[House Report 105-252]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    105-252
_______________________________________________________________________


 
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG 
   ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES PROGRAMS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 
           ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

               September 17, 1997.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


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

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 2160]

      The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of 
the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
2160) ``making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for 
other purposes,'' having met, after full and free conference, 
have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective 
Houses as follows:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an 
amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
amendment, insert:
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for 
other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                         AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary of 
Agriculture, and not to exceed $75,000 for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109, $2,836,000: Provided, That not to exceed $11,000 
of this amount, along with any unobligated balances of 
representation funds in the Foreign Agricultural Service, shall 
be available for official reception and representation 
expenses, not otherwise provided for, as determined by the 
Secretary: Provided further, That none of the funds 
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be 
used to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel of the 
Department of Agriculture to carry out section 793(c)(1)(C) of 
Public Law 104-127: Provided further, That none of the funds 
made available by this Act may be used to enforce section 
793(d) of Public Law 104-127.

                          Executive Operations


                            chief economist


      For necessary expenses of the Chief Economist, including 
economic analysis, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and 
the functions of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, as 
authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1622g), and including employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), of which not to exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109, $5,048,000.


                       national appeals division


      For necessary expenses of the National Appeals Division, 
including employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 
706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not 
to exceed $25,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, 
$11,718,000.


                 office of budget and program analysis


      For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and 
Program Analysis, including employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), of which not to exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109, $5,986,000.


                office of the chief information officer


      For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, including employment pursuant to the 
second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment 
under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $4,773,000.

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer

      For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief 
Financial Officer, including employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109, $4,283,000: Provided, That the Chief Financial 
Officer shall actively market cross-servicing activities of the 
National Finance Center.

          Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

      For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Administration to carry out the 
programs funded in this Act, $613,000.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to 
Public Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 
delegation of authority from the Administrator of General 
Services to the Department of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 486, 
for programs and activities of the Department which are 
included in this Act, and for the operation, maintenance, and 
repair of Agriculture buildings, $123,385,000: Provided, That 
in the event an agency within the Department should require 
modification of space needs, the Secretary of Agriculture may 
transfer a share of that agency's appropriation made available 
by this Act to this appropriation, or may transfer a share of 
this appropriation to that agency's appropriation, but such 
transfers shall not exceed 5 percent of the funds made 
available for space rental and related costs to or from this 
account. In addition, for construction, repair, improvement, 
extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or 
facilities as necessary to carry out the programs of the 
Department, where not otherwise provided, $5,000,000, to remain 
available until expended; and in addition, for necessary 
relocation expenses of the Department's agencies, $2,700,000, 
to remain available until expended; making a total 
appropriation of $131,085,000.

                       Hazardous Waste Management


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, 
to comply with the requirement of section 107(g) of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961, 
$15,700,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 
appropriations and funds available herein to the Department for 
Hazardous Waste Management may be transferred to any agency of 
the Department for its use in meeting all requirements pursuant 
to the above Acts on Federal and non-Federal lands.

                      Departmental Administration


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For Departmental Administration, $27,231,000, to provide 
for necessary expenses for management support services to 
offices of the Department and for general administration and 
disaster management of the Department, repairs and alterations, 
and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise 
provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient work 
of the Department, including employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for 
travel expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required 
by 5 U.S.C. 551-558.

     Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations to carry out 
the programs funded in this Act, including programs involving 
intergovernmental affairs and liaisonwithin the executive 
branch, $3,668,000: Provided, That no other funds appropriated to the 
Department by this Act shall be available to the Department for support 
of activities of congressional relations: Provided further, That not 
less than $2,241,000 shall be transferred to agencies funded in this 
Act to maintain personnel at the agency level.

                        Office of Communications

      For necessary expenses to carry on services relating to 
the coordination of programs involving public affairs, for the 
dissemination of agricultural information, and the coordination 
of information, work, and programs authorized by Congress in 
the Department, $8,138,000, including employment pursuant to 
the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 
1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 shall be 
available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, and not to exceed 
$2,000,000 may be used for farmers' bulletins.

                    Office of the Inspector General


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector 
General, including employment pursuant to the second sentence 
of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), 
and the Inspector General Act of 1978, $63,128,000, including 
such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other 
arrangements with public agencies and private persons pursuant 
to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, 
including a sum not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109; and including a sum not to exceed $95,000 for 
certain confidential operational expenses including the payment 
of informants, to be expended under the direction of the 
Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95-452 and section 
1337 of Public Law 97-98: Provided, That funds transferred to 
the Office of the Inspector General through forfeiture 
proceedings or from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture 
Fund or the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, as a 
participating agency, as an equitable share from the forfeiture 
of property in investigations in which the Office of the 
Inspector General participates, or through the granting of a 
Petition for Remission or Mitigation, shall be deposited to the 
credit of this account for law enforcement activities 
authorized under the Inspector General Act of 1978, to remain 
available until expended.

                     Office of the General Counsel

      For necessary expenses of the Office of the General 
Counsel, $28,524,000.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

    For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics to 
administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Economic 
Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 
the Agricultural Research Service, and the Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service, $540,000.

                       Economic Research Service

      For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service 
in conducting economic research and analysis, as authorized by 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and 
other laws, $71,604,000: Provided, That this appropriation 
shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225).

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

      For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service in conducting statistical reporting and 
service work, including crop and livestock estimates, 
statistical coordination and improvements, marketing surveys, 
and the Census of Agriculture, as authorized by the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and 
other laws, $118,048,000, of which up to $36,327,000 shall be 
available until expended for the Census of Agriculture: 
Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for 
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of 
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
$40,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: 
Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct the 1997 Census 
of Agriculture, to the extent practicable, pursuant to the 
provisions of title 13, United States Code.

                     Agricultural Research Service

      For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural 
Research Service to perform agricultural research and 
demonstration relating to production, utilization, marketing, 
and distribution (not otherwise provided for); home economics 
or nutrition and consumer use including the acquisition, 
preservation, and dissemination of agricultural information; 
and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase 
at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, $744,605,000: Provided, 
That appropriations hereunder shall be available for temporary 
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of 
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
$115,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: 
Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall 
beavailable for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the 
purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only: Provided further, 
That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 
2250 for the construction, alteration, and repair of buildings and 
improvements, but unless otherwise provided, the cost of constructing 
any one building shall not exceed $250,000, except for headhouses or 
greenhouses which shall each be limited to $1,000,000, and except for 
ten buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed 
$500,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building during the 
fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current replacement 
value of the building or $250,000, whichever is greater: Provided 
further, That the limitations on alterations contained in this Act 
shall not apply to modernization or replacement of existing facilities 
at Beltsville, Maryland: Provided further, That the foregoing 
limitations shall not apply to replacement of buildings needed to carry 
out the Act of April 24, 1948 (21 U.S.C. 113a): Provided further, That 
funds may be received from any State, other political subdivision, 
organization, or individual for the purpose of establishing or 
operating any research facility or research project of the Agricultural 
Research Service, as authorized by law: Provided further, That the item 
under the heading ``Agricultural Research Service'' in title I of the 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (Public Law 104-37; 109 Stat. 
304), is amended by striking the penultimate proviso, relating to 
conveyance of the Pecan Genetics and Improvement Research Laboratory.
      None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
available to carry out research related to the production, 
processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products.


                        buildings and facilities


      For acquisition of land, construction, repair, 
improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed 
equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the 
agricultural research programs of the Department of 
Agriculture, where not otherwise provided, $80,630,000, to 
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, 
That funds may be received from any State, other political 
subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of 
establishing any research facility of the Agricultural Research 
Service, as authorized by law.

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


                   research and education activities


      For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for 
cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and 
for other expenses, including $168,734,000 to carry into effect 
the provisions of the Hatch Act (7 U.S.C. 361a-i); $20,497,000 
for grants for cooperative forestry research (16 U.S.C. 582a-
a7); $27,735,000 for payments to the 1890 land-grant colleges, 
including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 3222); $51,495,000 for 
special grants for agricultural research (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); 
$15,048,000 for special grants for agricultural research on 
improved pest control (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $97,200,000 for 
competitive research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)); $4,775,000 for 
the support of animal health and disease programs (7 U.S.C. 
3195); $650,000 for supplemental and alternative crops and 
products (7 U.S.C. 3319d); $550,000 for grants for research 
pursuant to the Critical Agricultural Materials Act of 1984 (7 
U.S.C. 178) and section 1472 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3318), to remain available until expended; 
$3,000,000 for higher education graduate fellowships grants (7 
U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)), to remain available until expended (7 
U.S.C. 2209b); $4,350,000 for higher education challenge grants 
(7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)); $1,000,000 for a higher education 
minority scholars program (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(5)), to remain 
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $2,500,000 for an 
education grants program for Hispanic-serving Institutions (7 
U.S.C. 3241); $4,000,000 for aquaculture grants (7 U.S.C. 
3322); $8,000,000 for sustainable agriculture research and 
education (7 U.S.C. 5811); $9,200,000 for a program of capacity 
building grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)) to colleges eligible to 
receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321-
326 and 328), including Tuskegee University, to remain 
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $1,450,000 for 
payments to the 1994 Institutions pursuant to section 534(a)(1) 
of Public Law 103-382; and $11,226,000 for necessary expenses 
of Research and Education Activities, of which not to exceed 
$100,000 shall be for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; in all, 
$431,410,000.
      None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
available to carry out research related to the production, 
processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products.

              Native American Institutions Endowment Fund

      For establishment of a Native American institutions 
endowment fund, as authorized by Public Law 103-382 (7 U.S.C. 
301 note), $4,600,000.

                          Extension Activities

    Payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and 
American Samoa: For payments for cooperative extension work 
under the Smith-Lever Act, to be distributed under sections 
3(b) and 3(c) of said Act, and under section 208(c) of Public 
Law 93-471, for retirement and employees' compensation costs 
for extension agents and for costs of penalty mail for 
cooperative extension agents and State extension directors, 
$268,493,000; payments for extension work at the 1994 
Institutions under the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)), 
$2,000,000; payments for the nutrition and family education 
program for low-income areas under section 3(d) of the Act, 
$58,695,000; payments for the pest management program under 
section 3(d) of the Act, $10,783,000; payments for the farm 
safety program under section 3(d) of the Act, $2,855,000; 
payments for the pesticide impact assessment program under 
section 3(d) of the Act, $3,214,000; payments to upgrade 1890 
land-grant college research, extension, and teaching facilities 
as authorized by section 1447 of Public Law 95-113 (7 U.S.C. 
3222b), $7,549,000, to remain available until expended; 
payments for the rural development centers under section 3(d) 
of the Act, $908,000; payments for a groundwater quality 
program under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,061,000; payments for 
the agricultural telecommunications program, as authorized by 
Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 5926), $900,000; payments for 
youth-at-risk programs under section 3(d) of the Act, 
$9,554,000; payments for a food safety program under section 
3(d) of the Act, $2,365,000; payments for carrying out the 
provisions of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978, 
$3,192,000; payments for Indian reservation agents under 
section 3(d) of the Act, $1,672,000; payments for sustainable 
agriculture programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,309,000; 
payments for rural health and safety education as authorized by 
section 2390 of Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 2661 note, 2662), 
$2,628,000; payments for cooperative extension work by the 
colleges receiving the benefits of the second Morrill Act (7 
U.S.C. 321-326 and 328) and Tuskegee University, $25,090,000; 
and for Federal administration and coordination including 
administration of the Smith-Lever Act, and the Act of September 
29, 1977 (7 U.S.C. 341-349), and section 1361(c) of the Act of 
October 3, 1980 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), and to coordinate and 
provide program leadership for the extension work of the 
Department and the several States and insular possessions, 
$11,108,000; in all, $423,376,000: Provided, That funds hereby 
appropriated pursuant to section 3(c) of the Act of June 26, 
1953, and section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, shall not be 
paid to any State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, 
or the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and 
American Samoa prior to availability of an equal sum from non-
Federal sources for expenditure during the current fiscal year.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

    For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs to 
administer programs under the laws enacted by the Congress for 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the 
Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyards Administration, $618,000.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service


                         salaries and expenses


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For expenses, not otherwise provided for, including those 
pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1947 (21 U.S.C. 114b-c), 
necessary to prevent, control, and eradicate pests and plant 
and animal diseases; to carry out inspection, quarantine, and 
regulatory activities; to discharge the authorities of the 
Secretary of Agriculture under the Act of March 2, 1931 (46 
Stat. 1468; 7 U.S.C. 426-426b); and to protect the environment, 
as authorized by law, $426,282,000, of which $4,500,000 shall 
be available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant 
diseases, animal diseases and for control of pest animals and 
birds to the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions: 
Provided, That no funds shall be used to formulate or 
administer a brucellosis eradication program for the current 
fiscal year that does not require minimum matching by the 
States of at least 40 percent: Provided further, That this 
appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant 
to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 
1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $40,000 shall be 
available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, 
That this appropriation shall be available for the operation 
and maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed 
four, of which two shall be for replacement only: Provided 
further, That, in addition, in emergencies which threaten any 
segment of the agricultural production industry of this 
country, the Secretary may transfer from other appropriations 
or funds available to the agencies or corporations of the 
Department such sums as he may deem necessary, to be available 
only in such emergencies for the arrest and eradication of 
contagious or infectious disease or pests of animals, poultry, 
or plants, and for expenses in accordance with the Act of 
February 28, 1947, and section 102 of the Act of September 21, 
1944, and any unexpended balances of funds transferred for such 
emergency purposes in the next preceding fiscal year shall be 
merged with such transferred amounts: Provided further, That 
appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to law (7 
U.S.C. 2250) for the repair and alteration of leased buildings 
and improvements, but unless otherwise provided the cost of 
altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not 
exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the 
building.
    In fiscal year 1998 the agency is authorized to collect 
fees to cover the total costs of providing technical 
assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other 
political subdivisions, domestic and international 
organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided 
that such fees are structured such that any entity's liability 
for such fees is reasonably based on the technical assistance, 
goods, or services provided to the entity by the agency, and 
such fees shall be credited to this account, to remain 
available until expended, without further appropriation, for 
providing such assistance, goods, or services.
    Of the total amount available under this heading in fiscal 
year 1998, $88,000,000 shall be derived from userfees deposited 
in the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fee Account.


                        buildings and facilities


    For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, 
environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, and 
purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized by 7 
U.S.C. 2250, and acquisition of land as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 
428a, $4,200,000, to remain available until expended.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           marketing services


    For necessary expenses to carry on services related to 
consumer protection, agricultural marketing and distribution, 
transportation, and regulatory programs, as authorized by law, 
and for administration and coordination of payments to States; 
including field employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and 
not to exceed $90,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, 
$46,592,000, including funds for the wholesale market 
development program for the design and development of wholesale 
and farmer market facilities for the major metropolitan areas 
of the country: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration 
and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of 
altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not 
exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the 
building.
    Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization 
activities, as established by regulation pursuant to law (31 
U.S.C. 9701).


                 limitation on administrative expenses


    Not to exceed $59,521,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative 
expenses: Provided, That if crop size is understated and/or 
other uncontrollable events occur, the agency may exceed this 
limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the 
Appropriations Committees.


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


                     (including transfers of funds)


    Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 
1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) shall be used only for commodity program 
expenses as authorized therein, and other related operating 
expenses, except for: (1) transfers to the Department of 
Commerce as authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 
8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in this Act; and (3) 
not more than $10,690,000 for formulation and administration of 
marketing agreements and orders pursuant to the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, and the Agricultural Act of 
1961.


                   payments to states and possessions


    For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and 
departments of markets, and similar agencies for marketing 
activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1623(b)), $1,200,000.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


                         salaries and expenses


    For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
United States Grain Standards Act, for the administration of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, for certifying procedures used 
to protect purchasers of farm products, and the standardization 
activities related to grain under the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946, including field employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), and not to exceed $25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
3109, $23,928,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration 
and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of 
altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not 
exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the 
building.


                    inspection and weighing services


         limitation on inspection and weighing service expenses


      Not to exceed $43,092,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and 
weighing services: Provided, That if grain export activities 
require additional supervision and oversight, or other 
uncontrollable factors occur, this limitation may be exceeded 
by up to 10 percent with notification to the Appropriations 
Committees.


             office of the under secretary for food safety


      For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Under Secretary for Food Safety to administer the laws enacted 
by the Congress for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, 
$446,000.


                   food safety and inspection service


      For necessary expenses to carry on services authorized by 
the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, 
$589,263,000, of which $5,000,000 shall be available for 
obligation only after promulgation of a final rule to implement 
the provisions of subsection (e) of section 5 of the Egg 
Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1034(e)), and in addition, 
$1,000,000 may be credited to this account from fees collected 
for the cost of laboratory accreditation as authorized by 
section 1017 of Public Law 102-237: Provided, That this 
appropriation shall not be available for shell egg surveillance 
under section 5(d) of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 1034(d)): Provided further, That this appropriation 
shall be available for field employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), and not to exceed $75,000 shall be available for 
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That this 
appropriation shall be available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 
2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings and 
improvements, but the cost of altering any one building during 
the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current 
replacement value of the building.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

      For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services to 
administer the laws enacted by Congress for the Farm Service 
Agency, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Risk Management 
Agency, and the Commodity Credit Corporation, $572,000.

                          Farm Service Agency


                         salaries and expenses


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary expenses for carrying out the 
administration and implementation of programs administered by 
the Farm Service Agency, $700,659,000: Provided, That the 
Secretary is authorized to use the services, facilities, and 
authorities (but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation to make program payments for all programs 
administered by the Agency: Provided further, That other funds 
made available to the Agency for authorized activities may be 
advanced to and merged with this account: Provided further, 
That these funds shall be available for employment pursuant to 
the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 
1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be 
available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

                         state mediation grants

      For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural 
Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101-5106), $2,000,000.


                        dairy indemnity program


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity 
payments to dairy farmers for milk or cows producing such milk 
and manufacturers of dairy products who havebeen directed to 
remove their milk or dairy products from commercial markets because it 
contained residues of chemicals registered and approved for use by the 
Federal Government, and in making indemnity payments for milk, or cows 
producing such milk, at a fair market value to any dairy farmer who is 
directed to remove his milk from commercial markets because of (1) the 
presence of products of nuclear radiation or fallout if such 
contamination is not due to the fault of the farmer, or (2) residues of 
chemicals or toxic substances not included under the first sentence of 
the Act of August 13, 1968 (7 U.S.C. 450j), if such chemicals or toxic 
substances were not used in a manner contrary to applicable regulations 
or labeling instructions provided at the time of use and the 
contamination is not due to the fault of the farmer, $550,000, to 
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That none 
of the funds contained in this Act shall be used to make indemnity 
payments to any farmer whose milk was removed from commercial markets 
as a result of his willful failure to follow procedures prescribed by 
the Federal Government: Provided further, That this amount shall be 
transferred to the Commodity Credit Corporation: Provided further, That 
the Secretary is authorized to utilize the services, facilities, and 
authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of 
making dairy indemnity disbursements.


           agricultural credit insurance fund program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
and guaranteed loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, to be 
available from funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, 
as follows: farm ownership loans, $460,000,000 of which 
$400,000,000 shall be for guaranteed loans; operating loans, 
$2,395,000,000 of which $1,700,000,000 shall be for 
unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $200,000,000 shall be for 
subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition 
loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $1,000,000; for emergency 
insured loans, $25,000,000 to meet the needs resulting from 
natural disasters; for boll weevil eradication program loans as 
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $34,653,000; and for credit sales 
of acquired property, $25,000,000.
      For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including 
the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm ownership 
loans, $21,380,000 of which $15,440,000 shall be for guaranteed 
loans; operating loans, $71,394,000 of which $19,890,000 shall 
be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $19,280,000 shall be 
for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition 
loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $132,000; for emergency 
insured loans, $6,008,000 to meet the needs resulting from 
natural disasters; for boll weevil eradication program loans as 
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $250,000; and for credit sales of 
acquired property, $3,255,000.
      In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $219,861,000 
of which $209,861,000 shall be transferred to and merged with 
the ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses'' account.

                         Risk Management Agency

      For administrative and operating expenses, as authorized 
by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
(7 U.S.C. 6933), $64,000,000: Provided, That not to exceed $700 
shall be available for official reception and representation 
expenses, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1506(i). In addition, 
notwithstanding the provisions of section 516(a)(1)(B) of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1516(a)(1)(B)), for 
discretionary expenses, $188,571,000 for the payment of 
administrative and operating expenses of approved insurance 
providers.

                              CORPORATIONS

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


                federal crop insurance corporation fund


      For payments as authorized by section 516 of the Federal 
Crop Insurance Act, such sums as may be necessary, to remain 
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund


                 reimbursement for net realized losses


      For fiscal year 1998, such sums as may be necessary to 
reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized 
losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed (estimated to 
be $783,507,000 in the President's fiscal year 1998 Budget 
Request (H. Doc. 105-3)), but not to exceed $783,507,000, 
pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 17, 1961 (15 U.S.C. 
713a-11).


       operations and maintenance for hazardous waste management


      For fiscal year 1998, the Commodity Credit Corporation 
shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for expenses to comply 
with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 
U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961: Provided, That expenses shall 
be for operations and maintenance costs only and that other 
hazardous waste management costs shall be paid for by the USDA 
Hazardous Waste Management appropriation in this Act.

                                TITLE II

                         CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

      For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment to 
administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Forest 
Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
$693,000.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                        conservation operations


      For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of 
the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f) including 
preparation of conservation plans and establishment of measures 
to conserve soil and water (including farm irrigation and land 
drainage and such special measures for soil and water 
management as may be necessary to prevent floods and the 
siltation of reservoirs and to control agricultural related 
pollutants); operation of conservation plant materials centers; 
classification and mapping of soil; dissemination of 
information; acquisition of lands, water, and interests therein 
for use in the plant materials program by donation, exchange, 
or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100 pursuant to 
the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 428a); purchase and 
erection or alteration or improvement of permanent and 
temporary buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft, 
$633,231,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 
2209b), of which not less than $5,835,000 is for snow survey 
and water forecasting and not less than $8,825,000 is for 
operation and establishment of the plant materials centers: 
Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available 
pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of 
buildings and public improvements at plant materials centers, 
except that the cost of alterations and improvements to other 
buildings and other public improvements shall not exceed 
$250,000: Provided further, That when buildings or other 
structures are erected on non-Federal land, that the right to 
use such land is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a: 
Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available 
for technical assistance and related expenses to carry out 
programs authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the 
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (43 U.S.C. 
1592(c)): Provided further, That no part of this appropriation 
may be expended for soil and water conservation operations 
under the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f) in 
demonstration projects: Provided further, That this 
appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the 
second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
U.S.C. 2225) and not to exceed $25,000 shall be available for 
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That 
qualified local engineers may be temporarily employed at per 
diem rates to perform the technical planning work of the 
Service (16 U.S.C. 590e-2): Provided further, That the 
Secretary is authorized to transfer ownership of land, 
buildings and related improvements of the plant materials 
facilities located at Bow, Washington, to the Skagit 
Conservation District.


                     watershed surveys and planning


      For necessary expenses to conduct research, 
investigation, and surveys of watersheds of rivers and other 
waterways, and for small watershed investigations and planning, 
in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood 
Prevention Act approved August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1001-1009), 
$11,190,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
available for employment pursuant to the secondsentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to 
exceed $110,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.


               watershed and flood prevention operations


      For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, 
including but not limited to research, engineering operations, 
methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, 
rehabilitation of existing works and changes in use of land, in 
accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 
Act approved August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1001-1005, 1007-1009), 
the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), 
and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating to the 
activities of the Department, $101,036,000, to remain available 
until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b) (of which up to $15,000,000 may 
be available for the watersheds authorized under the Flood 
Control Act approved June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 701, 16 U.S.C. 
1006a): Provided, That not to exceed $50,000,000 of this 
appropriation shall be available for technical assistance: 
Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available 
for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 
706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to 
exceed $200,000 shall be available for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That not to exceed $1,000,000 of 
this appropriation is available to carry out the purposes of 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-205), 
including cooperative efforts as contemplated by that Act to 
relocate endangered or threatened species to other suitable 
habitats as may be necessary to expedite project construction.


                 resource conservation and development


      For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out 
projects for resource conservation and development and for 
sound land use pursuant to the provisions of section 32(e) of 
title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010-
1011; 76 Stat. 607), the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-
f), and the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451-
3461), $34,377,000, to remain available until expended (7 
U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and 
not to exceed $50,000 shall be available for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109.


                      forestry incentives program


      For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, to 
carry out the program of forestry incentives, as authorized in 
the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
2101), including technical assistance and related expenses, 
$6,325,000, to remain available until expended, as authorized 
by that Act.


              outreach for socially disadvantaged farmers


      For grants and contracts pursuant to section 2501 of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 2279), $3,000,000, to remain available until expended.

      TITLE III RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

      For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Under Secretary for Rural Development to administer programs 
under the laws enacted by the Congress for the Rural Housing 
Service, the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, and the Rural 
Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture, $588,000.


                  rural community advancement program


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and 
grants, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, and 1932, 
except for sections 381 E-H, 381N, and 381O of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), $652,197,000, 
to remain available until expended, of which $27,062,000 shall 
be for rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; of which 
$577,242,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs 
described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act; and of which 
$47,893,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative 
development programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such 
Act: Provided, That section 381E(d)(3)(B) of such Act is 
amended by inserting after the phrase, ``business and 
industry'', the words, ``direct and'': Provided further, That 
of the amount appropriated for the rural business and 
cooperative development programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall 
be made available for a grant to a qualified national 
organization to provide technical assistance for rural 
transportation in order to promote economic development: 
Provided further, That of the amount appropriated for rural 
utilities programs, not to exceed $20,000,000 shall be for 
water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along 
the United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to 
section 306C of such Act; not to exceed $15,000,000 shall be 
for water and waste disposal systems for rural and native 
villages in Alaska pursuant to section 306D of such Act; not to 
exceed $15,000,000 shall be for technical assistance grants for 
rural waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act; 
and not to exceed $5,200,000 shall be for contracting with 
qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to 
provide technical assistance for rural water systems: Provided 
further, That of the total amounts appropriated, not to exceed 
$20,048,000 shall be available through June 30, 1998, for 
empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by 
Public Law 103-66, of which $1,200,000 shall be for rural 
community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of such Act; 
of which $18,700,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs 
described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act; of which $148,000 
shall be for the rural business and cooperative development 
programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided 
further, That any obligated and unobligated balances available 
for prior years for the ``Rural Water and Waste Disposal 
Grants,'' ``Rural Water and Waste Disposal Loans Program 
Account,'' ``Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants,'' 
``Solid Waste Management Grants,'' the community facility grant 
program in the ``Rural Housing Assistance Program'' Account, 
``Community Facility Loans Program Account,'' ``Rural Business 
Enterprise Grants,'' ``Rural Business and Industry Loans 
Program Account,'' and ``Local Technical Assistance and 
Planning Grants'' shall be transferred to and merged with this 
account.

                         Rural Housing Service


              rural housing insurance fund program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing 
Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing 
insurance fund, as follows: $4,000,000,000 for loans to section 
502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of which 
$3,000,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; 
$30,000,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; $19,700,000 
for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; 
$15,000,000 for section 514 farm labor housing; $128,640,000 
for section 515 rental housing; $600,000 for section 524 site 
loans; $25,000,000 for credit sales of acquired property; and 
$587,000 for section 523 self-help housing land development 
loans.
      For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including 
the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 
loans, $135,000,000, of which $6,900,000 shall be for 
unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair 
loans, $10,300,000; section 538 multi-family housing guaranteed 
loans, $1,200,000; section 514 farm labor housing, $7,388,000; 
section 515 rental housing, $68,745,000; credit sales of 
acquired property, $3,492,000; and section 523 self-help 
housing land development loans, $17,000.
      In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, 
$354,785,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the 
appropriation for ``Rural Housing Service, Salaries and 
Expenses''.


                       rental assistance program


      For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed 
pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements 
entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or payments for 
eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of 
the Housing Act of 1949, $541,397,000; and in addition such 
sums as may be necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of 
the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 
to carry out the rental assistance program under section 
521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of this amount not more 
than $5,900,000 shall be available for debt forgiveness or 
payments for eligible households as authorized by section 
502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $10,000 per project 
for advances to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to 
cover direct costs (other than purchase price) incurred in 
purchasing projects pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the 
Act: Provided further, That agreements entered into or renewed 
during fiscal year 1998 shall be funded for a five-year period, 
although the life of any such agreement may be extended to 
fully utilize amounts obligated.


                  mutual and self-help housing grants


      For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) 
of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $26,000,000, to 
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).


                 rural community fire protection grants


      For grants pursuant to section 7 of the Cooperative 
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-313), $2,000,000 
to fund up to 50 percent of the cost of organizing, training, 
and equipping rural volunteer fire departments.


                    rural housing assistance grants


                     (including transfer of funds)


      For grants and contracts for housing for domestic farm 
labor, very low-income housing repair, supervisory and 
technical assistance, compensation for construction defects, 
and rural housing preservation made by the Rural Housing 
Service as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474, 1479(c), 1486, 1490c, 
1490e, and 1490m, $45,720,000, to remain available until 
expended: Provided, That any obligated and unobligated balances 
available from prior years in ``Rural Housing for Domestic Farm 
Labor,'' ``Supervisory and Technical Assistance Grants,'' 
``Very Low-Income Housing Repair Grants,'' ``Compensation for 
Construction Defects,'' and ``Rural Housing Preservation 
Grants'' shall be transferred to and merged with this account: 
Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, 
$1,200,000 shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise 
communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided 
further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment 
zones and enterprise communities by June 30, 1998, they shall 
remain available for other authorized purposes under this head.


                         salaries and expenses


      For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing Service, 
including administering the programs authorized by the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, title V of the 
Housing Act of 1949, and cooperative agreements, $58,804,000: 
Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for 
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of 
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
$520,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service


              rural development loan fund program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For the cost of direct loans, $16,888,000, as authorized 
by the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)): 
Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such 
loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are 
available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal 
amount of direct loans of $35,000,000: Provided further, That 
through June 30, 1998, of the total amount appropriated, 
$3,345,000 shall be available for the cost of direct loans for 
empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by 
title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, to 
subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
loans, $7,246,000.
      In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
direct loan programs, $3,482,000 shall be transferred to and 
merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


            rural economic development loans program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized 
under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the 
purpose of promoting rural economic development and job 
creation projects, $25,000,000.
      For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of 
modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, $5,978,000.
      Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of 
credit payments in fiscal year 1998, as authorized by section 
313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $5,978,000 shall 
not be obligated and $5,978,000 are rescinded.


 alternative agricultural research and commercialization revolving fund


      For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative 
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5901-5908), $7,000,000 are appropriated to the 
alternative agricultural research and commercialization 
corporation revolving fund.


                  rural cooperative development grants


      For rural cooperative development grants authorized under 
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $3,000,000, of which up to $1,300,000 may 
be available for cooperative agreements for the appropriate 
technology transfer for rural areas program.


                         salaries and expenses


      For necessary expenses of the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, including administering the programs authorized by the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; section 1323 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985; the Cooperative Marketing Act of 
1926; for activities relating to the marketing aspects of 
cooperatives, including economic research findings, as 
authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; for 
activities with institutions concerning the development and 
operation of agricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative 
agreements; $25,680,000: Provided, That this appropriation 
shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), and not to exceed $260,000 may be used for employment 
under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

                        Rural Utilities Service


   rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


      Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), shall be 
made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, 
$125,000,000; 5 percent rural telecommunications loans, 
$75,000,000; cost of money rural telecommunications loans, 
$300,000,000; municipal rate rural electric loans, 
$500,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section 306 of that 
Act, rural electric, $300,000,000 and rural telecommunications, 
$120,000,000, to remain available until expended.
      For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935 and 936), 
as follows: cost of direct loans, $12,265,000; cost of 
municipal rate loans, $21,100,000; cost of money rural 
telecommunications loans, $60,000; cost of loans guaranteed 
pursuant to section 306, $2,760,000: Provided, That 
notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification 
Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per 
year.
      In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, 
which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation 
for ``Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


                  rural telephone bank program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


      The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make 
such expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such 
corporation in accord with law, and to make such contracts and 
commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control 
Act, as may be necessary in carrying out its authorized 
programs for the current fiscal year. During fiscal year 1998 
and within the resources and authority available, gross 
obligations for the principal amount of direct loans shall be 
$175,000,000.
      For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
modifying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), $3,710,000.
      In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 
carry out the loan programs, $3,000,000, which shall be 
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural 
Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


               distance learning and medical link program


      For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized by 
7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $12,530,000, to remain available until 
expended, to be available for loans and grants for telemedicine 
and distance learning services in rural areas: Provided, That 
the costs of direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.


                         salaries and expenses


      For necessary expenses of the Rural Utilities Service, 
including administering the programs authorized by the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936, and the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act, and for cooperative agreements, 
$33,000,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and 
not to exceed $105,000 may be used for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109.

                                TITLE IV

                         DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

      For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to 
administer the laws enacted by the Congress for the Food and 
Consumer Service, $554,000.


                        child nutrition programs


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary expenses to carry out the National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section 21, and the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), except 
sections 17 and 21; $7,767,816,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 1999, of which $2,616,425,000 is hereby 
appropriated and $5,151,391,000 shall be derived by transfer 
from funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 
1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Provided, That none of the funds made 
available under this heading shall be used for studies and 
evaluations: Provided further, That up to $4,124,000 shall be 
available for independent verification of school food service 
claims.


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


      For necessary expenses to carry out the special 
supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), 
$3,924,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 1999: 
Provided, That none of the funds made available under this 
heading shall be used for studies and evaluations: Provided 
further, That up to $12,000,000 may be used to carry out the 
farmers' market nutrition program from any funds not needed to 
maintain current caseload levels: Provided further, That 
notwithstanding sections 17 (g), (h), and (i) of such Act, the 
Secretary shall adjust fiscal year 1998 State allocations to 
reflect food funds available to the State from fiscal year 1997 
under sections 17(i)(3)(A)(ii) and 17(i)(3)(D): Provided 
further, That theSecretary shall allocate funds recovered from 
fiscal year 1997 first to States to maintain stability funding levels, 
as defined by regulations promulgated under section 17(g), and then to 
give first priority for the allocation of any remaining funds to States 
whose funding is less than their fair share of funds, as defined by 
regulations promulgated under section 17(g): Provided further, That 
none of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay administrative 
expenses of WIC clinics except those that have an announced policy of 
prohibiting smoking within the space used to carry out the program: 
Provided further, That none of the funds provided in this account shall 
be available for the purchase of infant formula except in accordance 
with the cost containment and competitive bidding requirements 
specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966: Provided 
further, That State agencies required to procure infant formula using a 
competitive bidding system may use funds appropriated by this Act to 
purchase infant formula under a cost containment contract entered into 
after September 30, 1996, only if the contract was awarded to the 
bidder offering the lowest net price, as defined by section 17(b)(20) 
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, unless the State agency 
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the weighted 
average retail price for different brands of infant formula in the 
State does not vary by more than five percent.


                           food stamp program


      For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $25,140,479,000, of which $100,000,000 
shall be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at 
such times as may become necessary to carry out program 
operations: Provided, That funds provided herein shall be 
expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food Stamp Act: 
Provided further, That this appropriation shall be subject to 
any work registration or workfare requirements as may be 
required by law.


                      commodity assistance program


      For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity 
supplemental food program as authorized by section 4(a) of the 
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c 
note) and for administrative expenses pursuant to section 204 
of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, $141,000,000, to 
remain available through September 30, 1999: Provided, That 
none of these funds shall be available to reimburse the 
Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities donated to the 
program.


              food donations programs for selected groups


      For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of the 
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c 
note), and section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3030a), $141,165,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 1999.


                      food program administration


      For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic 
food programs funded under this Act, $107,619,000, of which 
$5,000,000 shall be available only for simplifying procedures, 
reducing overhead costs, tightening regulations, improving food 
stamp coupon handling, and assistance in the prevention, 
identification, and prosecution of fraud and other violations 
of law: Provided, That this appropriation shall be available 
for employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 
706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to 
exceed $150,000 shall be available for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109.

                                TITLE V

                FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS


         foreign agricultural service and general sales manager


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural 
Service, including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural 
Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1761-1768), market development activities 
abroad, and for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and 
integrate activities of the Department in connection with 
foreign agricultural work, including not to exceed $128,000 for 
representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 
8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), 
$135,561,000, of which $3,231,000 may be transferred from the 
Export Loan Program account in this Act, and $1,035,000 may be 
transferred from the Public Law 480 program account in this 
Act: Provided, That the Service may utilize advances of funds, 
or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures made on behalf 
of Federal agencies, public and private organizations and 
institutions under agreements executed pursuant to the 
agricultural food production assistance programs (7 U.S.C. 
1736) and the foreign assistance programs of the International 
Development Cooperation Administration (22 U.S.C. 2392).
      None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
available to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco 
products.


               public law 480 program and grant accounts


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For expenses during the current fiscal year, not 
otherwise recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, 
including interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade 
Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691, 1701-
1715, 1721-1726, 1727-1727f, and 1731-1736g), as follows: (1) 
$226,900,000 for Public Law 480 title I credit, including Food 
for Progress programs; (2) $17,608,000 is hereby appropriated 
for ocean freight differential costs for the shipment of 
agricultural commodities pursuant to title I of said Act and 
the Food for Progress Act of 1985; (3) $837,000,000 is hereby 
appropriated for commodities supplied in connection with 
dispositions abroad pursuant to title II of said Act; and (4) 
$30,000,000 is hereby appropriated for commodities supplied in 
connection with dispositions abroad pursuant to title III of 
said Act: Provided, That not to exceed 15 percent of the funds 
made available to carry out any title of said Act may be used 
to carry out any other title of said Act: Provided further, 
That such sums shall remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 
2209b).
      For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements 
as authorized by the Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistance Act of 1954, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, 
including the cost of modifying credit agreements under said 
Act, $176,596,000.
      In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
Public Law 480 title I credit program, and the Food for 
Progress Act of 1985, to the extent funds appropriated for 
Public Law 480 are utilized, $1,850,000.


       commodity credit corporation export loans program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity 
Credit Corporation's export guarantee program, GSM 102 and GSM 
103, $3,820,000; to cover common overhead expenses as permitted 
by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act 
and in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, 
of which not to exceed $3,231,000 may be transferred to and 
merged with the appropriation for the salaries and expenses of 
the Foreign Agricultural Service, and of which not to exceed 
$589,000 may be transferred to and merged with the 
appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the Farm Service 
Agency.


                             export credit


      The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make available not 
less than $5,500,000,000 in credit guarantees under its export 
credit guarantee program extended to finance the export sales 
of United States agricultural commodities and the products 
thereof, as authorized by section 202(a) and (b) of the 
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5641).


                     emerging markets export credit


      The Commodity Credit Corporation shall make available not 
less than $200,000,000 in credit guarantees under its export 
guarantee program for credit expended to finance the export 
sales of United States agricultural commodities and the 
products thereof to emerging markets, as authorized by section 
1542 of Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 5622 note).

                                TITLE VI

           RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration


                         salaries and expenses


      For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug 
Administration, including hire and purchase of passenger motor 
vehicles; for rental of special purpose space in the District 
of Columbia or elsewhere; and for miscellaneous and emergency 
expenses of enforcement activities, authorized and approved by 
the Secretary and to be accounted for solely on the Secretary's 
certificate, not to exceed $25,000; $948,705,000, of which not 
to exceed $91,204,000 in fees pursuant to section 736 of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this 
appropriation and remain available until expended: Provided, 
That fees derived from applications received during fiscal year 
1998 shall be subject to the fiscal year 1998 limitation: 
Provided further, That none of these funds shall be used to 
develop, establish, or operate any program of user fees 
authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701.
      In addition, fees pursuant to section 354 of the Public 
Health Service Act may be credited to this account, to remain 
available until expended.
      In addition, fees pursuant to section 801 of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this account, 
to remain available until expended.


                        buildings and facilities


      For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, 
alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of or 
used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise 
provided, $21,350,000, to remain available until expended (7 
U.S.C. 2209b).


                         rental payments (fda)


                     (including transfers of funds)


      For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to 
Public Law 92-313 for programs and activities of the Food and 
Drug Administration which are included in this Act, 
$46,294,000: Provided, That in the event the Food and Drug 
Administration should require modification of space needs, a 
share of the salaries and expenses appropriation may be 
transferred to this appropriation, or a share of this 
appropriation may be transferred to the salaries and expenses 
appropriation, but such transfers shall not exceed 5 percent of 
the funds made available for rental payments (FDA) to or from 
this account.

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

                      Financial Management Service


  payments to the farm credit system financial assistance corporation


      For necessary payments to the Farm Credit System 
Financial Assistance Corporation by the Secretary of the 
Treasury, as authorized by section 6.28(c) of the Farm Credit 
Act of 1971, for reimbursement of interest expenses incurred by 
the Financial Assistance Corporation on obligations issued 
through 1994, as authorized, $7,728,000.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

      For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), including the 
purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; the rental of 
space (to include multiple year leases) in the District of 
Columbia and elsewhere; and not to exceed $25,000 for 
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; $58,101,000, including not to 
exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation 
expenses: Provided, That the Commission is authorized to charge 
reasonable fees to attendees of Commission sponsored 
educational events and symposia to cover the Commission's costs 
of providing those events and symposia, and notwithstanding 31 
U.S.C. 3302, said fees shall be credited to this account, to be 
available without further appropriation.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 limitation on administrative expenses


      Not to exceed $34,423,000 (from assessments collected 
from farm credit institutions and from the Federal Agricultural 
Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated during the current 
fiscal year for administrative expenses as authorized under 12 
U.S.C. 2249: Provided, That this limitation shall not apply to 
expenses associated with receiverships.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

      Sec. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law, 
appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of 
Agriculture for the fiscal year 1998 under this Act shall be 
available for the purchase, in addition to those specifically 
provided for, of not to exceed 394 passenger motor vehicles, of 
which 391 shall be for replacement only, and for the hire of 
such vehicles.
      Sec. 702. Funds in this Act available to the Department 
of Agriculture shall be available for uniforms or allowances 
therefor as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902).
      Sec. 703. Not less than $1,500,000 of the appropriations 
of the Department of Agriculture in this Act for research and 
service work authorized by the Acts of August 14, 1946, and 
July 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C. 427, 1621-1629), and by chapter 63 of 
title 31, United States Code, shall be available for 
contracting in accordance with said Acts and chapter.
      Sec. 704. The cumulative total of transfers to the 
Working Capital Fund for the purpose of accumulating growth 
capital for data services and National Finance Center 
operations shall not exceed $2,000,000: Provided, That no funds 
in this Act appropriated to an agency of the Department shall 
be transferred to the Working Capital Fund without the approval 
of the agency administrator.
      Sec. 705. New obligational authority provided for the 
following appropriation items in this Act shall remain 
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service, the contingency fund to meet 
emergency conditions, fruit fly program, and integrated systems 
acquisition project; Farm Service Agency, salaries and expenses 
funds made available to county committees; and Foreign 
Agricultural Service, middle-income country training program.
      New obligational authority for the boll weevil program; 
up to 10 percent of the screwworm program of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service; Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, field automation and information management project; 
funds appropriated for rental payments; funds for the Native 
American Institutions Endowment Fund in the Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service; and funds for the 
competitive research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), shall remain 
available until expended.
      Sec. 706. No part of any appropriation contained in this 
Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
      Sec. 707. Not to exceed $50,000 of the appropriations 
available to the Department of Agriculture in this Act shall be 
available to provide appropriate orientation and language 
training pursuant to Public Law 94-449.
      Sec. 708. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used 
to pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements 
or similar arrangements between the United States Department of 
Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 percent 
of the total direct cost of the agreement when the purpose of 
such cooperative arrangements is to carry out programs of 
mutual interest between the two parties. This does not preclude 
appropriate payment of indirect costs on grants and contracts 
with such institutions when such indirect costs are computed on 
a similar basis for all agencies for which appropriations are 
provided in this Act.
      Sec. 709. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
Act, commodities acquired by the Department in connection with 
Commodity Credit Corporation and section 32 price support 
operations may be used, as authorized by law (15 U.S.C. 714c 
and 7 U.S.C. 612c), to provide commodities to individuals in 
cases of hardship as determined by the Secretary of 
Agriculture.
      Sec. 710. None of the funds in this Act shall be 
available to reimburse the General Services Administration for 
payment of space rental and related costs in excess of the 
amounts specified in this Act; nor shall this or any other 
provision of law require a reduction in the level of rental 
space or services below that of fiscal year 1997 or prohibit an 
expansion of rental space or services with the use of funds 
otherwise appropriated in this Act. Further, no agency of the 
Department of Agriculture, from funds otherwise available, 
shall reimburse the General Services Administration for payment 
of space rental and related costs provided to such agency at a 
percentage rate which is greater than is available in the case 
of funds appropriated in this Act.
      Sec. 711. None of the funds in this Act shall be 
available to restrict the authority of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation to lease space for its own use or to lease space on 
behalf of other agencies of the Department of Agriculture when 
such space will be jointly occupied.
      Sec. 712. With the exception of grants awarded under the 
Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, Public Law 
97-219 (15 U.S.C. 638), none of the funds in this Act shall be 
available to pay indirect costs on research grants awarded 
competitively by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service that exceed 14 percent of total Federal funds 
provided under each award.
      Sec. 713. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this 
Act, all loan levels provided of this Act shall be considered 
estimates, not limitations.
      Sec. 714. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture 
for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in 
fiscal year 1998 shall remain available until expended to cover 
obligations made in fiscal year 1998 for the following 
accounts: the rural development loan fund program account; the 
Rural Telephone Bank program account; the rural electrification 
and telecommunications loans program account; and the rural 
economic development loans program account.
      Sec. 715. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
1998 pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be 
absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act.
      Sec. 716. Hereafter: (a) Compliance With Buy American 
Act.--None of the funds made available in this Act may be 
expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in 
expending the funds the entity will comply with sections 2 
through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c; 
popularly known as the ``Buy American Act'').
      (b) Sense of Congress; Requirement Regarding Notice.--
            (1) Purchase of american-made equipment and 
        products.--In the case of any equipment or product that 
        may be authorized to be purchased with financial 
        assistance provided using funds made available in this 
        Act, it is the sense of the Congress that entities 
        receiving the assistance should, in expending the 
        assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and 
        products.
            (2) Notice to recipients of assistance.--In 
        providing financial assistance using funds made 
        available in this Act, the head of each Federal agency 
        shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a 
        notice describing the statement made in paragraph (1) 
        by the Congress.
      (c) Prohibition of Contracts With Persons Falsely 
Labeling Products as Made in America.--If it has been finally 
determined by a court or Federal agency that any person 
intentionally affixed a label bearing a ``Made in America'' 
inscription, or any inscription with the same meaning, to any 
product sold in or shipped to the United States that is not 
made in the United States, the person shall be ineligible to 
receive any contract or subcontract made with funds made 
available in this Act, pursuant to the debarment, suspension, 
and ineligibility procedures described in sections 9.400 
through 9.409 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations.
      Sec. 717. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and 
Cooperative Agreement Act, marketing services of the 
Agricultural Marketing Service and the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service may use cooperative agreements to reflect a 
relationship between the Agricultural Marketing Service or the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and a State or 
Cooperator to carry out agricultural marketing programs or to 
carry out programs to protect the Nation's animal and plant 
resources.
      Sec. 718. None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
retire more than 5 percent of the Class A stock of the Rural 
Telephone Bank or to maintain any account or subaccount within 
the accounting records of the Rural Telephone Bank the creation 
of which has not specifically been authorized by statute: 
Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this 
Act may be used to transfer to the Treasury or to the Federal 
Financing Bank any unobligated balance of the Rural Telephone 
Bank telephone liquidating account which is in excess of 
current requirements and such balance shall receive interest as 
set forth for financial accounts in section 505(c) of the 
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
      Sec. 719. None of the funds made available in this Act 
may be used to provide assistance to, or to pay the salaries of 
personnel who carry out a market promotion/market access 
program pursuant to section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act 
of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) that provides assistance to the United 
States Mink Export Development Council or any mink industry 
trade association.
      Sec. 720. Of the funds made available by this Act, not 
more than $1,000,000 shall be used to cover necessary expenses 
of activities related to all advisory committees, panels, 
commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agriculture 
except for panels used to comply with negotiated rule makings 
and panels used to evaluate competitively awarded grants.
      Sec. 721. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries 
and expenses of personnel who carry out an export enhancement 
program if the aggregate amount of funds and/or commodities 
under such program exceeds $150,000,000.
      Sec. 722. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may 
be used to carry out the provisions of section 918 of Public 
Law 104-127, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform 
Act.
      Sec. 723. No employee of the Department of Agriculture 
may be detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by 
this Act to any other agency or office of the Department for 
more than 30 days unless the individual's employing agency or 
office is fully reimbursed by the receiving agency or office 
for the salary and expenses of the employee for the period of 
assignment.
      Sec. 724. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available to the Department of Agriculture shall be used 
to transmit or otherwise make available to any non-Department 
of Agriculture employee questions or responses to questions 
that are a result of information requested for the 
appropriations hearing process.
      Sec. 725. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available in this Act may be expended or obligated to fund 
the activities of the Western Director and Special Assistant to 
the Secretary within the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture 
or any similar position.
      Sec. 726. None of the funds made available to the 
Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire 
new information technology systems or significant upgrades, as 
determined by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the 
concurrence of the Executive Information Technology Investment 
Review Board.
      Sec. 727. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, or 
provided by previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded 
by this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure 
in fiscal year 1998, or provided from any accounts in the 
Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of fees 
available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be 
available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming 
of funds which (1) creates new programs; (2) eliminates a 
program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel 
by any means for any project or activity for which funds have 
been denied or restricted; (4) relocates an office or 
employees; (5) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities; or 
(6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities 
presently performed by Federal employees; unless the 
Appropriations Committees of both Houses of Congress are 
notified fifteen days in advance of such reprogramming of 
funds.
      (b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided 
by previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this 
Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in 
fiscal year 1998, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury 
of the United States derived by the collection of fees 
available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be 
available for obligation or expenditure for activities, 
programs, or projects through a reprogramming of funds in 
excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, that (1) 
augments existing programs, projects, or activities; (2) 
reduces by 10 percent funding for any existing program, 
project, or activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent as 
approved by Congress; or (3) results from any general savings 
from a reduction in personnel which would result in a change in 
existing programs, activities, or projects as approved by 
Congress; unless the Appropriations Committees of both Houses 
of Congress are notified fifteen days in advance of such 
reprogramming of funds.
      Sec. 728. Section 3(c) of the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 
1974 (7 U.S.C. 2802(c)) is amended by inserting before the 
period at the end the following: ``, and includes kudzu 
(Pueraria lobata Dc)''.
      Sec. 729. Notwithstanding section 520 of the Housing Act 
of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490) the Martin Luther King area of 
Pawley's Island, South Carolina, located in Georgetown County, 
shall be eligible for loans and grants under section 504 of the 
Housing Act of 1949.
      Sec. 730. None of the funds made available to the Food 
and Drug Administration by this Act shall be used to close or 
relocate the Food and Drug Administration Division of Drug 
Analysis in St. Louis, Missouri.
      Sec. 731. Effective on October 1, 1998, section 136(a) of 
the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7236(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Subject to paragraph (4), 
                during'' and inserting ``During''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                ``130'' and inserting ``134'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (4); and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph 
        (4).
      Sec. 732. Study of Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. 
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Child, senior, and low-income nutrition 
        programs.--The term ``child, senior, and low-income 
        nutrition programs'' includes--
                    (A) the food stamp program established 
                under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                et seq.);
                    (B) the school lunch program established 
                under the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1751 et seq.);
                    (C) the summer food service program for 
                children established under section 13 of that 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 1761);
                    (D) the child and adult care food program 
                established under section 17 of that Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1766);
                    (E) the special milk program established 
                under section 3 of the Child Nutrition Act of 
                1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772);
                    (F) the school breakfast program 
                established under section 4 of that Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1773);
                    (G) the special supplemental nutrition 
                program for women, infants, and children 
                authorized under section 17 of that Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1786); and
                    (H) the nutrition programs and projects 
                carried out under part C of title III of the 
                Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030e et 
                seq.).
            (2) Compact.--The term ``Compact'' means the 
        Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact.
            (3) Northeast interstate dairy compact.--The term 
        ``Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact'' means the 
        Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact referred to in 
        section 147 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act 
        (7 U.S.C. 7256).
            (4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the 
        Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
      (b) Evaluation.--Not later than December 31, 1997, the 
Director shall conduct, complete, and transmit to Congress a 
comprehensive economic evaluation of the direct and indirect 
effects of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact and other 
factors which affect the price of fluid milk.
      (c) Components.--In conducting the evaluation, the 
Director shall consider, among other factors, the effects of 
implementation of the rules and regulations of the Northeast 
Interstate Dairy Compact Commission, such as rules and 
regulations relating to over-order Class I pricing and pooling 
provisions. This evaluation shall consider such effects prior 
to implementation of the Compact and that would have occurred 
in the absence of the implementation of the Compact. The 
evaluation shall include an analysis of the impacts on--
            (1) child, senior, and low-income nutrition 
        programs including impacts on schools and institutions 
        participating in the programs, on program recipients, 
        and other factors;
            (2) the wholesale and retail cost of fluid milk;
            (3) the level of milk production, the number of 
        cows, the number of dairy farms, and milk utilization 
        in the Compact region, including--
                    (A) changes in the level of milk 
                production, the number of cows, and the number 
                of dairy farms in the Compact region relative 
                to trends in the level of milk production and 
                trends in the number of cows and dairy farms 
                prior to implementation of the Compact;
                    (B) changes in the disposition of bulk and 
                packaged milk for Class I, II, or III use 
                produced in the Compact region to areas outside 
                the region relative to the milk disposition to 
                areas outside the region;
                    (C) changes in--
                            (i) the share of milk production 
                        for Class I use of the total milk 
                        production in the Compact region; and
                            (ii) the share of milk production 
                        for Class II and Class III use of the 
                        total milk production in the Compact 
                        region;
            (4) dairy farmers and dairy product manufacturers 
        in States and regions outside the Compact region with 
        respect to the impact of changes in milk production, 
        and the impact of any changes in disposition of milk 
        originating in the Compact region, on national milk 
        supply levels and farm level milk prices nationally; 
        and
            (5) the cost of carrying out the milk price support 
        program established under section 141 of the 
        Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7251).
      (d) Additional States and Compacts.--The Director shall 
evaluate and incorporate into the evaluation required under 
subsection (b) an evaluation of the economic impact of adding 
additional States to the Compact for the purpose of increasing 
prices paid to milk producers.
      Sec. 733. From proceeds earned from the sale of grain in 
the disaster reserve established in the Agricultural Act of 
1970, the Secretary may use up to an additional $2,000,000 to 
implement a livestock indemnity program as established in 
Public Law 105-18.
      Sec. 734. Planting of Wild Rice on Contract Acreage.--
None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used to 
administer the provision of contract payments to a producer 
under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et 
seq.) for contract acreage on which wild rice is planted unless 
the contract payment is reduced by an acre for each contract 
acre planted to wild rice.
      Sec. 735. Rural Housing Programs. (a) 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 1997'' and 
inserting ``fiscal year 1998''.
      (b) Housing and Related Facilities for Elderly Persons 
and Families and Other Low-Income Persons and Families.--
            (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, 1997'' and 
        inserting ``September 30, 1998''.
            (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 amendedby striking 
``fiscal year 1997'' and inserting ``fiscal year 1998''.
            (3) Loan term.--Section 515 of the Housing Act of 
        1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``up 
                to fifty'' and inserting ``up to 30''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) by striking paragraph (2) and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(2) such a loan may be made for a period of up to 
        30 years from the making of the loan, but the Secretary 
        may provide for periodic payments based on an 
        amortization schedule of 50 years with a final payment 
        of the balance due at the end of the term of the 
        loan;'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (5), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (iii) in paragraph (6), by striking 
                        the period at the end and inserting ``; 
                        and''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the 
                        following:
            ``(7) the Secretary may make a new loan to the 
        current borrower to finance the final payment of the 
        original loan for an additional period not to exceed 
        twenty years, if--
                    ``(A) the Secretary determines--
                            ``(i) it is more cost-efficient and 
                        serves the tenant base more effectively 
                        to maintain the current property than 
                        to build a new property in the same 
                        location; or
                            ``(ii) the property has been 
                        maintained to such an extent that it 
                        warrants retention in the current 
                        portfolio because it can be expected to 
                        continue providing decent, safe, and 
                        affordable rental units for the balance 
                        of the loan; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary determines--
                            ``(i) current market studies show 
                        that a need for low-income rural rental 
                        housing still exists for that area; and
                            ``(ii) any other criteria 
                        established by the Secretary has been 
                        met.''.
      (c) Loan Guarantees for Multifamily Rental Housing in 
Rural Areas.--Section 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1490p-2) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (q), by striking paragraph (2) 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Annual limitation on amount of loan 
        guarantee.--In each fiscal year, the Secretary may 
        enter into commitments to guarantee loans under this 
        section only to the extent that the costs of the 
        guarantees entered into in such fiscal year do not 
        exceed such amount as may be provided in appropriation 
        Acts for such fiscal year.'';
            (2) by striking subsection (t) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(t) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1998 for costs 
(as such term is defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974) of loan guarantees made under this section 
such sums as may be necessary for such fiscal year.''; and
            (3) in subsection (u), by striking ``1996'' and 
        inserting ``1998''.
      This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 1998''.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
                                   Joe Skeen,
                                   James T. Walsh,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Jack Kingston,
                                   George R. Nethercutt, Jr.,
                                   Henry Bonilla,
                                   Tom Latham,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Marcy Kaptur,
                                   Vic Fazio,
                                   Jose E. Serrano,
                                   Rosa L. DeLauro,
                                   David R. Obey,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Christopher Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch M. McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Dale Bumpers,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   Robert Byrd,
                                   Patrick J. Leahy,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and Senate at the 
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2160) making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for other purposes, 
submit the following joint statement to the House and Senate in 
explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon by the 
managers and recommended in the accompanying conference report.

                        CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES

      The statement of the managers remains silent on 
provisions that were in both the House and Senate Bills that 
remain unchanged by this conference agreement, except as noted 
in this statement of the managers.
      The conferees agree that executive branch wishes cannot 
substitute for Congress' own statements as to the best evidence 
of congressional intent--that is, the official reports of the 
Congress. The conferees further point out that funds in this 
Act must be used for the purposes for which appropriated, as 
required by section 1301 of title 31 of the United States Code, 
which provides: ``Appropriations shall be applied only to the 
objects for which the appropriations were made except as 
otherwise provided by law.''
      The House and Senate report language 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

      The conference agreement adopts language as proposed by 
the Senate to prohibit the use of salaries and expenses to 
carry out section 793(c)(1)(C) of Public Law 104-127, a 
limitation on housing assistance, and section 793(d) of Public 
Law 104-127, a limitation on program levels in the Fund for 
Rural America. The House bill had no similar provisions.

                          Executive Operations

                     OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST

      The conference agreement provides $5,048,000 for the 
Office of the Chief Economist instead of $4,844,000 as proposed 
by the House and $5,252,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included 
in this amount is $656,000 to enhance the Department's weather 
information activities.

                       NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION

      The conference agreement provides $11,718,000 for the 
National Appeals Division as proposed by the House instead of 
$12,360,000 as proposed by the Senate.

         OFFICE OF SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION

      The conference agreement does not include a separate 
appropriation of $783,000 for the Office of Small and 
Disadvantaged Business Utilization as proposed by the Senate. 
The funding for this office is included in the Departmental 
Administration appropriation as proposed by the House.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments

      The conference agreement provides $131,085,000 for 
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $141,085,000 as proposed by 
the House. Included in this amount is $5,000,000 for repairs, 
renovations, and construction as proposed by the Senate instead 
of $15,000,000 as proposed by the House. The conference 
agreement also deletes language proposed by the Senate 
expanding the use of operation and maintenance funds.

                       Hazardous Waste Management

      The conference agreement provides $15,700,000 for 
Hazardous Waste Management as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$20,000,000 as proposed by the House

                      Departmental Administration

      The conference agreement provides $27,231,000 for 
Departmental Administration as proposed by the House instead of 
$26,948,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount 
is $783,000 for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization. The conferees direct that not less than 
$15,274,000 of the total amount appropriated be used for civil 
rights enforcement activities. This amount includes full 
funding for the establishment of an investigative unit within 
the Office of Civil Rights.

                    Office of the Inspector General

      The conference agreement provides $63,128,000 for the 
Office of the Inspector General as proposed by the House 
instead of $63,728,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included in 
this amount is $95,000 for confidential operational expenses as 
proposed by the House instead of $125,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

                     Office of the General Counsel

      The conference agreement provides $28,524,000 for the 
Office of the General Counsel instead of $27,949,000 as 
proposed by the House and $29,098,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

                       Economic Research Service

      The conference agreement provides $71,604,000 for the 
Economic Research Service as proposed by the House instead of 
$53,109,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount 
is $18,495,000 for studies and evaluations of food stamp, child 
nutrition, and WIC programs to be coordinated with the Food and 
Consumer Service and other Departmental agencies. The conferees 
anticipate that minimum staff changes will be needed to carry 
out these studies and direct the agency to notify the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations at least 15 days prior to 
the use of these funds for any hiring of new employees.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

      The conference agreement provides $118,048,000 for the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $116,861,000 as proposed by the House. 
Included in this amount is up to $36,327,000 for the Census of 
Agriculture as proposed by the Senate instead of $36,140,000 as 
proposed by the House. The conference agreement also includes 
bill language giving USDA the authority to conduct the 1997 
Census of Agriculture.

                     Agricultural Research Service

      The conference agreement provides $744,605,000 for the 
Agricultural Research Service instead of $725,059,000 as 
proposed by the House and $738,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                                                                  Amount
FY 1997 appropriation...................................    $716,826,000
Transfer: Office of Chief Economist.....................        (29,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
Adjusted FY 1997 appropriation..........................     716,797,000
Emerging Diseases and Exotic Pests......................      $3,050,000
    Vomitoxin in Wheat..................................       (500,000)
    Fusarium Head Blight, MN............................       (500,000)
    Karnal Bunt, KS.....................................       (500,000)
    Citrus Tristeza.....................................       (750,000)
    Ergot Disease in Sorghum............................       (300,000)
    Asian Long Horn Beetle..............................       (500,000)
Food Safety.............................................       4,000.000
    Apple E. Coli Research, PA..........................       (250,000)
    Food Safety Agency Study............................       (420,000)
Genetic Resources.......................................       1,500,000
Grazing Lands Utilization and Conservation..............       1,000,000
    Logan, UT...........................................       (250,000)
    El Reno, OK.........................................       (250,000)
    Las Cruces, NM......................................       (250,000)
    University Park, PA.................................       (250,000)
Human Nutrition.........................................       7,500,000
    Food Consumption Survey Infant/Children.............     (5,000,000)
    Little Rock, AR.....................................     (1,000,000)
    Houston, TX.........................................       (500,000)
    Beltsville, MD......................................       (250,000)
    Boston, MA..........................................       (250,000)
    San Francisco, CA...................................       (250,000)
Florida Everglades Restoration..........................       1,250,000
    Hydrology-Canal Point, FL...........................       (500,000)
    Hydrologist-Dade County, FL.........................       (250,000)
    Melaleuca...........................................       (500,000)
    Integrated Pest Management and Biocontrol...........       2,500,000
    Biological Control..................................     (2,000,000)
    Host Plant Resistance...............................       (500,000)
Appalachian Soil and Water Conservation Lab, WV.........         250,000
Arctic Germplasm Repository.............................         650,000
Coastal Wetlands & Erosion Control, LA..................       1,000,000
Cotton Genetics, MS.....................................         250,000
Cotton Ginning, TX......................................         500,000
Fish Disease, AL........................................         250,000
Food Fermentation, NC...................................         250,000
Formosan Termite, Southern Regional Research Center.....       5,000,000
Grain Legume, WA........................................         250,000
Honeybee, TX............................................         500,000
Hops Research, OR.......................................         100,000
Lyme Disease............................................         200,000
National Aquaculture Research Ctr., AR..................         500,000
National Ctr. for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture., WV..         250,000
National Warmwater Aquaculture Ctr., MS.................         500,000
Natural Products, MS....................................         700,000
NW Nursery Crops, OR....................................         500,000
Organics Management Research............................         500,000
Plant Genetics Equip./Greenhouse, MO....................         200,000
Poisonous Plant, UT.....................................         100,000
Poult Enteritis Mortality Syndrome, GA..................         250,000
Reproductive Efficiency of Beef Cattle, MT..............         250,000
Rice research:
    Beaumont, TX........................................         250,000
    Stuttgart, AR.......................................         700,000
Small Fruits, MS........................................         250,000
Small Grains, Raleigh, NC./Aberdeen, ID.................         450,000
Sugarcane Biotechnology Research, LA....................         200,000
Termination of ongoing projects.........................      -3,119,000
Evaluation studies......................................        -913,000
Administrative reductions...............................      -3,760,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total...............................................     744,605,000

      The conference agreement concurs in the following project 
terminations: improved cropping systems ($158,400), decision 
support systems ($80,000), CO; composts and organic residuals 
($281,700), soybean inoculants ($171,800), populations of Fungi 
($182,300), MD; differential root development ($221,100), NY; 
process modeling of soil and water ($384,300), PA; transferring 
technology for improvements in agriculture ($158,700), PR; 
biological control of horn flies ($221,500), improved cultivars 
for kenaf ($343,900), TX; and management savings ($550,000) 
headquarters and ($365,200), GA.
      The agreement provides $420,000 for a study by the 
National Academy of Sciences on the scientific and 
organizational needs for an effective food safety system, 
including functions overseen by the Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and other Federal, 
state and local agencies with responsibilities for food safety. 
The study will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will 
examine thecurrent mechanisms in place for assuring a safe food 
supply and the extent to which they are effective in addressing food 
safety issues from the farm to the table. It will also analyze the 
extent to which current functions (i.e., inspection, surveillance, 
monitoring, research, risk assessment, and education) should be 
assigned or reassigned to existing food safety agencies or an 
independent food safety agency. It should also identify whether any 
functions would be compromised by such an action. If an independent 
food safety agency is recommended, the second phase will develop 
further guidance to ensure that the food safety system protects the 
public's health and is cost-effective. A report on the first phase 
should be transmitted to the appropriate Committees of Congress no 
later than August 15, 1998.
      The conferees support the food safety initiative and 
expect the Agricultural Research Service to work with the Food 
and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Diabetes and 
Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention to develop a biomedical research agenda 
on food safety.
      The conferees expect the work on controlling root 
diseases of wheat and barley in cereal-based production systems 
to continue at the Pullman, WA, ARS research station at the 
fiscal year 1997 level.
      The conferees support the addition of a new lettuce 
geneticist/plant breeder position at the U.S. Agricultural 
Research Station in Salinas, California.
      The USDA-ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory is 
directed to initiate an integrated watershed research program 
of monitoring, analyzing, and evaluating sediment production, 
movement and deposition and their impacts with appropriate 
solutions on stream degradation, flooding and management of 
upland areas, environmental and ecological concerns in the 
Yalobusha River Basin, stream estuaries, and Grenada Lake.
      The conferees expect the ARS to expand its work on 
Meadowfoam research in Oregon and at the Peoria laboratory.
      The bill includes language proposed by the House that 
returns ownership of the Pecan Genetics and Improvement 
Research Laboratory to the Agricultural Research Service.

                        buildings and facilities

      The conference agreement provides $80,630,000 for 
Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities instead 
of $59,000,000 as proposed by the House and $69,100,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
       The following table reflects the conference agreement:

California:
    Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis......      $5,200,000
    U.S. Horticulture Crop and Water Mgt. Lab., Parlier.      23,400,000
France:
    European Biological Control Lab.....................       3,400,000
Illinois:
    National Center for Agriculture Utilization, Peoria.       8,000,000
Louisiana:
    Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans......       1,100,000
Maryland:
    Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville............       3,200,000
    National Agricultural Library, Beltsville...........       2,500,000
Michigan:
    Avian Disease Labs, East Lansing....................       1,800,000
Mississippi:
    Biocontrol and Insect Rearing Lab., Stoneville......         900,000
    National Center for Natural Products, Oxford........       7,000,000
Montana:
    Pest Quarantine and Integrated Pest Management, 
      Sidney............................................         606,000
New York:
    Plum Island Animal Disease Center...................       2,000,000
New Mexico:
    Joranado Range Research Center, Las Cruces..........         700,000
North Dakota:
    Human Nutrition Center, Grand Forks.................       4,400,000
Pennsylvania:
    Eastern Regional Lab................................       5,000,000
South Carolina:
    U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston...............       4,824,000
Utah:
    Poisonous Plant Lab., Logan.........................         600,000
West Virginia:
    National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, 
      Leetown...........................................       6,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................      80,630,000

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

                   research and education activities

      The conference agreement provides $431,410,000 for 
research and education activities instead of $421,223,000 as 
proposed by the House and $427,526,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Research and Education Activities

                        [In thousands of dollars]

                                                              Conference
                                                               agreement

Payments Under Hatch Act......................................   168,734
Cooperative forestry research (McIntire-Stennis)..............    20,497
Payments to 1890 colleges and Tuskegee........................    27,735
  Special Research Grants (P.L. 89-106):
    Aegilops cylindricum (WA).................................       346
    Aflatoxin (IL)............................................       113
    Agriculture-based industrial lubricants (IA)..............       200
    Agricultural diversification (HI).........................       131
    Agricultural diversity/Red River Corridor (MN/ND).........       250
    Alliance for food protection (NE, GA).....................       300
    Alternative crops (ND)....................................       550
    Alternative marine and fresh water species (MS)...........       308
    Alternative salmon products (AK)..........................       400
    Animal science food safety consortium (AR, IA, KS)........     1,521
    Apple fire blight (NY, MI)................................       500
    Aquaculture (IL)..........................................       158
    Aquaculture (LA)..........................................       330
    Aquaculture (MS)..........................................       642
    Aquaculture produce and marketing development (WV)........       600
    Babcock Institute (WI)....................................       312
    Binational agriculture research and development...........       500
    Biodiesel research (MO)...................................       152
    Center for animal health and productivity (PA)............       113
    Center for innovative food technology (OH)................       281
    Center for rural studies (VT).............................        32
    Chesapeake Bay aquaculture................................       370
    Citrus decay fungus (AZ)..................................       250
    Coastal cultivars (GA)....................................       250
    Competitiveness of agricultural products (WA).............       677
    Cool season legume research (ID, WA)......................       329
    Cotton research (TX)......................................       200
    Cranberry/blueberry disease and breeding (NJ).............       220
    Dairy (AK)................................................       250
    Dairy and meat goat research (TX).........................        63
    Delta rural revitalization (MS)...........................       148
    Drought mitigation (NE)...................................       200
    Ecosystems (AL)...........................................       500
    Environmental research (NY)...............................       486
    Environmental risk factors/cancer (NY)....................       100
    Expanded wheat pasture (OK)...............................       285
    Farm and rural business finance (IL)......................        87
    Feed barley for rangeland cattle (MT).....................       600
    Floriculture (HI).........................................       250
    Food and Agriculture Policy Institute (IA, MO)............       800
    Food irradiation (IA).....................................       200
    Food marketing policy center (CT).........................       332
    Food processing center (NE)...............................        42
    Food safety...............................................     2,000
    Food systems research group (WI)..........................       221
    Forestry (AR).............................................       523
    Fruit and vegetable market analysis (AZ, MO)..............       296
    Generic commodity promotion research and evaluation (NY)..       212
    Global change.............................................     1,000
    Global marketing support service (AR).....................       127
    Grain sorghum (KS)........................................       106
    Grass seed cropping systems for a sustainable agriculture 
      (WA, OR, ID)............................................       423
    Human nutrition (IA)......................................       473
    Human nutrition (LA)......................................       752
    Human nutrition (NY)......................................       622
    Hydroponic tomato production (OH).........................       140
    Illinois-Missouri Alliance for Biotechnology..............     1,184
    Improved dairy management practices (PA)..................       296
    Improved fruit practices (MI).............................       445
    Institute for Food Science and Engineering (AR)...........       950
    Integrated production systems (OK)........................       161
    International arid lands consortium.......................       329
    Iowa biotechnology consortium.............................     1,564
    Landscaping for water quality (GA)........................       300
    Livestock and dairy policy (NY, TX).......................       445
    Lowbush blueberry research (ME)...........................       220
    Maple research (VT).......................................       100
    Michigan biotechnology consortium.........................       675
    Midwest advanced food manufacturing alliance..............       423
    Midwest agricultural products (IA)........................       592
    Milk safety (PA)..........................................       268
    Minor use animal drugs (IR-4).............................       550
    Molluscan shellfish (OR)..................................       400
    Multi-commodity research (OR).............................       364
    Multi-cropping strategies for aquaculture (HI)............       127
    National biological impact assessment.....................       254
    Nematode resistance genetic engineering (NM)..............       127
    Non-food uses of agricultural products (NE)...............        64
    Oil resources from desert plants (NM).....................       175
    Organic waste utilization (NM)............................       100
    Pasture and forage research (UT)..........................       225
    Peach tree short life (SC)................................       162
    Pest control alternatives (SC)............................       106
    Phytophthora root rot (NM)................................       127
    Plant, drought, and disease resistance gene cataloging 
      (NM)....................................................       150
    Plant genome research (OH)................................        50
    Postharvest rice straws (CA)..............................       300
    Potato research...........................................     1,214
    Poultry carcass removal (AL)..............................       300
    Precision agriculture (MS)................................       600
    Preharvest food safety (KS)...............................       212
    Preservation and processing research (OK).................       226
    Rangeland ecosystems (NM).................................       185
    Regional barley gene mapping project......................       348
    Regionalized implications of farm programs (MO, TX).......       294
    Rice Modeling (AR)........................................       296
    Rural development centers (PA, IA, (ND), MS, OR)..........       423
    Rural policies institute (NE, MO).........................       644
    Russian wheat aphid (CO)..................................       200
    Seafood and aquaculture harvesting, processing, and 
      marketing (MS)..........................................       305
    Small fruit research (OR, WA, ID).........................       212
    Southwest consortium for plant genetics and water 
      resources...............................................       338
    Soybean cyst nematode (MO)................................       450
    STEEP III--water quality in Northwest.....................       500
    Sustainable agriculture (MI)..............................       445
    Sustainable agriculture and natural resources (PA)........        94
    Sustainable agriculture systems (NE)......................        59
    Sustainable pest management for dryland wheat (MT)........       400
    Swine waste management (NC)...............................       300
    Tillage, silviculture, waste management (LA)..............       212
    Tropical and subtropical..................................     2,724
    Urban pests (GA)..........................................        64
    Vidalia onions (GA).......................................        84
    Viticulture consortium (NY, CA)...........................       800
    Water conservation (KS)...................................        79
    Water quality.............................................     2,461
    Weed control (ND).........................................       423
    Wheat genetic research (KS)...............................       261
    Wood utilization research (OR, MS, NC, MN, ME, MI)........     3,536
    Wool research (TX, MT, WY)................................       300
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Special Research Grants..........................    51,495
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Improved pest control:
    Critical issues...........................................       200
    Emerging pest and disease issues..........................     1,623
    Expert IPM decision support issues........................       177
    Integrated pest management................................     2,731
    Pesticide clearance (IR-4)................................     8,990
    Pesticide impact assessment...............................     1,327
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Improved pest control............................    15,048
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Competitive research grants:
    Plant systems.............................................    37,000
    Animal systems............................................    24,000
    Nutrition, food quality and health........................     8,000
    Natural resources and the environment.....................    17,500
    Processes and new products................................     6,800
    Markets, trade and policy.................................     3,900
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Competitive research grants......................    97,200
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Animal Health and Disease (Sec. 1433).........................     4,775
Critical Agricultural Materials Act...........................       550
Aquaculture Centers (Sec. 1475)...............................     4,000
Alternative Crops.............................................       650
Sustainable agriculture.......................................     8,000
Capacity building grants......................................     9,200
Payments to the 1994 Institutions.............................     1,450
Graduate fellowship grants....................................     3,000
Institution challenge grants..................................     4,350
Multicultural scholars program................................     1,000
Hispanic-serving institutions.................................     2,500
Native American Institutions Endowment Fund...................   (4,600)
  Federal Administration:
    Agriculture development in American Pacific...............       564
    Agriculture waste utilization (WV)........................       360
    Alternative fuels characterization laboratory (ND)........       218
    Animal waste management (OK)..............................       250
    Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (IA)........       355
    Center for Human Nutrition (MD)...........................       150
    Center for North American Studies (TX)....................        87
    Data information system...................................       800
    Geographic information system.............................       844
    Mariculture (NC)..........................................       150
    Mississippi Valley State University.......................       583
    National Education Center for Agricultural................
    National Center for Peanut Competitiveness................       150
    Office of grants and program systems......................       310
    Pay costs and FERS (prior)................................       900
    Peer panels...............................................       350
    PM-10 study (CA, WA)......................................       873
    Shrimp aquaculture (AZ, HI, MS, MA, SC)...................     3,354
    Water quality (IL)........................................       492
    Water quality (ND)........................................       436
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Federal Administration...........................    11,226
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, Research and Education Activities................   431,410

      For the geographic information system project, the 
agreement provides $844,000 which includes funding for past 
participating entities in Georgia, the Chesapeake Bay, 
Arkansas, North Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and new entities 
in New Mexico and Colorado.
      The conferees have provided the $2,000,000 requested for 
a new competitive food safety initiative. The conferees urge 
that a research proposal from Pennsylvania State University's 
E. Coli Reference Center be considered for funding if judged to 
be meritorious when subjected to the established review 
process.
      Included in the funding for alternative crops is $500,000 
for canola research and $150,000 for hesperaloe research.

                          Extension Activities

      The conference agreement provides $423,376,000 for 
extension activities instead of $415,110,000 as proposed by the 
House and $423,322,000 as proposed by the Senate. The following 
table reflects the conference agreement:

                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Conference   
                                     FY 1997 enacted       agreement    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith Lever 3(b) & 3(c)...........            268,493            268,493
  Smith Lever 3(d):                                                     
    Pest management...............             10,783             10,783
    Water quality.................             10,733              9,061
    Farm safety...................              2,855              2,855
    Food and nutrition education                                        
     (EFNEP)......................             58,695             58,695
    Pesticide impact assessment...              3,214              3,214
    Rural development centers.....                908                908
    Sustainable agriculture.......              3,309              3,309
    Food safety...................              2,365              2,365
    Youth at risk.................              9,554              9,554
    Indian reservation agents.....              1,672              1,672
1890's Colleges and Tuskegee......             25,090             25,090
1890's facilities grants..........              7,549              7,549
Renewable Resources Extension Act.              3,192              3,192
Agricultural telecommunications...              1,167                900
Rural health and safety education.              2,628              2,628
Extension services at the 1994                                          
 institutions.....................              2,000              2,000
                                   -------------------------------------
      Subtotal....................            414,207            412,268
                                   =====================================
Federal Administration and special                                      
 grants:                                                                
    Beef producers' improvement                                         
     (AR).........................                197                197
    Delta teachers academy........              3,850              3,500
    Extension specialist (AR).....                 99                 99
    Extension specialist (MS).....                 50                 50
    General administration........              4,995              4,995
    Income enhancement                                                  
     demonstration (OH)...........                246                246
    Integrated cow/calf resources                                       
     management (IA)..............                345                300
    National Center for                                                 
     Agriculture Safety (IA)......  .................                195
    Pilot tech. transfer (OK, MS).                326                326
    Pilot tech. transfer (WI).....                163                163
    Range improvement (NM)........                197                197
    Rural center for the study and                                      
     promotion of HIV/STD                                               
     prevention (IN)..............                246  .................
    Rural development (NE)........                386  .................
    Rural development (OM)........                227                247
    Rural development (OK)........                296                150
    Rural rehabilitation (GA).....                246                246
    Wood biomass as an alternative                                      
     farm product (NY)............                197                197
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total, Federal                                                    
       Administration.............             12,066             11,108
                                   =====================================
      Total, Extension Activities.            426,273            423,376
------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $426,282,000 for the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service instead of 
$424,244,000 as proposed by the House and $437,183,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is $1,255,000 
for rabies control activities in Ohio, Texas, New York, and 
other states.
      The conferees are aware of the cooperative efforts of 
APHIS in controlling boll weevils in New Mexico and that cotton 
farmers in New Mexico are continuing a voluntary assessment for 
eradication. The conferees urge APHIS to continue its 
cooperative effort for boll weevil eradication in New Mexico.
      Included in the total amount provided for the boll weevil 
eradication plan, the conferees provide not less than $400,000 
to continue the geographic information system project to 
prepare for future expansion of the program into remaining 
cotton production regions that have not eradicated the boll 
weevil. The technology developed through this system will be 
transferred to these regions as the program expands, reducing 
overall program costs.
      The conferees direct that APHIS continue its efforts to 
maximize cost sharing of control activities in all states to 
the extent possible. However, the conferees recognize that 
circumstances vary among states and do not support 
implementation of the rigid cost sharing requirement proposed 
in the budget.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                        [In thousands of dollars]                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Conference   
                                     FY 1997 enacted       agreement    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       PEST AND DISEASE EXCLUSION                       
Agricultural quarantine inspection             26,547             26,747
    User fees.....................             98,000             88,000
                                   -------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Agricultural                                            
       quarantine inspection......            124,547            114,747
Cattle ticks......................              4,537              4,627
Foot-and-mouth disease............              3,991              3,803
Import-export inspection..........              6,847              6,815
International programs............              6,643              6,630
Fruit fly exclusion and detection.             21,161             20,970
Screwworm.........................             31,713             31,713
Tropical bont tick................                452                444
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total, Pest and disease                                           
       exclusion..................            199,891            189,749
                                   =====================================
                   PLANT AND ANIMAL HEALTH MONITORING                   
Animal health monitoring and                                            
 surveillance.....................             60,831             61,464
Animal and plant health regulatory                                      
 enforcement......................              5,855              5,855
Pest detection....................              4,202              6,302
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total, Plant and animal                                           
       health monitoring..........             70,888             73,621
                                   =====================================
                  PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS                  
Animal damage control--operations.             26,967             28,487
Aquaculture.......................                571                567
Biocontrol........................              6,290              6,275
Boll weevil.......................             16,209             16,209
Brucellosis eradication...........             21,661             19,818
Golden nematode...................                444                435
Gypsy moth........................              4,367              4,366
Imported fire ant.................              1,000              1,000
Miscellaneous plant diseases......              1,516              1,516
Noxious weeds.....................                404                454
Pink bollworm.....................              1,069              1,048
Pseudorabies......................              4,518              4,481
Scrapie...........................              2,967              2,931
Sweet potato whitefly.............              1,888              1,877
Tuberculosis......................              4,948              4,920
Witchweed.........................              1,662              1,638
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total, Pest and disease                                           
       management programs........             96,481             96,022
                                   =====================================
                               ANIMAL CARE                              
Animal werlfare...................              9,185              9,175
Horse protection..................                360                353
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total, Animal care..........              9,545              9,528
                                   =====================================
                    SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES                   
ADC methods development...........             10,591             10,215
Biotechnology/environmental                                             
 protection.......................              8,132              8,132
Intregrated systems acquisition                                         
 project..........................              4,000              3,500
Plant methods development                                               
 laboratories.....................              5,048              5,048
Veterinary biologics..............             10,360             10,345
Veterinary diagnostics............             15,473             15,622
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total, Scientific and                                             
       technical services.........             53,604             52,862
                                   =====================================
Contingency fund..................              4,500              4,500
                                   =====================================
      Total, Salaries and expenses            434,909            426,282
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        buildings and facilities

      The conference agreement provides $4,200,000 for Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service, Buildings and Facilities 
as proposed by the Senate instead of $3,200,000 as proposed by 
the House.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service

                           marketing services

      The conference agreement provides $46,592,000 for the 
Agricultural Marketing Service instead of $45,592,000 as 
proposed by the House and $49,627,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. Included in this amount is $1,000,000 for marketing 
assistance to Alaska.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

      The conference agreement provides $23,928,000 for the 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration as 
proposed by the House instead of $23,583,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. Included in this amount is $800,000 for packer 
concentration as proposed by the House.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

      The conference agreement provides $589,263,000 for the 
Food Safety and Inspection Service as proposed by the House 
instead of $590,614,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement amends House bill language 
requiring that $5,000,000 shall be available for obligation 
only after a final rule is implemented regarding subsection (c) 
of Section 5 of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1034 
(c)). The conference agreement states that the $5,000,000 shall 
be available for obligation only after promulgation of a final 
rule to implement that provision. The conferees direct that if 
a final rule is not promulgated, the Department is not to take 
the reduction from any funds appropriated for the Food Safety 
Initiative or any inspection services. The conference agreement 
does not restrict the Department from promulgating rules beyond 
the scope of subsection (c) of Section 5 of the Egg Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1034 (c)).

                          Farm Service Agency

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement provides $700,659,000 for the 
Farm Service Agency as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$702,203,000 as proposed by the House. The agreement also 
provides transfers to the Farm Service Agency of $589,000 from 
the export loan program, $815,000 from the P.L-480 program, and 
$209,861,000 from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund for a 
total available of $911,924,000.
      The conferees expect USDA to execute its current office 
streamlining in a manner that reflects differences among the 
States and that uses criteria including workload, complexity, 
and accessibility rather than an arbitrary process based solely 
on distances between county offices.

                        dairy indemnity program

      The conference agreement provides $550,000 for the Dairy 
Indemnity program as proposed by the Senate instead of $350,000 
as proposed by the House.

           agricultural credit insurance fund program account

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy level 
of $102,419,000 providing for an estimated loan level of 
$2,940,653,000 for the activities under the Agricultural Credit 
Insurance Fund.

      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Fiscal year 1997                   
                                         enacted           Conference   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Agricultural Credit Insurance                                         
 Fund Program Account:                                                  
    Loan authorization:                                                 
        Farm ownership loans:                                           
            Direct................       (50,000,000)       (60,000,000)
            Guaranteed............      (550,000,000)      (400,000,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
              Subtotal............      (600,000,000)      (460,000,000)
                                   =====================================
        Farm operating loans:                                           
            Direct................      (495,071,000)      (495,000,000)
            Guaranteed                                                  
             unsubsidized.........    (1,700,000,000)    (1,700,000,000)
            Guaranteed subsidized.      (200,000,000)      (200,000,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
              Subtotal............    (2,395,071,000)    (2,395,000,000)
                                   =====================================
        Indian tribe land                                               
         acquisition loans........        (1,000,000)        (1,000,000)
        Emergency disaster loans..       (25,000,000)       (25,000,000)
        Boll weevil eradication                                         
         loans....................       (34,653,000)       (34,653,000)
        Credit sales of acquired                                        
         property.................       (25,000,000)       (25,000,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
          Total, Loan                                                   
           authorization..........    (3,080,724,000)    (2,940,653,000)
                                   =====================================
    Loan subsidies:                                                     
        Farm ownership loans:                                           
            Direct................          5,920,000          5,940,000
            Guaranteed............         22,055,000         15,440,000
                                   -------------------------------------
              Subtotal............         27,975,000         21,380,000
                                   =====================================
        Farm operating loans:                                           
            Direct................         65,450,000         32,224,000
            Guaranteed                                                  
             unsubsidized.........         19,210,000         19,890,000
            Guaranteed subsidized.         18,480,000         19,280,000
                                   -------------------------------------
              Subtotal............        103,140,000         71,394,000
                                   =====================================
        Indian tribe land                                               
         acquisition..............             54,000            132,000
        Emergency disaster loans..          6,365,000          6,008,000
        Boll weevil loans subsidy.            499,000            250,000
        Credit sales of acquired                                        
         property.................          2,530,000          3,255,000
                                   -------------------------------------
          Total, Loan subsidies...        140,563,000        102,419,000
                                   =====================================
    ACIF expenses:                                                      
        Salaries and expense                                            
         (transfer to FSA)........        208,446,000        209,861,000
        Administrative expenses...         12,600,000         10,000,000
                                   -------------------------------------
          Total, ACIF expenses....        221,046,000        219,861,000
                                   =====================================
      Total, Agricultural Credit                                        
       Insurance Fund.............        361,609,000        322,280,000
        (Loan authorization)......    (3,080,724,000)    (2,940,653,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Risk Management Agency

      The conference agreement provides $252,571,000 for the 
Risk Management Agency instead of $253,571,000 as proposed by 
the House and $266,571,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 
agreement includes $64,000,000 for administrative and operating 
expenses of the agency and $188,571,000 for the payment of 
administrative and operating expenses of approved insurance 
providers.
      The conferees note the difficulty in providing funds for 
the sales commissions for crop insurance agents. This problem 
will continue without a change in permanent law. The conferees 
expect the Department to submit legislation to effect a change 
to permanent funding for this activity.

                    TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service

                        conservation operations

      The conference agreement continues funding conservation 
operations, watershed surveys and planning, and watershed and 
flood prevention operations as three separate accounts as 
proposed by the House. The Senate proposed to fund watershed 
surveys and planning and technical assistance of watershed and 
flood prevention operations under the conservation operations 
account and had a separate account for watershed and flood 
prevention operations financial assistance.
      The conference agreement provides $633,231,000 for 
conservation operations. Included in this amount are the 
following: $350,000 for the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil 
and Erosion Sediment Control; a total of $3,000,000 for 
technical assistance in Franklin County, Mississippi; 
$15,000,000 for the grazing lands initiative; $100,000 for the 
Trees Forever program in Iowa; and $750,000 for the Deer Creek 
watershed in Oklahoma. The conferees also provide $300,000, 
through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, for the 
project to assist farmers surrounding Lake Otisco in central 
New York. The conferees do not provide funding under this 
account for poultry waste energy recovery.
      The conference agreement includes language proposed by 
the House to transfer ownership of the plant materials center 
located at Bow, Washington to the Skagit Conservation District. 
The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      The conferees encourage the Department to continue the 
cooperative agreements it has established with private 
conservation organizations to support the implementation of the 
Wetlands Reserve Program.

                     watershed surveys and planning

      The conference agreement provides $11,190,000 for 
watershed surveys and planning instead of $10,000,000 as 
proposed by the House. The Senate proposed funding for this 
account under Conservation Operations.

               watershed and flood prevention operations

      The conference agreement provides $101,036,000 for 
watershed and flood prevention operations as proposed by the 
House. The Senate proposed funding for this account under 
Conservation Operations. The conference agreement includes 
language as proposed by the Senate to provide that up to 
$15,000,000 of the total may be available for P.L. 534 
projects. The conference agreement also includes language as 
proposed by the House limiting the amount available for 
technical assistance to not more than $50,000,000.
      While conferees do not earmark $1,800,000 for the Potomac 
Headwaters project as proposed by the Senate, they support 
continuation of the project. The conferees note the importance 
of reducing poultry and other waste load-related problems in 
the South Branch of the Potomac River and encourage the 
Department to work with the West Virginia Department of 
Agriculture for further development of the poultry waste energy 
recovery (POWER) project at Moorefield and project 
implementation at Franklin.

                 resource conservation and development

      The conference agreement provides $34,377,000 for the 
Resource Conservation and Development program instead of 
$29,377,000 as proposed by the House and $44,700,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conferees do not specifically 
earmark this increase for any initiative, instead the conferees 
expect that this increase will be used for approved RC&D 
councils waiting for funding.
      The conferees expect the NRCS to submit a detailed 
operating plan for the Resource Conservation and Development 
program for fiscal year 1998 to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations no later than 30 days after enactment of this 
Appropriations Act. This operating plan should include a 
proposal for expenditure of available funds for each RC&D area. 
The operating plan should compare proposed funding levels to 
the initial fiscal year 1998 budget request and fiscal year 
1997 current operating levels, and should include narrative 
explanations as appropriate. The conferees expect the NRCS to 
consult with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to 
develop this operating plan, which will serve as the basis for 
reprogramming notifications throughout the remainder of the 
fiscal year.

        outreach for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

      The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 for the 
Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers 
Program instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by the House and 
$4,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees note that, 
in addition to the funding received through appropriations 
bills, the program has also received $4,500,000 from the Fund 
for Rural America.

      TITLE III--RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

                  RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $652,197,000 for the 
Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) instead of 
$644,259,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House bill did not 
provide funds for the Rural Community Advancement Program, but 
provided funding for its activities under three separate 
accounts: the Rural Housing Assistance Program, the Rural 
Business-Cooperative Assistance Program and the Rural Utilities 
Assistance Program.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                                                  RCAP ACCOUNTS                                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Request            House            Senate           Proposed    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water/Sewer.............................      $608,080,000      $577,242,000      $568,304,000      $577,242,000
Community/Housing.......................        30,037,000        86,488,000        27,562,000        27,062,000
Bus-Co-op...............................        50,453,000        51,400,000        48,393,000        47,893,000
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.............................       688,570,000       715,130,000       644,259,000       652,197,000
                                         =======================================================================
Earmarks:                                                                                                       
    Colonias............................        25,000,000        18,700,000        24,500,000        20,000,000
    Tech. Asst. (water&sewer)...........        15,000,000        15,000,000        15,000,000        15,000,000
    Alaska..............................  ................         8,750,000        15,000,000        15,000,000
    Circuit Rider.......................         5,150,000         5,200,000         5,650,000         5,200,000
    EZ/EC...............................        32,163,000        20,048,000        32,163,000        20,048,000
    Tech. Asst. (transportation)........  ................           500,000  ................           500,000
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.............................        77,313,000        67,698,000        92,313,000        75,748,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The conferees recognize the continuing problem of out 
migration in rural counties across the country and the efforts 
being made through the Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) 
pilot program. The conferees recommend that Rural Development, 
as the lead agency for this pilot program, give priority 
assistance to the REAP zones.
      The conferees urge the Department to consider the 
following projects which were not mentioned in the House and 
Senate reports. The conferees expect the Department to apply 
the same criteria of review to these projects as are used for 
other applications.
      Under Rural Business Enterprise Grants:
            Rural Development and Finance Corporation, 
        Raymondville, Texas.
            Renewable Resources Research Institute, Midwestern 
        states.
            University of Colorado Health Science Center
      Under Rural Utilities Programs:
            City of Fort Morgan, Colorado.
            City of Taos, New Mexico.

                         Rural Housing Service

              RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy level 
of $226,142,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level 
of $4,219,527,000) for the activities under the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund Program Account instead of $219,642,000 
(providing for an estimated program level of $4,169,527,000) as 
proposed by the House and $224,544,000 (providing for an 
estimated program level of $3,519,532,000) as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Fiscal year 1997                   
                                         enacted           Conference   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund                                            
 Program Account:                                                       
    Loan authorizations:                                                
        Single family (sec. 502)..    (1,000,000,000)    (1,000,000,000)
            Unsubsidized                                                
             guaranteed...........    (2,300,000,000)    (3,000,000,000)
        Housing repair (sec. 504).       (35,000,000)       (30,000,000)
        Farm labor (sec. 514).....       (15,000,000)       (15,000,000)
        Rental housing (sec. 515).       (58,654,000)      (128,640,000)
        Multi-family housing                                            
         guarantees (sec. 538)....  .................       (19,700,000)
        Site loans (sec. 524).....          (600,000)          (600,000)
        Self-help housing land                                          
         development fund.........          (600,000)          (587,000)
        Credit sales of acquired                                        
         property.................       (50,000,000)       (25,000,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
          Total, Loan                                                   
           authorizations.........    (3,459,854,000)    (4,219,527,000)
                                   =====================================
    Loan subsidies:                                                     
        Single family (sec. 502)..         83,000,000        128,100,000
            Unsubsidized                                                
             guaranteed...........          6,210,000          6,900,000
        Housing repair (sec. 504).         11,081,000         10,300,000
        Farm labor (sec. 514).....          6,885,000          7,388,000
        Rental housing (sec. 515).         28,987,000         68,745,000
        Multi-family housing                                            
         guarantees (sec. 538)....  .................          1,200,000
        Self-help housing land                                          
         development fund.........             17,000             17,000
        Credit sales of acquired                                        
         property.................          4,050,000          3,492,000
                                   -------------------------------------
          Total, Loan subsidies...        140,230,000        226,142,000
                                   =====================================
    RHIF administrative expenses                                        
     (transfer to RHS)............        366,205,000        354,785,000
                                   =====================================
      Total, Rural Housing                                              
       Insurance Fund.............        506,435,000        580,927,000
        (Loan authorization)......    (3,459,854,000)    (4,219,527,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $541,397,000 for rental 
assistance as proposed by the Senate instead of $493,870,000 as 
proposed by the House.

                 RURAL COMMUNITY FIRE PROTECTION GRANTS

      The conference agreement provides $2,000,000 for rural 
community fire protection grants as proposed by the House 
instead of $1,285,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                    RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

      The conference agreement provides $45,720,000 for rural 
housing assistance grants as proposed by the Senate. The House 
bill funded these activities under the Rural Housing Assistance 
Program.

                  Rural Business--Cooperative Service

              RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement appropriates a subsidy level of 
$16,888,000 (providing an estimated loan program level of 
$35,000,000) for the Rural Development Loan Fund Program 
Account as proposed by the House instead of $19,200,000 
(providing an estimated loan program level of $40,000,000) as 
proposed by the Senate.

            RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement rescinds $5,978,000 of funds 
derived from interest on cushion of credit payments established 
in the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 901), and further 
provides $5,978,000 for the cost of loans for the Rural 
Economic Development Loans Program Account. This subsidy level 
provides for an estimated program level of $25,000,000.

 ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION REVOLVING FUND

      The conference agreement appropriates $7,000,000 for the 
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization 
Corporation Revolving Fund instead of $10,000,000 as proposed 
by the Senate. The House bill provided no funds for this 
account. The House report proposed that the program operate 
with repayments to its revolving fund.

                  RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

      The conference agreement appropriates $3,000,000 for 
rural cooperative development grants as proposed by both House 
and Senate and provides for an earmark of up to $1,300,000 for 
cooperative agreements for the Appropriate Technology Transfer 
for Rural Areas Program as proposed by the House instead of up 
to $1,500,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                        Rural Utilities Service

   RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
$36,185,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$1,420,000,000) instead of $32,161,000 (providing for an 
estimated loan program level of $1,320,000,000) as proposed by 
the House and $35,313,000 (providing for an estimated loan 
program level of $1,397,756,000) as proposed by the Senate.
      The following reflects the conference agreement:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Fiscal year 1997                   
                                         enacted           Conference   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Electrification and                                               
 Telecommunications Loans Program                                       
 Account:                                                               
    Loan authorizations:                                                
        Direct loans:                                                   
            Electric 5%...........      (125,000,000)      (125,000,000)
            Telecommunications 5%.       (75,000,000)       (75,000,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
              Subtotal............      (200,000,000)      (200,000,000)
        Treasury rates:                                                 
         Telecommunications.......      (300,000,000)      (300,000,000)
        Muni-rate: Electric.......      (525,000,000)      (500,000,000)
        FFB loans:                                                      
            Electric, regular.....      (300,000,000)      (300,000,000)
            Telecommunications....      (120,000,000)      (120,000,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
              Subtotal............      (420,000,000)      (420,000,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
          Total, Loan                                                   
           authorizations.........    (1,445,000,000)    (1,420,000,000)
                                   =====================================
    Loan subsidies:                                                     
        Direct loans:                                                   
            Electric 5%...........          3,625,000          9,325,000
            Telecommunications 5%.          1,193,000          2,940,000
                                   -------------------------------------
              Subtotal............          4,818,000         12,265,000
                                   =====================================
        Treasury rates:                                                 
         Telecommunications.......             60,000             60,000
        Muni-rate: Electric.......         28,245,000         21,100,000
        FFB loans: Electric,                                            
         regular..................          2,790,000          2,760,000
                                   -------------------------------------
          Total, Loan subsidies...         35,913,000         36,185,000
    RETLP administrative expenses                                       
     (transfer to RUS)............         29,982,000         29,982,000
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total, Rural Electrification                                      
       and Telecommunications                                           
       Loans Program Account......         65,895,000         66,167,000
                                   =====================================
          (Loan authorization)....    (1,445,000,000)    (1,420,000,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides that administrative 
expenses of the Rural Telephone Program Bank Account shall be 
transferred to and merged with ``Rural Utilities Salaries and 
Expenses'' as proposed by the House. The Senate bill had no 
similar provision.

      DISTANCE LEARNING AND MEDICAL LINK GRANTS AND LOANS PROGRAM

      The conference agreement appropriates $12,530,000 for the 
distance learning medical link grants and loans program instead 
of $15,030,000 as proposed by the House and $12,030,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement provides $30,000 from the total 
amount appropriated for the subsidy cost of distance learning 
and medical link loan guarantees (providing an estimated 
program level of $150,000,000) as proposed by both the House 
and Senate.
      The conferees urge the Department to consider the State 
University of New York Telecommunications Center for Education 
project which was not mentioned in the House and Senate 
reports. The conferees expect the Department to apply the same 
criteria of review to this project as are used for other 
applications.

                    TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

                        CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

      The conference agreement provides a total of 
$7,767,816,000 for Child Nutrition Programs instead of 
$7,766,966,000 as proposed by the House and $7,769,066,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is an 
appropriated amount of $2,616,425,000 and an amount transferred 
from section 32 of $5,151,391,000. The conference agreement 
provides for the Child Nutrition Programs at the following 
annual rates:

                                          TOTAL OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY                                          
                                            [In thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Conference   
                                                               House              Senate           agreement    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Child Nutrition Programs:                                                                                       
    School Lunch Program...............................         $4,327,804         $4,327,804         $4,327,804
    School Breakfast Program...........................          1,265,507          1,265,507          1,265,507
    Child and adult care food program..................          1,411,590          1,411,590          1,411,590
    Commodity procurement/computer support.............            337,194            337,194            337,194
    Summer food service program........................            277,292            277,292            277,292
    State administrative expenses......................            112,808            112,808            112,808
    Special milk program...............................             19,747             19,747             19,747
    School meals initiative............................              5,900             10,000              8,000
    Coordinated review system..........................              4,124              4,124              4,124
    Nutrition studies and surveys......................  .................              3,000  .................
    Nutrition education and training...................              5,000  .................              3,750
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total............................................          7,766,966          7,769,066          7,767,816
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The conference agreement provides $8,000,000 for the 
school meals initiative. Included in this amount is $4,000,000 
for food service training grants to states, $1,000,000 for 
technical assistance materials, $500,000 for the National Food 
Service Management Institute cooperative agreement for food 
service, $400,000 for print and electronic resource systems, 
and not more than $2,100,000 for other activities.

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

      The conference agreement provides $3,924,000,000 for the 
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 
Children (WIC) as proposed by the House instead of 
$3,927,600,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference 
agreement includes language as proposed by the Senate to 
prohibit funds to be used for administrative expenses of WIC 
clinics except those that have an announced policy of 
prohibiting smoking within the space used to carry out the 
program.
      The Secretary of Agriculture has proclaimed a WIC 
National Breastfeeding Week in an effort to promote 
breastfeeding among both WIC and non-WIC mothers. The 
breastfeeding promotion project will be implemented initially 
in 10 pilot WIC state agencies to encourage breastfeeding using 
a variety of advertising methods such as radio, television, and 
billboards. The conferees support this initiative and urge all 
states to participate in this promotional effort.

                           FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $25,140,479,000 for the 
Food Stamp Program as proposed by the House instead of 
$26,051,479,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included in this 
amount is a contingency reserve of $100,000,000 as proposed by 
the House instead of $1,000,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
Also included in this amount is $1,204,000,000 for nutrition 
assistance for Puerto Rico and $100,000,000 for TEFAP commodity 
purchases.

                      COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $141,000,000 for the 
Commodity Assistance Program as proposed by the House instead 
of $148,600,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference 
agreement includes language as proposed by the House to provide 
funds from this account for administrative expenses only to the 
Emergency Food Assistance Program.

               FOOD DONATIONS PROGAMS FOR SELECTED GROUPS

      The conference agreement provides $141,165,000 for the 
Food Donations Programs for Selected Groups as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $146,165,000 as proposed by the House. 
Included in this amount is $140,000,000 for the Elderly Feeding 
Program as proposed by the Senate instead of $145,000,000 as 
proposed by the House.

                      FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

      The conference agreement provides $107,619,000 for Food 
Program Administration instead of $104,128,000 as proposed by 
the House and $107,719,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 
conference agreement also provides $554,000 for the Office of 
the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.

            TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

         Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager

      The conference agreement provides $135,561,000 for the 
Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager as 
proposed by the House instead of $136,664,000 as proposed by 
the Senate.
      In the total amount provided, the conference agreement 
includes a direct appropriation of $131,295,000 as proposed by 
the House instead of $132,367,000 as proposed by the Senate, a 
transfer from Public Law 480 of $1,035,000 as proposed by the 
House instead of $1,066,000 as proposed by the Senate and a 
transfer of $3,231,000 from the Export Loan Program as proposed 
by both House and Senate.
      The conference agreement deletes Senate bill language 
providing that up to $3,000,000 shall be available in fiscal 
year 1999 for overseas inflation. The conferees direct the 
Department to develop a plan for establishing an account to 
manage currency fluctuation.
      The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 of the total 
amount appropriated for the Cochran Fellowship Program as 
provided by the Senate.
      The conference agreement deletes Senate report language 
providing $500,000 for market barrier access identification and 
adopts House report language recommending that the Foreign 
Agricultural Service not spend appropriated funds for market 
barrier access identification.

               public law 480 program and grant accounts

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Conference   
                                     FY 1997 enacted       agreement    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Law 480 Program Account:                                         
    Title I--Credit sales:                                              
        Program level.............      (240,805,000)      (244,508,000)
            Direct loans..........      (226,900,000)      (226,900,000)
            Ocean freight                                               
             differential.........         13,905,000         17,608,000
    Title II--Commodities for                                           
     disposition abroad:                                                
        Program level.............      (837,000,000)      (837,000,000)
        Appropriation.............        837,000,000        837,000,000
    Title III--Commodity grants:                                        
        Program level.............       (29,500,000)       (30,000,000)
        Appropriation.............         29,500,000         30,000,000
    Loan subsidies................        185,589,000        176,596,000
    Salaries and expenses:                                              
        General Sales Manager                                           
         (transfer to FAS)........          1,035,000          1,035,000
        Farm Service Agency                                             
         (transfer to FSA)........            745,000            815,000
                                   -------------------------------------
          Subtotal................          1,780,000          1,850,000
                                   =====================================
        Total, Public Law 480:                                          
        Program level.............    (1,107,305,000)    (1,111,508,000)
        Appropriation.............      1,067,774,000      1,063,054,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The conferees support the use of Title II funds in fiscal 
year 1998 to continue the fiscal year 1997 level for the orphan 
feeding program in Haiti.
      The conferees direct that none of the funds appropriated 
in this Act be made available to provide assistance to the 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea except for assistance 
that is provided directly to needy people by the United Nations 
World Food Programme or private voluntary organizations 
registered with the United States Agency for International 
Development and not by the Government of the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea.

      TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement includes a direct appropriation 
of $857,501,000 for salaries and expenses, instead of 
$852,501,000 as proposed by the House and $873,057,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Also included is $91,204,000 in 
prescription drug user fees as proposed by the Senate.
      Included within the amount available is $34,000,000 for 
the children's tobacco prevention initiative and $24,000,000 
for the food safety initiative. The FDA should consider the use 
of the National Sea Grant College Program to assist in 
conjunction with its seafood safety activities.
      The conferees have not included a detailed table in this 
statement of managers. Instead, the conferees expect the FDA to 
submit a detailed operating plan for fiscal year 1998 to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than 30 
days after enactment of this Appropriations Act. This operating 
plan should include a proposal for expenditure of available 
funds by Center, related field activities, and other activities 
at a level of detail at least as great as that included in the 
Senate report. The operating plan should compare proposed 
funding levels to the initial fiscal year 1998 budget request 
and fiscal year 1997 current operating levels, and should 
include narrative explanations as appropriate. The conferees 
expect the FDA to consult with the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees to develop this operating plan, which 
will serve as the basis for reprogramming notifications 
throughout the remainder of the fiscal year.
      The agreement includes $200,000 for a cooperative 
agreement with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Commission 
to continue research, safety rules, regulations, and education 
activities.
      The conference agreement includes an increase for the 
Office of Generic Drugs.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

      The conference agreement provides $21,350,000 for Food 
and Drug Administration, Buildings and Facilities as proposed 
by the House instead of $22,900,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
The agreement provides the budget request for the National 
Center for Toxicological Research.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

      The conference agreement provides $58,101,000 for the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission instead of $57,101,000 as 
proposed by the House and $60,101,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

      House and Senate Section 705.--The conference agreement 
includes language proposed by the House to allow the Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, field automation and information 
management project funds to remain available until expended. 
The Senate proposed to prohibit these funds from remaining 
available until expended.
      House Section 716.--The conference agreement includes and 
amends language proposed by the House to make permanent 
compliance with the Buy American Act. The Senate bill had no 
similar provision.
      Senate Section 720.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 722) proposed by the Senate to prohibit the 
use of funds from this Act to carry out the provisions of 
section 918 of Public Law 104-127, the establishment of a 
permanent advisory panel known as the Safe Meat and Poultry 
Inspection Panel. The House bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 721 and Senate Section 722.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 721) to limit funding for 
the Export Enhancement Program to $150,000,000 as proposed by 
the Senate instead of $205,000,000 as proposed by the House.
      House Section 723.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 724) proposed by the House to prohibit USDA 
from transmitting or otherwise making available to any non-
Department employee questions or responses to questions that 
are the result of information requested for the appropriations 
hearing process. The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 724.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 725) proposed by the House to prohibit the 
use of funds in this Act for the Western Director and 
SpecialAssistant to the Secretary within the Office of the Secretary. 
The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 726.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the House to reduce the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service budget by $1,500,000 and add it 
to Departmental Administration for civil rights enforcement. 
The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 727.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the House to prohibit funds from 
being used to provide assistance to North Korea except for 
assistance provided directly to needy people by the United 
Nations Food Programme or private voluntary organizations 
registered with the United States Agency for International 
Development. The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 728.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the House relating to the City of 
Galt, California. The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      Senate Section 724.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 728) proposed by the Senate to amend section 
3(c) of the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 to include kudzu. 
The House bill had no similar provision.
      Senate Section 725.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 729) proposed by the Senate to make the 
Martin Luther King area of Pawley's Island, South Carolina 
eligible for loans and grants under section 504 of the Housing 
Act of 1949. The House bill had no similar provision.
      Senate Section 726.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 730) proposed by the Senate to prohibit the 
Food and Drug Administration from closing or relocating the FDA 
Division of Drug Analysis in St. Louis, Missouri. The 
conference agreement does not include language proposed by the 
Senate to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from 
proceeding with a plan to close or consolidate the laboratory 
in Baltimore, Maryland. The House bill had no similar 
provision.
      Senate Section 727.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate to require the 
Secretary of Agriculture to submit a plan for reducing the 
employee level in the Rural Development mission area below the 
level described in the budget to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations. The House bill had no similar 
provision.
      Senate Section 728.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 731) proposed by the Senate to modify the 
conditions for issuance of cotton user marketing certificates. 
The House bill had no similar provision.
      Senate Section 729.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 732) proposed by the Senate that requires the 
Office of Management and Budget to conduct a comprehensive 
economic evaluation of the direct and indirect effects of the 
Northeast Dairy Compact. The House bill had no similar 
provision.
      Senate Section 730.--The conference agreement includes 
and amends language (Section 733) proposed by the Senate to 
allow the Secretary of Agriculture to use up to $2,000,000 from 
proceeds earned from the sale of grain in the disaster reserve 
to implement a livestock indemnity program. The House bill had 
no similar provision.
      Senate Section 731.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 734) proposed by the Senate to prohibit 
contract payments to a producer who plants wild rice on 
contract acreage unless the contract payment is reduced by an 
acre for each contract acre planted to wild rice. The House 
bill had no similar provision.
      Senate Section 732.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate to prohibit the 
inspection or certification of agricultural products unless the 
Secretary of Agriculture inspects and certifies the processing 
equipment and imposes a fee for the inspection and 
certification. The House bill had no similar provision.
      Senate Section 733.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 735) proposed by the Senate to change the 
term for Section 515 multi-family rural housing loans from 50 
years to 30 years and allow the Secretary of Agriculture to 
structure loan repayments based on a 50-year amortization 
schedule. The conference agreement also extends the 
authorizations for the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Program 
and the Section 538 Multi-Family Guarantee Program for one 
year. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      New Section 727.--The conferees have included language 
that provides for reprogramming procedures for agencies funded 
by this bill. The conferees are concerned about the lack of 
formal reprogramming procedures for agencies funded by this 
bill. Recent testimony before the Committees on Appropriations 
has indicated many instances of funds being used for purposes 
other than intended by Congress. Accordingly, the conferees 
have instituted a formal process and expect all agencies to 
implement the procedures immediately.

                   Conference Total--With Comparisons

      The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
fiscal year 1998 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
with comparisons to the fiscal year 1997 amount, the 1998 
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1998 
follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1997... $53,889,489,000
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal 
    year 1998...........................................  52,302,190,000
House bill, fiscal year 1998............................  49,603,627,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 1998...........................  50,713,787,000
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1998..................  49,749,679,000
Conference agreement compared with:
    New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 
      1997..............................................  -4,139,810,000
    Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, 
      fiscal year 1998..................................  -2,552,511,000
    House bill, fiscal year 1998........................    +146,052,000
    Senate bill, fiscal year 1998.......................    -964,108,000

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

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Christopher Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch M. McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Dale Bumpers,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   Robert C. Byrd,
                                   Patrick J. Leahy,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.


                                
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