys and Planning account.
      The conference agreement includes $200,000 under 
Conservation Operations, the same as the fiscal year 1996 
amount, for technical assistance of the Multi-year Rural 
Recycling and Water Resources Protection Initiative in the 
Mississippi Delta. Funding for the water quality incentives 
program is now included under the environmental quality 
incentives program. The conferees direct that $2,800,000 of 
this program, the same as the fiscal year 1996 amount, be 
provided for financial assistance of the Multi-year Rural 
Recycling and Water Resources Protection Initiative in the 
Mississippi Delta.
      The conferees agree that funds provided for Conservation 
Operations are not to supplant use of Commodity Credit 
Corporation funds for the full implementation of the Wetlands 
Reserve Program and the Conservation Reserve Program. Both the 
Wetlands Reserve Program and the Conservation Reserve Program 
were previously funded through appropriated accounts, but the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act provides that 
these programs now be administered through funds provided 
directly from the Commodity Credit Corporation.
      Amendment No. 61: Deletes Senate language earmarking up 
to $250,000 for the National Natural Resources Conservation 
Foundation. The House bill contained no similar provision.

                     watershed surveys and planning

      Amendment No. 62: Appropriates $12,381,000 for Watershed 
Surveys and Planning instead of $10,762,000 as proposed by the 
House and $14,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conferees expect NRCS to complete innovative 
community-based comprehensive resource management plans for 
communities devastated by the 1996 historical floods in West 
Virginia.

               watershed and flood prevention operations

      The conferees encourage the Department to give 
consideration to the outstanding watershed needs of 26 
Mississippi counties when allocating funds to the states.

     TITLE III.--RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

                         Rural Housing Service

              rural housing insurance fund program account

      Amendment No. 63: Deletes House language providing that 
no funds for new construction for section 515 rental housing be 
available in fiscal year 1997 as proposed by the Senate.

                    rural housing assistance program

      Amendment No. 64: Appropriates $130,433,000 for the Rural 
Housing Assistance Program instead of $73,190,000 as proposed 
by the House and $136,435,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 65: Adds Senate language including new 
construction of section 515 rental housing as eligible for 
program funds. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 66: Deletes House language providing that 
no funds for new construction of section 515 rental housing be 
available in fiscal year 1997 as proposed by the Senate.

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 67: Appropriates $60,743,000 for Rural 
Housing Service, Salaries and Expenses instead of $53,889,000 
as proposed by the House and $66,354,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service

              rural development loan fund program account

      Amendment No. 68: Appropriates a subsidy cost of 
$17,270,000 for the Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account 
as proposed by the Senate instead of $18,400,000 as proposed by 
the House.
      Amendment No. 69: Provides for a loan level of 
$37,544,000 for Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $40,000,000 as proposed by 
the House.

 alternative agricultural research and commercialization revolving fund

      Amendment No. 70: Appropriates $7,000,000 for the 
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization 
Revolving Fund instead of $6,000,000 as proposed by the House 
and $10,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

             rural business-cooperative assistance program

      Amendment No. 71: Appropriates a subsidy cost of 
$51,400,000 for the Rural Business-Cooperative Assistance 
program as proposed by the House instead of $53,750,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Of the total amount appropriated, the 
conference agreement provides not to exceed $1,300,000 through 
a cooperative agreement for the Appropriate Technology Transfer 
for Rural Areas program; not to exceed $3,000,000 for 
cooperative development, as authorized under section 747 of 
Public Law 104-127; $250,000 through a cooperative agreement 
for an agribusiness and cooperative development program at 
Mississippi State University; and not less than $2,000,000 for 
grants in accordance with section 310B(f) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act.
      The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (Public Law 104-127) authorizes a demonstration using 
Federal business and industry loan guarantees to attract 
venture funds to rural areas. The Conferees urge the Secretary 
to allocate the necessary resources to implement this 
demonstration and to designate at least 10 percent of the funds 
to venture projects which already receive support from the 
Department's venture capital entity.
      Amendment No. 72: Deletes Senate language making funds 
available for cooperative development subject to provisions of 
Public Law 104-127. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.
      Amendment No. 73: Deletes Senate language earmarking 
$1,300,000 for the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural 
Areas program and $2,000,000 for grants in accordance with 
section 310B(f) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act. The House bill contained no similar provision.

                        Rural Utilities Service

               distance learning and medical link program

      Amendment No. 74: Appropriates $9,000,000 for the 
Distance Learning and Medical Link Program instead of 
$7,500,000 as proposed by the House and $10,000,000 as proposed 
by the Senate.

                   rural utilities assistance program

      Amendment No. 75: Appropriates a subsidy cost of 
$566,935,000 for the Rural Utilities Assistance Program instead 
of $496,868,000 as proposed by the House and $656,742,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 76: Provides $5,200,000 of the total amount 
appropriated for the Rural Utilities Assistance Program for a 
circuit rider program instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by the 
House and $5,400,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 77: Provides $8,750,000 of the total amount 
appropriated for the Rural Utilities Assistance Program for 
water and waste disposal systems pursuant to section 757 of 
Public Law 104-127 instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 78: Inserts Senate language providing that 
Berlin, New Hampshire, is eligible for Rural Utilities 
Assistance Program grants.

                   TITLE IV.--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

      Amendment No. 79: Appropriates $454,000 for the Office of 
the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services 
as proposed by the House instead of $554,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

                        child nutrition programs

      Amendment No. 80: Provides a total of $8,653,297,000 for 
Child Nutrition Programs instead of $8,652,597,000 as proposed 
by the House and $8,654,797,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 81: Provides that $3,219,544,000 for Child 
Nutrition Programs is hereby appropriated instead of 
$3,218,844,000 as proposed by the House and $3,221,044,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 82: Provides that not to exceed $1,000,000 
of the Child Nutrition Program funds shall be used for studies 
and evaluations instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The House bill provided no funds for new studies and 
evaluations.
      The conference agreement provides for the Child Nutrition 
Programs at the following annual rates:

                                          TOTAL OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY                                          
                                            [In thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                FY 1996                               Conference
                                                                enacted     House bill  Senate bill   agreement 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Child Nutrition Programs:                                                                                     
    School lunch program....................................   $4,547,201   $4,922,926   $4,922,926   $4,922,926
    School breakfast program................................    1,160,218    1,264,949    1,264,949    1,264,949
    State administrative expenses...........................       98,468      108,874      108,874      108,874
    Summer food service program.............................      264,558      288,920      288,920      288,920
    Child and adult care food program.......................    1,578,112    1,739,767    1,739,767    1,739,767
    Commodity procurement, processing, and computer support.      278,841      312,830      312,830      312,830
    Nutrition studies and surveys...........................        4,162  ...........        2,000        1,000
    Coordinated review system...............................        3,964        4,031        4,031        4,031
    School meals initiative.................................       10,500       10,300       10,500       10,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      The conference agreement provides $10,000,000 for the 
school meals initiative. Included in this amount is $4,000,000 
for food service training grants to states; $2,500,000 for in-
school education materials; $2,300,000 for technical assistance 
materials; $800,000 for NFSMI cooperative agreements for food 
service; and $400,000 for print and electronic food service 
resource systems.

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

      Amendment No. 83: Inserts language to allow any fiscal 
year 1996 carryover funds in excess of $100,000,000 to be 
transferred to the Rural Housing Service section 502 program 
and/or the Rural Utilities Assistance Program. The House bill 
allowed fiscal year 1996 carryover funds in excess of 
$100,000,000 to be transferred to any program in the 
Department, excluding the Forest Service, with prior 
notification to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. 
The Senate bill allowed for fiscal year 1996 carryover funds in 
excess of $100,000,000 to be used for any loan program of the 
Department and/or to make available up to $10,000,000 for the 
WIC farmers' market nutrition program.
      Amendment No. 84: Adds Senate language requiring state 
agencies to award infant formula purchase contracts to the 
company offering the lowest net price, unless the state agency 
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the 
weighted average retail price for different brands of infant 
formula in the state does not vary by more than five percent. 
The House bill contained no similar provision.

                           FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

      Amendment No. 85: Makes a technical change to the U.S. 
code citation as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 86: Appropriates $27,618,029,000 for the 
Food Stamp Program instead of $27,615,029,000 as proposed by 
the House and $28,521,029,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 87: Provides $100,000,000 for a food stamp 
contingency reserve as proposed by the House instead of 
$1,000,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 88: Provides that not to exceed $3,000,000 
of the Food Stamp Program funds shall be used for studies and 
evacuations instead of $6,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
The House bill provided no funds for new studies and 
evaluations.

              FOOD DONATIONS PROGRAMS FOR SELECTED GROUPS

      Amendment No. 89: Deletes the statutory citation for the 
food distribution program on Indian reservations as proposed by 
the Senate. The conferees note that authority for the program 
exists under the Food Stamp Program authorization.
      Amendment No. 90: Appropriates $141,250,000 for the Food 
Donations Programs for Selected Groups as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $205,000,000 as proposed by the House.

                      Food Program Administration

      Amendment No. 91: Appropriates $106,128,000 for Food 
Program Administration instead of $104,487,000 as proposed by 
the House and $107,769,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 
conference agreement includes not more than $2,218,000 for the 
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
      The conference agreement provides a reduction from the 
budget request for studies and evaluations under the Child 
Nutrition Programs and the Food Stamp Program. The conferees 
direct the Department to devote additional staff time to 
working directly with states to reduce error rates in the Food 
Stamp Program and, thereby, reduce the amount budgeted for 
erroneous benefits.

           TITLE V.--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

         Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager

      Amendment No. 92: Appropriates $135,561,000 for the 
Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager instead 
of $128,005,000 as proposed by the House and $138,561,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes 
$27,500,000 for the cooperator program; the full request for 
international cooperation and development; $2,428,000 for the 
Cochran Fellowship Program; and $1,500,000 for expansion of 
offices overseas. The conferees direct the Department to give 
priority to posts serving expanding markets in Asia and Latin 
America in budgeting for overseas expansion. The conference 
agreement does not provide funding for the proposed Distributor 
Development Program.
      Amendment No. 93: Provides for a transfer of $3,231,000 
from the Export Loan Program Account as proposed by the Senate 
instead of $2,792,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 94: Provides for a transfer of $1,035,000 
from the Public Law 480 Program Account as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $1,005,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 95: Deletes House language establishing 
competitive bidding in the award of cooperator/foreign market 
development program funds. The conferees expect the Department 
to develop procedures and criteria for a competitive bidding 
process for consideration by appropriate committees of the 
Congress.

               Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts

      Amendment No. 96: Provides $226,900,000 for Public Law 
480 title I programs instead of $216,400,000 as proposed by the 
House and $218,944,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 97: Appropriates $29,500,000 for Public Law 
480 title III programs as proposed by the House instead of 
$40,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 98: Appropriates $185,589,000 for credit 
modification costs of Public Law 480 programs instead of 
$177,000,000 as proposed by the House and $179,082,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 99: Appropriates $1,780,000 for 
administrative expenses of Public Law 480 programs instead of 
$1,750,000 as proposed by the House and $1,818,000 as proposed 
by the Senate.

       Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account

      Amendment No. 100: Appropriates $3,820,000 for 
administrative expenses of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
Export Loans Program Account as proposed by the Senate instead 
of $3,381,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 101: Provides for a transfer of $3,231,000 
of the total amount appropriated for the Commodity Credit 
Corporation Export Loans Program Account to the Foreign 
Agricultural Service as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$2,792,000 as proposed by the House.

      TITLE VI.--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 102: Deletes Senate language providing that 
funds be used to ensure compliance with statutory deadlines set 
forth in section 505(j)(4)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act. The FDA is directed to use available funds to 
ensure compliance with its 180 day statutory review period for 
generic drug applications. The conferees agree with the Senate 
proposals for reprogramming and allocations for FDA offices and 
activities as set forth in the Senate report.
      Amendment No. 103: Deletes House language restricting a 
proposed rule entitled: ``The Prescription Drug Product 
Labeling; Medication Guide Requirements,'' as proposed by the 
Senate. The Senate bill addressed this same issue in Amendment 
No. 105.

                           General Provisions

      Amendment No. 104: Adds the heading ``General 
Provisions'' as proposed by the Senate. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 105: Inserts Senate language providing that 
all relevant parties in industry and government develop a set 
of effective medication guides for prescription drug use.
      Amendments No. 106 and 107: Add a new section number as 
proposed by the Senate and provide for an extension on a 
moratorium related to the use of saccharin until May 1, 2002, 
as proposed by the House instead of May 1, 1998, as proposed by 
the Senate.
      Amendment No. 108: Makes technical changes to the Imports 
for Exports Program of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics 
Act as proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no 
similar provision.
      Amendment No. 109: Deletes Senate language directing the 
Food and Drug Administration to do a feasibility study related 
to crab meat. The conferees expect the Commissioner to report 
to the appropriate committees of the Congress on the 
feasibility of applying DNA or other suitable testing 
procedures to determine both the wholesomeness of crab meat and 
the need to differentiate between types of crab meat offered 
for sale in the United States. The conferees also expect the 
Commissioner to report on the feasibility of developing a 
database of imported crab in order to better aid enforcement 
and public health.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

      Amendment No. 110: Appropriates $55,101,000 for the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission as proposed by the House 
instead of $56,601,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                       Farm Credit Administration

                 Limitation on Administrative Expenses

      Amendment No. 111: Restores and amends House language 
limiting expenses of the Farm Credit Administration not to 
exceed $37,478,000, with an exemption for expenses for 
receiverships.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

      Amendment No. 112: Restores House language making 
obligational authority for the Food Safety and Inspection 
Service field automation and information management project 
available until expended.
      Amendment No. 113: Retains Senate language prohibiting 
the use of funds to transfer from the Rural Telephone Bank to 
the Treasury or to the Federal Financing Bank any unobligated 
balance of the liquidating account in excess of current 
requirements and requiring that such balance received interest.
      Amendment No. 114: Inserts a provision limiting acreage 
in excess of 130,000 acres to be enrolled in the wetlands 
reserve program, but allowing additional acreage to be enrolled 
in the program to the extent that non-Federal funds available 
to the Secretary are used to compensate these additional 
enrollments as proposed by the Senate and limits the number of 
acres to be enrolled through temporary easements to at least 
31,667 acres before permanent easement agreements can be 
entered into. The conference agreement deletes House language 
that just limited enrollment to 130,000 acres.
      Amendment No. 115: Inserts Senate language adding ``and 
panels used to evaluate competitively awarded grants'' to 
exceed the limitation on necessary expenses for advisory 
committees. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 116: Restores House language limiting funds 
available in fiscal year 1997 to not more than $2,000,000 for a 
farmland protection program.
      Amendment No. 117: Deletes House language prohibiting 
funds in this Act to pay personnel who carry out a wildlife 
habitat incentives program as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 118: Restores House language limiting funds 
available in fiscal year 1997 to not more than $2,000,000 for a 
conservation farm option program.
      Amendment No. 119: Restores House language regarding the 
use of agricultural lands and production flexibility contract 
payments. The conference agreement prohibits the use of funds 
provided by this Act to pay the salaries and expenses of 
employees of the Department of Agriculture who make payments 
pursuant to a production flexibility contract under section 111 
of Public Law 104-127 if the land covered by that production 
flexibility contract is not being used for the production of an 
agricultural commodity or is not devoted to a conserving use, 
unless it is determined that the lack of agricultural 
production or the lack of a conserving use is a consequence of 
drought, flood, or other natural disaster. It is not intended 
for this provision to be interpreted in a way which would 
require additional regulations to USDA regulations amending 7 
CFR part 2 et al., as published on July 18, 1996. It also is 
not intended for this provision to require amendments to the 
procedures for implementing the Agricultural Market Transition 
Program contained in FSA Handbook 1-PF, as published on May 21, 
1996. Further, this provision is not to be interpreted in a way 
which results in additional reporting or certification 
procedures for owners, producers, or the Secretary.
      Amendment No. 120: Deletes House language providing a cap 
on the price of raw cane sugar. The Secretary shall report to 
the House and Senate Appropriations Committees biannually 
during fiscal year 1997 as to whether the prices of raw cane 
and beet sugar are sufficient to prevent forfeitures, and that 
the stock/use ratio is sufficient to ensure stable and adequate 
supplies to consumers and refiners with consideration of its 
impact on growers, producers, processors, and users.
      Amendment No. 121: Deletes House language extending the 
patent for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug as proposed by 
the Senate.
      Amendment No. 122: Inserts Senate language providing that 
the use of appropriated funds for incidental expenses for USDA 
volunteers is permanent law.
      Amendment No. 123: Deletes House language providing a 
sense of the Congress for a detailed plan for compensating 
wheat farmers and handlers affected by the karnal bunt 
quarantine in certain California counties as proposed by the 
Senate. The conferees agree that the Department should develop 
a consistent compensation plan for karnal bunt-infected areas 
of the country.
      Amendment No. 124: Deletes Senate language providing for 
the transfer of not to exceed 10 percent of amounts made 
available among rural assistance programs. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 125: Provides language restricting the use 
of assignments of Department of Agriculture personnel beyond 30 
days without reimbursement to the employee's agency or office. 
The House bill addressed this issue in Amendment No. 1.
      Amendment No. 126: Inserts and amends language proposed 
by the Senate to delay the authority of the Secretary of 
Agriculture to make rural cooperative development grants until 
October 1, 1996, effective upon the date of enactment of this 
Act into law. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 127: Inserts a provision prohibiting the 
use of funds to implement or enforce the final rule on the 
labeling of raw poultry products promulgated by the Food Safety 
and Inspection Service on August 25, 1995, and prohibiting the 
final rule from being in effect during fiscal year 1997 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement also requires 
the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a revised final rule 
regarding the labeling of raw poultry products not later than 
90 days after the enactment of this Act. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 128: Deletes Senate language regarding the 
replacement of lost benefits related to the Food Stamp Program 
electronic benefit transfer program.
      Amendment No. 129: Deletes Senate language amending the 
United States Warehouse Act.
      Amendment No. 130: Inserts Senate language which makes 
permanent a provision to provide that the inspection of fish 
products should be in compliance with the Food and Drug 
Administration standards as proposed by the Senate. The House 
bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 131: Inserts and amends Senate language 
extending authority to make multifamily rural housing loans 
until September 30, 1997. The conference agreement provides a 
set-aside for nonprofit entities; extends the authorization for 
housing in underserved areas through fiscal year 1997; makes 
certain reforms in the multifamily rural housing loan program; 
and provides for penalties for misuse of funds related to the 
program. The conference agreement includes language which gives 
the Secretary of Agriculture authority regarding operating 
reserves and prioritization of assistance. The conference 
agreement also requires the Secretary to issue regulations, 
subject to negotiated rulemaking procedures, on certain of 
these provisions within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
      Amendment No. 132: Deletes Senate language which 
reauthorized the National Aquaculture Act of 1980. The House 
bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 133: Inserts a provision providing the 
Department of Agriculture the authority to make voluntary 
separation incentive payments as proposed by the Senate. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 134: Deletes Senate language regarding the 
seasonal base plan for milk marketing orders expiration. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 135: Deletes Senate language providing a 
sense of the Senate requiring the Comptroller General to review 
the effectiveness of the H-2A nonimmigrant worker program. The 
House bill contained no similar provision. The Conferees agree 
that the Comptroller General should review the H-2A 
nonimmigrant worker program to ensure that the program provides 
a workable safety valve in the event of future shortages of 
domestic workers after enactment of this Act.
      Amendment No. 136: Deletes Senate language which 
authorized a Northern Forest Stewardship Program. The House 
bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 137: Deletes Senate language providing 
additional funds for barley payments. The conferees encourage 
the House and Senate authorizing committees to revisit the 
barley payment discrepancy and instruct the Secretary to use 
means within the USDA to address the current inequity. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 138: Provides Senate language for a two-
month extension of an interim moratorium on bypass flows. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 139: Deletes Senate language prohibiting 
the use of funds to establish certain easements on inventoried 
property. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 140: Deletes Senate language providing that 
grants for precision agricultural technologies be eligible for 
funding under provisions of Public Law 104-127. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 141: Deletes the Senate language providing 
a sense of the Congress that the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) should monitor the export of wheat and 
barley from western Canada to the United States. The House bill 
contained no similar provision. The conferees agree that the 
USTR should monitor Canadian grain policy changes and be 
prepared to enforce appropriate trade laws if action by the 
Canadian government, acting through the Canadian Wheat Board, 
leads to unfair and injurious exports of Canadian grain to the 
United States.
      Amendment No. 142: Deletes Senate language regarding the 
planting of fruits and vegetables on contract acreage. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 143: Deletes Senate language regarding the 
payment of funds related to wild rice crops. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.

 TITLE VIII--SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND RESCISSION FOR THE FISCAL 
                     YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

      Amendment No. 144: Inserts a new heading for supplemental 
appropriations as proposed by the Senate. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 145: Amends language proposed by the Senate 
providing a loan level of $110,000,000 and a subsidy level of 
$32,244,000 for emergency disaster loans. The Senate bill 
proposed $85,208,000 in loans and $25,000,000 in subsidy. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 146: Inserts a provision appropriating an 
additional $12,011,000 for Salaries and Expenses of the Bureau 
of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and rescinding $16,500,000 
from the Internal Revenue, Information Systems account as 
proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.
      Amendment No. 147: Inserts a provision that this Act may 
be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997'' 
as proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.

                  Conference Total.--With Comparisons

      The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
fiscal year 1996 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
with comparisons to the fiscal year 1995 amount, the 1996 
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1996 
follow:

        New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 
          1995.......................................... $63,323,678,000
        Budget estimates of new (obligational) 
          authority, fiscal year 1996...................  58,317,314,000
        House bill, fiscal year 1996....................  53,052,037,000
        Senate bill, fiscal year 1996...................  54,296,303,000
        Conference agreement, fiscal year 1996..........  53,279,873,000
Conference agreement compared with:
        New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 
          1995.......................................... -10,043,805,000
        Budget estimates of new (obligational) 
          authority, fiscal year 1996...................  -5,037,441,000
        House bill, fiscal year 1996....................    +227,836,000
        Senate bill, fiscal year 1996...................  -1,016,430,000
                                   Joe Skeen,
                                   John T. Myers,
                                   James T. Walsh,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Jack Kingston,
                                   Frank Riggs,
                                   George R. Nethercutt, Jr.,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Richard J. Durbin,
                                   Marcy Kaptur,
                                   Ray Thornton,
                                   Vic Fazio,
                                   David R. Obey,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Christopher Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Mark O. Hatfield,
                                   Dale Bumpers,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   J. Robert Kerrey,
                                   J. Bennett Johnston,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   Robert C. Byrd,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.


                                
