[House Report 105-492]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-492
_______________________________________________________________________


 
   AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1998

                                _______
                                

                 April 22, 1998.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


 Mr. Smith of Oregon, from the committee of conference, submitted the 
                               following

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                         [To accompany S. 1150]

      The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of 
the two Houses on the amendment of the House to the bill (S. 
1150), to ensure that federally funded agricultural research, 
extension, and education address high-priority concerns with 
national or multistate significance, to reform, extend, and 
eliminate certain agricultural research programs, and for other 
purposes, having met, after full and free conference, have 
agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses 
as follows:
      That the Senate recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the House and agree to the same with an amendment 
as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the 
House amendment, insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the 
``Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Short titles for Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887.

  TITLE I--PRIORITIES, SCOPE, REVIEW, AND COORDINATION OF AGRICULTURAL 
                   RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION

Sec. 101. Standards for Federal funding of agricultural research, 
          extension, and education.
Sec. 102. Priority setting process.
Sec. 103. Relevance and merit of agricultural research, extension, and 
          education funded by the Department.
Sec. 104. Research formula funds for 1862 Institutions.
Sec. 105. Extension formula funds for 1862 Institutions.
Sec. 106. Research facilities.

   TITLE II--REFORM OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                          EDUCATION AUTHORITIES

            Subtitle A--Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887

Sec. 201. Cooperative agricultural extension work by 1862, 1890, and 
          1994 Institutions.
Sec. 202. Plans of work to address critical research and extension 
          issues and use of protocols to measure success of plans.
Sec. 203. Consistent matching funds requirements under Hatch Act of 1887 
          and Smith-Lever Act.
Sec. 204. Integration of research and extension.

   Subtitle B--Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act

Sec. 211. Competitive grants.
Sec. 212. Special grants.

  Subtitle C--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                           Policy Act of 1977

Sec. 221. Definitions regarding agricultural research, extension, and 
          education.
Sec. 222. Advisory Board.
Sec. 223. Grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences 
          education.
Sec. 224. Policy research centers.
Sec. 225. Plans of work for 1890 Institutions to address critical 
          research and extension issues and use of protocols to measure 
          success of plans.
Sec. 226. Matching funds requirement for research and extension 
          activities at 1890 Institutions.
Sec. 227. International research, extension, and teaching.
Sec. 228. United States-Mexico joint agricultural research.
Sec. 229. Competitive grants for international agricultural science and 
          education programs.
Sec. 230. General administrative costs.
Sec. 231. Expansion of authority to enter into cost-reimbursable 
          agreements.

   Subtitle D--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990

Sec. 241. Agricultural Genome Initiative.
Sec. 242. High-priority research and extension initiatives.
Sec. 243. Nutrient management research and extension initiative.
Sec. 244. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative.
Sec. 245. Agricultural telecommunications program.
Sec. 246. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.

                         Subtitle E--Other Laws

Sec. 251. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.
Sec. 252. Fund for Rural America.
Sec. 253. Forest and rangeland renewable resources research.

TITLE III--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                          EDUCATION AUTHORITIES

Sec. 301. Extensions.
Sec. 302. Repeals.

     TITLE IV--NEW AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION 
                               INITIATIVES

Sec. 401. Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems.
Sec. 402. Partnerships for high-value agricultural product quality 
          research.
Sec. 403. Precision agriculture.
Sec. 404. Biobased products.
Sec. 405. Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification.
Sec. 406. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive 
          grants program.
Sec. 407. Coordinated program of research, extension, and education to 
          improve viability of small and medium size dairy, livestock, 
          and poultry operations.
Sec. 408. Support for research regarding diseases of wheat and barley 
          caused by Fusarium graminearum.

                TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS

                     Subtitle A--Food Stamp Program

Sec. 501. Reductions in funding of employment and training programs.
Sec. 502. Reductions in payments for administrative costs.
Sec. 503. Extension of eligibility period for refugees and certain other 
          qualified aliens from 5 to 7 years.
Sec. 504. Food stamp eligibility for certain disabled aliens.
Sec. 505. Food stamp eligibility for certain Indians.
Sec. 506. Food stamp eligibility for certain elderly individuals.
Sec. 507. Food stamp eligibility for certain children.
Sec. 508. Food stamp eligibility for certain Hmong and Highland 
          Laotians.
Sec. 509. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 510. Effective dates.

               Subtitle B--Information Technology Funding

Sec. 521. Information technology funding.

                       Subtitle C--Crop Insurance

Sec. 531. Funding.
Sec. 532. Budgetary offsets.
Sec. 533. Procedures for responding to certain inquiries.
Sec. 534. Time period for responding to submission of new policies.
Sec. 535. Crop insurance study.
Sec. 536. Required terms and conditions of Standard Reinsurance 
          Agreements.
Sec. 537. Effective date.

                   TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                    Subtitle A--Existing Authorities

Sec. 601. Retention and use of fees.
Sec. 602. Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.
Sec. 603. Kiwifruit research, promotion, and consumer information 
          program.
Sec. 604. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program.
Sec. 605. Honey research, promotion, and consumer information.
Sec. 606. Technical corrections.

                       Subtitle B--New Authorities

Sec. 611. Nutrient composition data.
Sec. 612. National Swine Research Center.
Sec. 613. Role of Secretary regarding food and agricultural sciences 
          research and extension.
Sec. 614. Office of Pest Management Policy.
Sec. 615. Food Safety Research Information Office and National 
          Conference.
Sec. 616. Safe food handling education.
Sec. 617. Reimbursement of expenses incurred under Sheep Promotion, 
          Research, and Information Act of 1994.
Sec. 618. Designation of Crisis Management Team within Department.
Sec. 619. Designation of Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural 
          Research Center, Weslaco, Texas.

                           Subtitle C--Studies

Sec. 631. Evaluation and assessment of agricultural research, extension, 
          and education programs.
Sec. 632. Study of federally funded agricultural research, extension, 
          and education.

                     Subtitle D--Senses of Congress

Sec. 641. Sense of Congress regarding Agricultural Research Service 
          emphasis on field research regarding methyl bromide 
          alternatives.
Sec. 642. Sense of Congress regarding importance of school-based 
          agricultural education.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) 1862 institution.--The term ``1862 
        Institution'' means a college or university eligible to 
        receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 
        503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.).
            (2) 1890 institution.--The term ``1890 
        Institution'' means a college or university eligible to 
        receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 
        Stat. 419, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), 
        including Tuskegee University.
            (3) 1994 institution.--The term ``1994 
        Institution'' means 1 of the 1994 Institutions (as 
        defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational 
        Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 
        U.S.C. 301 note)) (as amended by section 251(a)).
            (4) Advisory board.--The term ``Advisory Board'' 
        means the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
        Education, and Economics Advisory Board established 
        under section 1408 of the National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
        U.S.C. 3123).
            (5) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Agriculture.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of Agriculture.

SEC. 3. SHORT TITLES FOR SMITH-LEVER ACT AND HATCH ACT OF 1887.

    (a) Smith-Lever Act.--The Act of May 8, 1914 (commonly 
known as the ``Smith-Lever Act'') (38 Stat. 372, chapter 79; 7 
U.S.C. 341 et seq.), is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 11. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This Act may be cited as the `Smith-Lever Act'.''.
    (b) Hatch Act of 1887.--The Act of March 2, 1887 (commonly 
known as the ``Hatch Act of 1887'') (24 Stat. 440, chapter 314; 
7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.), is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 10. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This Act may be cited as the `Hatch Act of 1887'.''.

 TITLE I--PRIORITIES, SCOPE, REVIEW, AND COORDINATION OF AGRICULTURAL 
                   RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION

SEC. 101. STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL FUNDING OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
                    EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
agricultural research, extension, or education activities 
described in subsection (b) address a concern that--
            (1) is a priority, as determined under section 
        102(a); and
            (2) has national, multistate, or regional 
        significance.
    (b) Application.--Subsection (a) applies to--
            (1) research activities conducted by the 
        Agricultural Research Service; and
            (2) research, extension, or education activities 
        administered, on a competitive basis, by the 
        Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
        Service.

SEC. 102. PRIORITY SETTING PROCESS.

    (a) Establishment.--Consistent with section 1402 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101), the Secretary shall establish 
priorities for agricultural research, extension, and education 
activities conducted or funded by the Department.
    (b) Responsibilities of Secretary.--In establishing 
priorities for agricultural research, extension, and education 
activities conducted or funded by the Department, the Secretary 
shall solicit and consider input and recommendations from 
persons who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or 
education.
    (c) Responsibilities of 1862, 1890, and 1994 
Institutions.--
            (1) Process.--Effective October 1, 1999, to obtain 
        agricultural research, extension, or education formula 
        funds from the Secretary, each 1862 Institution, 1890 
        Institution, and 1994 Institution shall establish and 
        implement a process for obtaining input from persons 
        who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or 
        education concerning the use of the funds.
            (2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations that prescribe--
                    (A) the requirements for an institution 
                referred to in paragraph (1) to comply with 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) the consequences for an institution of 
                not complying with paragraph (1), which may 
                include the withholding or redistribution of 
                funds to which the institution may be entitled 
                until the institution complies with paragraph 
                (1).
    (d) Management Principles.--To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that federally 
supported and conducted agricultural research, extension, and 
education activities are accomplished in a manner that--
            (1) integrates agricultural research, extension, 
        and education functions to better link research to 
        technology transfer and information dissemination 
        activities;
            (2) encourages regional and multistate programs to 
        address relevant issues of common concern and to better 
        leverage scarce resources; and
            (3) achieves agricultural research, extension, and 
        education objectives through multi-institutional and 
        multifunctional approaches and by conducting research 
        at facilities and institutions best equipped to achieve 
        those objectives.

SEC. 103. RELEVANCE AND MERIT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                    EDUCATION FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

    (a) Review of Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.--
            (1) Peer review of research grants.--The Secretary 
        shall establish procedures that provide for scientific 
        peer review of each agricultural research grant 
        administered, on a competitive basis, by the 
        Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
        Service of the Department.
            (2) Merit review of extension and education 
        grants.--
                    (A) Establishment of procedures.--The 
                Secretary shall establish procedures that 
                provide for merit review of each agricultural 
                extension or education grant administered, on a 
                competitive basis, by the Cooperative State 
                Research, Education, and Extension Service.
                    (B) Consultation with advisory board.--The 
                Secretary shall consult with the Advisory Board 
                in establishing the merit review procedures.
    (b) Advisory Board Review.--On an annual basis, the 
Advisory Board shall review--
            (1) the relevance to the priorities established 
        under section 102(a) of the funding of all agricultural 
        research, extension, or education activities conducted 
        or funded by the Department; and
            (2) the adequacy of the funding.
    (c) Requests for Proposals.--
            (1) Review results.--As soon as practicable after 
        the review is conducted under subsection (b) for a 
        fiscal year, the Secretary shall consider the results 
        of the review when formulating each request for 
        proposals, and evaluating proposals, involving an 
        agricultural research, extension, or education activity 
        funded, on a competitive basis, by the Department.
            (2) Input.--In formulating a request for proposals 
        described in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the 
        Secretary shall solicit and consider input from persons 
        who conduct or use agricultural research, extension, or 
        education regarding the prior year's request for 
        proposals.
    (d) Scientific Peer Review of Agricultural Research.--
            (1) Peer review procedures.--The Secretary shall 
        establish procedures that ensure scientific peer review 
        of all research activities conducted by the Department.
            (2) Review panel required.--As part of the 
        procedures established under paragraph (1), a review 
        panel shall verify, at least once every 5 years, that 
        each research activity of the Department and research 
        conducted under each research program of the Department 
        has scientific merit and relevance.
            (3) Mission area.--If the research activity or 
        program to be reviewed is included in the research, 
        educational, and economics mission area of the 
        Department, the review panel shall consider--
                    (A) the scientific merit and relevance of 
                the activity or research in light of the 
                priorities established pursuant to section 102; 
                and
                    (B) the national or multistate significance 
                of the activity or research.
            (4) Composition of review panel.--
                    (A) In general.--A review panel shall be 
                composed of individuals with scientific 
                expertise, a majority of whom are not employees 
                of the agency whose research is being reviewed.
                    (B) Scientists from colleges and 
                universities.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, the Secretary shall use scientists 
                from colleges and universities to serve on the 
                review panels.
            (5) Submission of results.--The results of the 
        panel reviews shall be submitted to the Advisory Board.
    (e) Merit Review.--
            (1) 1862 and 1890 institutions.--Effective October 
        1, 1999, to be eligible to obtain agricultural research 
        or extension funds from the Secretary for an activity, 
        each 1862 Institution and 1890 Institution shall--
                    (A) establish a process for merit review of 
                the activity; and
                    (B) review the activity in accordance with 
                the process.
            (2) 1994 institutions.--Effective October 1, 1999, 
        to be eligible to obtain agricultural extension funds 
        from the Secretary for an activity, each 1994 
        Institution shall--
                    (A) establish a process for merit review of 
                the activity; and
                    (B) review the activity in accordance with 
                the process.
    (f) Repeal of Provisions for Withholding Funds.--
            (1) Smith-lever act.--Section 6 of the Smith-Lever 
        Act (7 U.S.C. 346) is repealed.
            (2) Hatch act of 1887.--Section 7 of the Hatch Act 
        of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361g) is amended by striking the last 
        paragraph.
            (3) National agricultural research, extension, and 
        teaching policy act of 1977.--The National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is 
        amended--
                    (A) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)--
                            (i) by striking subsection (f); and
                            (ii) by redesignating subsection 
                        (g) as subsection (f);
                    (B) in section 1445(g) (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)), 
                by striking paragraph (3); and
                    (C) by striking section 1468 (7 U.S.C. 
                3314).

SEC. 104. RESEARCH FORMULA FUNDS FOR 1862 INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
U.S.C. 361c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 
                and 5 as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4), 
                respectively; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(3) Not less than 25 percent shall be allotted to 
        the States for cooperative research employing 
        multidisciplinary approaches in which a State 
        agricultural experiment station, working with another 
        State agricultural experiment station, the Agricultural 
        Research Service, or a college or university, 
        cooperates to solve problems that concern more than 1 
        State. The funds available under this paragraph, 
        together with the funds available under subsection (b) 
        for a similar purpose, shall be designated as the 
        `Multistate Research Fund, State Agricultural 
        Experiment Stations'.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Peer Review and Plan of Work.--
            ``(1) Peer review.--Research carried out under 
        subsection (c)(3) shall be subject to scientific peer 
        review. The review of a project conducted under this 
        paragraph shall be considered to satisfy the merit 
        review requirements of section 103(e) of the 
        Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform 
        Act of 1998.
            ``(2) Plan of work.--The State shall include in the 
        plan of work of the State required under section 7 a 
        description of the manner in which the State will meet 
        the requirements of subsection (c)(3).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 
1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``subsection 
        3(c)(3)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''; and
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection 
        3(c)3'' and inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''.

SEC. 105. EXTENSION FORMULA FUNDS FOR 1862 INSTITUTIONS.

    Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Multistate Cooperative Extension Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less than the applicable 
        percentage specified under paragraph (2) of the amounts 
        that are paid to a State under subsections (b) and (c) 
        during a fiscal year shall be expended by States for 
        cooperative extension activities in which 2 or more 
        States cooperate to solve problems that concern more 
        than 1 State (referred to in this subsection as 
        `multistate activities').
            ``(2) Applicable percentages.--
                    ``(A) 1997 expenditures on multistate 
                activities.--Of the Federal formula funds that 
                were paid to each State for fiscal year 1997 
                under subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary of 
                Agriculture shall determine the percentage that 
                the State expended for multistate activities.
                    ``(B) Required expenditures on multistate 
                activities.--Of the Federal formula funds that 
                are paid to each State for fiscal year 2000 and 
                each subsequent fiscal year under subsections 
                (b) and (c), the State shall expend for the 
                fiscal year for multistate activities a 
                percentage that is at least equal to the lesser 
                of--
                            ``(i) 25 percent; or
                            ``(ii) twice the percentage for the 
                        State determined under subparagraph 
                        (A).
                    ``(C) Reduction by secretary.--The 
                Secretary may reduce the minimum percentage 
                required to be expended for multistate 
                activities under subparagraph (B) by a State in 
                a case of hardship, infeasibility, or other 
                similar circumstance beyond the control of the 
                State, as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(D) Plan of work.--The State shall 
                include in the plan of work of the State 
                required under section 4 a description of the 
                manner in which the State will meet the 
                requirements of this paragraph.
            ``(3) Applicability.--This subsection does not 
        apply to funds provided--
                    ``(A) by a State or local government 
                pursuant to a matching requirement;
                    ``(B) to a 1994 Institution (as defined in 
                section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-
                Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 
                U.S.C. 301 note)); or
                    ``(C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
                the Virgin Islands, or Guam.
    ``(i) Merit Review.--
            ``(1) Review required.--Effective October 1, 1999, 
        extension activity carried out under subsection (h) 
        shall be subject to merit review.
            ``(2) Other requirements.--An extension activity 
        for which merit review is conducted under paragraph (1) 
        shall be considered to have satisfied the requirements 
        for review under section 103(e) of the Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
        1998.''.

SEC. 106. RESEARCH FACILITIES.

    (a) Criteria for Approval.--Section 3(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the 
Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390a(c)(2)(C)(ii)) is amended 
by striking ``regional needs'' and inserting ``national or 
multistate needs''.
    (b) National or Multistate Needs Served by ARS 
Facilities.--Section 3 of the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 
390a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) National or Multistate Needs Served by ARS 
Facilities.--The Secretary shall ensure that each research 
activity conducted by a facility of the Agricultural Research 
Service serves a national or multistate need.''.
    (c) 10-Year Strategic Plan.--Section 4(d) of the Research 
Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b(d)) is amended by striking 
``regional'' and inserting ``multistate''.
    (d) Comprehensive Research Capacity.--Section 4 of the 
Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390b) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(g) Comprehensive Research Capacity.--After submission of 
the 10-year strategic plan required under subsection (d), the 
Secretary shall continue to review periodically each operating 
agricultural research facility constructed in whole or in part 
with Federal funds, and each planned agricultural research 
facility proposed to be constructed in whole or in part with 
Federal funds, pursuant to criteria established by the 
Secretary, to ensure that a comprehensive research capacity is 
maintained.''.

  TITLE II--REFORM OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                         EDUCATION AUTHORITIES

           Subtitle A--Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887

SEC. 201. COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK BY 1862, 1890, AND 
                    1994 INSTITUTIONS.

    Section 3(b)(3) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)) 
is amended in the last sentence by striking ``State 
institutions'' and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting ``1994 Institutions (in accordance with 
regulations that the Secretary may promulgate) and may be 
administered by the 1994 Institutions through cooperative 
agreements with colleges and universities eligible to receive 
funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 
7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 
419, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee 
University, located in any State.''.

SEC. 202. PLANS OF WORK TO ADDRESS CRITICAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
                    ISSUES AND USE OF PROTOCOLS TO MEASURE SUCCESS OF 
                    PLANS.

    (a) Smith-Lever Act.--Section 4 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 344) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Sec. 4.'' and inserting the 
        following:

``SEC. 4. ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE TO FUNDS; TIME AND 
                    MANNER OF PAYMENT; STATE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; 
                    PLANS OF WORK.

    ``(a) Ascertainment of Entitlement.--'';
            (2) in the last sentence, by striking ``Such sums'' 
        and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Time and Manner of Payment; Related Reports.--The 
amount to which a State is entitled''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Requirements Related to Plan of Work.--Each extension 
plan of work for a State required under subsection (a) shall 
contain descriptions of the following:
            ``(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and 
        long-term agricultural issues in the State and the 
        current and planned extension programs and projects 
        targeted to address the issues.
            ``(2) The process established to consult with 
        extension users regarding the identification of 
        critical agricultural issues in the State and the 
        development of extension programs and projects targeted 
        to address the issues.
            ``(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate 
        with other colleges and universities within the State, 
        and within other States, that have a unique capacity to 
        address the identified agricultural issues in the State 
        and the extent of current and emerging efforts 
        (including regional efforts) to work with those other 
        institutions.
            ``(4) The manner in which research and extension, 
        including research and extension activities funded 
        other than through formula funds, will cooperate to 
        address the critical issues in the State, including the 
        activities to be carried out separately, the activities 
        to be carried out sequentially, and the activities to 
        be carried out jointly.
            ``(5) The education and outreach programs already 
        underway to convey available research results that are 
        pertinent to a critical agricultural issue, including 
        efforts to encourage multicounty cooperation in the 
        dissemination of research results.
    ``(d) Extension Protocols.--
            ``(1) Development.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the 
        success of multistate, multi-institutional, and 
        multidisciplinary extension activities and joint 
        research and extension activities in addressing 
        critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of 
        work submitted under subsection (a).
            ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall develop the protocols in consultation with the 
        National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, 
        and Economics Advisory Board established under section 
        1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
        and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) and 
        land-grant colleges and universities.
    ``(e) Treatment of Plans of Work for Other Purposes.--To 
the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a 
plan of work submitted under subsection (a) to satisfy other 
appropriate Federal reporting requirements.''.
    (b) Hatch Act of 1887.--Section 7 of the Hatch Act of 1887 
(7 U.S.C. 361g) (as amended by section 103(f)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Sec. 7.'' and inserting the 
        following:

``SEC. 7. DUTIES OF SECRETARY; ASCERTAINMENT OF ENTITLEMENT OF STATE TO 
                    FUNDS; PLANS OF WORK.

    ``(a) Duties of Secretary.--'';
            (2) by striking ``On or before'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Ascertainment of Entitlement.--On or before'';
            (3) by striking ``Whenever it shall appear'' and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(c) Effect of Failure To Expend Full Allotment.--Whenever 
it shall appear''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Plan of Work Required.--Before funds may be provided 
to a State under this Act for any fiscal year, a plan of work 
to be carried out under this Act shall be submitted by the 
proper officials of the State and shall be approved by the 
Secretary of Agriculture.
    ``(e) Requirements Related to Plan of Work.--Each plan of 
work for a State required under subsection (d) shall contain 
descriptions of the following:
            ``(1) The critical short-term, intermediate, and 
        long-term agricultural issues in the State and the 
        current and planned research programs and projects 
        targeted to address the issues.
            ``(2) The process established to consult with users 
        of agricultural research regarding the identification 
        of critical agricultural issues in the State and the 
        development of research programs and projects targeted 
        to address the issues.
            ``(3) The efforts made to identify and collaborate 
        with other colleges and universities within the State, 
        and within other States, that have a unique capacity to 
        address the identified agricultural issues in the State 
        and the extent of current and emerging efforts 
        (including regional efforts) to work with those other 
        institutions.
            ``(4) The manner in which research and extension, 
        including research and extension activities funded 
        other than through formula funds, will cooperate to 
        address the critical issues in the State, including the 
        activities to be carried out separately, the activities 
        to be carried out sequentially, and the activities to 
        be carried out jointly.
    ``(f) Research Protocols.--
            ``(1) Development.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall develop protocols to be used to evaluate the 
        success of multistate, multi-institutional, and 
        multidisciplinary research activities and joint 
        research and extension activities in addressing 
        critical agricultural issues identified in the plans of 
        work submitted under subsection (d).
            ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall develop the protocols in consultation with the 
        National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, 
        and Economics Advisory Board established under section 
        1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
        and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) and 
        land-grant colleges and universities.
    ``(g) Treatment of Plans of Work for Other Purposes.--To 
the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall consider a 
plan of work submitted under subsection (d) to satisfy other 
appropriate Federal reporting requirements.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
take effect on October 1, 1999.

SEC. 203. CONSISTENT MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS UNDER HATCH ACT OF 
                    1887 AND SMITH-LEVER ACT.

    (a) Hatch Act of 1887.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 
(7 U.S.C. 361c) is amended by striking subsection (d) and 
inserting the following:
    ``(d) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--No allotment shall be made to a 
        State under subsection (b) or (c), and no payments from 
        the allotment shall be made to a State, in excess of 
        the amount that the State makes available out of non-
        Federal funds for agricultural research and for the 
        establishment and maintenance of facilities for the 
        performance of the research.
            ``(2) Failure to provide matching funds.--If a 
        State fails to comply with the requirement to provide 
        matching funds for a fiscal year under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary of Agriculture shall withhold from 
        payment to the State for that fiscal year an amount 
        equal to the difference between--
                    ``(A) the amount that would be allotted and 
                paid to the State under subsections (b) and (c) 
                (if the full amount of matching funds were 
                provided by the State); and
                    ``(B) the amount of matching funds actually 
                provided by the State.
            ``(3) Reapportionment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of 
                Agriculture shall reapportion amounts withheld 
                under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year among the 
                States satisfying the matching requirement for 
                that fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Matching requirement.--Any 
                reapportionment of funds under this paragraph 
                shall be subject to the matching requirement 
                specified in paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Smith-Lever Act.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 
U.S.C. 343) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs 1 and 2 as 
                paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), 
                by striking ``census: Provided, That payments'' 
                and all that follows through ``Provided 
                further, That any'' and inserting ``census. 
                Any''; and
            (2) by striking subsections (e) and (f) and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(e) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--Except as provided in 
        subsection (f), no allotment shall be made to a State 
        under subsection (b) or (c), and no payments from the 
        allotment shall be made to a State, in excess of the 
        amount that the State makes available out of non-
        Federal funds for cooperative extension work.
            ``(2) Failure to provide matching funds.--If a 
        State fails to comply with the requirement to provide 
        matching funds for a fiscal year under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary of Agriculture shall withhold from 
        payment to the State for that fiscal year an amount 
        equal to the difference between--
                    ``(A) the amount that would be allotted and 
                paid to the State under subsections (b) and (c) 
                (if the full amount of matching funds were 
                provided by the State); and
                    ``(B) the amount of matching funds actually 
                provided by the State.
            ``(3) Reapportionment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of 
                Agriculture shall reapportion amounts withheld 
                under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year among the 
                States satisfying the matching requirement for 
                that fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Matching requirement.--Any 
                reapportionment of funds under this paragraph 
                shall be subject to the matching requirement 
                specified in paragraph (1).
    ``(f) Matching Funds Exception for 1994 Institutions.--
There shall be no matching requirement for funds made available 
to a 1994 Institution pursuant to subsection (b)(3).''.
    (c) Technical Corrections.--
            (1) Recognition of statehood of alaska and 
        hawaii.--Section 1 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 
        361a) is amended in the second sentence by striking 
        ``Alaska, Hawaii,''.
            (2) Role of secretary of agriculture.--Section 3 of 
        the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) is amended--
                    (A) in subsections (b)(1), (c), and (d), by 
                striking ``Federal Extension Service'' each 
                place it appears and inserting ``Secretary of 
                Agriculture''; and
                    (B) in subsection (g)(1), by striking 
                ``through the Federal Extension Service''.
            (3) References to regional research fund.--Section 
        5 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361e) is amended 
        in the first sentence by striking ``regional research 
        fund authorized by subsection 3(c)(3)'' and inserting 
        ``Multistate Research Fund, State Agricultural 
        Experiment Stations''.

SEC. 204. INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.

    (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 
U.S.C. 361c) (as amended by section 104(a)(2)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Integration of Research and Extension.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less than the applicable 
        percentage specified under paragraph (2) of the Federal 
        formula funds that are paid under this Act and 
        subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 of the Smith-Lever 
        Act (7 U.S.C. 343) to colleges and universities 
        eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 
        (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), 
        during a fiscal year shall be expended for activities 
        that integrate cooperative research and extension 
        (referred to in this subsection as `integrated 
        activities').
            ``(2) Applicable percentages.--
                    ``(A) 1997 expenditures on multistate 
                activities.--Of the Federal formula funds that 
                were paid to each State for fiscal year 1997 
                under this Act and subsections (b) and (c) of 
                section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
                343), the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
                determine the percentage that the State 
                expended for integrated activities.
                    ``(B) Required expenditures on multistate 
                activities.--Of the Federal formula funds that 
                are paid to each State for fiscal year 2000 and 
                each subsequent fiscal year under this Act and 
                subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 of the 
                Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343), the State shall 
                expend for the fiscal year for integrated 
                activities a percentage that is at least equal 
                to the lesser of--
                            ``(i) 25 percent; or
                            ``(ii) twice the percentage for the 
                        State determined under subparagraph 
                        (A).
                    ``(C) Reduction by secretary.--The 
                Secretary of Agriculture may reduce the minimum 
                percentage required to be expended by a State 
                for integrated activities under subparagraph 
                (B) in a case of hardship, infeasibility, or 
                other similar circumstance beyond the control 
                of the State, as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(D) Plan of work.--The State shall 
                include in the plan of work of the State 
                required under section 7 of this Act or section 
                4 of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 344), as 
                applicable, a description of the manner in 
                which the State will meet the requirements of 
                this paragraph.
            ``(3) Applicability.--This subsection does not 
        apply to funds provided--
                    ``(A) by a State or local government 
                pursuant to a matching requirement;
                    ``(B) to a 1994 Institution (as defined in 
                section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-
                Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 
                U.S.C. 301 note)); or
                    ``(C) to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
                the Virgin Islands, or Guam.
            ``(4) Relationship to other requirements.--Federal 
        formula funds described in paragraph (1) that are used 
        by a State for a fiscal year for integrated activities 
        in accordance with paragraph (2)(B) may also be used to 
        satisfy the multistate activities requirements of 
        subsection (c)(3) of this section and section 3(h) of 
        the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(h)) for the same 
        fiscal year.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3 of the Smith-Lever Act 
(7 U.S.C. 343) (as amended by section 105) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(j) Integration of Research and Extension.--Section 3(i) 
of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361c(i)) shall apply to 
amounts made available to carry out this Act.''.

  Subtitle B--Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act

SEC. 211. COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

    The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended in subsection (b)--
            (1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by 
        inserting ``national laboratories,'' after ``Federal 
        agencies,'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``regional'' and 
        inserting ``multistate'';
            (3) in the second sentence of paragraph (3)(E), by 
        striking ``an individual shall have less than'' and all 
        that follows through ``research experience'' and 
        inserting ``an individual shall be within 5 years of 
        the individual's initial career track position''; and
            (4) in paragraph (8)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``the cost'' and inserting 
                ``the cost of''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following: 
                ``The Secretary may waive all or part of the 
                matching requirement under this subparagraph in 
                the case of a smaller college or university (as 
                described in section 793(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the 
                Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act 
                of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f(c)(2)(C)(ii))) if the 
                equipment to be acquired costs not more than 
                $25,000 and has multiple uses within a single 
                research project or is usable in more than 1 
                research project.''.

SEC. 212. SPECIAL GRANTS.

    The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 450i) is amended in subsection (c)--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``5 years'' and inserting 
                ``3 years'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, 
                extension, or education activities'' after 
                ``conducting research''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding clause 
                        (i), by inserting ``, extension, or 
                        education'' after ``agricultural 
                        research'';
                            (ii) in clause (i), by inserting 
                        ``, extension, or education'' after 
                        ``research''; and
                            (iii) in clause (iv), by striking 
                        ``among States through regional 
                        research'' and inserting ``, extension, 
                        or education among States through 
                        regional''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Review requirements.--
                    ``(A) Research activities.--The Secretary 
                shall make a grant under this subsection for a 
                research activity only if the activity has 
                undergone scientific peer review arranged by 
                the grantee in accordance with regulations 
                promulgated by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Extension and education activities.--
                The Secretary shall make a grant under this 
                subsection for an extension or education 
                activity only if the activity has undergone 
                merit review arranged by the grantee in 
                accordance with regulations promulgated by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(6) Reports.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A recipient of a grant 
                under this subsection shall submit to the 
                Secretary on an annual basis a report 
                describing the results of the research, 
                extension, or education activity and the merit 
                of the results.
                    ``(B) Public availability.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as 
                        provided in clause (ii), on request, 
                        the Secretary shall make the report 
                        available to the public.
                            ``(ii) Exceptions.--Clause (i) 
                        shall not apply to the extent that 
                        making the report, or a part of the 
                        report, available to the public is not 
                        authorized or permitted by section 552 
                        of title 5, United States Code, or 
                        section 1905 of title 18, United States 
                        Code.''.

  Subtitle C--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                           Policy Act of 1977

SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                    EDUCATION.

    (a) Food and Agricultural Sciences.--Section 1404 of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103) is amended by striking paragraph 
(8) and inserting the following:
            ``(8) Food and agricultural sciences.--The term 
        `food and agricultural sciences' means basic, applied, 
        and developmental research, extension, and teaching 
        activities in food and fiber, agricultural, renewable 
        natural resources, forestry, and physical and social 
        sciences, including activities relating to the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Animal health, production, and well-
                being.
                    ``(B) Plant health and production.
                    ``(C) Animal and plant germ plasm 
                collection and preservation.
                    ``(D) Aquaculture.
                    ``(E) Food safety.
                    ``(F) Soil and water conservation and 
                improvement.
                    ``(G) Forestry, horticulture, and range 
                management.
                    ``(H) Nutritional sciences and promotion.
                    ``(I) Farm enhancement, including financial 
                management, input efficiency, and 
                profitability.
                    ``(J) Home economics.
                    ``(K) Rural human ecology.
                    ``(L) Youth development and agricultural 
                education, including 4-H clubs.
                    ``(M) Expansion of domestic and 
                international markets for agricultural 
                commodities and products, including 
                agricultural trade barrier identification and 
                analysis.
                    ``(N) Information management and technology 
                transfer related to agriculture.
                    ``(O) Biotechnology related to agriculture.
                    ``(P) The processing, distributing, 
                marketing, and utilization of food and 
                agricultural products.''.
    (b) References to Teaching or Education.--Section 1404(14) 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(14)) is amended by striking 
``the term `teaching' means'' and inserting ``Teaching and 
education.--The terms `teaching' and `education' mean''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1404 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``title--'' and inserting ``title:'';
            (2) in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), 
        (10) through (13), (15), (16), and (17), by striking 
        ``the term'' each place it appears and inserting ``The 
        term'';
            (3) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the terms'' and 
        inserting ``The terms'';
            (4) in paragraph (9), by striking ``the term'' the 
        first place it appears and inserting ``The term'';
            (5) by striking the semicolon at the end of 
        paragraphs (1) through (7) and (9) through (15) and 
        inserting a period; and
            (6) in paragraph (16)(F), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a period.

SEC. 222. ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) Representation on Board.--Section 1408(b) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(7) Equal representation of public and private 
        sector members.--In appointing members to serve on the 
        Advisory Board, the Secretary shall ensure, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, equal representation of 
        public and private sector members.''.
    (b) Consultation.--Section 1408(d) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``In'' and inserting the following:
            ``(1) Duties of advisory board.--In''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Duties of secretary.--To comply with a 
        provision of this title or any other law that requires 
        the Secretary to consult or cooperate with the Advisory 
        Board or that authorizes the Advisory Board to submit 
        recommendations to the Secretary, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) solicit the written opinions and 
                recommendations of the Advisory Board; and
                    ``(B) provide a written response to the 
                Advisory Board regarding the manner and extent 
                to which the Secretary will implement 
                recommendations submitted by the Advisory 
                Board.''.
    (c) Limitation on Expenses of Advisory Board.--Section 1408 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection 
        (h); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the 
        following:
    ``(g) Annual Limitation on Advisory Board Expenses.--
            ``(1) Maximum amount.--Not more than $350,000 may 
        be used to cover the necessary expenses of the Advisory 
        Board for each fiscal year.
            ``(2) General limitation.--The expenses of the 
        Advisory Board shall not be counted toward any general 
        limitation on the expenses of advisory committees, 
        panels, commissions, and task forces of the Department 
        of Agriculture contained in any Act making 
        appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, 
        whether enacted before, on, or after the date of 
        enactment of this paragraph, unless the appropriation 
        Act specifically refers to this subsection and 
        specifically includes this Advisory Board within the 
        general limitation.''.

SEC. 223. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 
                    EDUCATION.

    Section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), 
        (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (d), (f), 
        (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the 
        following:
    ``(c) Priorities.--In awarding grants under subsection (b), 
the Secretary shall give priority to--
            ``(1) applications for teaching enhancement 
        projects that demonstrate enhanced coordination among 
        all types of institutions eligible for funding under 
        this section; and
            ``(2) applications for teaching enhancement 
        projects that focus on innovative, multidisciplinary 
        education programs, material, and curricula.''; and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (d) (as 
        redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following:
    ``(e) Food and Agricultural Education Information System.--
From amounts made available for grants under this section, the 
Secretary may maintain a national food and agricultural 
education information system that contains--
            ``(1) information on enrollment, degrees awarded, 
        faculty, and employment placement in the food and 
        agricultural sciences; and
            ``(2) such other similar information as the 
        Secretary considers appropriate.''.

SEC. 224. POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.

    Section 1419A(a) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3155(a)) 
is amended by inserting ``and trade agreements'' after ``public 
policies''.

SEC. 225. PLANS OF WORK FOR 1890 INSTITUTIONS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL 
                    RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ISSUES AND USE OF PROTOCOLS 
                    TO MEASURE SUCCESS OF PLANS.

    (a) Extension at 1890 Institutions.--Section 1444(d) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(d)'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(d) Ascertainment of Entitlement to Funds; Time and 
Manner of Payment; State Reporting Requirements; Plans of 
Work.--
            ``(1) Ascertainment of entitlement.--'';
            (2) in the last sentence, by striking ``Such sums'' 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Time and manner of payment; related 
        reports.--The amount to which an eligible institution 
        is entitled''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Requirements related to plan of work.--Each 
        plan of work for an eligible institution required under 
        this section shall contain descriptions of the 
        following:
                    ``(A) The critical short-term, 
                intermediate, and long-term agricultural issues 
                in the State in which the eligible institution 
                is located and the current and planned 
                extension programs and projects targeted to 
                address the issues.
                    ``(B) The process established to consult 
                with extension users regarding the 
                identification of critical agricultural issues 
                in the State and the development of extension 
                programs and projects targeted to address the 
                issues.
                    ``(C) The efforts made to identify and 
                collaborate with other colleges and 
                universities within the State, and within other 
                States, that have a unique capacity to address 
                the identified agricultural issues in the State 
                and the extent of current and emerging efforts 
                (including regional extension efforts) to work 
                with those other institutions.
                    ``(D) The manner in which research and 
                extension, including research and extension 
                activities funded other than through formula 
                funds, will cooperate to address the critical 
                issues in the State, including the activities 
                to be carried out separately, the activities to 
                be carried out sequentially, and the activities 
                to be carried out jointly.
                    ``(E) The education and outreach programs 
                already underway to convey currently available 
                research results that are pertinent to a 
                critical agricultural issue, including efforts 
                to encourage multicounty cooperation in the 
                dissemination of research results.
            ``(4) Extension protocols.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                develop protocols to be used to evaluate the 
                success of multistate, multi-institutional, and 
                multidisciplinary extension activities and 
                joint research and extension activities in 
                addressing critical agricultural issues 
                identified in the plans of work submitted under 
                this section.
                    ``(B) Consultation.--The Secretary shall 
                develop the protocols in consultation with the 
                Advisory Board and land-grant colleges and 
                universities.
            ``(5) Treatment of plans of work for other 
        purposes.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall consider a plan of work submitted under 
        this section to satisfy other appropriate Federal 
        reporting requirements.''.
    (b) Agricultural Research At 1890 Institutions.--Section 
1445(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(c)'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(c) Program and Plans of Work.--
            ``(1) Initial comprehensive program of agricultural 
        research.--''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Plan of work required.--Before funds may be 
        provided to an eligible institution under this section 
        for any fiscal year, a plan of work to be carried out 
        under this section shall be submitted by the research 
        director specified in subsection (d) and shall be 
        approved by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Requirements related to plan of work.--Each 
        plan of work required under paragraph (2) shall contain 
        descriptions of the following:
                    ``(A) The critical short-term, 
                intermediate, and long-term agricultural issues 
                in the State in which the eligibleinstitution 
is located and the current and planned research programs and projects 
targeted to address the issues.
                    ``(B) The process established to consult 
                with users of agricultural research regarding 
                the identification of critical agricultural 
                issues in the State and the development of 
                research programs and projects targeted to 
                address the issues.
                    ``(C) Other colleges and universities 
                within the State, and within other States, that 
                have a unique capacity to address the 
                identified agricultural issues in the State.
                    ``(D) The current and emerging efforts to 
                work with those other institutions to build on 
                each other's experience and take advantage of 
                each institution's unique capacities.
                    ``(E) The manner in which research and 
                extension, including research and extension 
                activities funded other than through formula 
                funds, will cooperate to address the critical 
                issues in the State, including the activities 
                to be carried out separately, the activities to 
                be carried out sequentially, and the activities 
                to be carried out jointly.
            ``(4) Research protocols.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                develop protocols to be used to evaluate the 
                success of multistate, multi-institutional, and 
                multidisciplinary research activities and joint 
                research and extension activities in addressing 
                critical agricultural issues identified in the 
                plans of work submitted under paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Consultation.--The Secretary shall 
                develop the protocols in consultation with the 
                Advisory Board and land-grant colleges and 
                universities.
            ``(5) Treatment of plans of work for other 
        purposes.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall consider a plan of work submitted under 
        paragraph (2) to satisfy other appropriate Federal 
        reporting requirements.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
take effect on October 1, 1999.

SEC. 226. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
                    ACTIVITIES AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Imposition of Requirement.--Subtitle G of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 is amended by inserting after section 1448 (7 U.S.C. 
3222c) the following:

``SEC. 1449. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
                    ACTIVITIES AT ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means a college eligible to receive funds 
        under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.) 
        (commonly known as the `Second Morrill Act'), including 
        Tuskegee University.
            ``(2) Formula funds.--The term `formula funds' 
        means the formula allocation funds distributed to 
        eligible institutions under sections 1444 and 1445.
    ``(b) Determination of Non-Federal Sources of Funds.--Not 
later than September 30, 1999, each eligible institution shall 
submit to the Secretary a report describing for fiscal year 
1999--
            ``(1) the sources of non-Federal funds made 
        available by the State to the eligible institution for 
        agricultural research, extension, and education to meet 
        the requirements of this section; and
            ``(2) the amount of such funds generally available 
        from each source.
    ``(c) Matching Formula.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this subtitle, the distribution of formula funds 
to an eligible institution shall be subject to the following 
matching requirements:
            ``(1) For fiscal year 2000, the State shall provide 
        matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount 
        equal to not less than 30 percent of the formula funds 
        to be distributed to the eligible institution.
            ``(2) For fiscal year 2001, the State shall provide 
        matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount 
        equal to not less than 45 percent of the formula funds 
        to be distributed to the eligible institution.
            ``(3) For fiscal year 2002 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter, the State shall provide matching funds from 
        non-Federal sources in an amount equal to not less than 
        50 percent of the formula funds to be distributed to 
        the eligible institution.
    ``(d) Limited Waiver Authority.--
            ``(1) Fiscal year 2000.--Notwithstanding subsection 
        (f), the Secretary may waive the matching funds 
        requirement under subsection (c)(1) for fiscal year 
        2000 for an eligible institution of a State if the 
        Secretary determines that, based on the report received 
        under subsection (b), the State will be unlikely to 
        satisfy the matching requirement.
            ``(2) Future fiscal years.--The Secretary may not 
        waive the matching requirement under subsection (c) for 
        any fiscal year other than fiscal year 2000.
    ``(e) Use of Matching Funds.--Under terms and conditions 
established by the Secretary, matching funds provided as 
required by subsection (c) may be used by an eligible 
institution for agricultural research, extension, and education 
activities.
    ``(f) Redistribution of Funds.--
            ``(1) Redistribution required.--Federal funds that 
        are not matched by a State in accordance with 
        subsection (c) for a fiscal year shall be redistributed 
        by the Secretary to eligible institutions whose States 
        have satisfied the matching funds requirement for that 
        fiscal year.
            ``(2) Administration.--Any redistribution of funds 
        under this subsection shall be subject to the 
        applicable matching requirement specified in subsection 
        (c) and shall be made in a manner consistent with 
        sections 1444 and 1445, as determined by the 
        Secretary.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1445(g) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222(g)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
        (2).
    (c) References to Tuskegee University.--The National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 is amended--
            (1) in section 1404 (7 U.S.C. 3103), by striking 
        ``the Tuskegee Institute'' in paragraphs (10) and 
        (16)(B) and inserting ``Tuskegee University'';
            (2) in section 1444 (7 U.S.C. 3221)--
                    (A) by striking the section heading and 
                ``Sec. 1444.'' and inserting the following:

``SEC. 1444. EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE 
                    UNIVERSITY.'';

                and

                    (B) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking 
                ``Tuskegee Institute'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``Tuskegee University''; and
            (3) in section 1445 (7 U.S.C. 3222)--
                    (A) by striking the section heading and 
                ``Sec. 1445.'' and inserting the following:

``SEC. 1445. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, 
                    INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.'';

                and
                    (B) in subsections (a) and (b)(2)(B), by 
                striking ``Tuskegee Institute'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``Tuskegee University''.

SEC. 227. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND TEACHING.

    (a) Inclusion of Teaching.--Section 1458 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``RESEARCH 
        AND EXTENSION'' and inserting ``RESEARCH, EXTENSION, 
        AND TEACHING'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``related research 
                        and extension'' and inserting ``related 
                        research, extension, and teaching''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by 
                        striking ``research and extension on'' 
                        and inserting ``research, extension, 
                        and teaching activities that address'';
                    (B) in paragraphs (2) and (6), by striking 
                ``education'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``teaching'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking 
                ``scientists and experts'' and inserting 
                ``science and education experts'';
                    (D) in paragraph (5), by inserting 
                ``teaching,'' after ``development,'';
                    (E) in paragraph (7), by striking 
                ``research and extension that is'' and 
                inserting ``research, extension, and teaching 
                programs''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (8), by striking 
                ``research capabilities'' and inserting 
                ``research, extension, and teaching 
                capabilities''; and
            (3) in subsection (b), by striking ``counterpart 
        agencies'' and inserting ``counterpart research, 
        extension, and teaching agencies''.
    (b) Grants for Collaborative Projects.--Section 1458(a) of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
            (2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the 
        end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) make competitive grants for collaborative 
        projects that--
                    ``(A) involve Federal scientists or 
                scientists from land-grant colleges and 
                universities or other colleges and universities 
                with scientists at international agricultural 
                research centers in other nations, including 
                the international agricultural research centers 
                of the Consultative Group on International 
                Agriculture Research;
                    ``(B) focus on developing and using new 
                technologies and programs for--
                            ``(i) increasing the production of 
                        food and fiber, while safeguarding the 
                        environment worldwide and enhancing the 
                        global competitiveness of United States 
                        agriculture; or
                            ``(ii) training scientists;
                    ``(C) are mutually beneficial to the United 
                States and other countries; and
                    ``(D) encourage private sector involvement 
                and the leveraging of private sector funds.''.
    (c) Reports.--Section 1458 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3291) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Reports.--The Secretary shall provide biennial 
reports to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate on efforts of the Federal 
Government--
            ``(1) to coordinate international agricultural 
        research within the Federal Government; and
            ``(2) to more effectively link the activities of 
        domestic and international agricultural researchers, 
        particularly researchers of the Agricultural Research 
        Service.''.
    (d) Full Payment of Funds Made Available for Certain 
Binational Projects.--Section 1458 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3291) is amended by inserting after subsection (d) (as added by 
subsection (c) of this section) the following:
    ``(e) Full Payment of Funds Made Available for Certain 
Binational Projects.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the full amount of any funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available to carry out cooperative projects under the 
arrangement entered into between the Secretary and the 
Government of Israel to support the Israel-United States 
Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund shall be 
paid directly to the Fund.''.
    (e) Subtitle Heading.--Subtitle I of title XIV of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291 et seq.) is amended by striking the 
subtitle heading and inserting the following:

    ``Subtitle I--International Research, Extension, and Teaching''.

SEC. 228. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.

    Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by 
inserting after section 1458 (7 U.S.C. 3291) the following:

``SEC. 1459. UNITED STATES-MEXICO JOINT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH.

    ``(a) Research and Development Program.--The Secretary may 
provide for an agricultural research and development program 
with the United States/Mexico Foundation for Science. The 
program shall focus on binational problems facing agricultural 
producers and consumers in the 2 countries, in particular 
pressing problems in the areas of food safety, plant and animal 
pest control, and the natural resources base on which 
agriculture depends.
    ``(b) Administration.--Grants under the research and 
development program shall be awarded competitively through the 
Foundation.
    ``(c) Matching Requirements.--The provision of funds to the 
Foundation by the United States Government shall be subject to 
the condition that the Government of Mexico match, on at least 
a dollar-for-dollar basis, any funds provided by the United 
States Government.
    ``(d) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Funds provided under 
this section may not be used for the planning, repair, 
rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or 
facility.''.

SEC. 229. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND 
                    EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Subtitle I of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3291 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1459 (as added by 
section 228) the following:

``SEC. 1459A. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE 
                    AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Competitive Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may 
make competitive grants to colleges and universities in order 
to strengthen United States economic competitiveness and to 
promote international market development.
    ``(b) Purpose of Grants.--Grants under this section shall 
be directed to agricultural research, extension, and teaching 
activities that will--
            ``(1) enhance the international content of the 
        curricula in colleges and universities so as to ensure 
        that United States students acquire an understanding of 
        the international dimensions and trade implications of 
        their studies;
            ``(2) ensure that United States scientists, 
        extension agents, and educators involved in 
        agricultural research and development activities 
        outside of the United States have the opportunity to 
        convey the implications of their activities and 
        findings to their peers and students in the United 
        States and to the users of agricultural research, 
        extension, and teaching;
            ``(3) enhance the capabilities of colleges and 
        universities to do collaborative research with other 
        countries, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, 
        on issues relevant to United States agricultural 
        competitiveness;
            ``(4) enhance the capabilities of colleges and 
        universities to provide cooperative extension education 
        to promote the application of new technology developed 
        in foreign countries to United States agriculture; and
            ``(5) enhance the capability of United States 
        colleges and universities, in cooperation with other 
        Federal agencies, to provide leadership and educational 
        programs that will assist United States natural 
        resources and food production, processing, and 
        distribution businesses and industries to compete 
        internationally, including product market 
        identification, international policies limiting or 
        enhancing market production, development of new or 
        enhancement of existing markets, and production 
        efficiencies.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 
2002.''.

SEC. 230. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    (a) Limitation on Charging Indirect Costs.--Subtitle K of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 is amended by inserting before section 1463 
(7 U.S.C. 3311) the following:

``SEC. 1462. LIMITATION ON INDIRECT COSTS FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
                    EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS.

    ``Except as otherwise provided in law, indirect costs 
charged against a competitive agricultural research, education, 
or extension grant awarded under this Act or any other Act 
pursuant to authority delegated to the Under Secretary of 
Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics shall not 
exceed 19 percent of the total Federal funds provided under the 
grant award, as determined by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Limitation on Department Administrative Costs.--Section 
1469 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3315) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and all that 
        follows through ``Except as'' and inserting the 
        following:

``SEC. 1469. AUDITING, REPORTING, BOOKKEEPING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
                    REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--Except as'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(3) the Secretary may retain up to 4 percent of 
        amounts appropriated for agricultural research, 
        extension, and teaching assistance programs for the 
        administration of those programs authorized under this 
        Act or any other Act; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Community Food Projects.--The Secretary may retain, 
for the administration of community food projects under section 
25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2034), 4 percent of 
amounts available for the projects, notwithstanding the 
availability of any appropriation for administrative expenses 
of the projects.
    ``(c) Peer Panel Expenses.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law regarding a competitive research, education, 
or extension grant program of the Department of Agriculture, 
the Secretary may use grant program funds, as necessary, to 
supplement funds otherwise available for program 
administration, to pay for the costs associated with peer 
review of grant proposals under the program.
    ``(d) Definition of In-Kind Support.--In any law relating 
to agricultural research, education, or extension activities 
administered by the Secretary, the term `in-kind support', with 
regard to a requirement that the recipient of funds provided by 
the Secretary match all or part of the amount of the funds, 
means contributions such as office space, equipment, and staff 
support.''.

SEC. 231. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO COST-REIMBURSABLE 
                    AGREEMENTS.

    Section 1473A of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319a) is 
amended in the first sentence by inserting ``or other colleges 
and universities'' after ``institutions''.

   Subtitle D--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990

SEC. 241. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.

    Section 1671 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 1671. AGRICULTURAL GENOME INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Goals.--The goals of this section are--
            ``(1) to expand the knowledge of public and private 
        sector entities and persons concerning genomes for 
        species of importance to the food and agriculture 
        sectors in order to maximize the return on the 
        investment in genomics of agriculturally important 
        species;
            ``(2) to focus on the species that will yield 
        scientifically important results that will enhance the 
        usefulness of many agriculturally important species;
            ``(3) to build on genomic research, such as the 
        Human Genome Initiative and the Arabidopsis Genome 
        Project, to understand gene structure and function that 
        is expected to have considerable payoffs in 
        agriculturally important species;
            ``(4) to develop improved bioinformatics to enhance 
        both sequence or structure determination and analysis 
        of the biological function of genes and gene products;
            ``(5) to encourage Federal Government participants 
        to maximize the utility of public and private 
        partnerships for agricultural genome research;
            ``(6) to allow resources developed under this 
        section, including data, software, germplasm, and other 
        biological materials, to be openly accessible to all 
        persons, subject to any confidentiality requirements 
        imposed by law; and
            ``(7) to encourage international partnerships with 
        each partner country responsible for financing its own 
        strategy for agricultural genome research.
    ``(b) Duties of Secretary.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
(referred to in this section as the `Secretary') shall conduct 
a research initiative (to be known as the `Agricultural Genome 
Initiative') for the purpose of--
            ``(1) studying and mapping agriculturally 
        significant genes to achieve sustainable and secure 
        agricultural production;
            ``(2) ensuring that current gaps in existing 
        agricultural genetics knowledge are filled;
            ``(3) identifying and developing a functional 
        understanding of genes responsible for economically 
        important traits in agriculturally important species, 
        including emerging plant and animal diseases causing 
        economic hardship;
            ``(4) ensuring future genetic improvement of 
        agriculturally important species;
            ``(5) supporting preservation of diverse germplasm;
            ``(6) ensuring preservation of biodiversity to 
        maintain access to genes that may be of importance in 
        the future; and
            ``(7) otherwise carrying out this section.
    ``(c) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary may make grants or 
        enter into cooperative agreements with individuals and 
        organizations in accordance with section 1472 of the 
        National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
        Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3318).
            ``(2) Competitive basis.--A grant or cooperative 
        agreement under this subsection shall be made or 
        entered into on a competitive basis.
    ``(d) Administration.--Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) 
of subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to 
the making of a grant or cooperative agreement under this 
section.
    ``(e) Matching of Funds.--
            ``(1) General requirement.--If a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under this section provides a 
        particular benefit to a specific agricultural 
        commodity, the Secretary shall require the recipient to 
        provide funds or in-kind support to match the amount of 
        funds provided by the Secretary under the grant or 
        cooperative agreement.
            ``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching 
        funds requirement of paragraph (1) with respect to a 
        research project if the Secretary determines that--
                    ``(A) the results of the project, while of 
                particular benefit to a specific agricultural 
                commodity, are likely to be applicable to 
                agricultural commodities generally; or
                    ``(B) the project involves a minor 
                commodity, the project deals with 
                scientifically important research, and the 
                recipient is unable to satisfy the matching 
                funds requirement.
    ``(f) Consultation With National Academy of Sciences.--The 
Secretary may use funds made available under this section to 
consult with the National Academy of Sciences regarding the 
administration of the Agricultural Genome Initiative.''.

SEC. 242. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES.

    Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 1672. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES.

    ``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants 
Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this 
section as the `Secretary') may make competitive grants to 
support research and extension activities specified in 
subsections (e), (f), and (g). The Secretary shall make the 
grants in consultation with the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.
    ``(b) Administration.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in 
        this section, paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of 
        subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and 
        Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall 
        apply with respect to the making of grants under this 
        section.
            ``(2) Use of task forces.--To facilitate the making 
        of research and extension grants under this section in 
        the research and extension areas specified in 
        subsection (e), the Secretary may appoint a task force 
        for each such area to make recommendations to the 
        Secretary. The Secretary may not incur costs in excess 
        of $1,000 for any fiscal year in connection with each 
        task force established under this paragraph.
    ``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the 
        recipient of a grant under this section to provide 
        funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an 
        amount at least equal to the amount provided by the 
        Federal Government.
            ``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive 
        the matching funds requirement specified in paragraph 
        (1) with respect to a research project if the Secretary 
        determines that--
                    ``(A) the results of the project, while of 
                particular benefit to a specific agricultural 
                commodity, are likely to be applicable to 
                agricultural commodities generally; or
                    ``(B) the project involves a minor 
                commodity, the project deals with 
                scientifically important research, and the 
                grant recipient is unable to satisfy the 
                matching funds requirement.
    ``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of 
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this 
section, the Secretary may provide a priority to those grant 
proposals, found in the peer review process to be 
scientifically meritorious, that involve the cooperation of 
multiple entities.
    ``(e) High-Priority Research and Extension Areas.--
            ``(1) Brown citrus aphid and citrus tristeza virus 
        research and extension.--Research and extension grants 
        may be made under this section for the purpose of--
                    ``(A) developing methods to control or 
                eradicate the brown citrus aphid and the citrus 
                tristeza virus from citrus crops grown in the 
                United States; or
                    ``(B) adapting citrus crops grown in the 
                United States to the brown citrus aphid and the 
                citrus tristeza virus.
            ``(2) Ethanol research and extension.--Research and 
        extension grants may be made under this section for the 
        purpose of carrying out or enhancing research on 
        ethanol derived from agricultural crops as an 
        alternative fuel source.
            ``(3) Aflatoxin research and extension.--Research 
        and extension grants may be made under this section for 
        the purpose of identifying and controlling aflatoxin in 
        the food and feed chains.
            ``(4) Mesquite research and extension.--Research 
        and extension grants may be made under this section for 
        the purpose of developing enhanced production methods 
        and commercial uses of mesquite.
            ``(5) Prickly pear research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of investigating enhanced 
        genetic selection and processing techniques of prickly 
        pears.
            ``(6) Deer tick ecology research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of studying the population 
        ecology of deer ticks and other insects and pests that 
        transmit Lyme disease.
            ``(7) Red meat safety research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of developing--
                    ``(A) intervention strategies that reduce 
                microbial contamination on carcass surfaces;
                    ``(B) microbiological mapping of carcass 
                surfaces; and
                    ``(C) model hazard analysis and critical 
                control point plans.
            ``(8) Grain sorghum ergot research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of developing techniques for 
        the eradication of sorghum ergot.
            ``(9) Peanut market enhancement research and 
        extension.--Research and extension grants may be made 
        under this section for the purpose of evaluating the 
        economics of applying innovative technologies for 
        peanut processing in a commercial environment.
            ``(10) Dairy financial risk management research and 
        extension.--Research and extension grants may be made 
        under this section for the purpose of providing 
        research, development, or education materials, 
        information, and outreach programs regarding risk 
        management strategies for dairy producers and for dairy 
        cooperatives and other processors and marketers of 
        milk.
            ``(11) Cotton research and extension.--Research and 
        extension grants may be made under this section for the 
        purpose of improving pest management, fiber quality 
        enhancement, economic assessment, textile production, 
        and optimized production systems for short staple 
        cotton.
            ``(12) Methyl bromide research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of--
                    ``(A) developing and evaluating chemical 
                and nonchemical alternatives, and use and 
                emission reduction strategies, for pre-planting 
                and post-harvest uses of methyl bromide; and
                    ``(B) transferring the results of the 
                research for use by agricultural producers.
            ``(13) Potato research and extension.--Research and 
        extension grants may be made under this section for the 
        purpose of developing and evaluating new strains of 
        potatoes that are resistant to blight and other 
        diseases, as well as insects. Emphasis may be placed on 
        developing potato varieties that lend themselves to 
        innovative marketing approaches.
            ``(14) Wood use research and extension.--Research 
        and extension grants may be made under this section for 
        the purpose of developing new uses for wood from 
        underused tree species as well as investigating methods 
        of modifying wood and wood fibers to produce better 
        building materials.
            ``(15) Low-bush blueberry research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of evaluating methods of 
        propagating and developing low-bush blueberry as a 
        marketable crop.
            ``(16) Wetlands use research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of better use of wetlands in 
        diverse ways to provide various economic, agricultural, 
        and environmental benefits.
            ``(17) Wild pampas grass control, management, and 
        eradication research and extension.--Research and 
        extension grants may be made under this section for the 
        purpose of control, management, and eradication of wild 
        pampas grass.
            ``(18) Food safety, including pathogen detection 
        and limitation, research and extension.--Research and 
        extension grants may be made under this section for the 
        purpose of increasing food safety, including the 
        identification of advanced detection and processing 
        methods to limit the presence of pathogens (including 
        hepatitis A and E. coli 0157:H7) in domestic and 
        imported foods.
            ``(19) Financial risk management research and 
        extension.--Research and extension grants may be made 
        under this section for the purpose of providing 
        research, development, or education materials, 
        information, and outreach programs regarding financial 
        risk management strategies for agricultural producers 
        and for cooperatives and other processors and marketers 
        of any agricultural commodity.
            ``(20) Ornamental tropical fish research and 
        extension.--Research and extension grants may be made 
        under this section for the purpose of meeting the needs 
        of commercial producers of ornamental tropical fish and 
        aquatic plants for improvements in the areas of fish 
        reproduction, health, nutrition, predator control, 
        water use, water quality control, and farming 
        technology.
            ``(21) Sheep scrapie research and extension.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of investigating the genetic 
        aspects of scrapie in sheep.
            ``(22) Gypsy moth research and extension.--Research 
        and extension grants may be made under this section for 
        the purpose of developing biological control, 
        management, and eradication methods against nonnative 
        insects, including Lymantria dispar (commonly known as 
        the `gypsy moth'), that contribute to significant 
        agricultural, economic, or environmental harm.
            ``(23) Forestry research and extension.--Research 
        and extension grants may be made under this section to 
        develop and distribute new, high-quality, science-based 
        information for the purpose of improving the long-term 
        productivity of forest resources and contributing to 
        forest-based economic development by addressing such 
        issues as--
                    ``(A) forest land use policies;
                    ``(B) multiple-use forest management, 
                including wildlife habitat development, 
                improved forest regeneration systems, and 
                timber supply; and
                    ``(C) improved development, manufacturing, 
                and marketing of forest products.
            ``(24) Tomato spotted wilt virus research and 
        extension.--Research and extension grants may be made 
        under this section for the purpose of control, 
        management, and eradication of tomato spotted wilt 
        virus.
    ``(f) Imported Fire Ant Control, Management, and 
Eradication.--
            ``(1) Task force.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        task force pursuant to subsection (b)(2) regarding the 
        control, management, and eradication of imported fire 
        ants. The Secretary shall solicit and evaluate grant 
        proposals under this subsection in consultation with 
        the task force.
            ``(2) Initial grants.--
                    ``(A) Request for proposals.--The Secretary 
                shall publish a request for proposals for 
                grants for research or demonstration projects 
                related to the control, management, and 
                possible eradication of imported fire ants.
                    ``(B) Selection.--Not later than 1 year 
                after the date of publication of the request 
                for proposals, the Secretary shall evaluate the 
                grant proposals submitted in response to the 
                request and may select meritorious research or 
                demonstration projects related to the control, 
                management, and possible eradication of 
                imported fire ants to receive an initial grant 
                under this subsection.
            ``(3) Subsequent grants.--
                    ``(A) Evaluation of initial grants.--If the 
                Secretary awards grants under paragraph (2)(B), 
                the Secretary shall evaluate all of the 
                research or demonstration projects conducted 
                under the grants for their use as the basis of 
                a national plan for the control, management, 
                and possible eradication of imported fire ants 
                by the Federal Government, State and local 
                governments, and owners and operators of land.
                    ``(B) Selection.--On the basis of the 
                evaluation under subparagraph (A), the 
                Secretary may select the projects that the 
                Secretary considers most promising for 
                additional research or demonstration related to 
                preparation of a national plan for the control, 
                management, and possible eradication of 
                imported fire ants. The Secretary shall notify 
                the task force of the projects selected under 
                this subparagraph.
            ``(4) Selection and submission of national plan.--
                    ``(A) Evaluation of subsequent grants.--If 
                the Secretary awards grants under paragraph 
                (3)(B), the Secretary shall evaluate all of the 
                research or demonstration projects conducted 
                under the grants for use as the basis of a 
                national plan for the control, management, and 
                possible eradication of imported fire ants by 
                the Federal Government, State and local 
                governments, and owners and operators of land.
                    ``(B) Selection.--On the basis of the 
                evaluation under subparagraph (A), the 
                Secretary shall select 1 project funded under 
                paragraph (3)(B), or a combination of those 
                projects, for award of a grant for final 
                preparation of the national plan.
                    ``(C) Submission.--The Secretary shall 
                submit to Congress the final national plan 
                prepared under subparagraph (B) for the 
                control, management, and possible eradication 
                of imported fire ants.
    ``(g) Formosan Termite Research and Eradication.--
            ``(1) Research program.--The Secretary may make 
        competitive research grants under this subsection to 
        regional and multijurisdictional entities, local 
        government planning organizations, and local 
        governments for the purpose of conducting research for 
        the control, management, and possible eradication of 
        Formosan termites in the United States.
            ``(2) Eradication program.--The Secretary may enter 
        into cooperative agreements with regional and 
        multijurisdictional entities, local government planning 
        organizations, and local governments for the purposes 
        of--
                    ``(A) conducting projects for the control, 
                management, and possible eradication of 
                Formosan termites in the United States; and
                    ``(B) collecting data on the effectiveness 
                of the projects.
            ``(3) Funding priority.--In allocating funds made 
        available to carry out paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        shall provide a higher priority for regions or 
        locations with the highest historical rates of 
        infestation of Formosan termites.
            ``(4) Management coordination.--The program 
        management of research grants, cooperative agreements, 
        and projects under this subsection shall be conducted 
        under existing authority in coordination with the 
        national formosan termite management and research 
        demonstration program conducted by the Agricultural 
        Research Service.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 
2002.''.

SEC. 243. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
is amended by inserting after section 1672 (7 U.S.C. 5925) the 
following:

``SEC. 1672A. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Competitive Research and Extension Grants 
Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this 
section as the `Secretary') may make competitive grants to 
support research and extension activities specified in 
subsection (e). The Secretary shall make the grants in 
consultation with the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.
    ``(b) Administration.--
            ``(1) In general.--Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and 
        (11) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and 
        Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall 
        apply with respect to the making of grants under this 
        section.
            ``(2) Use of task forces.--To facilitate the making 
        of research and extension grants under this section in 
        the research and extension areas specified in 
        subsection (e), the Secretary may appoint a task force 
        for each such area to make recommendations to the 
        Secretary. The Secretary may not incur costs in excess 
        of $1,000 for any fiscal year in connection with each 
        task force established under this paragraph.
    ``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the 
        recipient of a grant under this section to provide 
        funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an 
        amount at least equal to the amount provided by the 
        Federal Government.
            ``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive 
        the matching funds requirement specified in paragraph 
        (1) with respect to a research project if the Secretary 
        determines that--
                    ``(A) the results of the project, while of 
                particular benefit to a specific agricultural 
                commodity, are likely to be applicable to 
                agricultural commodities generally; or
                    ``(B) the project involves a minor 
                commodity, the project deals with 
                scientifically important research, and the 
                grant recipient is unable to satisfy the 
                matching funds requirement.
    ``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of 
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this 
section, the Secretary may provide a priority to those grant 
proposals, found in the peer review process to be 
scientifically meritorious, that involve the cooperation of 
multiple entities.
    ``(e) Nutrient Management Research and Extension Areas.--
            ``(1) Animal waste and odor management.--Research 
        and extension grants may be made under this section for 
        the purpose of--
                    ``(A) identifying, evaluating, and 
                demonstrating innovative technologies for 
                animal waste management and related air quality 
                management and odor control;
                    ``(B) investigating the unique microbiology 
                of specific animal wastes, such as swine waste, 
                to develop improved methods to effectively 
                manage air and water quality; and
                    ``(C) conducting information workshops to 
                disseminate the results of the research.
            ``(2) Water quality and aquatic ecosystems.--
        Research and extension grants may be made under this 
        section for the purpose of investigating the impact on 
        aquatic food webs, especially commercially important 
        aquatic species and their habitats, of microorganisms 
        of the genus Pfiesteria and other microorganisms that 
        are a threat to human or animal health.
            ``(3) Rural and urban interface.--Research and 
        extension grants may be made under this section for the 
        purpose of identifying, evaluating, and demonstrating 
        innovative technologies to be used for animal waste 
        management (including odor control) in rural areas 
        adjacent to urban or suburban areas in connection with 
        waste management activities undertaken in urban or 
        suburban areas.
            ``(4) Animal feed.--Research and extension grants 
        may be made under this section for the purpose of 
        maximizing nutrition management for livestock, while 
        limiting risks, such as mineral bypass, associated with 
        livestock feeding practices.
            ``(5) Alternative uses of animal waste.--Research 
        and extension grants may be made under this section for 
        the purpose of finding innovative methods and 
        technologies for economic use or disposal of animal 
        waste.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 
2002.''.

SEC. 244. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
is amended by inserting after section 1672A (as added by 
section 243) the following:

``SEC. 1672B. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants 
Authorized.--In consultation with the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, 
the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as 
the `Secretary') may make competitive grants to support 
research and extension activities regarding organically grown 
and processed agricultural commodities for the purposes of--
            ``(1) facilitating the development of organic 
        agriculture production and processing methods;
            ``(2) evaluating the potential economic benefits to 
        producers and processors who use organic methods; and
            ``(3) exploring international trade opportunities 
        for organically grown and processed agricultural 
        commodities.
    ``(b) Grant Types and Process, Prohibition on 
Construction.--Paragraphs (1), (6), (7), and (11) of subsection 
(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant 
Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) shall apply with respect to the making of 
grants under this section.
    ``(c) Matching Funds Required.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require the 
        recipient of a grant under this section to provide 
        funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an 
        amount at least equal to the amount provided by the 
        Federal Government.
            ``(2) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive 
        the matching funds requirement specified in paragraph 
        (1) with respect to a research project if the Secretary 
        determines that--
                    ``(A) the results of the project, while of 
                particular benefit to a specified agricultural 
                commodity, are likely to be applicable to 
                agricultural commodities generally; or
                    ``(B) the project involves a minor 
                commodity, the project deals with 
                scientifically important research, and the 
                grant recipient is unable to satisfy the 
                matching funds requirement.
    ``(d) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of 
a peer review process for grant proposals received under this 
section, the Secretary may provide a priority to those grant 
proposals, found in the peer review process to be 
scientifically meritorious, that involve the cooperation of 
multiple entities.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 
2002.''.

SEC. 245. AGRICULTURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM.

    Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through 
                (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), 
                respectively;
                    (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as 
                so redesignated) the following:
            ``(1) A*DEC.--The term `A*DEC' means the distance 
        education consortium known as A*DEC.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Secretary.--Except as provided in subsection 
        (d)(1), the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of 
        Agriculture, acting through A*DEC.'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``The 
        Secretary shall establish a program, to be administered 
        by the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education,'' 
        and inserting ``The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        establish a program, to be administered through a grant 
        provided to A*DEC under terms and conditions 
        established by the Secretary of Agriculture,''; and
            (3) in the first sentence of subsection (f)(2), by 
        striking ``the Assistant Secretary for Science and 
        Education'' and inserting ``A*DEC''.

SEC. 246. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WITH DISABILITIES.

    Section 1680 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (6);
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Dissemination.--'' and 
                all that follows through ``general.--The'' and 
                inserting ``Dissemination.--The''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there 
        is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
        section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 
        through 2002.
            ``(2) National grant.--Not more than 15 percent of 
        the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for a 
        fiscal year shall be used to carry out subsection 
        (b).''.

                         Subtitle E--Other Laws

SEC. 251. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS ACT OF 1994.

    (a) Definition of 1994 Institutions.--Section 532 of the 
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 
103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(30) Little Priest Tribal College.''.
    (b) Accreditation.--Section 533(a) of the Equity in 
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 
7 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(3) Accreditation.--To receive funding under 
        sections 534 and 535, a 1994 Institution shall certify 
        to the Secretary that the 1994 Institution--
                    ``(A) is accredited by a nationally 
                recognized accrediting agency or association 
                determined by the Secretary, in consultation 
                with the Secretary of Education, to be a 
                reliable authority regarding the quality of 
                training offered; or
                    ``(B) is making progress toward the 
                accreditation, as determined by the nationally 
                recognized accrediting agency or 
                association.''.
    (c) Research Grants.--The Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 536. RESEARCH GRANTS.

    ``(a) Research Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture may make grants under this section, on the basis of 
a competitive application process (and in accordance with such 
regulations as the Secretary may promulgate), to a 1994 
Institution to assist the Institution to conduct agricultural 
research that addresses high priority concerns of tribal, 
national, or multistate significance.
    ``(b) Requirements.--Grant applications submitted under 
this section shall certify that the research to be conducted 
will be performed under a cooperative agreement with at least 1 
other land-grant college or university (exclusive of another 
1994 Institution).
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
carry out this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 
2002. Amounts appropriated shall remain available until 
expended.''.

SEC. 252. FUND FOR RURAL AMERICA.

    Section 793(b) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f(b)) is amended by striking 
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--On October 1, 1998, and each 
        October 1 thereafter through October 1, 2002, out of 
        any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
        the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 
        $60,000,000 to the Account.''.

SEC. 253. FOREST AND RANGELAND RENEWABLE RESOURCES RESEARCH.

    (a) Findings.--Section 2 of the Forest and Rangeland 
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641) is 
amended by striking ``Sec. 2.'' and subsection (a) and 
inserting the following:

``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) Forests and rangeland, and the resources of 
        forests and rangeland, are of strategic economic and 
        ecological importance to the United States, and the 
        Federal Government has an important and substantial 
        role in ensuring the continued health, productivity, 
        and sustainability of the forests and rangeland of the 
        United States.
            ``(2) Over 75 percent of the productive commercial 
        forest land in the United States is privately owned, 
        with some 60 percent owned by small nonindustrial 
        private owners. These 10,000,000 nonindustrial private 
        owners are critical to providing both commodity and 
        noncommodity values to the citizens of the United 
        States.
            ``(3) The National Forest System manages only 17 
        percent of the commercial timberland of the United 
        States, with over half of the standing softwoods 
        inventory located on that land. Dramatic changes in 
        Federal agency policy during the early 1990's have 
        significantly curtailed the management of this vast 
        timber resource, causing abrupt shifts in the supply of 
        timber from public to private ownership. As a result of 
        these shifts in supply, some 60 percent of total wood 
        production in the United States is now coming from 
        private forest land in the southern United States.
            ``(4) At the same time that pressures are building 
        for the removal of even more land from commercial 
        production, the Federal Government is significantly 
        reducing its commitment to productivity-related 
        research regarding forests and rangeland, which is 
        critically needed by the private sector for the 
        sustained management of remaining available timber and 
        forage resources for the benefit of all species.
            ``(5) Uncertainty over the availability of the 
        United States timber supply, increasing regulatory 
        burdens, and the lack of Federal Government support for 
        research is causing domestic wood and paper producers 
        to move outside the United States to find reliable 
        sources of wood supplies, which in turn results in a 
        worsening of the United States trade balance, the loss 
        of employment and infrastructure investments, and an 
        increased risk of infestations of exotic pests and 
        diseases from imported wood products.
            ``(6) Wood and paper producers in the United States 
        are being challenged not only by shifts in Federal 
        Government policy, but also by international 
        competition from tropical countries where growth rates 
        of trees far exceed those in the United States. Wood 
        production per acre will need to quadruple from 1996 
        levels for the United States forestry sector to remain 
        internationally competitive on an ever decreasing 
        forest land base.
            ``(7) Better and more frequent forest inventorying 
        and analysis is necessary to identify productivity-
        related forestry research needs and to provide forest 
        managers with the current data necessary to make timely 
        and effective management decisions.''.
    (b) High Priority Forestry and Rangeland Research and 
Education.--Section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended by 
striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) High Priority Forestry and Rangeland Research and 
Education.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct, 
        support, and cooperate in forestry and rangeland 
        research and education that is of the highest priority 
        to the United States and to users of public and private 
        forest land and rangeland in the United States.
            ``(2) Priorities.--The research and education 
        priorities include the following:
                    ``(A) The biology of forest organisms and 
                rangeland organisms.
                    ``(B) Functional characteristics and cost-
                effective management of forest and rangeland 
                ecosystems.
                    ``(C) Interactions between humans and 
                forests and rangeland.
                    ``(D) Wood and forage as a raw material.
                    ``(E) International trade, competition, and 
                cooperation.
            ``(3) Northeastern states research cooperative.--
        The Secretary may cooperate with the northeastern 
        States of New Hampshire, New York, Maine, and Vermont, 
        land-grant colleges and universities of those States, 
        natural resources and forestry schools of those States, 
        other Federal agencies, and other interested persons in 
        those States to coordinate and improve ecological and 
        economic research relating to agricultural research, 
        extension, and education, including--
                    ``(A) research on ecosystem health, forest 
                management, product development, economics, and 
                related fields;
                    ``(B) research to assist those States and 
                landowners in those States to achieve 
                sustainable forest management;
                    ``(C) technology transfer to the wood 
                products industry of technologies that promote 
                efficient processing, pollution prevention, and 
                energy conservation;
                    ``(D) dissemination of existing and new 
                information to landowners, public and private 
                resource managers, State forest citizen 
                advisory committees, and the general public 
                through professional associations, 
                publications, and other information 
                clearinghouse activities; and
                    ``(E) analysis of strategies for the 
                protection of areas of outstanding ecological 
                significance or high biological diversity, and 
                strategies for the provision of important 
                recreational opportunities and traditional 
                uses, including strategies for areas identified 
                through State land conservation planning 
                processes.''.
    (c) Forest Inventory and Analysis.--Section 3 of the Forest 
and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 1642) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Forest Inventory and Analysis.--
            ``(1) Program required.--In compliance with other 
        applicable provisions of law, the Secretary shall 
        establish a program to inventory and analyze, in a 
        timely manner, public and private forests and their 
        resources in the United States.
            ``(2) Annual state inventory.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than the end 
                of each full fiscal year beginning after the 
                date of enactment of this subsection, the 
                Secretary shall prepare for each State, in 
                cooperation with the State forester for the 
                State, an inventory of forests and their 
                resources in the State.
                    ``(B) Sample plots.--For purposes of 
                preparing the inventory for a State, the 
                Secretary shall measure annually 20 percent of 
                all sample plots that are included in the 
                inventory program for that State.
                    ``(C) Compilation of inventory.--On 
                completion of the inventory for a year, the 
                Secretary shall make available to the public a 
                compilation of all data collected for that year 
                from measurements of sample plots as well as 
                any analysis made of the samples.
            ``(3) 5-year reports.--Not more often than every 5 
        full fiscal years after the date of enactment of this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall prepare, publish, and 
        make available to the public a report, prepared in 
        cooperation with State foresters, that--
                    ``(A) contains a description of each State 
                inventory of forests and their resources, 
                incorporating all sample plot measurements 
                conducted during the 5 years covered by the 
                report;
                    ``(B) displays and analyzes on a nationwide 
                basis the results of the annual reports 
                required by paragraph (2); and
                    ``(C) contains an analysis of forest health 
                conditions and trends over the previous 2 
                decades, with an emphasis on such conditions 
                and trends during the period subsequent to the 
                immediately preceding report under this 
                paragraph.
            ``(4) National standards and definitions.--To 
        ensure uniform and consistent data collection for all 
        forest land that is publicly or privately owned and for 
        each State, the Secretary shall develop, in 
        consultation with State foresters and Federal land 
        management agencies not under the jurisdiction of the 
        Secretary, and publish national standards and 
        definitions to be applied in inventorying and analyzing 
        forests and their resources under this subsection. The 
        standards shall include a core set of variables to be 
        measured on all sample plots under paragraph (2) and a 
        standard set of tables to be included in the reports 
        under paragraph (3).
            ``(5) Protection for private property rights.--The 
        Secretary shall obtain authorization from property 
        owners prior to collecting data from sample plots 
        located on private property pursuant to paragraphs (2) 
        and (3).
            ``(6) Strategic plan.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a 
        strategic plan to implement and carry out this 
        subsection, including the annual updates required by 
        paragraph (2) and the reports required by paragraph 
        (3), that shall describe in detail--
                    ``(A) the financial resources required to 
                implement and carry out this subsection, 
                including the identification of any resources 
                required in excess of the amounts provided for 
                forest inventorying and analysis in recent 
                appropriations Acts;
                    ``(B) the personnel necessary to implement 
                and carry out this subsection, including any 
                personnel in addition to personnel currently 
                performing inventorying and analysis functions;
                    ``(C) the organization and procedures 
                necessary to implement and carry out this 
                subsection, including proposed coordination 
                with Federal land management agencies and State 
                foresters;
                    ``(D) the schedules for annual sample plot 
                measurements in each State inventory required 
                by paragraph (2) within the first 5-year 
                interval after the date of enactment of this 
                subsection;
                    ``(E) the core set of variables to be 
                measured in each sample plot under paragraph 
                (2) and the standard set of tables to be used 
                in each State and national report under 
                paragraph (3); and
                    ``(F) the process for employing, in 
                coordination with the Secretary of Energy and 
                the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
                and Space Administration, remote sensing, 
                global positioning systems, and other advanced 
                technologies to carry out this subsection, and 
                the subsequent use of the technologies.''.
    (d) Forestry and Rangeland Competitive Research Grants.--
Section 5 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1644) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and ``Sec. 5.'' 
        and inserting the following:

``SEC. 5. FORESTRY AND RANGELAND COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS.

    ``(a) Competitive Grant Authority.--''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Emphasis on Certain High Priority Forestry 
Research.--The Secretary may use up to 5 percent of the amounts 
made available for research under section 3 to make competitive 
grants regarding forestry research in the high priority 
research areas identified under section 3(d).
    ``(c) Emphasis on Certain High Priority Rangeland 
Research.--The Secretary may use up to 5 percent of the amounts 
made available for research under section 3 to make competitive 
grants regarding rangeland research in the high priority 
research areas identified under section 3(d).
    ``(d) Priorities.--In making grants under subsections (b) 
and (c), the Secretary shall give priority to research 
proposals under which--
            ``(1) the proposed research will be collaborative 
        research organized through a center of scientific 
        excellence;
            ``(2) the applicant agrees to provide matching 
        funds (in the form of direct funding or in-kind 
        support) in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent 
        of the grant amount; and
            ``(3) the proposed research will be conducted as 
        part of an existing private and public partnership or 
        cooperative research effort and involves several 
        interested research partners.''.

TITLE III--EXTENSION OR REPEAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND 
                         EDUCATION AUTHORITIES

SEC. 301. EXTENSIONS.

    (a) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977.--The National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (l) of section 1417 (7 U.S.C. 
        3152) (as redesignated by section 223(1)), by striking 
        ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (2) in section 1419(d) (7 U.S.C. 3154(d)), by 
        striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (3) in section 1419A(d) (7 U.S.C. 3155(d)), by 
        striking ``fiscal years 1996 and 1997'' and inserting 
        ``each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002'';
            (4) in section 1424(d) (7 U.S.C. 3174(d)), by 
        striking ``fiscal years 1996 and 1997'' and inserting 
        ``each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002'';
            (5) in section 1424A(d) (7 U.S.C. 3174a(d)), by 
        striking ``fiscal year 1997'' and inserting ``each of 
        fiscal years 1997 through 2002'';
            (6) in section 1425(c)(3) (7 U.S.C. 3175(c)(3)), by 
        striking ``and 1997'' and inserting ``through 2002'';
            (7) in the first sentence of section 1433(a) (7 
        U.S.C. 3195(a)), by striking ``1997'' and inserting 
        ``2002'';
            (8) in section 1434(a) (7 U.S.C. 3196(a)), by 
        striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (9) in section 1447(b) (7 U.S.C. 3222b(b)), by 
        striking ``and 1997'' and inserting ``through 2002'';
            (10) in section 1448 (7 U.S.C. 3222c)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``and 
                1997'' and inserting ``through 2002''; and
                    (B) in subsection (f), by striking ``1997'' 
                and inserting ``2002'';
            (11) in section 1455(c) (7 U.S.C. 3241(c)), by 
        striking ``fiscal year 1997'' and inserting ``each of 
        fiscal years 1997 through 2002'';
            (12) in section 1463 (7 U.S.C. 3311), by striking 
        ``1997'' each place it appears in subsections (a) and 
        (b) and inserting ``2002'';
            (13) in section 1464 (7 U.S.C. 3312), by striking 
        ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (14) in section 1473D(a) (7 U.S.C. 3319d(a)), by 
        striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (15) in the first sentence of section 1477 (7 
        U.S.C. 3324), by striking ``1997'' and inserting 
        ``2002''; and
            (16) in section 1483(a) (7 U.S.C. 3336(a)), by 
        striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (b) Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990.--The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990 is amended--
            (1) in section 1635(b) (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)), by 
        striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (2) in section 1673(h) (7 U.S.C. 5926(h)), by 
        striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002'';
            (3) in section 2381(e) (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)), by 
        striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (c) Critical Agricultural Materials Act.--Section 16(a) of 
the Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7 U.S.C. 178n(a)) is 
amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (d) Research Facilities Act.--Section 6(a) of the Research 
Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390d(a)) is amended by striking 
``fiscal years 1996 and 1997'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
years 1996 through 2002''.
    (e) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act Amendments of 1985.--Section 1431 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
Amendments of 1985 (Public Law 99-198; 99 Stat. 1556) is 
amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (f) Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant 
Act.--Subsection (b)(10) of the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)) is amended 
by striking ``1997'' and inserting ``2002''.
    (g) Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.--
Sections 533(b) and 535 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-382; 7 U.S.C. 301 note) are 
amended by striking ``2000'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``2002''.
    (h) Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978.--Section 6 
of the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
1675) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 1988,'' and all that follows through 
the period at the end and inserting ``each of fiscal years 1987 
through 2002.''.
    (i) National Aquaculture Act of 1980.--Section 10 of the 
National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2809) is amended by 
striking ``the fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993'' each place 
it appears and inserting ``fiscal years 1991 through 2002''.

SEC. 302. REPEALS.

    (a) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977.--Section 1476 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3323) is repealed.
    (b) National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act Amendments of 1981.--Subsection (b) of section 1432 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act Amendments of 1981 (Public Law 97-98; 7 U.S.C. 3222 
note) is repealed.
        (c) Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990.--Subtitle G of title XIV and sections 1670 and 1675 of 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5501 et seq., 5923, 5928) are repealed.
    (d) Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996.--Subtitle E of title VIII of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 110 
Stat. 1184) is repealed.

     TITLE IV--NEW AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION 
                              INITIATIVES

SEC. 401. INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS.

    (a) Treasury Account.--There is established in the Treasury 
of the United States an account to be known as the Initiative 
for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (referred to in this 
section as the ``Account'') to provide funds for activities 
authorized under this section.
    (b) Funding.--
      (1) In general.--On October 1, 1998, and each October 1 
thereafter through October 1, 2002, out of any funds in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer $120,000,000 to the Account.
      (2) Entitlement.--The Secretary of Agriculture--
      (A) shall be entitled to receive the funds transferred to 
the Account under paragraph (1);
      (B) shall accept the funds; and
      (C) shall use the funds to carry out this section.
    (c) Purposes.--
      (1) Critical emerging issues.--The Secretary shall use 
the funds in the Account--
      (A) subject to paragraph (2), for research, extension, 
and education grants (referred to in this section as 
``grants'') to address critical emerging agricultural issues 
related to--
      (i) future food production;
      (ii) environmental quality and natural resource 
management; or
      (iii) farm income; and
      (B) for activities carried out under the Alternative 
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5901 et seq.).
      (2) Priority mission areas.--In making grants under this 
section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory 
Board, shall address priority mission areas related to--
      (A) agricultural genome;
      (B) food safety, food technology, and human nutrition;
      (C) new and alternative uses and production of 
agricultural commodities and products;
      (D) agricultural biotechnology;
      (E) natural resource management, including precision 
agriculture; and
      (F) farm efficiency and profitability, including the 
viability and competitiveness of small- and medium-sized dairy, 
livestock, crop, and other commodity operations.
    (d) Eligible Grantees.--The Secretary may make a grant 
under this section to--
      (1) a Federal research agency;
      (2) a national laboratory;
      (3) a college or university or a research foundation 
maintained by a college or university; or
      (4) a private research organization with an established 
and demonstrated capacity to perform research or technology 
transfer.
    (e) Special Considerations.--
      (1) Smaller institutions.--The Secretary may award grants 
under this section in a manner that ensures that the faculty of 
small and mid-sized institutions that have not previously been 
successful in obtaining competitive grants under subsection (b) 
of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act 
(7 U.S.C. 450i(b)) receive a portion of the grants under this 
section.
      (2) Priorities.--In making grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall provide a higher priority to--
      (A) a project that is multistate, multi-institutional, or 
multidisciplinary; or
      (B) a project that integrates agricultural research, 
extension, and education.
    (f) Administration.--
      (1) In general.--In making grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall--
      (A) seek and accept proposals for grants;
      (B) determine the relevance and merit of proposals 
through a system of peer review in accordance with section 103;
      (C) award grants on the basis of merit, quality, and 
relevance to advancing the purposes and priority mission areas 
established under subsection (c); and
      (D) solicit and consider input from persons who conduct 
or use agricultural research, extension, or education in 
accordance with section 102(b).
      (2) Competitive basis.--A grant under this section shall 
be awarded on a competitive basis.
      (3) Term.--A grant under this section shall have a term 
that does not exceed 5 years.
      (4) Matching funds.--As a condition of making a grant 
under this section, the Secretary shall require the funding of 
the grant be matched with equal matching funds from a non-
Federal source if the grant is--
      (A) for applied research that is commodity-specific; and
      (B) not of national scope.
      (5) Delegation.--The Secretary shall administer this 
section through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service of the Department. The Secretary may 
establish 1 or more institutes to carry out all or part of the 
activities authorized under this section.
            (6) Availability of funds.--Funds for grants under 
        this section shall be available to the Secretary for 
        obligation for a 2-year period.
            (7) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may use 
        not more than 4 percent of the funds made available for 
        grants under this section for administrative costs 
        incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this section.
            (8) Buildings and facilities.--Funds made available 
        for grants under this section shall not be used for the 
        construction of a new building or facility or the 
        acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an 
        existing building or facility (including site grading 
        and improvement and architect fees).

SEC. 402. PARTNERSHIPS FOR HIGH-VALUE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT QUALITY 
                    RESEARCH.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Partnership.--In this section, 
the term ``eligible partnership'' means a partnership 
consisting of a land-grant college or university and other 
entities specified in subsection (c)(1) that satisfies the 
eligibility criteria specified in subsection (c).
    (b) Establishment of Partnerships by Grant.--The Secretary 
of Agriculture may make competitive grants to an eligible 
partnership to coordinate and manage research and extension 
activities to enhance the quality of high-value agricultural 
products.
    (c) Criteria for an Eligible Partnership.--
            (1) Primary institutions in partnership.--The 
        primary institution involved in an eligible partnership 
        shall be a land-grant college or university, acting in 
        partnership with other colleges or universities, 
        nonprofit research and development entities, and 
        Federal laboratories.
            (2) Prioritization of research activities.--An 
        eligible partnership shall prioritize research and 
        extension activities in order to--
                    (A) enhance the competitiveness of United 
                States agricultural products;
                    (B) increase exports of such products; and
                    (C) substitute such products for imported 
                products.
            (3) Coordination.--An eligible partnership shall 
        coordinate among the entities comprising the 
        partnership the activities supported by the eligible 
        partnership, including the provision of mechanisms for 
        sharing resources between institutions and laboratories 
        and the coordination of public and private sector 
        partners to maximize cost-effectiveness.
    (d) Types of Research and Extension Activities.--Research 
or extension supported by an eligible partnership may address 
the full spectrum of production, processing, packaging, 
transportation, and marketing issues related to a high-value 
agricultural product. Such issues include--
            (1) environmentally responsible--
                    (A) pest management alternatives and 
                biotechnology;
                    (B) sustainable farming methods; and
                    (C) soil conservation and enhanced resource 
                management;
            (2) genetic research to develop improved 
        agricultural-based products;
            (3) refinement of field production practices and 
        technology to improve quality, yield, and production 
        efficiencies;
            (4) processing and package technology to improve 
        product quality, stability, or flavor intensity;
            (5) marketing research regarding consumer 
        perceptions and preferences;
            (6) economic research, including industry 
        characteristics, growth, and competitive analysis; and
            (7) research to facilitate diversified, value-added 
        enterprises in rural areas.
    (e) Elements of Grant Making Process.--
            (1) Period of grant.--The Secretary may award a 
        grant under this section for a period not to exceed 5 
        years.
            (2) Preferences.--In making grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall provide a preference to 
        proposals that--
                    (A) demonstrate linkages with--
                            (i) agencies of the Department;
                            (ii) other related Federal research 
                        laboratories and agencies;
                            (iii) colleges and universities; 
                        and
                            (iv) private industry; and
                    (B) guarantee matching funds in excess of 
                the amounts required by paragraph (3).
            (3) Matching funds.--An eligible partnership shall 
        contribute an amount of non-Federal funds for the 
        operation of the partnership that is at least equal to 
        the amount of grant funds received by the partnership 
        under this section.
    (f) Limitation on Use of Grant Funds.--Funds provided under 
this section may not be used for the planning, repair, 
rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or 
facility.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

SEC. 403. PRECISION AGRICULTURE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agricultural inputs.--The term ``agricultural 
        inputs'' includes all farm management, agronomic, and 
        field-applied agricultural production inputs, such as 
        machinery, labor, time, fuel, irrigation water, 
        commercial nutrients, feed stuffs, veterinary drugs and 
        vaccines, livestock waste, crop protection chemicals, 
        agronomic data and information, application and 
        management services, seed, and other inputs used in 
        agricultural production.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' 
        means--
                    (A) a State agricultural experiment 
                station;
                    (B) a college or university;
                    (C) a research institution or organization;
                    (D) a Federal or State government entity or 
                agency;
                    (E) a national laboratory;
                    (F) a private organization or corporation;
                    (G) an agricultural producer or other land 
                manager; or
                    (H) a precision agriculture partnership 
                referred to in subsection (g).
      (3) Precision agriculture.--The term ``precision 
agriculture'' means an integrated information- and production-
based farming system that is designed to increase long-term, 
site-specific, and whole farm production efficiencies, 
productivity, and profitability while minimizing unintended 
impacts on wildlife and the environment by--
      (A) combining agricultural sciences, agricultural inputs 
and practices, agronomic production databases, and precision 
agriculture technologies to efficiently manage agronomic and 
livestock production systems;
      (B) gathering on-farm information pertaining to the 
variation and interaction of site-specific spatial and temporal 
factors affecting crop and livestock production;
      (C) integrating such information with appropriate data 
derived from field scouting, remote sensing, and other 
precision agriculture technologies in a timely manner in order 
to facilitate on-farm decisionmaking; or
      (D) using such information to prescribe and deliver site-
specific application of agricultural inputs and management 
practices in agricultural production systems.
      (4) Precision agriculture technologies.--The term 
``precision agriculture technologies'' includes--
      (A) instrumentation and techniques ranging from 
sophisticated sensors and software systems to manual sampling 
and data collection tools that measure, record, and manage 
spatial and temporal data;
      (B) technologies for searching out and assembling 
information necessary for sound agricultural production 
decisionmaking;
      (C) open systems technologies for data networking and 
processing that produce valued systems for farm management 
decisionmaking; or
      (D) machines that deliver information-based management 
practices.
      (5) Systems research.--The term ``systems research'' 
means an integrated, coordinated, and iterative investigative 
process that involves--
      (A) the multiple interacting components and aspects of 
precision agriculture systems, including synthesis of new 
knowledge regarding the physical-chemical-biological processes 
and complex interactions of the systems with cropping, 
livestock production practices, and natural resource systems;
      (B) precision agriculture technologies development and 
implementation;
      (C) data and information collection and interpretation;
      (D) production scale planning;
      (E) production-scale implementation; and
      (F) farm production efficiencies, productivity, and 
profitability.
(b) Grants Authorized.--
      (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
competitive grants, for periods not to exceed 5 years, to 
eligible entities to conduct research, education, or 
information dissemination projects for the development and 
advancement of precision agriculture.
      (2) Private sector financing.--A grant under this section 
shall be used to support only a project that the Secretary 
determines is unlikely to be financed by the private sector.
      (3) Consultation with advisory board.--The Secretary 
shall make grants under this section in consultation with the 
Advisory Board.
(c) Purposes of Projects.--A research, education, or 
information dissemination project supported by a grant under 
this section shall address 1 or more of the following purposes:
      (1) The study and promotion of components of precision 
agriculture technologies using a systems research approach 
designed to increase long-term site-specific and whole-farm 
production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability.
      (2) The improvement in the understanding of agronomic 
systems, including, soil, water, land cover (including grazing 
land), pest management systems, and meteorological variability.
      (3) The provision of training and educational programs 
for State cooperative extension services agents, and other 
professionals involved in the production and transfer of 
integrated precision agriculture technology.
      (4) The development, demonstration, and dissemination of 
information regarding precision agriculture technologies and 
systems and the potential costs and benefits of precision 
agriculture as it relates to--
      (A) increased long-term farm production efficiencies, 
productivity, and profitability;
      (B) the maintenance of the environment;
      (C) improvements in international trade; and
      (D) an integrated program of education for agricultural 
producers and consumers, including family owned and operated 
farms.
      (5) The promotion of systems research and education 
projects focusing on the integration of the multiple aspects of 
precision agriculture, including development, production-scale 
implementation, and farm production efficiencies, productivity, 
and profitability.
      (6) The study of whether precision agriculture 
technologies are applicable and accessible to small and medium-
size farms and the study of methods of improving the 
applicability of precision agriculture technologies to those 
farms.
(d) Grant Priorities.--In making grants to eligible entities 
under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Advisory Board, shall give priority to research, education, or 
information dissemination projects designed to accomplish the 
following:
      (1) Evaluate the use of precision agriculture 
technologies using a systems research approach to increase 
long-term site-specific and whole farm production efficiencies, 
productivity, profitability.
      (2) Integrate research, education, and information 
dissemination components in a practical and readily available 
manner so that the findings of the project will be made readily 
usable by agricultural producers.
            (3) Demonstrate the efficient use of agricultural 
        inputs, rather than the uniform reduction in the use of 
        agricultural inputs.
            (4) Maximize the involvement and cooperation of 
        precision agriculture producers, certified crop 
        advisers, State cooperative extension services agents, 
        agricultural input machinery, product and service 
        providers, nonprofit organizations, agribusinesses, 
        veterinarians, land-grant colleges and universities, 
        and Federal agencies in precision agriculture systems 
        research projects involving on-farm research, 
        education, and dissemination of precision agriculture 
        information.
            (5) Maximize collaboration with multiple agencies 
        and other partners, including through leveraging of 
        funds and resources.
    (e) Matching Funds.--The amount of a grant under this 
section to an eligible entity (other than a Federal agency) may 
not exceed the amount that the eligible entity makes available 
out of non-Federal funds for precision agriculture research and 
for the establishment and maintenance of facilities necessary 
for conducting precision agriculture research.
    (f) Reservation of Funds for Education and Information 
Dissemination Projects.--Of the funds made available for grants 
under this section, the Secretary shall reserve a portion of 
the funds for grants for projects regarding precision 
agriculture related to education or information dissemination.
    (g) Precision Agriculture Partnerships.--In carrying out 
this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory 
Board, shall encourage the establishment of appropriate 
multistate and national partnerships or consortia between--
            (1) land-grant colleges and universities, State 
        agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative 
        extension services, other colleges and universities 
        with demonstrable expertise regarding precision 
        agriculture, agencies of the Department, national 
        laboratories, agribusinesses, agricultural equipment 
        and input manufacturers and retailers, certified crop 
        advisers, commodity organizations, veterinarians, other 
        Federal or State government entities and agencies, or 
        nonagricultural industries and nonprofit organizations 
        with demonstrable expertise regarding precision 
        agriculture; and
            (2) agricultural producers or other land managers.
    (h) Limitation Regarding Facilities.--A grant made under 
this section may not be used for the planning, repair, 
rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or 
facility.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
        this section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 
        2002, of which, for each fiscal year--
                    (A) not less than 30 percent shall be 
                available to make grants for research to be 
                conducted by multidisciplinary teams; and
                    (B) not less than 40 percent shall be 
                available to make grants for research to be 
                conducted by eligible entities conducting 
                systems research directly applicable to 
                producers and agricultural production systems.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Funds made available 
        under paragraph (1) shall be available for obligation 
        for a 2-year period beginning on October 1 of the 
        fiscal year for which the funds are made available.

SEC. 404. BIOBASED PRODUCTS.

    (a) Definition of Biobased Product.--In this section, the 
term ``biobased product'' means a product suitable for food or 
nonfood use that is derived in whole or in part from renewable 
agricultural and forestry materials.
    (b) Coordination of Biobased Product Activities.--The 
Secretary of Agriculture shall--
            (1) coordinate the research, technical expertise, 
        economic information, and market information resources 
        and activities of the Department to develop, 
        commercialize, and promote the use of biobased 
        products;
            (2) solicit input from private sector persons who 
        produce, or are interested in producing, biobased 
        products;
            (3) provide a centralized contact point for advice 
        and technical assistance for promising and innovative 
        biobased products; and
            (4) submit an annual report to Congress describing 
        the coordinated research, marketing, and 
        commercialization activities of the Department relating 
        to biobased products.
    (c) Cooperative Agreements for Biobased Products.--
            (1) Agreements authorized.--The Secretary may enter 
        into cooperative agreements with private entities 
        described in subsection (d), under which the facilities 
        and technical expertise of the Agricultural Research 
        Service may be made available to operate pilot plants 
        and other large-scale preparation facilities for the 
        purpose of bringing technologies necessary for the 
        development and commercialization of new biobased 
        products to the point of practical application.
            (2) Description of cooperative activities.--
        Cooperative activities may include--
                    (A) research on potential environmental 
                impacts of a biobased product;
                    (B) methods to reduce the cost of 
                manufacturing a biobased product; and
                    (C) other appropriate research.
    (d) Eligible Partners.--The following entities shall be 
eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement under subsection 
(c):
            (1) A party that has entered into a cooperative 
        research and development agreement with the Secretary 
        under section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
        Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a).
            (2) A recipient of funding from the Alternative 
        Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation 
        established under section 1658 of the Food, 
        Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
        U.S.C. 5902).
            (3) A recipient of funding from the Biotechnology 
        Research and Development Corporation.
            (4) A recipient of funding from the Secretary under 
        a Small Business Innovation Research Program 
        established under section 9 of the Small Business Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 638).
    (e) Pilot Project.--The Secretary, acting through the 
Agricultural Research Service, may establish and carry out a 
pilot project under which grants are provided, on a competitive 
basis, to scientists of the Agricultural Research Service to--
            (1) encourage innovative and collaborative science; 
        and
            (2) during each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001, 
        develop biobased products with promising commercial 
        potential.
    (f) Source of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), to carry out this section, the Secretary may use--
                    (A) funds appropriated to carry out this 
                section; and
                    (B) funds otherwise available for 
                cooperative research and development agreements 
                under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
                Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et 
                seq.).
            (2) Exception.--The Secretary may not use funds 
        referred to in paragraph (1)(B) to carry out subsection 
        (e).
    (g) Sale of Developed Products.--For the purpose of 
determining the market potential for new biobased products 
produced at a pilot plant or other large-scale preparation 
facility under a cooperative agreement under this section, the 
Secretary shall authorize the private partner or partners to 
the agreement to sell the products.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

SEC. 405. THOMAS JEFFERSON INITIATIVE FOR CROP DIVERSIFICATION.

    (a) Initiative Required.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall provide for a research initiative (to be known as the 
``Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification'') for 
the purpose of conducting research and development, in 
cooperation with other public and private entities, on the 
production and marketing of new and nontraditional crops needed 
to strengthen and diversify the agricultural production base of 
the United States.
    (b) Research and Education Efforts.--The initiative shall 
include research and education efforts regarding new and 
nontraditional crops designed--
            (1) to identify and overcome agronomic barriers to 
        profitable production;
            (2) to identify and overcome other production and 
        marketing barriers; and
            (3) to develop processing and utilization 
        technologies for new and nontraditional crops.
    (c) Purposes.--The purposes of the initiative are--
            (1) to develop a focused program of research and 
        development at the regional and national levels to 
        overcome barriers to the development of--
                    (A) new crop opportunities for agricultural 
                producers; and
                    (B) related value-added enterprises in 
                rural communities; and
            (2) to ensure a broad-based effort encompassing 
        research, education, market development, and support of 
        entrepreneurial activity leading to increased 
        agricultural diversification.
    (d) Establishment of Initiative.--The Secretary shall 
coordinate the initiative through a nonprofit center or 
institute that will coordinate research and education programs 
in cooperation with other public and private entities. The 
Secretary shall administer research and education grants made 
under this section.
    (e) Regional Emphasis.--
            (1) Required.--The Secretary shall support 
        development of multistate regional efforts in crop 
        diversification.
            (2) Site-specific crop development efforts.--Of 
        funding made available to carry out the initiative, not 
        less than 50 percent shall be used for regional efforts 
        centered at colleges and universities in order to 
        facilitate site-specific crop development efforts.
    (f) Eligible Grantee.--The Secretary may award funds under 
this section to colleges or universities, nonprofit 
organizations, public agencies, or individuals.
    (g) Administration.--
            (1) Grants and contracts.--Grants awarded through 
        the initiative shall be selected on a competitive 
        basis.
            (2) Private businesses.--The recipient of a grant 
        may use a portion of the grant funds for standard 
        contracts with private businesses, such as for test 
        processing of a new or nontraditional crop.
            (3) Terms.--The term of a grant awarded through the 
        initiative may not exceed 5 years.
            (4) Matching funds.--The Secretary shall require 
        the recipient of a grant awarded through the initiative 
        to contribute an amount of funds from non-Federal 
        sources that is at least equal to the amount provided 
        by the Federal Government.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

SEC. 406. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION COMPETITIVE 
                    GRANTS PROGRAM.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an 
integrated research, education, and extension competitive grant 
program to provide funding for integrated, multifunctional 
agricultural research, extension, and education activities.
    (b) Competitive Grants Authorized.--Subject to the 
availability of appropriations to carry out this section, the 
Secretary may award grants to colleges and universities (as 
defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) on 
a competitive basis for integrated agricultural research, 
education, and extension projects in accordance with this 
section.
    (c) Criteria for Grants.--Grants under this section shall 
be awarded to address priorities in United States agriculture, 
determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Advisory 
Board, that involve integrated research, extension, and 
education activities.
    (d) Matching of Funds.--
            (1) General requirement.--If a grant under this 
        section provides a particular benefit to a specific 
        agricultural commodity, the Secretary shall require the 
        recipient of the grant to provide funds or in-kind 
        support to match the amount of funds provided by the 
        Secretary in the grant.
            (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching 
        funds requirement specified in paragraph (1) with 
        respect to a grant if the Secretary determines that--
                    (A) the results of the project, while of 
                particular benefit to a specific agricultural 
                commodity, are likely to be applicable to 
                agricultural commodities generally; or
                    (B) the project involves a minor commodity, 
                the project deals with scientifically important 
                research, and the grant recipient is unable to 
                satisfy the matching funds requirement.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

SEC. 407. COORDINATED PROGRAM OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION TO 
                    IMPROVE VIABILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE DAIRY, 
                    LIVESTOCK, AND POULTRY OPERATIONS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture may 
carry out a coordinated program of research, extension, and 
education to improve the competitiveness, viability, and 
sustainability of small and medium size dairy, livestock, and 
poultry operations (referred to in this section as 
``operations'').
    (b) Components.--To the extent the Secretary elects to 
carry out the program, the Secretary shall conduct--
            (1) research, development, and on-farm extension 
        and education concerning low-cost production facilities 
        and practices, management systems, and genetics that 
        are appropriate for the operations;
            (2) in the case of dairy and livestock operations, 
        research and extension on management-intensive grazing 
        systems for dairy and livestock production to realize 
        the potential for reduced capital and feed costs 
        through greater use of management skills, labor 
        availability optimization, and the natural benefits of 
        grazing pastures;
            (3) research and extension on integrated crop and 
        livestock or poultry systems that increase 
        efficiencies, reduce costs, and prevent environmental 
        pollution to strengthen the competitive position of the 
        operations;
            (4) economic analyses and market feasibility 
        studies to identify new and expanded opportunities for 
        producers on the operations that provide tools and 
        strategies to meet consumer demand in domestic and 
        international markets, such as cooperative marketing 
        and value-added strategies for milk, meat, and poultry 
        production and processing; and
            (5) technology assessment that compares the 
        technological resources of large specialized producers 
        with the technological needs of producers on the 
        operations to identify and transfer existing technology 
        across all sizes and scales and to identify the 
        specific research and education needs of the producers.
    (c) Administration.--The Secretary may use the funds, 
facilities, and technical expertise of the Agricultural 
Research Service and the Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service and other funds available to the 
Secretary (other than funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation) to carry out this section.

SEC. 408. SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH REGARDING DISEASES OF WHEAT AND BARLEY 
                    CAUSED BY FUSARIUM GRAMINEARUM.

    (a) Research Grant Authorized.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture may make a grant to a consortium of land-grant 
colleges and universities to enhance the ability of the 
consortium to carry out a multi-State research project aimed at 
understanding and combating diseases of wheat and barley caused 
by Fusarium graminearum and related fungi (referred to in this 
section as ``wheat scab'').
    (b) Research Components.--Funds provided under this section 
shall be available for the following collaborative, multi-State 
research activities:
            (1) Identification and understanding of the 
        epidemiology of wheat scab and the toxicological 
        properties of vomitoxin, a toxic metabolite commonly 
        occurring in wheat and barley infected with wheat scab.
            (2) Development of crop management strategies to 
        reduce the risk of wheat scab occurrence.
            (3) Development of--
                    (A) efficient and accurate methods to 
                monitor wheat and barley for the presence of 
                wheat scab and resulting vomitoxin 
                contamination;
                    (B) post-harvest management techniques for 
                wheat and barley infected with wheat scab; and
                    (C) milling and food processing techniques 
                to render contaminated grain safe.
            (4) Strengthening and expansion of plant-breeding 
        activities to enhance the resistance of wheat and 
        barley to wheat scab, including the establishment of a 
        regional advanced breeding material evaluation nursery 
        and a germplasm introduction and evaluation system.
            (5) Development and deployment of alternative 
        fungicide application systems and formulations to 
        control wheat scab and consideration of other chemical 
        control strategies to assist farmers until new more 
        resistant wheat and barley varieties are available.
    (c) Communications Networks.--Funds provided under this 
section shall be available for efforts to concentrate, 
integrate, and disseminate research, extension, and outreach-
orientated information regarding wheat scab.
    (d) Management.--To oversee the use of a grant made under 
this section, the Secretary may establish a committee composed 
of the directors of the agricultural experiment stations in the 
States in which land-grant colleges and universities that are 
members of the consortium are located.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,200,000 for 
each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

               TITLE V--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS

                     Subtitle A--Food Stamp Program

SEC. 501. REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.

    Section 16(h)(1)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2025(h)(1)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (iv)(II), by striking 
        ``$131,000,000'' and inserting ``$31,000,000''; and
            (2) in clause (v)(II), by striking ``$131,000,000'' 
        and inserting ``$86,000,000''.

SEC. 502. REDUCTIONS IN PAYMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 2025) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by 
        striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``Subject to 
        subsection (k), the Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Reductions in Payments for Administrative Costs.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) AFDC program.--The term `AFDC 
                program' means the program of aid to families 
                with dependent children established under part 
                A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 601 et seq. (as in effect, with respect 
                to a State, during the base period for that 
                State)).
                    ``(B) Base period.--The term `base period' 
                means the period used to determine the amount 
                of the State family assistance grant for a 
                State under section 403 of the Social Security 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 603).
                    ``(C) Medicaid program.--The term `medicaid 
                program' means the program of medical 
                assistance under a State plan or under a waiver 
                of the plan under title XIX of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
            ``(2) Determinations of amounts attributable to 
        benefiting programs.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Agriculture and the States, shall, with 
        respect to the base period for each State, determine--
                    ``(A) the annualized amount the State 
                received under section 403(a)(3) of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3) (as in effect 
                during the base period)) for administrative 
                costs common to determining the eligibility of 
                individuals, families, and households eligible 
                or applying for the AFDC program and the food 
                stamp program, the AFDC program and the 
                medicaid program, and the AFDC program, the 
                food stamp program, and the medicaid program 
                that were allocated to the AFDC program; and
                    ``(B) the annualized amount the State would 
                have received under section 403(a)(3) of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3) (as so 
                in effect)), section 1903(a)(7) of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)(7) (as so in 
                effect)), and subsection (a) of this section 
                (as so in effect), for administrative costs 
                common to determining the eligibility of 
                individuals, families, and households eligible 
                or applying for the AFDC program and the food 
                stamp program, the AFDC program and the 
                medicaid program, and the AFDC program, the 
                food stamp program, and the medicaid program, 
                if those costs had been allocated equally among 
                such programs for which the individual, family, 
                or household was eligible or applied for.
            ``(3) Reduction in payment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any 
                other provision of this section, effective for 
                each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002, the 
                Secretary shall reduce, for each fiscal year, 
                the amount paid under subsection (a) to each 
                State by an amount equal to the amount 
                determined for the food stamp program under 
                paragraph (2)(B). The Secretary shall, to the 
                extent practicable, make the reductions 
                required by this paragraph on a quarterly 
                basis.
                    ``(B) Application.--If the Secretary of 
                Health and Human Services does not make the 
                determinations required by paragraph (2) by 
                September 30, 1999--
                            ``(i) during the fiscal year in 
                        which the determinations are made, the 
                        Secretary shall reduce the amount paid 
                        under subsection (a) to each State by 
                        an amount equal to the sum of the 
                        amounts determined for the food stamp 
                        program under paragraph (2)(B) for 
                        fiscal year 1999 through the fiscal 
                        year during which the determinations 
                        are made; and
                            ``(ii) for each subsequent fiscal 
                        year through fiscal year 2002, 
                        subparagraph (A) applies.
            ``(4) Appeal of determinations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 5 days 
                after the date on which the Secretary of Health 
                and Human Services makes any determination 
                required by paragraph (2) with respect to a 
                State, the Secretary shall notify the chief 
                executive officer of the State of the 
                determination.
                    ``(B) Review by administrative law judge.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 
                        60 days after the date on which a State 
                        receives notice under subparagraph (A) 
                        of a determination, the State may 
                        appeal the determination, in whole or 
                        in part, to an administrative law judge 
                        of the Department of Health and Human 
                        Services by filing an appeal with the 
                        administrative law judge.
                            ``(ii) Documentation.--The 
                        administrative law judge shall consider 
                        an appeal filed by a State under clause 
                        (i) on the basis of such documentation 
                        as the State may submit and as the 
                        administrative law judge may require to 
                        support the final decision of the 
                        administrative law judge.
                            ``(iii) Review.--In deciding 
                        whether to uphold a determination, in 
                        whole or in part, the administrativelaw 
judge shall conduct a thorough review of the issues and take into 
account all relevant evidence.
                            ``(iv) Deadline.--Not later than 60 
                        days after the date on which the record 
                        is closed, the administrative law judge 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) make a final decision 
                                with respect to an appeal filed 
                                under clause (i); and
                                    ``(II) notify the chief 
                                executive officer of the State 
                                of the decision.
                    ``(C) Review by departmental appeals 
                board.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 
                        30 days after the date on which a State 
                        receives notice under subparagraph (B) 
                        of a final decision, the State may 
                        appeal the decision, in whole or in 
                        part, to the Departmental Appeals Board 
                        established in the Department of Health 
                        and Human Services (referred to in this 
                        paragraph as the `Board') by filing an 
                        appeal with the Board.
                            ``(ii) Review.--The Board shall 
                        review the decision on the record.
                            ``(iii) Deadline.--Not later than 
                        60 days after the date on which the 
                        appeal is filed, the Board shall--
                                    ``(I) make a final decision 
                                with respect to an appeal filed 
                                under clause (i); and
                                    ``(II) notify the chief 
                                executive officer of the State 
                                of the decision.
                    ``(D) Judicial review.--The determinations 
                of the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
                under paragraph (2), and a final decision of 
                the administrative law judge or Board under 
                subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, shall 
                not be subject to judicial review.
                    ``(E) Reduced payments pending appeal.--The 
                pendency of an appeal under this paragraph 
                shall not affect the requirement that the 
                Secretary reduce payments in accordance with 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(5) Allocation of administrative costs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--No funds or expenditures 
                described in subparagraph (B) may be used to 
                pay for costs--
                            ``(i) eligible for reimbursement 
                        under subsection (a) (or costs that 
                        would have been eligible for 
                        reimbursement but for this subsection); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) allocated for reimbursement 
                        to the food stamp program under a plan 
                        submitted by a State to the Secretary 
                        of Health and Human Services to 
                        allocate administrative costs for 
                        public assistance programs.
                    ``(B) Funds and expenditures.--Subparagraph 
                (A) applies to--
                            ``(i) funds made available to carry 
                        out part A of title IV, or title XX, of 
                        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 
                        et seq., 1397 et seq.);
                            ``(ii) expenditures made as 
                        qualified State expenditures (as 
                        defined in section 409(a)(7)(B) of that 
                        Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)));
                            ``(iii) any other Federal funds 
                        (except funds provided under subsection 
                        (a)); and
                            ``(iv) any other State funds that 
                        are--
                                    ``(I) expended as a 
                                condition of receiving Federal 
                                funds; or
                                    ``(II) used to match 
                                Federal funds under a Federal 
                                program other than the food 
                                stamp program.''.
    (b) Review of Methodology Used to Make Certain 
Determinations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) review the adequacy of the methodology used in 
        making the determinations required under section 
        16(k)(2)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (as added by 
        subsection (a)(2)); and
            (2) submit a written report on the results of the 
        review to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

SEC. 503. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR REFUGEES AND CERTAIN 
                    OTHER QUALIFIED ALIENS FROM 5 TO 7 YEARS.

    Section 402(a)(2)(A) of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
1612(a)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking clause (ii);
            (2) by striking ``asylees.--'' and all that follows 
        through ``paragraph (3)(A)'' and inserting ``asylees.--
        With respect to the specified Federal programs 
        described in paragraph (3)''; and
            (3) by redesignating subclauses (I) through (V) as 
        clauses (i) through (v) and indenting appropriately.

SEC. 504. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN DISABLED ALIENS.

    Section 402(a)(2)(F) of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
1612(a)(2)(F)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``program defined in paragraph 
        (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income 
        program)'' and inserting ``specified Federal programs 
        described in paragraph (3)''; and
            (2) in clause (ii)--
                    (A) by inserting ``(I) in the case of the 
                specified Federal program described in 
                paragraph (3)(A),'' after ``(ii)'';
                    (B) by striking the period at the end and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(II) in the case of the specified 
                        Federal program described in paragraph 
                        (3)(B), is receiving benefits or 
                        assistance for blindness or disability 
                        (within the meaning of section 3(r) of 
                        the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
                        2012(r))).''.

SEC. 505. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN INDIANS.

    Section 402(a)(2)(G) of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
1612(a)(2)(G)) is amended--
            (1) in the subparagraph heading, by striking ``SSI 
        exception'' and inserting ``Exception''; and
            (2) by striking ``program defined in paragraph 
        (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income 
        program)'' and inserting ``specified Federal programs 
        described in paragraph (3)''.

SEC. 506. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS.

    Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(I) Food stamp exception for certain 
                elderly individuals.--With respect to 
                eligibility for benefits for the specified 
                Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), 
                paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual 
                who on August 22, 1996--
                            ``(i) was lawfully residing in the 
                        United States; and
                            ``(ii) was 65 years of age or 
                        older.''.

SEC. 507. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN.

    Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) 
(as amended by section 506) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
                    ``(J) Food stamp exception for certain 
                children.--With respect to eligibility for 
                benefits for the specified Federal program 
                described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) 
                shall not apply to any individual who--
                            ``(i) was lawfully residing in the 
                        United States on August 22, 1996; and
                            ``(ii) is under 18 years of age.''.

SEC. 508. FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN HMONG AND HIGHLAND 
                    LAOTIANS.

    Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) 
(as amended by section 507) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
                    ``(K) Food stamp exception for certain 
                hmong and highland laotians.--With respect to 
                eligibility for benefits for the specified 
                Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), 
                paragraph (1) shall not apply to--
                            ``(i) any individual who--
                                    ``(I) is lawfully residing 
                                in the United States; and
                                    ``(II) was a member of a 
                                Hmong or Highland Laotian tribe 
                                at the time that the tribe 
                                rendered assistance to United 
                                States personnel by taking part 
                                in a military or rescue 
                                operation during the Vietnam 
                                era (as defined in section 101 
                                of title 38, United States 
                                Code);
                            ``(ii) the spouse, or an unmarried 
                        dependent child, of such an individual; 
                        or
                            ``(iii) the unremarried surviving 
                        spouse of such an individual who is 
                        deceased.''.

SEC. 509. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    Section 403(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(d)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``SSI'' 
        and all that follows through ``Indians'' and inserting 
        ``Benefits for Certain Groups'';
            (2) by striking ``not apply to an individual'' and 
        inserting ``not apply to--
            ``(1) an individual'';
            (3) by striking ``(a)(3)(A)'' and inserting 
        ``(a)(3)''; and
            (4) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
        ``; or''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) an individual, spouse, or dependent described 
        in section 402(a)(2)(K), but only with respect to the 
        specified Federal program described in section 
        402(a)(3)(B).''.

SEC. 510. EFFECTIVE DATES.

    (a) Reductions.--The amendments made by sections 501 and 
502 take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Food Stamp Eligibility.--The amendments made by 
sections 503 through 509 take effect on November 1, 1998.

               Subtitle B--Information Technology Funding

SEC. 521. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--Section 4(g) of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714b(g)) is amended in the 
first sentence by striking ``$275,000,000'' and inserting 
``$193,000,000''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
takes effect on October 1, 1997.

                       Subtitle C--Crop Insurance

SEC. 531. FUNDING.

    Section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1516) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(1) Discretionary expenses.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated for fiscal year 1999 and each 
        subsequent fiscal year such sums as are necessary to 
        cover the salaries and expenses of the Corporation.''; 
        and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by inserting after ``are 
                        necessary to cover'' the following: 
                        ``for each of the 1999 and subsequent 
                        reinsurance years''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (A) 
                        and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) the administrative and operating 
                expenses of the Corporation for the sales 
                commissions of agents; and''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Payment of Corporation Expenses From Insurance 
Fund.--
            ``(1) Expenses generally.--For each of the 1999 and 
        subsequent reinsurance years, the Corporation may pay 
        from the insurance fund established under subsection 
        (c) all expenses of the Corporation (other than 
        expenses covered by subsection (a)(1) and expenses 
        covered by paragraph (2)(A)), including--
                    ``(A) premium subsidies and indemnities;
                    ``(B) administrative and operating expenses 
                of the Corporation necessary to pay the sales 
                commissions of agents; and
                    ``(C) all administrative and operating 
                expense reimbursements due under a reinsurance 
                agreement with an approved insurance provider.
            ``(2) Research and development expenses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For each of the 1999 and 
                subsequent reinsurance years, the Corporation 
                may pay from the insurance fund established 
                under subsection (c) research and development 
                expenses of the Corporation, but not to exceed 
                $3,500,000 for each fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Dairy options pilot program.--Amounts 
                necessary to carry out the dairy options pilot 
                program shall not be counted toward the 
                limitation on research and development expenses 
                specified in subparagraph (A).''.

SEC. 532. BUDGETARY OFFSETS.

    (a) Administrative Fee for Catastrophic Risk Protection.--
Section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
following:
            ``(5) Administrative fee.--
                    ``(A) Basic fee.--Each producer shall pay 
                an administrative fee for catastrophic risk 
                protection in an amount equal to 10 percent of 
                the premium for the catastrophic risk 
                protection or $50 per crop per county, 
                whichever is greater, as determined by the 
                Corporation.
                    ``(B) Additional fee.--In addition to the 
                amount required under subparagraph (A), the 
                producer shall pay a $10 fee for each amount 
                determined under subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Time for payment.--The amounts 
                required under subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall 
                be paid by the producer on the date that 
                premium for a policy of additional coverage 
                would be paid by the producer.
                    ``(D) Use of fees.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The amounts paid 
                        under this paragraph shall be deposited 
                        in the crop insurance fund established 
                        under section 516(c), to be available 
                        for the programs and activities of the 
                        Corporation.
                            ``(ii) Limitation.--No funds 
                        deposited in the crop insurance fund 
                        under this subparagraph may be used to 
                        compensate an approved insurance 
                        provider or agent for the delivery of 
                        services under this subsection.
                    ``(E) Waiver of fee.--The Corporation shall 
                waive the amounts required under this paragraph 
                for limited resource farmers, as defined by the 
                Corporation.''.
    (b) Administrative Fee for Additional Coverage.--Section 
508(c)(10) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(c)(10)) is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Fee required.--Except as otherwise 
                provided in this paragraph, if a producer 
                elects to purchase additional coverage for a 
                crop at a level that is less than 65 percent of 
                the recorded or appraised average yield 
                indemnified at 100 percent of the expected 
                market price, or an equivalent coverage, the 
                producer shall pay an administrative fee for 
                the additional coverage. The administrative fee 
                for the producer shall be $50 per crop per 
                county, but not to exceed $200 per producer per 
                county, up to a maximum of $600 per producer 
                for all counties in which a producer has 
                insured crops. Subparagraphs (D) and (E) of 
                subsection (b)(5) shall apply with respect to 
                the use of administrative fees under this 
                subparagraph.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$10'' and 
        inserting ``$20''.
    (c) Reimbursement for Administrative and Operating Costs.--
Section 508(k) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(k)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following:
            ``(4) Rate.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the rate established by the 
                Board to reimburse approved insurance providers 
                and agents for the administrative and operating 
                costs of the providers and agents shall not 
                exceed--
                            ``(i) for the 1998 reinsurance 
                        year, 27 percent of the premium used to 
                        define loss ratio; and
                            ``(ii) for each of the 1999 and 
                        subsequent reinsurance years, 24.5 
                        percent of the premium used to define 
                        loss ratio.
                    ``(B) Proportional reductions.--A policy of 
                additional coverage that received a rate of 
                reimbursement for administrative and operating 
                costs for the 1998 reinsurance year that is 
                lower than the rate specified in subparagraph 
                (A)(i) shall receive a reduction in the rate of 
                reimbursement that is proportional to the 
                reduction in the rate of reimbursement between 
                clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A).''.
    (d) Loss Adjustment Expenses for Catastrophic Risk 
Protection.--Section 508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1508(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(11) Loss adjustment.--The rate for reimbursing 
        an approved insurance provider or agent for expenses 
        incurred by the approved insurance provider or agent 
        for loss adjustment in connection with a policy of 
        catastrophic risk protection shall notexceed 11 percent 
of the premium for catastrophic risk protection that is used to define 
loss ratio.''.

SEC. 533. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO CERTAIN INQUIRIES.

    Section 506 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1506) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(s) Procedures for Responding to Certain Inquiries.--
            ``(1) Procedures required.--The Corporation shall 
        establish procedures under which the Corporation will 
        provide a final agency determination in response to an 
        inquiry regarding the interpretation by the Corporation 
        of this title or any regulation issued under this 
        title.
            ``(2) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
        Corporation shall issue regulations to implement this 
        subsection. At a minimum, the regulations shall 
        establish--
                    ``(A) the manner in which inquiries 
                described in paragraph (1) are required to be 
                submitted to the Corporation; and
                    ``(B) a reasonable maximum number of days 
                within which the Corporation will respond to 
                all inquiries.
            ``(3) Effect of failure to timely respond.--If the 
        Corporation fails to respond to an inquiry in 
        accordance with the procedures established pursuant to 
        this subsection, the person requesting the 
        interpretation of this title or regulation may assume 
        the interpretation is correct for the applicable 
        reinsurance year.''.

SEC. 534. TIME PERIOD FOR RESPONDING TO SUBMISSION OF NEW POLICIES.

    Section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10) Time limits for response to submission of 
        new policies.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Board shall 
                establish a reasonable time period within which 
                the Board shall approve or disapprove a 
                proposal from a person regarding a new policy 
                submitted in accordance with this subsection.
                    ``(B) Effect of failure to meet time 
                limits.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (C), if the Board fails to provide a response 
                to a proposal described in subparagraph (A) in 
                accordance with subparagraph (A), the new 
                policy shall be deemed to be approved by the 
                Board for purposes of this subsection for the 
                initial reinsurance year designated for the new 
                policy in the request.
                    ``(C) Exceptions.--Subparagraph (B) shall 
                not apply to a proposal submitted under this 
                subsection if the Board and the person 
                submitting the request agree to an extension of 
                the time period.''.

SEC. 535. CROP INSURANCE STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter 
into a contract, with 1 or more entities outside the Federal 
Government with expertise in the establishment and delivery of 
crop and revenue insurance to agricultural producers, under 
which the contractor shall conduct a study of crop insurance 
issues specified in the contract, including--
            (1) improvement of crop insurance service to 
        agricultural producers;
            (2) options for transforming the role of the 
        Federal Government from a crop insurance provider to 
        solely that of a crop insurance regulator; and
            (3) privatization of crop insurance coverage.
    (b) Contractor.--Not later than 180 days after the date the 
contract is entered into, the contractor shall complete the 
study and submit a report on the study, including appropriate 
recommendations, to the Secretary.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date the 
Secretary receives the report, the Secretary shall submit the 
report, and any comments on the report, to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.

SEC. 536. REQUIRED TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STANDARD REINSURANCE 
                    AGREEMENTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``approved 
insurance provider'' and ``Corporation'' have the meanings 
given the terms in section 502(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(b)).
    (b) Terms and Conditions.--
            (1) Incorporation of amendments.--For each of the 
        1999 and subsequent reinsurance years, the Corporation 
        shall ensure that each Standard Reinsurance Agreement 
        between an approved insurance provider and the 
        Corporation reflects the amendments to the Federal Crop 
        Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) that are made by 
        this subtitle to the extent the amendments are 
        applicable to approved insurance providers.
            (2) Retention of existing provisions.--Except to 
        the extent necessary to implement the amendments made 
        by this subtitle, each Standard Reinsurance Agreement 
        described in paragraph (1) shall contain the following 
        provisions of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement for 
        the 1998 reinsurance year:
                    (A) Section II, concerning the terms of 
                reinsurance and underwriting gain and loss for 
                an approved insurance provider.
                    (B) Section III, concerning the terms for 
                subsidies and administrative fees for an 
                approved insurance provider.
                    (C) Section IV, concerning the terms for 
                loss adjustment for an approved insurance 
                provider under catastrophic risk protection.
                    (D) Section V.C., concerning interest 
                payments between the Corporation and an 
                approved insurance provider.
                    (E) Section V.I.5., concerning liquidated 
                damages.
    (c) Implementation.--To implement this subtitle and the 
amendments made by this subtitle, the Corporation is not 
required to amend provisions of the Standard Reinsurance 
Agreement not specifically affected by this subtitle or an 
amendment made by this subtitle.

SEC. 537. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as provided in section 535, this subtitle and the 
amendments made by this subtitle take effect on July 1, 1998.

                   TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                    Subtitle A--Existing Authorities

SEC. 601. RETENTION AND USE OF FEES.

    (a) Organic Certification.--Section 2107 of the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6506) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Availability of Fees.--
            ``(1) Account.--Fees collected under subsection 
        (a)(10) (including late payment penalties and interest 
        earned from investment of the fees) shall be credited 
        to the account that incurs the cost of the services 
        provided under this title.
            ``(2) Use.--The collected fees shall be available 
        to the Secretary, without further appropriation or 
        fiscal-year limitation, to pay the expenses of the 
        Secretary incurred in providing accreditation services 
        under this title.''.
    (b) National Arboretum.--Section 6(b) of the Act of March 
4, 1927 (20 U.S.C. 196(b)), is amended by striking ``Treasury'' 
and inserting ``Treasury. Amounts in the special fund shall be 
available to the Secretary of Agriculture, without further 
appropriation,''.
    (c) Patent Culture Collection Fees.--
            (1) Retention.--All funds collected by the 
        Agricultural Research Service of the Department of 
        Agriculture in connection with the acceptance of 
        microorganisms for deposit in, or the distribution of 
        microorganisms from, the Patent Culture Collection 
        maintained and operated by the Agricultural Research 
        Service shall be credited to the appropriation 
        supporting the maintenance and operation of the Patent 
        Culture Collection.
            (2) Use.--The collected funds shall be available to 
        the Agricultural Research Service, without further 
        appropriation or fiscal-year limitation, to carry out 
        its responsibilities under law (including international 
        treaties) with respect to the Patent Culture 
        Collection.

SEC. 602. OFFICE OF ENERGY POLICY AND NEW USES.

    The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is 
amended by inserting after section 219 (7 U.S.C. 6919) the 
following:

``SEC. 220. OFFICE OF ENERGY POLICY AND NEW USES.

    ``The Secretary shall establish for the Department, in the 
Office of the Secretary, an Office of Energy Policy and New 
Uses.''.

SEC. 603. KIWIFRUIT RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION 
                    PROGRAM.

    (a) Amendments to Orders.--Section 554(c) of the National 
Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 7463(c)) is amended in the second sentence by inserting 
before the period at the end the following: ``, except that an 
amendment to an order shall not require a referendum to become 
effective''.
    (b) National Kiwifruit Board.--Section 555 of the National 
Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 7464) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) 
        through (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) 10 members who are producers, exporters, or 
        importers (or their representatives), based on a 
        proportional representation of the level of domestic 
        production and imports of kiwifruit (as determined by 
        the Secretary).
            ``(2) 1 member appointed from the general 
        public.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Membership.--'' and all 
                that follows through ``paragraph (2), the'' and 
                inserting ``Membership.--Subject to the 11-
                member limit, the''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``who 
                are producers'' after ``members'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``who are 
                        importers or exporters'' after 
                        ``members''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``(a)(2)'' and 
                        inserting ``(a)(1)''; and
                    (C) in the second sentence of paragraph 
                (5), by inserting ``and alternate'' after 
                ``member''.

SEC. 604. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE PROGRAM.

    (a) Continuation of Program.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall continue operation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance 
Database program (referred to in this section as the ``FARAD 
program'') through contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements 
with appropriate colleges or universities.
    (b) Activities.--In carrying out the FARAD program, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) provide livestock producers, extension 
        specialists, scientists, and veterinarians with 
        information to prevent drug, pesticide, and 
        environmental contaminant residues in food animal 
        products;
            (2) maintain up-to-date information concerning--
                    (A) withdrawal times on FDA-approved food 
                animal drugs and appropriate withdrawal 
                intervals for drugs used in food animals in the 
                United States, as established under section 
                512(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
                Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(a));
                    (B) official tolerances for drugs and 
                pesticides in tissues, eggs, and milk;
                    (C) descriptions and sensitivities of rapid 
                screening tests for detecting residues in 
                tissues, eggs, and milk; and
                    (D) data on the distribution and fate of 
                chemicals in food animals;
            (3) publish periodically a compilation of food 
        animal drugs approved by the Food and Drug 
        Administration;
            (4) make information on food animal drugs available 
        to the public through handbooks and other literature, 
        computer software, a telephone hotline, and the 
        Internet;
            (5) furnish producer quality-assurance programs 
        with up-to-date data on approved drugs;
            (6) maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date, 
        residue avoidance database;
            (7) provide professional advice for determining the 
        withdrawal times necessary for food safety in the use 
        of drugs in food animals; and
            (8) engage in other activities designed to promote 
        food safety.
    (c) Contract, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements.--The 
Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract, grant, or 
cooperative agreement with 1 or more appropriate colleges and 
universities to operate the FARAD program. The term of the 
contract, grant, or cooperative agreement shall be 3 years, 
with options to extend the term of the contract triennially.
    (d) Indirect Costs.--Federal funds provided by the 
Secretary under a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement 
under this section shall be subject to reduction for indirect 
costs of the recipient of the funds in an amount not to exceed 
19 percent of the total Federal funds provided under the 
contract, grant, or cooperative agreement.

SEC. 605. HONEY RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION.

    (a) Findings and Purposes.--Section 2 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4601) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and all that 
        follows through ``The Congress finds that:'' and 
        inserting the following:

``SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:'';
            (2) in subsection (a) (as so designated)--
                    (A) in paragraphs (6) and (7), by striking 
                ``and consumer education'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``consumer education, and 
                industry information''; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the 
                following:
            ``(8) The ability to develop and maintain purity 
        standards for honey and honey products is critical to 
        maintaining the consumer confidence, safety, and trust 
        that are essential components of any undertaking to 
        maintain and develop markets for honey and honey 
        products.
            ``(9) Research directed at improving the cost 
        effectiveness and efficiency of beekeeping, as well as 
        developing better means of dealing with pest and 
        disease problems, is essential to keeping honey and 
        honey product prices competitive and facilitating 
        market growth as well as maintaining the financial 
        well-being of the honey industry.
            ``(10) Research involving the quality, safety, and 
        image of honey and honey products and how that quality, 
        safety, and image may be affected during the 
        extraction, processing, packaging, marketing, and other 
        stages of the honey and honey product production and 
        distribution process, is highly important to building 
        and maintaining markets for honey and honey 
        products.''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            ``(1) to authorize the establishment of an orderly 
        procedure for the development and financing, through an 
        adequate assessment, of an effective, continuous, and 
        nationally coordinated program of promotion, research, 
        consumer education, and industry information designed 
        to--
                    ``(A) strengthen the position of the honey 
                industry in the marketplace;
                    ``(B) maintain, develop, and expand 
                domestic and foreign markets and uses for honey 
                and honey products;
                    ``(C) maintain and improve the 
                competitiveness and efficiency of the honey 
                industry; and
                    ``(D) sponsor research to develop better 
                means of dealing with pest and disease 
                problems;
            ``(2) to maintain and expand the markets for all 
        honey and honey products in a manner that--
                    ``(A) is not designed to maintain or expand 
                any individual producer's, importer's, or 
                handler's share of the market; and
                    ``(B) does not compete with or replace 
                individual advertising or promotion efforts 
                designed to promote individual brand name or 
                trade name honey or honey products; and
            ``(3) to authorize and fund programs that result in 
        government speech promoting government objectives.
    ``(c) Administration.--Nothing in this Act--
            ``(1) prohibits the sale of various grades of 
        honey;
            ``(2) provides for control of honey production;
            ``(3) limits the right of the individual honey 
        producer to produce honey; or
            ``(4) creates a trade barrier to honey or honey 
        products produced in a foreign country.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4602) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(7) Handle.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `handle' means 
                to process, package, sell, transport, purchase, 
                or in any other way place or cause to be placed 
                in commerce, honey or a honey product.
                    ``(B) Inclusion.--The term `handle' 
                includes selling unprocessed honey that will be 
                consumed or used without further processing or 
                packaging.
                    ``(C) Exclusions.--The term `handle' does 
                not include--
                            ``(i) the transportation of 
                        unprocessed honey by a producer to a 
                        handler;
                            ``(ii) the transportation by a 
                        commercial carrier of honey, whether 
                        processed or unprocessed, for a handler 
                        or producer; or
                            ``(iii) the purchase of honey or a 
                        honey product by a consumer or other 
                        end-user of the honey or honey 
                        product.'';
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(19) Department.--The term `Department' means the 
        Department of Agriculture.
            ``(20) Honey production.--The term `honey 
        production' means all beekeeping operations related 
        to--
                    ``(A) managing honey bee colonies to 
                produce honey;
                    ``(B) harvesting honey from the colonies;
                    ``(C) extracting honey from the honeycombs; 
                and
                    ``(D) preparing honey for sale for further 
                processing.
            ``(21) Industry information.--The term `industry 
        information' means information or a program that will 
        lead to the development of new markets, new marketing 
        strategies, or increased efficiency for the honey 
        industry, or an activity to enhance the image of honey 
        and honey products and of the honey industry.
            ``(22) National honey marketing cooperative.--The 
        term `national honey marketing cooperative' means a 
        cooperative that markets its products in at least 2 of 
        the following 4 regions of the United States, as 
        determined by the Secretary:
                    ``(A) The Atlantic Coast, including the 
                District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of 
                Puerto Rico.
                    ``(B) The Mideast.
                    ``(C) The Midwest.
                    ``(D) The Pacific, including the States of 
                Alaska and Hawaii.
            ``(23) Qualified national organization representing 
        handler interests.--The term `qualified national 
        organization representing handler interests' means an 
        organization that the Secretary certifies as being 
        eligible to recommend nominations for the Committee 
        handler, handler-importer, alternate handler, and 
        alternate handler-importer members of the Honey Board 
        under section 7(b).
            ``(24) Qualified national organization representing 
        importer interests.--The term `qualified national 
        organization representing importer interests' means an 
        organization that the Secretary certifies as being 
        eligible to recommend nominations for the Committee 
        importer, handler-importer, alternate importer, and 
        alternate handler-importer members of the Honey Board 
        under section 7(b).''; and
            (3) by reordering the paragraphs so that they are 
        in alphabetical order by term defined and redesignating 
        the paragraphs accordingly.
    (c) Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Order.--Section 4 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4603) is amended by 
inserting ``and regulations'' after ``orders''.
    (d) Notice and Hearing.--Section 5 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4604) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 5. NOTICE AND HEARING.

    ``(a) Notice and Comment.--In issuing an order under this 
Act, an amendment to an order, or a regulation to carry out 
this Act, the Secretary shall comply with section 553 of title 
5, United States Code.
    ``(b) Formal Agency Action.--Sections 556 and 557 of that 
title shall not apply with respect to the issuance of an order, 
an amendment to an order, or a regulation under this Act.
    ``(c) Proposal of an Order.--A proposal for an order may be 
submitted to the Secretary by any organization or interested 
person affected by this Act.''.
    (e) Findings and Issuance of Order.--Section 6 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4605) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 6. FINDINGS AND ISSUANCE OF ORDER.

    ``After notice and opportunity for comment has been 
provided in accordance with section 5(a), the Secretary shall 
issue an order, an amendment to an order, or a regulation under 
this Act, if the Secretary finds, and specifies in the order, 
amendment, or regulation, that the issuance of the order, 
amendment, or regulation will assist in carrying out the 
purposes of this Act.''.
    (f) Required Terms of an Order.--
            (1) National honey nominations committee.--Section 
        7(b) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
        Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                ``except'' and all that follows through 
                ``three-year terms'' and inserting ``except 
                that the term of appointments to the Committee 
                may be staggered periodically, as determined by 
                the Secretary''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in the second sentence, by 
                        striking ``after the first annual 
                        meeting''; and
                            (ii) in the third sentence, by 
                        striking ``per centum'' and inserting 
                        ``percent''.
            (2) Honey board.--Section 7(c) of the Honey 
        Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
        U.S.C. 4606(c)) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through 
                (6) as paragraphs (8) through (11), 
                respectively;
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by 
                        striking ``seven'' and inserting ``7''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) 
                        through (E) and all that follows and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(B) 2 members who are handlers appointed 
                from nominations submitted by the Committee 
                from recommendations made by qualified national 
                organizations representing handler interests;
                    ``(C) if approved in a referendum conducted 
                under this Act, 2 members who--
                            ``(i) are handlers of honey;
                            ``(ii) during any 3 of the 
                        preceding 5 years, were also importers 
                        of record of at least 40,000 pounds of 
                        honey; and
                            ``(iii) are appointed from 
                        nominations submitted by the Committee 
                        from recommendations made by--
                                    ``(I) qualified national 
                                organizations representing 
                                handler interests or qualified 
                                national organizations 
                                representing importer 
                                interests; or
                                    ``(II) if the Secretary 
                                determines that there is not a 
                                qualified national organization 
                                representing handler interests 
                                or a qualified national 
                                organization representing 
                                importer interests, individual 
                                handlers or importers that have 
                                paid assessments to the Honey 
                                Board on imported honey or 
                                honey products;
                    ``(D) 2 members who are importers appointed 
                from nominations submitted by the Committee 
                from recommendations made by--
                            ``(i) qualified national 
                        organizations representing importer 
                        interests; or
                            ``(ii) if the Secretary determines 
                        that there is not a qualified national 
                        organization representing importer 
                        interests, individual importers that 
                        have paid assessments to the Honey 
                        Board on imported honey or honey 
                        products; and
                    ``(E) 1 member who is an officer, director, 
                or employee of a national honey marketing 
                cooperative appointed from nominations 
                submitted by the Committee from recommendations 
                made by qualified national honey marketing 
                cooperatives.'';
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
                following:
            ``(3) Alternates.--The Committee shall submit 
        nominations for an alternate for each member of the 
        Honey Board described in paragraph (2). An alternate 
        shall be appointed in the same manner as a member and 
        shall serve when the member is absent from a meeting or 
        is disqualified.
            ``(4) Reconstitution.--
                    ``(A) Review.--If approved in a referendum 
                conducted under this Act and in accordance with 
                rules issued by the Secretary, the Honey Board 
                shall review, at times determined under 
                subparagraph (E)--
                            ``(i) the geographic distribution 
                        of the quantities of domestically 
                        produced honey assessed under the 
                        order; and
                            ``(ii) changes in the annual 
                        average percentage of assessments owed 
                        by importers under the order relative 
                        to assessments owed by producers and 
                        handlers of domestic honey, including--
                                    ``(I) whether any changes 
                                in assessments owed on imported 
                                quantities are owed by 
                                importers described in 
                                paragraph (5)(B); or
                                    ``(II) whether such 
                                importers are handler-importers 
                                described in paragraph (2)(C).
                    ``(B) Recommendations.--If warranted and in 
                accordance with this subsection, the Honey 
                Board shall recommend to the Secretary--
                            ``(i) changes in the regional 
                        representation of honey producers 
                        established by the Secretary;
                            ``(ii) if necessary to reflect any 
                        changes in the proportion of domestic 
                        and imported honey assessed under the 
                        order or the source of assessments on 
                        imported honey or honey products, the 
                        reallocation of--
                                    ``(I) handler-importer 
                                member positions under 
                                paragraph (2)(C) as handler 
                                member positions under 
                                paragraph (2)(B);
                                    ``(II) importer member 
                                positions under paragraph 
                                (2)(D) as handler-importer 
                                member positions under 
                                paragraph (2)(C); or
                                    ``(III) handler-importer 
                                member positions under 
                                paragraph (2)(C) as importer 
                                member positions under 
                                paragraph (2)(D); or
                            ``(iii) if necessary to reflect any 
                        changes in the proportion of domestic 
                        and imported honey or honey products 
                        assessed under the order, the addition 
                        of members to the Honey Board under 
                        subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of 
                        paragraph (2).
                    ``(C) Scope of review.--The review required 
                under subparagraph (A) shall be based on data 
                from the 5-year period preceding the year in 
                which the review is conducted.
                    ``(D) Basis for recommendations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as 
                        provided in subparagraph (F), 
                        recommendations made under subparagraph 
                        (B) shall be based on--
                                    ``(I) the 5-year average 
                                annual assessments, excluding 
                                the 2 years containing the 
                                highest and lowest disparity 
                                between the proportion of 
                                assessments owed from imported 
                                and domestic honey or honey 
                                products, determined pursuant 
                                to the review that is conducted 
                                under subparagraph (A); and
                                    ``(II) whether any change 
                                in the average annual 
                                assessments is from the 
                                assessments owed by importers 
                                described in paragraph (5)(B) 
                                or from the assessments owed by 
                                handler-importers described in 
                                paragraph (2)(C).
                            ``(ii) Proportions.--The Honey 
                        Board shall recommend a reallocation or 
                        addition of members pursuant to clause 
                        (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (B) only 
                        if 1 or more of the following 
                        proportions change by more than 6 
                        percent from the base period proportion 
                        determined in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (F):
                                    ``(I) The proportion of 
                                assessments owed by handler-
                                importers described in 
                                paragraph (2)(C) compared with 
                                the proportion of assessments 
                                owed by importers described in 
                                paragraph (2)(D).
                                    ``(II) The proportion of 
                                assessments owed by importers 
                                compared with the proportion of 
                                assessments owed on domestic 
                                honey by producers and 
                                handlers.
                    ``(E) Timing of review.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Honey Board 
                        shall conduct the reviews required 
                        under this paragraph not more than once 
                        during each 5-year period.
                            ``(ii) Initial review.--The Honey 
                        Board shall conduct the initial review 
                        required under this paragraph prior to 
                        the initial continuation referendum 
                        conducted under section 13(c) following 
                        the referendum conducted under section 
                        14.
                    ``(F) Base period proportions.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The base period 
                        proportions for determining the 
                        magnitude of change under subparagraph 
                        (D) shall be the proportions determined 
                        during the prior review conducted under 
                        this paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Initial review.--In the case 
                        of the initial review required under 
                        subparagraph (E)(ii), the base period 
                        proportions shall be the proportions 
                        determined by the Honey Board for 
                        fiscal year 1996.
            ``(5) Restrictions on nomination and appointment.--
                    ``(A) Producer-packers as producers.--No 
                producer-packer that, during any 3 of the 
                preceding 5 years, purchased for resale more 
                honey than the producer-packer produced shall 
                be eligible for nomination or appointment to 
                the Honey Board as a producer described in 
                paragraph (2)(A) or as an alternate to such a 
                producer.
                    ``(B) Importers.--No importer that, during 
                any 3 of the preceding 5 years, did not receive 
                at least 75 percent of the gross income 
                generated by the sale of honey and honey 
                products from the sale of imported honey and 
                honey products shall be eligible for nomination 
                or appointment to the Honey Board as an 
                importer described in paragraph (2)(D) or an 
                alternate to such an importer.
            ``(6) Certification of organizations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The eligibility of an 
                organization to participate in the making of 
                recommendations to the Committee for nomination 
                to the Honey Board to represent handlers or 
                importers under this section shall be certified 
                by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Eligibility criteria.--Subject to the 
                other provisions of this paragraph, the 
                Secretary shall certify an organization that 
                the Secretary determines meets the eligibility 
                criteria established by the Secretary under 
                this paragraph.
                    ``(C) Finality.--An eligibility 
                determination of the Secretary under this 
                paragraph shall be final.
                    ``(D) Basis for certification.--
                Certification of an organization under this 
                paragraph shall be based on, in addition to 
                other available information, a factual report 
                submitted by the organization that contains 
                information considered relevant by the 
                Secretary, including--
                            ``(i) the geographic territory 
                        covered by the active membership of the 
                        organization;
                            ``(ii) the nature and size of the 
                        active membership of the organization, 
                        including the proportion of the total 
                        number of active handlers or importers 
                        represented by the organization;
                            ``(iii) evidence of the stability 
                        and permanency of the organization;
                            ``(iv) sources from which the 
                        operating funds of the organization are 
                        derived;
                            ``(v) the functions of the 
                        organization; and
                            ``(vi) the ability and willingness 
                        of the organization to further the 
                        purposes of this Act.
                    ``(E) Primary considerations.--A primary 
                consideration in determining the eligibility of 
                an organization under this paragraph shall be 
                whether--
                            ``(i) the membership of the 
                        organization consists primarily of 
                        handlers or importers that derive a 
                        substantial quantity of their income 
                        from sales of honey and honey products; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the organization has an 
                        interest in the marketing of honey and 
                        honey products.
                    ``(F) Nonmembers.--As a condition of 
                certification under this paragraph, an 
                organization shall agree--
                            ``(i) to notify nonmembers of the 
                        organization of Honey Board nomination 
                        opportunities for which the 
                        organization is certified to make 
                        recommendations to the Committee; and
                            ``(ii) to consider the nomination 
                        of nonmembers when making the 
                        nominations of the organization to the 
                        Committee, if nonmembers indicate an 
                        interest in serving on the Honey Board.
            ``(7) Minimum percentage of honey producers.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, 
        at least 50 percent of the members of the Honey Board 
        shall be honey producers.''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), 
                by striking ``except'' and all that follows 
                through ``three-year terms'' and inserting 
                ``except that appointments to the Honey Board 
                may be staggered periodically, as determined by 
                the Secretary, to maintain continuity of the 
                Honey Board with respect to all members and 
                with respect to members representing particular 
                groups.''.
            (3) Assessments.--Section 7(e) of the Honey 
        Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
        U.S.C. 4606(e)) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) 
                as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively;
                    (B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
                the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Honey Board shall administer 
        collection of the assessment provided for in this 
        subsection, and may accept voluntary contributions from 
        other sources, to finance the expenses described in 
        subsections (d) and (f).
            ``(2) Rate.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
        the assessment rate shall be $0.0075 per pound (payable 
        in the manner described in section 9), with--
                    ``(A) in the case of honey produced in the 
                United States, $0.0075 per pound payable by 
                honey producers; and
                    ``(B) in the case of honey or honey 
                products imported into the United States, 
                $0.0075 per pound payable by honey importers.
            ``(3) Alternative rate approved in referendum.--If 
        approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, the 
        assessment rate shall be $0.015 per pound (payable in 
        the manner described in section 9)--
                    ``(A) in the case of honey produced in the 
                United States--
                            ``(i) $0.0075 per pound payable 
                        by--
                                    ``(I) honey producers; and
                                    ``(II) producer-packers on 
                                all honey produced by the 
                                producer-packers; and
                            ``(ii) $0.0075 per pound payable 
                        by--
                                    ``(I) handlers; and
                                    ``(II) producer-packers on 
                                all honey and honey products 
                                handled by the producer-
                                packers, including honey 
                                produced by the producer-
                                packers); and
                    ``(B) in the case of honey and honey 
                products imported into the United States, 
                $0.015 per pound payable by honey importers, of 
                which $0.0075 per pound represents the 
                assessment due from the handler to be paid by 
                the importer on behalf of the handler.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), 
                by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(B) Small quantities.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A producer, 
                        producer-packer, handler, or importer 
                        that produces, imports, or handles 
                        during a year less than 6,000 pounds of 
                        honey or honey products shall be exempt 
                        in that year from payment of an 
                        assessment on honey or honey products 
                        that the person distributes directly 
                        through local retail outlets, as 
                        determined by the Secretary, during 
                        that year.
                            ``(ii) Inapplicability.--If a 
                        person no longer meets the requirements 
                        of clause (i) for an exemption, the 
                        person shall--
                                    ``(I) file a report with 
                                the Honey Board in the form and 
                                manner prescribed by the Honey 
                                Board; and
                                    ``(II) pay an assessment on 
                                or before March 15 of the 
                                subsequent year on all honey or 
                                honey products produced, 
                                imported, or handled by the 
                                person during the year in which 
                                the person no longer meets the 
                                requirements of clause (i) for 
                                an exemption.''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) by inserting ``handler,'' after 
                        ``producer-packer'' each place it 
                        appears;
                            (ii) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' 
                        and inserting ``paragraph (4)''; and
                            (iii) by inserting ``, handler,'' 
                        after ``producer'' the last place it 
                        appears.
            (4) Use of funds.--Section 7(f) of the Honey 
        Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
        U.S.C. 4606(f)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``(f) Funds collected by 
                the Honey Board from the assessments'' and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(f) Funds.--
            ``(1) Use.--Funds collected by the Honey Board'';
                    (B) by striking ''The Secretary shall'' and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(3) Reimbursement.--The Secretary shall''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as 
                designated by subparagraph (A)) the following:
            ``(2) Research projects.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If approved in a 
                referendum conducted under this Act, the Honey 
                Board shall reserve at least 8 percent of all 
                assessments collected during a year for 
                expenditure on approved research projects 
                designed to advance the cost effectiveness, 
                competitiveness, efficiency, pest and disease 
                control, and other management aspects of 
                beekeeping, honey production, and honey bees.
                    ``(B) Carryover.--If all funds reserved 
                under subparagraph (A) are not allocated to 
                approved research projects in a year, any 
                reserved funds remaining unallocated shall be 
                carried forward for allocation and expenditure 
                under subparagraph (A) in subsequent years.''.
            (5) False or unwarranted claims or statements.--
        Section 7(g) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
        Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(g)) is amended 
        by striking ``with assessments collected'' and 
        inserting ``by the Honey Board''.
            (6) Influencing governmental policy or action.--
        Section 7(h) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
        Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(h)) is amended 
        by striking ``through assessments authorized by'' and 
        inserting ``by the Honey Board under''.
    (g) Permissive Terms and Provisions.--Section 8 of the 
Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 4607) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before 
        ``On''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) If approved in a referendum conducted under 
        this Act, providing authority for the development of 
        programs and related rules and regulations that will, 
        with the approval of the Secretary, establish minimum 
        purity standards for honey and honey products that are 
        designed to maintain a positive and wholesome marketing 
        image for honey and honey products.
    ``(b) Inspection and Monitoring System.--
            ``(1) Inspection.--Any program, rule, or regulation 
        under subsection (a)(8) may provide for the inspection, 
        by the Secretary, of honey and honey products being 
        sold for domestic consumption in, or for export from, 
        the United States.
            ``(2) Monitoring system.--The Honey Board may 
        develop and recommend to the Secretary a system for 
        monitoring the purity of honey and honey products being 
        sold for domestic consumption in, or for export from, 
        the United States, including a system for identifying 
        adulterated honey.
            ``(3) Coordination with other federal agencies.--
        The Secretary may coordinate, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, with the head of any other Federal agency 
        that has authority to ensure compliance with labeling 
        or other requirements relating to the purity of honey 
        and honey products concerning an enforcement action 
        against any person that does not comply with a rule or 
        regulation issued by any other Federal agency 
        concerning the labeling or purity requirements of honey 
        and honey products.
            ``(4) Authority to issue regulations.--The 
        Secretary may issue such rules and regulations as are 
        necessary to carry out this subsection.
    ``(c) Voluntary Quality Assurance Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to or independent of 
        any program, rule, or regulation under subsection (b), 
        the Honey Board, with the approval of the Secretary, 
        may establish and carry out a voluntary quality 
        assurance program concerning purity standards for honey 
        and honey products.
            ``(2) Components.--The program may include--
                    ``(A) the establishment of an official 
                Honey Board seal of approval to be displayed on 
                honey and honey products of producers, 
                handlers, and importers that participate in the 
                voluntary program and are found to meet such 
                standards of purity as are established under 
                the program;
                    ``(B) actions to encourage producers, 
                handlers, and importers to participate in the 
                program;
                    ``(C) actions to encourage consumers to 
                purchase honey and honey products bearing the 
                official seal of approval; and
                    ``(D) periodic inspections by the 
                Secretary, or other parties approved by the 
                Secretary, of honey and honey products of 
                producers, handlers, and importers that 
                participate in the voluntary program.
            ``(3) Display of seal of approval.--To be eligible 
        to display the official seal of approval established 
        under paragraph (2)(A) on a honey or honey product, a 
        producer, handler, or importer shall participate in the 
        voluntary program under this subsection.
    ``(d) Authority of the Secretary.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this Act, the Secretary shall have the 
authority to approve or disapprove the establishment of minimum 
purity standards, the inspection and monitoring system under 
subsection (b), and the voluntary quality assurance program 
under subsection (c).''.
    (h) Collection of Assessments.--
            (1) New assessment.--Section 9 of the Honey 
        Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
        U.S.C. 4608) is amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (a) and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(a) Handlers.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, a first handler of honey shall be responsible, at the 
time of first purchase--
            ``(1) for the collection, and payment to the Honey 
        Board, of the assessment payable by a producer under 
        section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a referendum 
        conducted under this Act, under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i); 
        and
            ``(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under 
        this Act, for the payment to the Honey Board of an 
        additional assessment payable by the handler under 
        section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii).'';
                    (B) by striking subsection (c) and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(c) Importers.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, at the time of entry of honey and honey products into 
the United States, an importer shall remit to the Honey Board 
through the United States Customs Service--
            ``(1) the assessment on the imported honey and 
        honey products required under section 7(e)(2)(B); or
            ``(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under 
        this Act, the assessment on the imported honey and 
        honey products required under section 7(e)(3)(B), of 
        which the amount payable under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii) 
        represents the assessment due from the handler to be 
        paid by the importer on behalf of the handler.''; and
                    (C) by striking subsection (e) and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(e) Producer-Packers.--Except as otherwise provided in 
this section, a producer-packer shall be responsible for the 
collection, and payment to the Honey Board, of--
            ``(1) the assessment payable by the producer-packer 
        under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a 
        referendum conducted under this Act, under section 
        7(e)(3)(A)(i) on honey produced by the producer-packer;
            ``(2) at the time of first purchase, the assessment 
        payable by a producer under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if 
        approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, 
        under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i) on honey purchased by the 
        producer-packer as a first handler; and
            ``(3) if approved in a referendum conducted under 
        this Act, an additional assessment payable by the 
        producer-packer under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii).''.
            (2) Inspection; books and records.--Section 9 of 
        the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
        Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is amended by striking subsection 
        (f) and inserting the following:
    ``(f) Inspection; Books and Records.--
            ``(1) In general.--To make available to the 
        Secretary and the Honey Board such information and data 
        as are necessary to carry out this Act (including an 
        order or regulation issued under this Act), a handler, 
        importer, producer, or producer-packer responsible for 
        payment of an assessment under this Act, and a person 
        receiving an exemption from an assessment under section 
        7(e)(4), shall--
                    ``(A) maintain and make available for 
                inspection by the Secretary and the Honey Board 
                such books and records as are required by the 
                order and regulations issued under this Act; 
                and
                    ``(B) file reports at the times, in the 
                manner, and having the content prescribed by 
                the order and regulations, which reports shall 
                include the total number of bee colonies 
                maintained, the quantity of honey produced, and 
                the quantity of honey and honey products 
                handled or imported.
            ``(2) Employee or agent.--To conduct an inspection 
        or review a report of a handler, importer, producer, or 
        producer-packer under paragraph (1), an individual 
        shall be an employee or agent of the Department or the 
        Honey Board, and shall not be a member or alternate 
        member of the Honey Board.
            ``(3) Confidentiality.--An employee or agent 
        described in paragraph (2) shall be subject to the 
        confidentiality requirements of subsection (g).''.
            (3) Confidentiality of information; disclosure.--
        Section 9 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
        Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is amended by 
        striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:
    ``(g) Confidentiality of Information; Disclosure.--
            ``(1) In general.--All information obtained under 
        subsection (f) shall be kept confidential by all 
        officers, employees, and agents of the Department or of 
        the Honey Board.
            ``(2) Disclosure.--Information subject to paragraph 
        (1) may be disclosed--
                    ``(A) only in a suit or administrative 
                hearing brought at the request of the 
                Secretary, or to which the Secretary or any 
                officer of the United States is a party, that 
                involves the order with respect to which the 
                information was furnished or acquired; and
                    ``(B) only if the Secretary determines that 
                the information is relevant to the suit or 
                administrative hearing.
            ``(3) Exceptions.--Nothing in this subsection 
        prohibits--
                    ``(A) the issuance of general statements 
                based on the reports of a number of handlers 
                subject to an order, if the statements do not 
                identify the information furnished by any 
                person; or
                    ``(B) the publication, by direction of the 
                Secretary, of the name of any person that 
                violates any order issued under this Act, 
                together with a statement of the particular 
                provisions of the order violated by the person.
            ``(4) Violation.--Any person that knowingly 
        violates this subsection, on conviction--
                    ``(A) shall be fined not more than $1,000, 
                imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both; and
                    ``(B) if the person is an officer or 
                employee of the Honey Board or the Department, 
                shall be removed from office.''.
            (4) Refunds.--Section 9 of the Honey Research, 
        Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) 
        is amended by striking subsection (h).
            (5) Administration and remittance.--Section 9 of 
        the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
        Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) (as amended by paragraph (4)) is 
        amended by inserting after subsection (g) the 
        following:
    ``(h) Administration and Remittance.--Administration and 
remittance of the assessments under this Act shall be 
conducted--
            ``(1) in the manner prescribed in the order and 
        regulations issued under this Act; and
            ``(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under 
        this Act, in a manner that ensures that all honey and 
        honey products are assessed a total of, but not more 
        than, $0.015 per pound, including any producer or 
        importer assessment.''.
            (6) Liability for assessments.--Section 9(i) of the 
        Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act 
        (7 U.S.C. 4608(i)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``(i) If'' and inserting 
                the following:
    ``(i) Liability for Assessments.--
            ``(1) Producers.--If''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Importers.--If the United States Customs 
        Service fails to collect an assessment from an importer 
        or an importer fails to pay an assessment at the time 
        of entry of honey and honey products into the United 
        States under this section, the importer shall be 
        responsible for the remission of the assessment to the 
        Honey Board.''.
    (i) Petition and Review.--Section 10 of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4609) is 
amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Filing of Petition; Hearing.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (4), a 
        person subject to an order may file a written petition 
        with the Secretary--
                    ``(A) that states that the order, any 
                provision of the order, or any obligation 
                imposed in connection with the order is not in 
                accordance with law; and
                    ``(B) that requests--
                            ``(i) a modification of the order, 
                        provision, or obligation; or
                            ``(ii) to be exempted from the 
                        order, provision, or obligation.
            ``(2) Hearing.--In accordance with regulations 
        issued by the Secretary, the petitioner shall be given 
        an opportunity for a hearing on the petition.
            ``(3) Ruling.--After the hearing, the Secretary 
        shall make a ruling on the petition that shall be 
        final, if in accordance with law.
            ``(4) Statute of limitations.--A petition filed 
        under this subsection that challenges an order, any 
        provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in 
        connection with the order, shall be filed not later 
        than 2 years after the later of--
                    ``(A) the effective date of the order, 
                provision, or obligation challenged in the 
                petition; or
                    ``(B) the date on which the petitioner 
                became subject to the order, provision, or 
                obligation challenged in the petition.''.
    (j) Enforcement.--Subsections (a) and (b) of section 11 of 
the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 4610) are amended by striking ``plan'' each place it 
appears and inserting ``order''.
    (k) Requirements of Referendum.--Section 12 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4611) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 12. REQUIREMENTS OF REFERENDUM.

    ``(a) In General.--For the purpose of ascertaining whether 
issuance of an order is approved by producers, importers, and 
in the case of an order assessing handlers, handlers, the 
Secretary shall conduct a referendum among producers, 
importers, and, in the case of an order assessing handlers, 
handlers, not exempt under section 7(e)(4), that, during a 
representative period determined by the Secretary, have been 
engaged in the production, importation, or handling of honey or 
honey products.
    ``(b) Effectiveness of Order.--
            ``(1) In general.--No order issued under this Act 
        shall be effective unless the Secretary determines 
        that--
                    ``(A) the order is approved by a majority 
                of the producers, importers, and if covered by 
                the order, handlers, voting in the referendum; 
                and
                    ``(B) the producers, importers, and 
                handlers comprising the majority produced, 
                imported, and handled not less than 50 percent 
                of the quantity of the honey and honey products 
                produced, imported, and handled during the 
                representative period by the persons voting in 
                the referendum.
            ``(2) Amendments to orders.--The Secretary may 
        amend an order in accordance with the administrative 
        procedures specified in sections 5 and 6, except that 
        the Secretary may not amend a provision of an order 
        that implements a provision of this Act that 
        specifically provides for approval in a referendum 
        without the approval provided for in this section.
    ``(c) Producer-Packers and Importers.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each producer-packer and each 
        importer shall have 1 vote as a handler as well as 1 
        vote as a producer or importer (unless exempt under 
        section 7(e)(4)) in all referenda concerning orders 
        assessing handlers to the extent that the individual 
        producer-packer or importer owes assessments as a 
        handler.
            ``(2) Attribution of quantity of honey.--For the 
        purpose of subsection (b)(1)(B)--
                    ``(A) the quantity of honey or honey 
                products on which the qualifying producer-
                packer or importer owes assessments as a 
                handler shall be attributed to the person's 
                vote as a handler under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) the quantity of honey or honey 
                products on which the producer-packer or 
                importer owes an assessment as a producer or 
                importer shall be attributed to the person's 
                vote as a producer or importer.
    ``(d) Confidentiality.--The ballots and other information 
or reports that reveal, or tend to reveal, the identity or vote 
of any producer, importer, or handler of honey or honey 
products shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be 
disclosed.''.
    (l) Termination or Suspension.--Section 13 of the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 
4612) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 13. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION.

    ``(a) Definition of Person.--In this section, the term 
`person' means a producer, importer, or handler.
    ``(b) Authority of Secretary.--If the Secretary finds that 
an order issued under this Act, or any provision of the order, 
obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the purposes of this 
Act, the Secretary shall terminate or suspend the operation of 
the order or provision.
    ``(c) Periodic Referenda.--Except as provided in subsection 
(d)(3) and section 14(g), on the date that is 5 years after the 
date on which the Secretary issues an order authorizing the 
collection of assessments on honey or honey products under this 
Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct 
a referendum to determine if the persons subject to assessment 
under the order approve continuation of the order in accordance 
with section 12.
    ``(d) Referenda on Request.--
            ``(1) In general.--On the request of the Honey 
        Board or the petition of at least 10 percent of the 
        total number of persons subject to assessment under the 
        order, the Secretary shall conduct a referendum to 
        determine if the persons subject to assessment under 
        the order approve continuation of the order in 
        accordance with section 12.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Referenda conducted under 
        paragraph (1) may not be held more than once every 2 
        years.
            ``(3) Effect on periodic referenda.--If a 
        referendum is conducted under this subsection and the 
        Secretary determines that continuation of the order is 
        approved under section 12, any referendum otherwise 
        required to be conducted under subsection (c) shall not 
        be held before the date that is 5 years after the date 
        of the referendum conducted under this subsection.
    ``(e) Timing and Requirements for Termination or 
Suspension.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall terminate or 
        suspend an order at the end of the marketing year 
        during which a referendum is conducted under subsection 
        (c) or (d) if the Secretary determines that 
        continuation of an order is not approved under section 
        12.
            ``(2) Subsequent referendum.--If the Secretary 
        terminates or suspends an order that assesses the 
        handling of honey and honey products under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after 
        submission of a proposed order by an interested party--
                    ``(A) propose another order to establish a 
                research, promotion, and consumer information 
                program; and
                    ``(B) conduct a referendum on the order 
                among persons that would be subject to 
                assessment under the order.
            ``(3) Effectiveness of order.--Section 12 shall 
        apply in determining the effectiveness of the 
        subsequent amended order under paragraph (2).''.
    (m) Implementation of Amendments.--The Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act is amended by inserting 
after section 13 (7 U.S.C. 4612) the following:

``SEC. 14. IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDMENTS MADE BY AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
                    EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1998.

    ``(a) Issuance of Amended Order.--To implement the 
amendments made to this Act by section 605 of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (other 
than subsection (m) of that section), the Secretary shall issue 
an amended order under section 4 that reflects those 
amendments.
    ``(b) Proposal of Amended Order.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall publish a proposed order under section 4 that reflects 
the amendments made by section 605 of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. The 
Secretary shall provide notice and an opportunity for public 
comment on the proposed order in accordance with section 5.
    ``(c) Issuance of Amended Order.--Not later than 240 days 
after publication of the proposed order, the Secretary shall 
issue an order under section 6, taking into consideration the 
comments received and including in the order such provisions as 
are necessary to ensure that the order conforms with the 
amendments made by section 605 of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998.
    ``(d) Referendum on Amended Order.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--On issuance of an order 
                under section 6 reflecting the amendments made 
                by section 605 of the Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, 
                the Secretary shall conduct a referendum under 
                this section for the sole purpose of 
                determining whether the order as amended shall 
                become effective.
                    ``(B) Individual provisions.--No individual 
                provision of the amended order shall be subject 
                to a separate vote under the referendum.
            ``(2) Eligible voters.--The Secretary shall conduct 
        the referendum among persons subject to assessment 
        under the order that have been producers, producer-
        packers, importers, or handlers during the 2-calendar-
        year period that precedes the referendum, which period 
        shall be considered to be the representative period.
            ``(3) Determination of quantity.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Producer-packers, 
                importers, and handlers shall be allowed to 
                vote as if--
                            ``(i) the amended order had been in 
                        place during the representative period 
                        described in paragraph (2); and
                            ``(ii) they had owed the increased 
                        assessments provided by the amended 
                        order.
                    ``(B) Votes and attributed quantity for 
                producer-packers and importers.--The votes and 
                the quantity of honey and honey products 
                attributed to the votes of producer-packers and 
                importers shall be determined in accordance 
                with section 12.
                    ``(C) Attributed quantity for handlers.--
                The quantity of honey and honey products 
                attributed to the vote of a handler shall be 
                the quantity handled in the representative 
                period described in paragraph (2) for which the 
                handler would have owed assessments had the 
                amended order been in effect.
            ``(4) Effectiveness of order.--The amended order 
        shall become effective only if the Secretary determines 
        that the amended order is effective in accordance with 
        section 12.
    ``(e) Continuation of Existing Order If Amended Order is 
Rejected.--If adoption of the amended order is not approved--
            ``(1) the order issued under section 4 that is in 
        effect on the date of enactment of this section shall 
        continue in full force and effect; and
            ``(2) the Secretary may amend the order to ensure 
        the conformity of the order with this Act (as in effect 
        on the day before the date of enactment of this 
        section).
    ``(f) Effect of Rejection on Subsequent Orders.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), if 
        adoption of the amended order is not approved in the 
        referendum required under subsection (d), the Secretary 
        may issue an amended order that implements some or all 
        of the amendments made to this Act by section 605 of 
        the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
        Reform Act of 1998, or makes other changes to an 
        existing order, in accordance with the administrative 
        procedures specified in sections 5 and 6.
            ``(2) Approval.--An amendment to an order that 
        implements a provision that is subject to a referendum 
        shall be approved in accordance with section 12 before 
        becoming effective.
    ``(g) Effect on Periodic Referenda.--If the amended order 
becomes effective, any referendum otherwise required to be 
conducted under section 13(c) shall not be held before the date 
that is 5 years after the date of the referendum conducted 
under this section.''.

SEC. 606. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Supplemental and Alternative Crops Research.--Effective 
as of April 6, 1996, section 819(b)(5) of the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
127; 110 Stat. 1167) is amended by striking ``paragraph (3)'' 
and inserting ``subsection (c)(3)''.
    (b) Joint Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences.--
Section 1413(b) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3128(b)) 
is amended by striking ``Joint Council, the Advisory Board,'' 
and inserting ``Advisory Board''.
    (c) Advisory Board.--
            (1) Support for advisory board.--Section 1412 of 
        the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
        Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3127) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking 
                ``their duties'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``its duties''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``their 
                recommendations'' and inserting ``its 
                recommendations''.
            (2) General provisions.--Section 1413(a) of the 
        National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
        Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3128(a)) is amended by 
        striking ``their powers'' and inserting ``its duties''.
    (d) Animal Health and Disease Research.--The National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 is amended--
            (1) in section 1430 (7 U.S.C. 3192)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by adding ``and'' at 
                the end;
                    (B) by striking paragraph (4); and
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
                paragraph (4);
            (2) in section 1433(b)(3) (7 U.S.C. 3195(b)(3)), by 
        striking ``with the advice, when available, of the 
        Board'';
            (3) in section 1434(c) (7 U.S.C. 3196(c))--
                    (A) in the second sentence, by striking 
                ``and the Board''; and
                    (B) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``, 
                the Advisory Board, and the Board'' and 
                inserting ``and the Advisory Board''; and
            (4) in the first sentence of section 1437 (7 U.S.C. 
        3199), by striking ``with the advice, when available, 
        of the Board''.
    (e) Rangeland Research.--The second sentence of section 
1483(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3336(b)) is amended by 
striking the last sentence.
    (f) Plant and Animal Pest and Disease Control Program.--
Section 1629(g) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832(g)) is amended by striking 
``section 1650,''.
    (g) Grants To Upgrade 1890 Institutions Extension 
Facilities.--Effective as of April 6, 1996, section 873 of the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public 
Law 104-127; 110 Stat. 1175) is amended by striking ``1981'' 
and inserting ``1985''.
    (h) Competitive and Special Grants.--The Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``Joint 
        Council on Food and Agricultural Sciences and the 
        National Agricultural Research and Extension Users 
        Advisory Board'' and inserting ``National Agricultural 
        Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
        Board (as established under section 1408 of the 
        National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
        Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123))''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (l).

                      Subtitle B--New Authorities

SEC. 611. NUTRIENT COMPOSITION DATA.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall update, 
on a periodic basis, nutrient composition data.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate a report that describes--
            (1) the method the Secretary will use to update 
        nutrient composition data, including the quality 
        assurance criteria that will be used and the method for 
        generating the data; and
            (2) the timing for updating the data.

SEC. 612. NATIONAL SWINE RESEARCH CENTER.

    Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out 
this section, or through a reprogramming of funds provided for 
swine research to carry out this section pursuant to 
established procedures, during the period beginning on the date 
of enactment of this Act and ending December 31, 1998, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Agricultural 
Research Service, may accept as a gift, and administer, the 
National Swine Research Center located in Ames, Iowa.

SEC. 613. ROLE OF SECRETARY REGARDING FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 
                    RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall be the principal 
official in the executive branch responsible for coordinating 
all Federal research and extension activities related to food 
and agricultural sciences.

SEC. 614. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish 
an Office of Pest Management Policy to provide for the 
effective coordination of agricultural policies and activities 
within the Department of Agriculture related to pesticides and 
of the development and use of pest management tools, while 
taking into account the effects of regulatory actions of other 
government agencies.
    (b) Establishment of Office; Principal Responsibilities.--
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish in the Department 
an Office of Pest Management Policy, which shall be responsible 
for--
            (1) the development and coordination of Department 
        policy on pest management and pesticides;
            (2) the coordination of activities and services of 
        the Department, including research, extension, and 
        education activities, regarding the development, 
        availability, and use of economically and 
        environmentally sound pest management tools and 
        practices;
            (3) assisting other agencies of the Department in 
        fulfilling their responsibilities related to pest 
        management or pesticides under the Food Quality 
        Protection Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-170; 110 Stat. 
        1489), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
        Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.), the Federal 
        Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), 
        and other applicable laws; and
            (4) performing such other functions as may be 
        required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.
    (c) Interagency Coordination.--In support of its 
responsibilities under subsection (b), the Office of Pest 
Management Policy shall provide leadership to ensure 
coordination of interagency activities with the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and other 
Federal and State agencies.
    (d) Outreach.--The Office of Pest Management Policy shall 
consult with agricultural producers that may be affected by 
pest management or pesticide-related activities or actions of 
the Department or other agencies as necessary in carrying out 
the Office's responsibilities under this section.
    (e) Director.--The Office of Pest Management Policy shall 
be under the direction of a Director appointed by the 
Secretary, who shall report directly to the Secretary or a 
designee of the Secretary.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2002.

SEC. 615. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE AND NATIONAL 
                    CONFERENCE.

    (a) Food Safety Research Information Office.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall establish a Food Safety Research Information 
        Office at the National Agricultural Library.
            (2) Purpose.--The Office shall provide to the 
        research community and the general public information 
        on publicly funded, and to the maximum extent 
        practicable, privately funded food safety research 
        initiatives for the purpose of--
                    (A) preventing unintended duplication of 
                food safety research; and
                    (B) assisting the executive and legislative 
                branches of the Federal Government and private 
                research entities to assess food safety 
                research needs and priorities.
            (3) Cooperation.--The Office shall carry out this 
        subsection in cooperation with the National Institutes 
        of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public 
        institutions, and, on a voluntary basis, private 
        research entities.
    (b) National Conference; Annual Workshops.--Not later than 
120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall sponsor a conference to be known as the ``National 
Conference on Food Safety Research'', for the purpose of 
beginning the task of prioritization of food safety research. 
The Secretary shall sponsor annual workshops in each of the 
subsequent 4 years after the conference so that priorities can 
be updated or adjusted to reflect changing food safety 
concerns.
    (c) Food Safety Report.--With regard to the study and 
report to be prepared by the National Academy of Sciences on 
the scientific and organizational needs for an effective food 
safety system, the study shall include recommendations to 
ensure that the food safety inspection system, within the 
resources traditionally available to existing food safety 
agencies, protects the public health.

SEC. 616. SAFE FOOD HANDLING EDUCATION.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall continue to develop a 
national program of safe food handling education for adults and 
young people to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. The 
national program shall be suitable for adoption and 
implementation through State cooperative extension services and 
school-based education programs.

SEC. 617. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED UNDER SHEEP PROMOTION, 
                    RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ACT OF 1994.

    Using funds available to the Agricultural Marketing 
Service, the Service may reimburse the American Sheep Industry 
Associationfor expenses incurred by the American Sheep Industry 
Association between February 6, 1996, and May 17, 1996, in preparation 
for the implementation of a sheep and wool promotion, research, 
education, and information order under the Sheep Promotion, Research, 
and Information Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).

SEC. 618. DESIGNATION OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM WITHIN DEPARTMENT.

    (a) Designation of Crisis Management Team.--The Secretary 
of Agriculture shall designate a Crisis Management Team within 
the Department of Agriculture, which shall be--
            (1) composed of senior departmental personnel with 
        strong subject matter expertise selected from each 
        relevant agency of the Department; and
            (2) headed by a team leader with management and 
        communications skills.
    (b) Duties of Crisis Management Team.--The Crisis 
Management Team shall be responsible for the following:
            (1) Developing a Department-wide crisis management 
        plan, taking into account similar plans developed by 
        other government agencies and other large 
        organizations, and developing written procedures for 
        the implementation of the crisis management plan.
            (2) Conducting periodic reviews and revisions of 
        the crisis management plan and procedures developed 
        under paragraph (1).
            (3) Ensuring compliance with crisis management 
        procedures by personnel of the Department and ensuring 
        that appropriate Department personnel are familiar with 
        the crisis management plan and procedures and are 
        encouraged to bring information regarding crises or 
        potential crises to the attention of members of the 
        Crisis Management Team.
            (4) Coordinating the Department's information 
        gathering and dissemination activities concerning 
        issues managed by the Crisis Management Team.
            (5) Ensuring that Department spokespersons convey 
        accurate, timely, and scientifically sound information 
        regarding crises or potential crises that can be easily 
        understood by the general public.
            (6) Cooperating with, and coordinating among, other 
        Federal agencies, States, local governments, industry, 
        and public interest groups, Department activities 
        regarding a crisis.
    (c) Role in Prioritizing Certain Research.--The Crisis 
Management Team shall cooperate with the Advisory Board in the 
prioritization of agricultural research conducted or funded by 
the Department regarding animal health, natural disasters, food 
safety, and other agricultural issues.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary shall seek to 
enter into cooperative agreements with other Federal 
departments and agencies that have related programs or 
activities to help ensure consistent, accurate, and coordinated 
dissemination of information throughout the executive branch in 
the event of a crisis, such as, in the case of a threat to 
human health from food-borne pathogens, developing a rapid and 
coordinated response among the Department, the Centers for 
Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration.

SEC. 619. DESIGNATION OF KIKA DE LA GARZA SUBTROPICAL AGRICULTURAL 
                    RESEARCH CENTER, WESLACO, TEXAS.

    (a) Designation.--The Federal facilities located at 2413 
East Highway 83, and 2301 South International Boulevard, in 
Weslaco, Texas, and known as the ``Subtropical Agricultural 
Research Center'', shall be known and designated as the ``Kika 
de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center''.
    (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
Federal facilities referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
deemed to be a reference to the ``Kika de la Garza Subtropical 
Agricultural Research Center''.

                          Subtitle C--Studies

SEC. 631. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 
                    EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Evaluation.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct 
a performance evaluation to determine whether federally funded 
agricultural research, extension, and education programs result 
in public goods that have national or multistate significance.
    (b) Contract.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract 
with 1 or more entities with expertise in research assessment 
and performance evaluation to provide input and recommendations 
to the Secretary with respect to federally funded agricultural 
research, extension, and education programs.
    (c) Guidelines for Performance Measurement.--The contractor 
selected under subsection (b) shall develop and propose to the 
Secretary practical guidelines for measuring performance of 
federally funded agricultural research, extension, and 
education programs. The guidelines shall be consistent with the 
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-
62) and amendments made by that Act.

SEC. 632. STUDY OF FEDERALLY FUNDED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, 
                    AND EDUCATION.

    (a) Study.--Not later than January 1, 1999, the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall request the National Academy of Sciences 
to conduct a study of the role and mission of federally funded 
agricultural research, extension, and education.
    (b) Requirements.--The study shall--
            (1) evaluate the strength of science conducted by 
        the Agricultural Research Service and the relevance of 
        the science to national priorities;
            (2) examine how the work of the Agricultural 
        Research Service relates to the capacity of the 
        agricultural research, extension, and education system 
        of the United States;
            (3) examine the appropriateness of the formulas for 
        the allocation of funds under the Smith-Lever Act (7 
        U.S.C. 341 et seq.) and the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 
        361a et seq.) with respect to current conditions of the 
        agricultural economy and other factors of the various 
        regions and States of the United States and develop 
        recommendations to revise the formulas to more 
        accurately reflect the current conditions; and
            (4) examine the system of competitive grants for 
        agricultural research, extension, and education.
    (c) Reports.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry of the 
Senate--
            (1) not later than 18 months after the commencement 
        of the study, a report that describes the results of 
        the study as it relates to paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
        subsection (b), including any appropriate 
        recommendations; and
            (2) not later than 3 years after the commencement 
        of the study, a report that describes the results of 
        the study as it relates to paragraphs (3) and (4) of 
        subsection (b), including the recommendations developed 
        under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) and other 
        appropriate recommendations.

                     Subtitle D--Senses of Congress

SEC. 641. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE 
                    EMPHASIS ON FIELD RESEARCH REGARDING METHYL BROMIDE 
                    ALTERNATIVES.

    It is the sense of Congress that, of the Agricultural 
Research Service funds made available for a fiscal year for 
research regarding the development for agricultural use of 
alternatives to methyl bromide, the Secretary of Agriculture 
should use a substantial portion of the funds for research to 
be conducted in real field conditions, especially pre-planting 
and post-harvest conditions, so as to expedite the development 
and commercial use of methyl bromide alternatives.

SEC. 642. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL-BASED 
                    AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the Secretary of Education should collaborate 
and cooperate in providing both instructional and technical 
support for school-based agricultural education.
      And the House agree to the same.

                                   Robert Smith,
                                   Larry Combest,
                                   Bill Barrett,
                                   Charles W. Stenholm,
                                   Calvin Dooley,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Richard G. Lugar,
                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Paul D. Coverdell,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Patrick Leahy,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The Managers on the part of the House and the Senate at 
the Conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on 
the amendment of the House to the bill (S. 1150) to ensure that 
federally funded agricultural research, extension, and 
education address high-priority concerns with national or 
multistate significance and to reform, extend, and eliminate 
certain agricultural research programs and for other purposes, 
submit the following joint statement to the House and the 
Senate in explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon 
by the managers and recommended in the accompanying conference 
report: 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ The House Report (H.Rept.105-376) and the Senate Report 
(S.Rept.105-73) are incorporated by reference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      The House amendment struck out all of the Senate bill 
after the enacting clause and inserted a substitute text.
      The Senate recedes from its disagreement to the amendment 
of the House with an amendment which is a substitute for the 
Senate bill and the House amendment. The differences between 
the Senate bill, the House amendment, and the substitute agreed 
to in conference are noted below, except for clerical 
corrections, conforming changes made necessary by agreements 
reached by the conferees, and minor drafting and clarifying 
changes.

                   (1) Short Title; Table of Contents

      The Senate bill titles the Act the ``Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1997''. 
(Section 1)
      The House amendment states that this Act may be cited at 
the ``Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reauthorization Act of 1997''. (Section 1)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 1)

                            (2) Definitions

      The Senate bill contains definitions for terms used 
throughout the bill, including ``1862'', ``1890'' and ``1994'' 
Institutions, ``Advisory Board,'' ``Department,'' ``Hatch Act 
of 1887,'' ``Secretary,'' ``Smith-Lever Act,'' and 
``Stakeholder.'' (Section 2)
      The House amendment amends the definition of ``Food and 
Agricultural Sciences'' as it currently appears in the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 to simplify the references to animal and plant production 
and health; specify food safety as a research objective; 
substitute the term ``rural human ecology'' for rural community 
welfare and development; and add information management, 
technology transfer, and agricultural biotechnology as subject 
areas under the food and agricultural sciences. The House 
amendment in subsection (b) clarifies that references to 
``Teaching'' shall mean ``Teaching and Education.''
      The House amendment defines ``in-kind support'' and 
designates the definitions included in the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 as the principle definitions when used in this title or 
any law pertaining to the Department ofAgriculture relating to 
research, extension, or education regarding the food and agricultural 
sciences unless the context requires otherwise. (Section 102)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment striking the definition for stakeholder 
(Section 2) and adopts the House provision with an amendment to 
retain current law on processing of agricultural commodities 
(Sections 221 and 230).
      The Managers consider many critical emerging issues 
related to international agricultural trade as being of primary 
importance to United States agricultural competitiveness and 
farm income. The Managers encourage the Secretary to provide 
priority funding for research to address these issues and 
facilitate export market expansion for United States 
agricultural products, including the identification, removal or 
reduction of barriers to agricultural trade. The Managers 
intend that the Secretary should take into account input and 
recommendations from the agricultural community and others 
concerned with agricultural trade in order to ensure that 
research activities in food and agricultural sciences respond 
to the current and anticipated needs of United States 
agricultural producers and exporters.

(3) Standards for Federal Funding of Agricultural Research, Extension, 
                             and Education

      The Senate bill requires the Secretary to ensure that 
agricultural research, extension or education activities 
conducted by ARS or on a competitive basis by CSREES address 
concerns that are high priority and have national or multi 
state significance. (Section 101)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to clarify that research have national, multi 
state or regional significance. (Section 101)
      This section establishes a standard for research 
conducted by the ARS and funding awarded competitively by 
CSREES. The Managers expect that the Department would require 
applicants for grant funding to demonstrate that the project is 
of multi state or national relevance and to demonstrate the gap 
in knowledge they are trying to fill. The Managers intend that 
the term ``regional'' as used in this section may include a 
region covering a multi-state area or an area within one state.

                      (4) Priority Setting Process

      The Senate bill requires the Secretary to establish 
priorities for agricultural research, extension and education 
activities conducted by or for the Department. In establishing 
these priorities, the Secretary must solicit and consider input 
and recommendations from stakeholders. The Secretary must 
notify the Advisory Board in writing regarding the 
implementation of its recommendations and must send copies of 
the letter to the Senate and House Agriculture Committees 
regarding the recommendations of the Advisory Board if the 
recommendations are regarding the priority mission areas under 
the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. This 
section also requires the 1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions to 
establish and implement a process for obtaining stakeholder 
input concerning the uses of Federal formula funds and the 
Secretary is directed to establish regulations on the 
requirements for complying with the stakeholder input 
requirement and the consequences of not complying.
      The section also adds a list of management principles for 
research, extension and education funded by the Department. 
(Section 102)
      The House amendment requires the Secretary, in 
consultation with the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (Advisory 
Board) and persons who conduct or use agricultural research, to 
establish priorities for Federally funded agricultural 
research, extension, and education activities that are 
conducted by or funded by the Department.
      The House amendment also adds a list of management 
principles for research, education, and extension activities 
funded by the Department. (Section 101)
      The House amendment amends section 1408 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 by requiring that the Advisory Board, whenever there is a 
required consultation, solicit opinions and recommendations 
from persons who will benefit from and use Federally funded 
agricultural research, extension, education, and economics. 
Whenever the Secretary proposes to perform any duty or activity 
that requires the Secretary to consult or cooperate with the 
Advisory Board or authorizes the Advisory Board to submit 
recommendations with regard to that duty or activity, the 
Secretary shall solicit written opinions and recommendations 
from the Advisory Board and provide a written response to the 
Advisory Board regarding the manner and extent to which the 
Secretary will implement the recommendations. (Section 103)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to delete one of the management principles 
and an amendment exempting the Advisory Board from Departmental 
limitations on expenses for advisory committees and setting an 
annual cap of $350,000 for Advisory Board expenses. (Section 
102 and Section 222)
      The Managers intend that the term ``regional'' as used in 
this section may include a region covering a multi-state area 
or an area within one state.
      The Managers recognize the increasingly important role 
that international trade plays in ensuring the viability of 
United States agriculture. The Managers are aware that many 
historical tariff barriers have been replaced with various non-
tariff trade barriers to agricultural trade, such as the 
sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions. The Managers feel 
strongly that the Secretary and the research community should 
take into account the tremendous importance of agricultural 
trade when establishing priorities for federally funded 
agricultural research, extension, and education. The Secretary 
should designate an appropriate person in the Department to 
receive input from the agricultural community, the Advisory 
Board, Federal agencies concerned with agricultural trade, and 
other interested parties to help ensure that research 
activities in food and agricultural sciences are prioritized in 
a way that responds to the current and future needs of 
agricultural producers and exporters, including the development 
of methods to identify, remove, or reduce potential and 
existing barriers to agricultural trade. By recognizing the 
significance of agricultural trade in the priority setting 
process, the Secretary will be better able to focus 
agricultural research to help enhance the competitiveness of 
the United States agriculture and food industry.

  (5) Relevance and Merit of Federally Funded Agricultural Research, 
                        Extension, and Education

      The Senate bill requires the Secretary to establish 
procedures that ensure scientific peer review of each 
agricultural research grant funded, on a competitive basis, by 
CSREES. This section also requires the Secretary to establish 
procedures that ensure merit review of each agricultural 
extension or education grant funded, on a competitive basis, by 
CSREES.
      The Senate bill requires the Advisory Board to perform an 
annual review of the relevancy of the Department's agricultural 
research, extension and education funding portfolio in relation 
to the Secretary's priorities established under section 102. 
The results of this review are to be considered when 
formulating requests for proposals for the next fiscal year, if 
the results are available then. The Secretary is also required 
to solicit and consider input from stakeholders on the prior 
year's request for proposals when formulating a request for 
proposals for a new year.
      The Senate bill requires the Secretary to establish 
procedures to ensure scientific peer review of ARS research 
activities and the research of each scientist employed by ARS 
at least once every 5 years by a review panel to verify that 
the activities have scientific merit and relevance to the 
Secretary's priorities as well as national or multistate 
significance. The review panel under this section is to be 
comprised of individuals with scientific expertise, a majority 
of whom are not employees of ARS. The results of these reviews 
are to be transmitted to Congress and the Advisory Board.
      The Senate bill requires the 1862 and 1890 Institutions 
to establish and implement a process for merit review in order 
to obtain agricultural research or extension funds and 1994 
Institutions are required to establish and implement a merit 
review process in order to receive extension funds from the 
Secretary.
      The Senate bill also repeals outdated authority of the 
Secretary to withhold formula funds. (Section 103)
      The House amendment amends subtitle K of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 by inserting a new section before section 1463. This new 
section requires the Secretary to establish procedures to 
ensure scientific peer-review of each agricultural research 
grant funded on a competitive basis by CSREES. The Secretary, 
in consultation with the Advisory Board, must establish 
procedures that ensure merit review of each agricultural 
extension or education grant competitively funded by CSREES. 
When formulating a request for proposals involving an 
agricultural research, extension, or education activity funded 
on a competitive basis, the Secretary shall solicit and 
consider input from the Advisory Board and users of 
agricultural research, extension, and education regarding the 
request for proposals from the previous year. If the activity 
has not been the subject of a previous request for proposals, 
the Secretary shall solicit and consider input from the 
Advisory Board and users of such research, extension, and 
education.
      The House amendment requires the Secretary to establish 
procedures for a scientific peer-review of all research 
activities conducted by the Department. A review panel 
comprised of individuals with scientific expertise, the 
majority of which cannot be USDA employees, shall verify that 
each research project has scientific merit, and the panel shall 
review each research activity at least once every three years.
      In the House amendment, beginning October 1, 1998, each 
1862 and 1890 Institution shall develop a process for merit 
review of the activity and review the activity in accordance 
with that process as a condition for receiving Federal formula 
funds for research or extension. In the House amendment, 
beginning October 1, 1998 each 1994 institution shall develop a 
process for merit review of the activity in accordance with 
that process as a condition for receiving Federal formula funds 
for extension.
      The House amendment repeals outdated provisions of the 
Smith-Lever Act, Hatch Act of 1887, and the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 that require the Secretary to report to the President when 
the Secretary withholds funds from a land-grant college or 
university. (Section 104)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
amendments to delete the requirement that input be required 
before issuing a RFP, to require that review of USDA research 
be every five years, to require the Advisory Board to perform 
an annual relevancy review, and to strike the FACA exemption. 
(Section 103)

            (6) Research Formula Funds for 1862 Institutions

      The Senate bill amends the Hatch Act to require that not 
less than 25 percent of a State's Hatch Act funds will be used 
for projects in which a state agricultural experiment station, 
working with another agricultural experiment station, ARS, or a 
college or university, cooperates to solve multi-state problems 
utilizing multidisciplinary approaches. This research will be 
subject to scientific peer review. A project reviewed under 
this section will also be deemed to have satisfied the merit 
review requirements of section 103. (Section 104).
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to reference the plans of work. (Section 104)
      The Managers recognize that issues of national 
significance would meet the requirement of multi-state interest 
as required by this section, and that the research of national 
significance may be conducted between partners in a single 
state.

           (7) Extension Formula Funds for 1862 Institutions

      The Senate bill amends the Smith-Lever Act by requiring 
that a certain percentage of Smith-Lever (b) and (c) funds 
going to a State be used for cooperative extension activities 
in which 2 or more states cooperate to solve problems that 
concern more than one State. In order to determine the 
applicable percentage, the Secretary shall determine the 
percentage of Federal formula funds that a State spent for 
fiscal year 1997 for multistate activities. Then starting in 
fiscal year 2000, the applicable percentage will be 25 percent 
or twice the percentage determined to be spent on multistate 
activities in 1997, whichever is less. The Secretary is given 
the authority to reduce the minimum percentage required in a 
case of hardship, infeasibility or other similar circumstance 
beyond the control of the State.
      In the Senate bill, States are to include in their plans 
of work the manner in which they will meet the applicable 
percentage requirement. State and local matching funds are not 
subject to the percentage requirement. The section also imposes 
a merit review requirement for these funds. The merit review in 
this section will satisfy the merit review requirement of 
section 103 as well. (Section 105)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to reference plans of work. (Section 105)

                        (8) Research Facilities

      The Senate bill amends the Research Facilities Act by 
replacing the word ``regional'' everywhere it appears with 
``multi state.'' This section requires the Secretary to ensure 
that ARS research facilities serve national or multi state 
needs. The section requires the Secretary to periodically 
review each operating agricultural research facilities 
constructed in whole or in part with Federal funds and each 
planned agricultural research facility. The Competitive, 
Special and Facilities Research Grant Act is also amended by 
replacing the word ``regional'' everywhere it appears with 
``national or multi state.'' (Section 106)
      The House amendment repeals the Research Facilities Act 
but transfers the existing authority for the task force on 
agriculture research facilities to the National Agriculture 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977. (Section 
214)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 106)

                           (9) Advisory Board

      The Senate bill requires the Secretary to ensure, to the 
maximum extent practicable, equal representation of public and 
private sector members on the Advisory Board. (Section 201)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 222)

    (10) Grants and Fellowships for Food and Agricultural Sciences 
                               Education

      The Senate bill requires the Secretary to give priority 
in this grant program to teaching enhancement projects that 
demonstrate enhanced cooperation among all types of 
institutions and priority to teaching enhancement projects that 
focus on innovative, multi disciplinary education programs, 
materials and curricula. This section also authorizes the 
Secretary to maintain a national food and agricultural 
education information system containing information on 
enrollment, degrees awarded, faculty and employment placement 
in the food and agricultural sciences. (Section 202).
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 223)

                      (11) Policy Research Centers

      The Senate bill amends current grant making authority to 
include grants for studies that concern the effect of trade 
agreements on farm and agricultural sector; the environment; 
rural families, households and economies; and consumer, food, 
and nutrition. (Section 203)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 224)
      The Managers recognize the growing importance of 
international markets on the farm and agricultural sectors; the 
environment; rural families, households and economies and 
consumers, food and nutrition. While the overall impact of 
increased trade opportunities will benefit all of these areas, 
the conferees recognize that different areas of the country 
face unique situations. For instance, the Northern Plains 
states encompass a unique set of factors including climate, 
crop mix, and marketing of agricultural commodities and 
products. This section would allow a policy research center to 
evaluate the impact of multinational trade on this or any other 
area of the country.

   (12) International Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching

      The Senate bill adds the word ``teaching'' to the 
purposes of several grant programs and authorizes competitive 
grants for collaborative projects between U.S. scientists, land 
grant scientists, or scientists from other colleges and 
universities and scientists from international agricultural 
research centers in other nations, including the international 
agricultural research centers of the Consultative Group on 
International Agriculture Research. This section also requires 
the Secretary to submit a biennial report to the House and 
Senate Agriculture Committees about efforts to coordinate 
international agricultural research and better link domestic 
and international agricultural research. (Section 204)
      The House amendment adds the word ``teaching'' throughout 
Section 1458 of the National Agriculture Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 concerning international 
agricultural research and extension programs. In the case of 
the cooperative agreement entered into between the Secretary 
and Israel, the full amount of appropriated funds shall be 
transferred directly to the Binational Agricultural Research 
and Development Fund. This section prohibits the Secretary from 
retaining any portion of the funds for overhead or any other 
administrative expense. (Section 213)
      The House amendment amends the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3291) by inserting a new section which authorizes the Secretary 
to establish an agricultural research and development program 
with the United States/Mexico Foundation for Science. The 
Foundation shall award competitive grants, with a matching 
funds requirement by the Mexican government, to focus on 
binational problems such as food safety, plant and animal pest 
control, and the natural resource base on which agriculture 
depends. (Section 423)
      The House amendment amends the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 by adding 
a section authorizing the Secretary to award competitive grants 
to colleges and universities to strengthen U.S. economic 
competitiveness and promote international market development. 
Grants will be awarded to research, extension, and teaching 
activities that enhance the international content of curricula 
in colleges and universities, disseminates the findings of 
agricultural research outside the United States to students and 
users of agricultural research within the United States, 
enhances collaborative research with other countries, and 
enhances the capability of U.S. colleges and institutions in 
assisting food production, processing, and distribution. 
(Section 424)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
an amendment to authorize competitive grants as described in 
the Senate bill and to require the Secretary to submit a 
biennial report to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. 
(Sections 227, 228, and 229)

                   (13) General Administrative Costs

      The Senate bill amends subtitle K of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 by inserting section 1461 which sets an indirect cost cap 
of 25 percent of total Federal funds provided under a grant for 
competitive research, extension, or education awarded under the 
National Research Initiative, the Fund for Rural America, or 
the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems.
      The Senate bill amends section 1469 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to retain up to 4 
percent of amounts appropriated for an agricultural research, 
extension, or teaching assistance program for the 
administration of such program, except where the act 
authorizing such program specifically authorizes the Secretary 
to withhold a percentage of funds for the administration of 
that specific program. This subsection would also amend section 
1469 to provide for the retention for administrative costs of 4 
percent of funds made available under section 25 of the Food 
Stamp Act of 1977 for community food projects. (Section 205)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to cap indirect costs at 19% of total federal 
funds for all competitively awarded agricultural research, 
education, or extension grants and an amendment to authorize 
use of program funds for peer review panels. (Section 230)

 (14) Expansion of Authority to Enter Into Cost-Reimbursable Agreements

      The Senate bill amends section 1473A of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 to expand current authority of the Secretary of 
Agriculture to enter into cost-reimbursable agreements with 
State cooperative institutions (i.e., land-grant colleges and 
universities) for the acquisition of goods or services, 
including personal services, to carry out agricultural 
research, extension, or teaching activities of mutual interest, 
by additionally allowing the Secretary to enter into such 
agreements with any college or university. (Section 206)
      The House amendment amends section 1473A of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 to expand current authority of the Secretary to enter into 
cost-reimbursable agreements with State cooperative 
institutions (i.e. land-grant colleges and universities) for 
the acquisition of goods and services, including personnel 
services, to carry out agricultural research, extension, or 
teaching activities of mutual interest by additionally allowing 
the Secretary to enter into such agreements with any college or 
university. (Section 105)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 231)

         (15) National Agricultural Weather Information System

      The Senate bill amends subtitle D of title XVI of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and 
provides that section 1637 of the Act establish the short title 
for the subtitle as the ``National Agricultural Weather 
Information System Act of 1997'' and establishes the purposes 
of this subtitle to coordinate national agricultural weather 
and climate station network, ensure timely and accurate 
agriculture related weather information is disseminated and aid 
research and education projects which require agricultural 
weather and climate data.
      The Senate bill provides that section 1638 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 would 
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the 
National Agricultural Weather Information System (NAWIS). The 
Senate bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter 
into cooperative projects with, and award grants to other 
Federal, regional, and State agencies to support development 
and dissemination of agricultural weather and climate 
information; to collect weather data through regional and State 
agricultural weather information systems; coordinate the 
weather activities of the Department of Agriculture with other 
Federal agencies and the private sector; make grants regarding 
State and regional agricultural weather information systems; 
and to encourage private sector participation in NAWIS 
activities. The Senate bill authorizes a competitive grants 
program to support projects to improve the manner in which 
agricultural weather and climate information is collected, 
retained, and distributed.
      The Senate bill amends section 1639 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to require 
that no more than two-thirds of the funds appropriated for the 
subtitle shall be used for work with the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. This revised section would also 
prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from awarding any grant 
funds for the construction of facilities and would limit the 
purchase of equipment with grants funds to no more than the 
lesser of one-third of the award or $15,000.
      The Senate bill amends section 1640 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize 
to be appropriated $15 million for each of the 1998 through 
2002 fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the revised 
subtitle. (Section 211)
      The House has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision.

                   (16) National Food Genome Strategy

      The Senate bill amends section 1671 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize 
the Secretary to establish a National Food Genome Strategy for 
agriculturally important plants, animals, and microbes. 
Subsection (a) establishes the purposes of the section. This 
section also provides that USDA is to be the lead federal 
agency for the Plant Genome Initiative unless funding provided 
through USDA for the Plant Genome Initiative is substantially 
less than funding provided through another Federal agency, in 
which case the other Federal agency would be the lead agency as 
determined by the President. Subsection (b) requires the 
Secretary of Agriculture develop and carry out a National Food 
Genome Strategy on the development and dissemination of 
information regarding the genetics of agriculturally important 
plants, animals, and microbes. Subsection (c) authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to enter into contracts, grants, or 
cooperative agreements with individuals and organizations in 
accordance with section 1472 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and TeachingPolicy Act of 1977 to carryout 
the purposes of this section. This subsection also requires that grants 
made under this subsection be awarded on a competitive basis. 
Subsection (d) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to issue necessary 
regulations. The Senate bill authorizes the Secretary to consult with 
the National Academy of Sciences regarding the National Food Genome 
Strategy. The Senate bill authorizes the Secretary to include in 
contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements an allowance for indirect 
costs in the same manner such costs are allowed under contracts, grants 
and cooperative agreements by the National Science Foundation. (Section 
212)
      The House amendment amends the heading of Section 1671 of 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to 
``Agricultural Genome Initiative.'' The Secretary shall conduct 
research for the purposes of supporting basic and applied 
research and technology, studying and mapping agriculturally 
significant genes, ensuring that current gaps in existing 
agricultural genetics knowledge are filled, and preserving 
diverse germplasm and biodiversity.
      Grants made under the House amendment would be awarded on 
a competitive basis, and no funds awarded under this section 
may be used to fund construction. In the House amendment, a 
one-to-one match or in-kind support is required for any grant 
which is to benefit a specific commodity but the Secretary may 
waive the matching requirement with respect to an individual 
project if (1) the Secretary determines the results of the 
project, while of particular benefit to a specific commodity, 
are likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities 
generally or (2) the project involves a minor commodity, deals 
with scientifically important research, and the grant recipient 
would be unable to satisfy the matching requirement.
      The House amendment authorizes the necessary funds to be 
appropriated for each of the 1998 through 2002 fiscal years to 
carry out the purposes of the revised section. (Section 232)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
amendments to modify the goals, to prescribe duties of the 
Secretary, to provide authority for cooperative agreements 
which would be subject to matching requirements, to require 
grants or cooperative agreements to be made on a competitive 
basis, to allow consultation with the National Academy of 
Sciences and to strike the authorization of appropriations. 
(Section 241)
      In establishing the Agricultural Genome Initiative, it is 
the intent of the Managers that USDA would continue to be the 
lead federal agency for agricultural genomic research.

      (17) Imported Fire Ant Control, Management, and Eradication

      The Senate bill creates a three tiered grant program and 
authorizes the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Board 
on fire ant control, management, and eradication. Eligible 
grant recipients include colleges, universities, research 
institutes, Federal labs, or private entities selected by the 
Secretary on a competitive basis. (Section 213)
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to make 
competitive grants for 32 high priority research and extension 
issues including fire ants. (Section 421 (e)(10))
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to strike the board and instead allow 
formation of a task force and inserts the provision in the 
section for high priority research and extension issues. 
(Section 242)
      The Managers intend that in carrying out these grants the 
Secretary may establish a task force consisting of individuals 
from academia, research institutes, and the private sector and 
who are experts in entomology, ant ecology, wildlife biology, 
electrical engineering, economics, and agribusiness. The 
Managers intend that the Secretary shall solicit and consider 
input from this task force in developing a request for 
proposals for grants.

              (18) Agricultural Telecommunications Program

      The Senate bill authorizes the Secretary to award a grant 
to A*DEC to enable it to administer the Agricultural 
Telecommunications Program. (Section 214)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 245)
      This section authorizes the Secretary to award a grant to 
A*DEC to enable it to administer a competitive grant program as 
authorized under the agricultural telecommunications program. 
It is the intent of the Managers that a cohesive, affordable 
and sustainable agricultural telecommunications network be 
developed that makes optimal use of available resources for 
agriculture and rural America. The network must disseminate and 
share academic instruction, extension programming, agricultural 
research and domestic and international marketing information.
      A*DEC is a consortium whose members include the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, numerous state universities and land 
grant institutions, and a growing number of international 
associate members. The Managers intend that the Secretary of 
Agriculture, acting through A*DEC, administer a competitive 
grant program that uses the power and efficiency of the 
Internet, audio and video conferencing, and printed materials. 
The Managers expect A*DEC to design an open process for 
disseminating grant information and requirements, to utilize a 
peer review process for grant applications, and to use an on-
line submission, report and evaluation process. These steps 
will assure that all aspects of the grant program are open, 
transparent, and will allow for partnership development and 
rapid feedback from the review process.
      The Managers expect that the transfer of the management 
of the program to A*DEC will not affect the awarding of these 
grants on a competitive basis to all eligible institutions and 
entities, regardless of membership in the A*DEC consortium.

    (19) Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities

      The Senate bill changes the AgrAbility authorization to 
reflect the current distribution of funds. It eliminates the 
separate spending authority for the national grant program in 
favor of a combined authorization of $6 million, with 
instructions that 15 percent of total program appropriations be 
designated for nationally coordinated AgrAbility activities. 
(Section 215)
      The House amendment reauthorizes existing program until 
fiscal year 2002. (Section 323)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 246)

                         (20) 1994 Institutions

      The Senate bill amends the Equity In Education Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 by addingLittle Priest Tribal College of 
Nebraska to the list of 1994 Institutions and adds a requirement that 
1994 Institutions either be accredited or working towards accreditation 
in order to receive funding under the Act. (Section 221)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 251)

 (21) Cooperative Agricultural Extension Work by 1862, 1890, and 1994 
                              Institutions

      The Senate bill amends the Smith-Lever Act to provide 
funding and authority for 1994 Institutions for extension 
activities which may be carried out through cooperative 
agreements with land grant colleges in any State. (Section 222)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 201)

  (22) Eligibility of Certain Colleges and Universities for Extension 
                                Funding

      The Senate bill amends section 3(d) of the Smith-Lever 
Act by expanding the list of institutions eligible to receive 
competitive funding under the Act to include all colleges and 
universities. It further amends section 3(d) of the Act by 
making 1890 and 1994 Institutions eligible for non-competitive 
extension funding, as well as the 1862 Institutions. The 
Secretary is authorized to enter into memoranda of 
understanding, cooperative agreements and reimbursable 
agreements with other Federal agencies to assist in carrying 
out extension programs. The section also contains a conforming 
amendment. (Section 223)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision.

               (23) Integration of Research and Extension

      The Senate bill amends the Smith-Lever and Hatch Acts by 
requiring that a certain percentage of Smith-Lever (b) and (c) 
and Hatch Act funds going to a State be used for integrated 
cooperative extension and research activities. In order to 
determine the applicable percentage, the Secretary shall 
determine the percentage of Federal formula funds that a State 
spent for fiscal year 1997 for integrated research and 
cooperative extension activities. Then starting in fiscal year 
2000, the applicable percentage will be 25 percent or twice the 
percentage determined to be spent on integrated activities in 
1997, whichever is less. The Secretary is given the authority 
to reduce the minimum percentage required in a case of 
hardship, infeasibility or other similar circumstance beyond 
the control of the State.
      Under the Senate bill the States would inform the 
Secretary of the manner in which they will meet the applicable 
percentage requirement. The section also provides that funds 
used towards meeting the integration requirement may also be 
used to satisfy the percentage requirements contained in 
sections 104 and 105 of the Bill. The section contains language 
exempting any State and local matching funds from the 
integration requirement. (Section 224)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to reference plans of work. (Section 204)

        (24) Competitive, Special and Facilities Research Grants

      The Senate bill amends the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grants Act by adding national laboratories 
to the list of eligible grantees under the NRI.
      The section amends the time period for special grants 
from 5 years to 3 years and requires that the grants be for the 
purpose of conducting research to address agricultural research 
needs of immediate importance, by themselves or in conjunction 
with extension or education; or new or emerging areas of 
agricultural research, by themselves or in conjunction with 
extension or education. This section retains the prohibition on 
providing special grants for facilities. Scientific peer review 
is required for research projects funded under this section and 
merit review is required for extension or education projects 
funded by a special grant. Eligible grantees include colleges, 
universities, other research institutions and organizations, 
Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and 
individuals.
      The Senate bill imposes a partnership requirement for 
projects that address immediate needs. For projects that 
address new or emerging research issues, a partnership is 
required after three years in order to receive funding for 
additional years and the partnership must be comprised of at 
least 2 other entities, in addition to the grantee. Each 
grantee must also provide to the Secretary a proposed plan for 
graduation from Federal funding under this section. Graduation 
plans and partnership requirements do not apply to non-
competitive special grants. Grant recipients are required to 
file annual reports describing the results of their research, 
extension or education activities and the merit of those 
results. To the extent allowable by law, these reports are to 
be made available to the public. The section also contains a 4 
percent set aside for administrative costs. The effective date 
for the section is October 1, 1998.
      The Senate bill allows grant awards under the NRI to a 
new investigator who is still within 5 years of the 
individual's initial career track position rather than 
investigators who have less than 5 years of post-graduate 
research experience. (Section 225)
      The House amendment amends the matching requirement 
provision for equipment purchase of the National Research 
Initiative, Competitive Grants Program to provide that the 
Secretary may waive all or a portion of the matching 
requirement in the case of small colleges or universities if 
(1) the cost of the equipment does not exceed $25,000 and (2) 
has multiple uses within a single research project or is usable 
in more than one research project. (Section 241)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
amendments to add national laboratories to NRI eligibility, to 
allow NRI grants for new investigators within 5 years of the 
individual's initial career track position, to require 
scientific peer or merit review of special grants, to authorize 
special grants for three years rather than five years, and to 
require annual reports for special grants. (Sections 211 and 
212)

                      (25) Fund for Rural America

      The Senate bill provides funding for the Fund through 
October 1, 2001, including FY1998 which had not been funded. 
The percentage of the Fund to be allocated among Rural Development 
programs is increased to 50 percent and the Research portion is 
established at 33 percent with the remaining 17 percent to be allocated 
among either the Research or Rural Development Accounts at the 
discretion of the Secretary. (Section 226)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with amendments to provide an additional $100 million for the 
Fund so that $60 million will be provided each year for FY99-03 
and to retain current law on the distribution of funding under 
the Fund for Rural America. (Section 252)
      The Managers strongly encourage that each year the 
Secretary award half of the funds within his discretion to 
research.

                          (26) Honey Research

      The Senate bill contains an amendment to the Honey 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Improvement Act 
of 1997 and requires the Honey Board to reserve at least 8 
percent of all assessments collected for expenditure on 
approved research projects to advance the competitiveness of 
the honey industry. (Section 227)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with amendments to provide for a 3/4 of a cent per pound 
assessment on honey producers, handlers and importers to 
provide funding for research; to change representation on the 
National Honey Board and allow for periodic review of the Board 
composition; and to establish, with approval of the Secretary, 
a program to improve the quality and purity of honey and honey 
products. (Section 605)

               (27) Office of Energy Policy and New Uses

      The Senate bill amends the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 by establishing, within the Office 
of the Secretary, an Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. 
(Section 228)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 602)

  (28) Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Program

      The Senate bill would amend the National Kiwifruit 
Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act to require 
that producer, exporter, and importer representation on the 
National Kiwifruit Board be proportional to the level of 
domestic production and imports of kiwifruit. (Section 229)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 603)

      (29) National Aquaculture Policy, Planning, and Development

      The Senate bill amends the National Aquaculture Act by 
changing the definition of aquaculture and defining private 
aquaculture; by designating USDA as the lead agency for 
aquaculture and establishing a national policy for private 
aquaculture; by requiring the Secretary to develop and 
implement a plan for coordinating and implementing aquaculture 
activities and programs within the Department and supporting 
the development of private aquaculture. The Secretary is also 
authorized to maintain and support a National Aquaculture 
Information Center at the National Agricultural Library. The 
Secretary is directed to treat private aquaculture as 
agriculture and is directed to coordinate interdepartmental 
functions and activities relating to private aquaculture. The 
authorization of appropriations is extended through 2002. 
(Section 230)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment striking the Senate language and substituting 
reauthorization of the National Aquaculture Act through 2002. 
(Section 301)

                         (30) Biobased Products

      The Senate bill directs the Secretary to coordinate 
research, economic information, market information and other 
activities to develop and promote biobased products. The 
Secretary shall consult with private sector biobased product 
producers and provide a centralized contact point to provide 
advice and technical assistance to individuals interested in 
developing biobased products. The Secretary will make an annual 
report to Congress on biobased activities. The Secretary is 
given the authority to use scientific expertise and facilities 
to conduct research leading to the further development and 
market testing of biobased products. This authority is open to 
CRADA partners, and individuals who have received funding 
through AARC, BRDC and SBIR. The Secretary is given the 
authority to award ARS funds competitively to encourage 
scientific excellence and creativity. The first three years of 
this authority direct the Secretary to focus such grants toward 
the development of biobased products with promising commercial 
potential. The section provides an authorization of 
appropriations of $10 million per year. (Section 231)
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to enter 
into cooperative agreements with eligible partners, as 
specified, so that the facilities and technical expertise of 
ARS may be made available to operate pilot plants in order to 
bring technologies of biobased products to the point of 
practical application. This section defines ``biobased 
products'' as a product suitable for food and nonfood use that 
is derived in whole or in part from renewable agricultural and 
forestry materials. The Secretary may use appropriated funds to 
carry out this section and cooperative research and development 
agreement funds. The Secretary shall authorize the private 
partner to sell biobased products for the purpose of 
determining market potential. (Section 426)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
amendments to add the coordination provisions from the Senate 
bill and to modify the pilot project authority in the Senate 
bill. (Section 404)
      The Managers expect that the coordination of biobased 
product activities required underthis section will be 
coordinated by the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses created in 
Section 602.

                       (31) Precision Agriculture

      The Senate bill authorizes a new competitive grant 
program for research, education and information dissemination 
projects for the development and promotion of precision 
agriculture. (Section 232)
      The House amendment defines ``precision agriculture'' as 
an integrated information and production-based farming system 
that is designed to increase long-term, site specific and whole 
farm production efficiencies, productivity, and profitability 
while minimizing unintended impacts on wildlife and the 
environment in specified ways. This section also defines 
``precision agricultural technologies,'' ``Advisory Board,'' 
``agricultural inputs,'' ``eligible entity,'' and ``systems 
research.'' (Section 411)
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Advisory Board, to make 5 year 
competitive grants for research, education, or information 
dissemination projects for precision agriculture. The Secretary 
may only give grants to projects that are unlikely to be 
financed by the private sector in the absence of a grant, and 
the partnership must match the amount of Federal funds. 
Priority shall be given to research, education, or information 
dissemination projects that evaluate precision agricultural 
technologies to increase long-term efficiencies, make the 
findings readily available to farmers, demonstrates the 
efficient use of agricultural inputs, maximizes cooperation 
between all interested parties, and maximizes leveraging of 
funds and resources. (Section 412)
      The House amendment provides that, of the funds 
appropriated for precision agriculture research grants, the 
Secretary shall reserve a portion for grants for projects 
regarding precision agriculture related to education and 
information dissemination. (Section 413)
      The House amendment provides that the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Advisory Board, shall encourage the 
establishment of multi-State and national partnerships between 
land-grant institutions, State Agricultural Experiment 
Stations, State cooperative extension services, other colleges 
and universities, USDA agencies, national laboratories, 
agribusinesses, certified crop advisers, commodity 
organizations, other Federal or State government entities, 
nonagricultural industries and nonprofit organizations, and 
agricultural producers and agricultural producers or other land 
managers. (Section 414)
      The House amendment prohibits the use of grant money to 
be used for facility construction. (Section 415)
      The House amendment authorizes $40,000,000 to be 
appropriated for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2002 for 
this subtitle. The House amendment also limits the amount 
retained by the Secretary for administrative costs to 3% of the 
amount appropriated. (Section 415)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
amendments to modify the purposes of the grants; to strike the 
FACA exemption; and to authorize to be appropriated such sums 
as necessary each fiscal year of which not less than 30% must 
be multidisciplinary, not less than 40% must be systems 
research directly applicable to producers and agricultural 
production systems, and not more than 4% may be used for 
administrative costs. (Section 403)

               (32) Formosan Termite Eradication Program

      The Senate bill authorizes a new competitive grant 
program for the purposes of conducting research for the 
control, management and possible eradication of Formosan 
termites in the United States. It also provides that the 
Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements for conducting 
projects for Formosan termite control and management and data 
collection. (Section 233)
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to make 
competitive grants for 32 high priority research and extension 
issues including Formosan termites. (Section 421(e)(20))
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment and inserts the provision in the section for 
high priority research and extension issues. (Section 242)
      The Managers expect the Agricultural Research Service to 
cooperate and collaborate with the U.S. Forest Service Wood 
Products Insect Research unit in its administration of the 
Formosan termite research program.

                     (33) Nutrient Composition Data

      The Senate bill requires the Secretary to periodically 
update nutrient composition data and to report to Congress the 
method that will be used to update the data and the timing of 
the update. (Section 234)
      The House amendment directs the Secretary to update 
nutrient composition data periodically. (Section 504)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 611)

        (34) Consolidated Administrative and Laboratory Facility

      The Senate bill provides authority for the Secretary to 
contract for construction of a consolidated APHIS laboratory 
facility in Ames, Iowa. (Section 235)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 611)

                  (35) National Swine Research Center

      The Senate bill authorizes the Secretary, subject to the 
availability of appropriations and prior to December 31, 1998, 
to accept as a gift and administer the National Swine Research 
Center located in Ames, Iowa. ( Section 236)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 612)

   (36) Coordinated Program of Research, Extension and Education to 
Improve the Competitiveness, Viability and Sustainability of Small and 
               Medium Size Dairy and Livestock Operations

      The Senate bill would authorize the Secretary to carry 
out a coordinated program of research, extension and education 
to improve the competitiveness, viability and sustainability of 
small and medium sized dairy and livestock operations. (Section 
237)
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to make 
competitive grants for 32 high priority research and extension 
issues including dairy efficiency, profitability and 
competitiveness. (Section 421 (e)(13))
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to add poultry. (Section 407)
      Small and medium-size farms are independent owner-
operated farms where the individual or family that owns the 
production provides the majority of the labor and management. 
It is the intent of the Managers that particular attention be 
directed toward the needs of independent beginning farmers 
seeking to establish small and medium-size farms.

(37) Support for Research Regarding Diseases of Wheat and Barley Caused 
                        by Fusarium Graminearum

      The Senate bill would authorize the Secretary to make 
grants to a consortium of land-grant colleges and universities 
for multi-State research projects aimed at understanding and 
combating diseases of wheat and barley caused by Fusarium 
graminearum and related fungi (``wheat scab''). An 
authorization of appropriations for $5.2 million for each of 
fiscal years 1998 through 2002 is included. (Section 238)
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to make 
competitive grants for 32 high priority research and extension 
issues including wheat scab. (Section 421(e)(11))
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 408)

          (38) Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database Program

      The Senate bill directs the Secretary to continue 
operation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program 
through contracts with appropriate colleges or universities. An 
authorization of appropriations for $1 million for each fiscal 
year is included. (Section 239)
      The House amendment provides that the Secretary shall 
continue operation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance 
Database program (FARAD program). The Secretary shall provide 
the necessary information to the appropriate specialists, 
maintain up-to-date information, disseminate information to the 
public, furnish up-to-date data on approved drugs, maintain a 
comprehensive residue avoidance database, provide professional 
advice for determining the withdrawal times necessary for food 
safety in the use of drugs in food animals, and engage in other 
activities that promote food safety. The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Advisory Board, may make 3 year grants to 
colleges and universities to operate the FARAD program. 
(Section 425)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with amendments to provide authority for grants or cooperative 
agreements, to cap indirect costs at 19% of total federal 
funds, and to strike the authorization of appropriations. 
(Section 604)

           (39) Financial Assistance for Certain Rural Areas

      The Senate bill would authorize the Secretary to provide 
financial assistance to a nationally recognized organization to 
promote educational opportunities at the primary and secondary 
levels is rural areas with a historic incidence of poverty and 
low academic achievement, including the Lower Mississippi River 
Delta. An authorization of appropriations for up to $10 million 
for each fiscal year is included. (Section 240)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision.

   (40) Evaluation of Agricultural Research, Extension and Education 
                                Program

      The Senate bill directs the Secretary to conduct a 
performance evaluation to determine whether federally funded 
agricultural research, extension, and education programs result 
in public goods that have national or multi state significance. 
This section also requires the Secretary to contract with an 
expert in research assessment and performance to provide to the 
Secretary practical guidelines for measuring performance of 
federally funded agricultural research, extension or education 
programs. This input should be consistent with the Government 
Performance and Results Act of 1993. (Section 241)
      The House amendment directs the Secretary shall create 
guidelines for performance measurement of agricultural 
research, extension, and education programs and then conduct an 
evaluation to determine whether agricultural research, 
extension, and education programs conducted or funded by the 
Department result in public benefits that have national or 
multi-State significance. (Section 106)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to replace the expert with entity or entities 
with expertise. (Section 631)

 (41) Study of Federally Funded Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
                               Education

      The Senate bill directs the Secretary to request the 
National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of the role and 
mission of federally funded agricultural research, extension, 
and education. The study will include an evaluation of the 
strength of science conducted by the ARS and the relevance of 
that science to national priorities; and examination of the 
formulas for agricultural research and extension funding and 
examination of the competitive grant system. A report of the 
study is to be submitted to Congress in two stages beginning 
eighteen months after the commencement of the Study and 
concluding within 3 years of the commencement. (Section 242)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to revise study requirements. (Section 632)

      (42) Sense of Congress on State Match for 1890 Institutions

      The Senate bill states that it is the Sense of Congress 
that states should provide matching funds for Federal formula 
funds provided to the 1890 Institutions. (Section 243)
      The House amendment amends the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to phase-
in a non-Federal matching requirement for research and 
extension formula funds to 1890 Institutions. Beginning in 
fiscal year 1999, 1890 Institutions shall submit a report 
describing sources of non-Federal funds available to the 
institution for fiscal year 1999. The phase-in schedule begins 
in fiscal year 2000 with 70% of the formula allocation 
requiring no match and 30% requiring a non-Federal match. In 
fiscal year 2001, the matching requirement increases to 45% of 
the Federal allocation; and 50% in fiscal year 2002 and 
thereafter. Based on the 1999 report, the Secretary may waive 
the match requirement for specific institutions in the fiscal 
year 2000; however, these institutions would be required to 
make the 45% match for fiscal year 2001. Non-Federal matching 
funds may be directed to agricultural research, extension, or 
teaching programs at the discretion of the 1890 institution. 
The Secretary shall withhold the difference between the total 
amount that should have been provided and the non-Federal funds 
that were actually provided during the fiscal year from States 
which fail to provide funds for the fiscal year. The Secretary 
shall redistribute the withheld funds to other eligible 1890 
institutions satisfying the matching funds requirement for that 
fiscal year, and the re-apportioned funds shall be subject to a 
match requirement. (Section 212)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
technical amendments. (Section 226)

        (43) Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems

      The Senate bill creates a new mandatory spending account 
that provides $780 million over 5 years for research funding. 
In FY 1998, the amount is $100 million and in FY 1999-2002, the 
amount is $170 million per year. This competitively awarded 
research funding must address critical emerging agricultural 
issues related to future food production, environmental 
protection, or farm income or be for activities carried out 
under the Alternative Agricultural Research and 
Commercialization Act of 1990. Priority mission areas to be 
addressed with funding in the first year are food genome; food 
safety, food technology and human nutrition; new and 
alternative uses and production of agricultural commodities and 
products; agricultural biotechnology; and natural resource 
management including precision agriculture. In fiscal years 
1999 through 2001, the Secretary, after consultation with the 
Advisory Board, may change or add to the list of priority 
mission areas.
      The Senate bill provides that eligible grantees include 
Federal research agencies, national laboratories, colleges or 
universities, and private research organizations with 
established research capacity. The Secretary may award grants 
to ensure that the faculty of small and mid-sized institutions 
who have not previously obtained competitive grants from the 
Secretary receive a portion of the grants. The Secretary is to 
give priority to grants that are multi-state, multi-
institutional, or multi-disciplinary and to grants that 
integrate agricultural research, extension and education. The 
Secretary is also directed to solicit and consider input from 
stakeholders as required in section 102 of the bill in 
formulating the requests for grant proposals. Scientific peer 
review or merit review are required as stated in section 103 of 
the Bill.
      The Senate bill requires that matching funds be provided 
from a non-Federal source if the grant is for research that is 
commodity-specific and not of national scope. The Secretary is 
authorized to establish one or more institutes to carry out all 
or part of the section. (Section 301)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with amendments to provide $120 million annually for FY99-03 
and to add an additional priority mission area of farm 
efficiency and profitability. (Section 401)
      The Managers intend that the Secretary may establish one 
or more institutes to carry out this section. The Managers 
intend that such institutes would be virtual in nature and 
designed to maximize efficiency of research funding and not 
result in investment in physical infrastructure or designation 
of specific institutions as institutes.
      The Managers intend that among the research, education 
and extension activities conducted and carried out under the 
priority mission area related to farm efficiency are ways to 
improve the efficiency and profitability of rural business 
enterprises.

                     (44) Extensions of Authorities

      The Senate bill reauthorizes most existing research 
programs until the year 2002. (Section 401)
      The House amendment reauthorizes most existing research 
programs until the year 2002. (Subtitle A of Title III)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with amendments to reauthorize the pilot research program to 
combine medical and agricultural research, to strike extension 
of red meat safety research center, and to strike extension of 
global climate change. (Section 301)

                       (45) Repeal of Authorities

      The Senate bill repeals authority for certain 
agricultural research programs. (Section 402)
      The House amendment repeals authority for certain 
agricultural research programs. (Subtitle B of Title III)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with an amendment to repeal the dairy goat research grant. 
(Section 302)

      (46) Short Titles for Smith-Lever Act and Hatch Act of 1887

       The Senate bill amends the Smith-Lever and Hatch Acts to 
include short titles of each Act. (Section 403)
      The House amendment amends the Smith-Lever and Hatch Acts 
to include short titles of each Act. (Section 201)
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 3)

     (47) Technical Corrections to Research Provisions of Federal 
             Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

      The Senate bill contains technical corrections to the 
Research title of the 1996 Farm Bill. (Section 404)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision. 
(Section 606)

                        (48) Nutrition Programs

                     Subtitle A--Food Stamp Program

Current law
      Employment and Training Funds.--All states are entitled 
to a formula share of specific amounts (established in the Food 
Stamp Act) for employment and training programs for food stamp 
recipients. These are set at: $81 million in fiscal year 1998, 
$84 million in fiscal year 1999, $86 million in fiscal year 
2000, $88 million in fiscal year 2001, and $90 million in 
fiscal year 2002.
      States that meet a ``maintenance of effort'' requirement 
are entitled to a formula share of additional amounts 
(established in the Food Stamp Act) for employment and training 
programs. These additional payments are: $131 million a year in 
fiscal years 1998 through 2001 and $75 million in fiscal year 
2002.
      Administrative Funds.--The Federal Government pays half 
of States' food stamp-related administrative costs, without 
limit. In addition, some States' Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families (TANF) block grants include amounts attributable to 
food stamp-related administrative costs.
      Public assistance programs, such as food stamps, 
Medicaid, and cash welfare, are often administered together. 
Some administrative activities, such as the collection of 
information on income and assets, need only be done once when 
determining eligibility and benefits for applicants or 
recipients of multiple programs. The cost of collecting and 
verifying this information is ``common'' among the programs 
involved.
      Before the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193), States 
often ``charged'' the Aid to Families with Dependent Children 
(AFDC) program for the common costs of determining eligibility 
for multiple public assistance benefits. The 1996 law replaced 
the AFDC program (and some related programs) with the TANF 
block grant program and based each State's block grant on 
historical Federal payments under the AFDC program (including 
those for administrative costs). To the extent that common 
costs for administering public assistance programs were charged 
to the AFDC program in the past, they were included in the 
calculation of each State's new TANF grant. States may amend 
their cost allocation plans in such a way as to receive a 
second reimbursement for common costs in the Food Stamp (and 
Medicaid) programs, while retaining their full TANF block 
grant.
      Aliens.--The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA; P.L. 104-193) barred most 
legal immigrants, or ``qualified aliens,'' from the Food Stamp 
program. ``Qualified alien'' is defined to include legal 
permanent residents, refugees, aliens paroled into the United 
States for at least one year, aliens granted asylum or related 
relief, and certain abused spouses and children. Non-citizens 
who remain eligible include: (1) those who meet a 10-year 
requirement for work covered under the social security system 
and (2) veterans and active duty military personnel, together 
with their families. In addition, refugees and asylees 
(including Cuban/Haitian entrants and Amerasians) are eligible 
for food stamps for five years after entering as refugees or 
being granted asylum.
Senate bill
      The Senate bill would reduce food stamp administrative 
reimbursements to States prospectively by the amount of food 
stamp administrative costs assumed in each State's TANF block 
grant. The Department of Health and Human Services would 
determine, for each State, the extent to which common 
administrative costs were incorporated into the State's TANF 
allocation and the extent to which those costs could have been 
attributed to the Food Stamp Program had States allocated costs 
equally among Food Stamp, Medicaid and cash welfare programs. 
The Secretary of Agriculture would reduce future food stamp 
administrative reimbursements to States by the amounts in TANF 
that could have been attributed to the Food Stamp Program. The 
Food Stamp Program's share would be approximately one-third of 
the common costs of administering the Food Stamp, AFDC, and 
Medicaid programs that were charged to AFDC during the 
historical base period used to establish the State's TANF 
grant. The provision lapses in fiscal year 2002 (sec. 501(a)).
      The Senate bill would require the Secretary of 
Agriculture to establish a competitive low-income area grant 
program to provide funding to initiate school breakfast and 
summer food service programs in low-income areas. The grant 
program would be funded at $5,000,000 annually and the 
Secretary must use the funds to the extent that a sufficient 
number of schools and service institutions meet eligibility 
guidelines established by the Secretary, but the Secretary is 
not required to use all of the money provided. The grant 
program gives priority to school food authorities (typically 
school districts) serving primarily low-income children which 
do not already operate school breakfast or summer food service 
programs (sec. 501(b)).
      The Senate bill would require the Secretary to reimburse 
child care centers for serving a fourth meal or supplement to 
children who are in centers longer than eight hours per day in 
order to accommodate working parents. This section also would 
require the Secretary to reimburse service institutions running 
summer food service programs at camps for low-income children 
or that serve primarily migrant children for up to four meals 
or supplements during each day of operation. This requirement 
would take effect on September 1, 1998 (sec. 501(b)).
      The Senate bill would provide $185,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1998 through 2002 for the Information Clearinghouse. The 
clearinghouse provides information to groups that assist low-
income individuals in becoming self-reliant and less dependent 
on Federal, State or local governmental agencies for food and 
other assistance (sec. 501(c)).
      The Senate bill would restore food stamp benefits to 
American Indians living along the Mexican and Canadian borders 
(sec. 501(d)).
House amendment
      The House amendment contains no comparable provision.
Conference agreement
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provisions 
with technical amendments and amendments that:
            ``Delete provisions to: (1) establish a low-income 
        area grant program to provide funding to initiate 
        school breakfast and summer food service programs in 
        low-income areas; (2) reimburse child care centers for 
        serving a fourth meal to children in centers longer 
        than eight hours; and (3) reauthorize and provide 
        funding for the Information Clearinghouse;
            ``Reduce additional amounts to States for 
        employment and training programs by $100 million in 
        fiscal year 1999 and $45 million in fiscal year 2000 
        (sec. 501);
            ``Stipulate that, if determined by the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services, food stamp administrative 
        reimbursements will be reduced for fiscal years 1999 
        through 2002 and that the reductions will be made, to 
        the extent practicable, on a quarterly basis (sec. 
        502);
            ``Make clear that no TANF funds, funds available to 
        carry out title XX of the Social Security Act, State 
        expenditures that qualify as ``maintenance of effort'' 
        spending under the TANF program, or any other Federal 
        funds from programs (other than the Food Stamp Program) 
        or any other State funds expended as a condition to 
        receive Federal matching funds, may be used to replace 
        reductions being made by the Secretary of Agriculture 
        (sec. 502);
            ``Require the Comptroller General of the United 
        States to review the methodology used by the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services to determine amounts 
        serving as a basis for the reductions in each States' 
        food stamp administrative reimbursement and require the 
        Comptroller General to submit a written report to the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate (sec. 502);
            ``Establish an appeals process under which States 
        may appeal the Secretary of Health and Human Services' 
        determinations serving as the basis for reductions in 
        their food stamp administrative reimbursements to an 
        administrative law judge and the Department of Health 
        and Human Services' Departmental Appeals Board (but bar 
        judicial review) (sec. 502);
            ``Maintain the requirement for reductions in food 
        stamp administrative reimbursements during the pendency 
        of a State's appeal (sec.502);
            ``Extend food stamp eligibility to refugees and 
        asylees for 7 years after entry as refugees or 
        obtaining asylum status in the United States, instead 
        of 5 years under current law (sec. 503);
            ``Restore food stamp eligibility to `qualified 
        aliens' with disabilities who were lawfully residing in 
        the United States on August 22, 1996 (the enactment 
        date of the PRWORA), including those who become 
        disabled after that date (sec. 504);
            ``Restore food stamp eligibility to `qualified 
        aliens' who were lawfully residing in the United States 
        and were 65 years of age or over as of August 22, 1996 
        (sec. 506);
            ``Restore food stamp eligibility to `qualified 
        alien' children under age 18 who were lawfully residing 
        in the United States on August 22, 1996 (sec.507); and
            ``Restore food stamp eligibility to individuals 
        (including the spouse, unmarried dependent child of 
        such individuals or unremarried surviving spouse of 
        such deceased individuals) who: (1) were a member of a 
        Hmong or Highland Laotian tribe at the time that the 
        tribe rendered assistance to United States personnel by 
        taking part in a military or rescue operation during 
        the Vietnam era, and (2) are lawfully residing in the 
        United States (sec. 508).
      The Managers intend that, to the extent that the food 
stamp disability definition has a disparate application in a 
particular State because of unique State programs or policies, 
the Secretary will review available options under section 3(r) 
of the Food Stamp Act and inform States about their options so 
that the exemption for disabled individuals will be implemented 
in that State in a manner which is consistent with the 
implementation in other States.
      The Managers note that the State of Oregon has proposed a 
food stamp demonstration project incorporating plans to move 
food stamp participants to self-sufficiency through a case 
management strategy. This project would build on a similar 
initiative Oregon has pursued for its TANF participants. In the 
1996 welfare reform measure, Congress changed food stamp law 
substantially to: (1) increase the Secretary's ability to 
approve pilot projects that ``increase self- sufficiency of 
food stamp participants, test innovative welfare reform 
strategies, or allow greater conformity with the rules of other 
programs,'' (2) give States the option to apply many TANF rules 
to food stamp participants, (3) permit States to disqualify 
participants from the Food Stamp Program for violating other 
public assistance program rules, and (4) expand States' control 
over work and training requirements. This was with the intent 
that States' efforts to innovate and coordinate among public 
assistance programs be supported by the Federal Government. In 
light of this, the conferees strongly urge the Secretary to 
carefully consider and promptly act on Oregon's request.

                  (49) Information Technology Funding

      The Senate bill allows CCC funding to be used to purchase 
automated data processing equipment, telecommunications 
equipment, and other information technology was capped in the 
FAIR Act. This section, as of the 1998 fiscal year, would 
further lower the funding cap to achieve a savings of $82 
million dollars through 2002. (Section 502)
      The House amendment has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the Senate provision 
with amendments regarding crop insurance. (Section 521)
      An amendment to Section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act would provide mandatory funding for the sales commissions 
of crop insurance agents beginning in the 1999 reinsurance 
year. The section also limits to $3.5 million annually 
mandatory funding available to the Agriculture Department's 
Risk Management Agency for crop insurance research, 
development, and risk management education. This limitation 
does not affect mandatory funding for the Dairy Options Pilot 
Program. (Section 531)
      An amendment to Section 508(b)(5) and (c)(10) of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act would change the amount and use of 
the administrative fee producers pay for catastrophic 
riskprotection and the amount of fees paid for additional coverage 
protection effective with the 1999 reinsurance year. The amount a 
producer must pay for catastrophic risk protection is changed to the 
maximum of $50 per crop or 10 percent of the premium for such 
protection as determined by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. 
Producers would also pay an additional $10 fee for catastrophic risk 
protection. Producers would be required to pay catastrophic policy fees 
at the same time premium is paid on additional coverage policies. All 
catastrophic coverage fees would be deposited in the FCIC Fund to be 
available for programs and activities of the Corporation, except as 
compensation to an approved insurance provider or agent. The section 
also increases the fee paid for additional coverage protection to $20 
with the proceeds similarly deposited in the FCIC Fund. (Section 532)
      An amendment to Section 508(k) of the Federal Crop 
Insurance Act would reduce the maximum rate payable by the FCIC 
Board to reimburse approved insurance providers and agents for 
their administrative and operating costs. Effective with the 
1999 reinsurance year, the maximum reimbursement rate for 
additional coverage policies is reduced to 24.5 percent of the 
premium. Additional coverage policies that currently receive a 
rate lower than 27 percent receive a reduction in the 
reimbursement rate that is proportional to the reduction 
between 25 percent and 27 percent. Also, the loss adjustment 
expense reimbursement companies receive for delivery of 
catastrophic policies is reduced to 11% of premium. (Section 
532)
      An amendment codifies provisions of the 1998 Standard 
Reinsurance Agreement as modified by this subtitle that affect 
payments to approved insurance providers or agents. (Section 
536)
      An amendment requires the Corporation to establish 
procedures for responding to inquiries about its 
interpretations of the Act and its regulations. (Section 533)
      An amendment requires the Corporation to establish 
regulations regarding time limits for approving a new policy of 
insurance proposed by a private entity. (Section 534)
      An amendment requires the Secretary of Agriculture to 
contract with a private entity to study: (1) improvement of 
services to agricultural producers; (2) transforming the role 
of the Agriculture Department's Risk Management Agency to that 
of an arm's-length regulator and (3) privatization of crop 
insurance coverage. (Section 535)
      These amendments to the Federal Crop Insurance Act are 
effective as of the 1999 reinsurance year. (Section 537)

(50) Consistent matching funds requirements under Hatch Act of 1887 and 
                            Smith-Lever Act

      The House amendment amends the Hatch Act of 1887 to 
clarify that States receiving Federal formula funds for 
research and education under the Act must provide a minimum of 
a one-to-one match with non-Federal dollars for each fiscal 
year and eliminates a 1955 amendment that gave States a $90,000 
allocation before requiring the one-to-one match. This section 
requires the Secretary to withhold the difference between the 
total amount that should have been provided and the non-Federal 
funds that were actually provided during the fiscal year from 
States which fail to provide matching funds for the fiscal 
year. The Secretary shall re-apportion withheld funds among the 
States satisfying the matching requirement for the fiscal year, 
and the re-apportionment shall be subject to the match 
requirement. An exception to the match requirement is granted 
to States for funds received for regional research.
      The House amendment amends the Smith-Lever Act to clarify 
that States receiving Federal formula funds for extension under 
the Act must provide a minimum of a one-to-one match with non-
Federal dollars for each fiscal year. The section requires the 
Secretary to withhold the difference between the total amount 
that should have been provided and the non-Federal funds that 
were actually provided during the fiscal year from States which 
fail to provide matching funds for any fiscal year. The 
Secretary shall re-apportion withheld funds among the States 
satisfying the matching requirement for the fiscal year, and 
the re-apportionment shall be subject to the match requirement. 
An exception to the match requirement is granted for matching 
funds to 1994 Institutions. (Section 202)
      The Senate bill has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 203)

 (51) Plans of work to address critical research and extension issues 
            and use of protocols to measure success of plans

      The House amendment amends section 4 of the Smith-Lever 
Act. Beginning October 1, 1998, as a condition of receipt for 
Federal formula funds for extension, this section requires that 
institutions develop a plan of work that contains a description 
of important State agricultural issues and activities in which 
two or more State institutions cooperate to address those 
issues; identifies other colleges and universities in the State 
and other States with capacity to participate with them in 
current and emerging efforts towards improved collaborations; 
and provides a summary of current programs. The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Advisory Board and land-grant colleges 
and universities, shall develop protocols to be used to 
evaluate the plans of work. To the extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall consider plans of work submitted under this 
section to satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting 
requirements.
      The House amendment amends section 7 of the Hatch Act of 
1887. Beginning October 1, 1998, as a condition of receipt for 
Federal formula funds for extension, this section requires that 
institutions develop a plan of work that contain a description 
of important State agricultural issues and activities in which 
two or more State institutions cooperate to address those 
issues; describes the consultation process with users of funds; 
identifies other colleges and universities in the State and 
other States with capacity to participate with them in current 
and emerging efforts towards improved collaborations; and 
provides a summary of current programs. The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Advisory Board and land-grant colleges 
and universities, shall develop protocols to be used to 
evaluate the plans of work. To the extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall consider plans of work submitted under this 
section to satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting 
requirements. The Secretary may delay the applicability of 
these requirements until October 1, 1999 if the Secretary finds 
that the State will be unable to meet such requirements despite 
good faith efforts. (Section 203)
      The Senate bill has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 202)

 (52) Plans of Work for 1890 Institutions to address critical research 
 and extension issues and use of protocols to measure success of plans

      The House amendment amends section 1444(d) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teach Policy Act 
of 1977. Beginning October 1, 1998, as a condition of receipt 
for Federal formula funds for extension, 1890 Institutions 
shall develop a plan of work that contains a description of 
important State agricultural issues and activities in which two 
or more State institutions cooperate to address those issues; 
describes the consultation process with users of funds; 
identifies other colleges and universities in the State and 
other States with capacity to participate with them in current 
and emerging efforts towards improved collaborations; and 
provides a summary of current programs. The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Advisory Board and land-grant colleges 
and universities, shall develop protocols to be used to 
evaluate the plans of work. To the extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall consider plans of work submitted under this 
section to satisfy other appropriate Federal reporting 
requirements.
      This section requires that beginning October 1, 1998 as a 
condition of receipt for Federal formula funds for research, 
1890 Institutions shall develop a plan of work that contains a 
description of important State agricultural issues and 
activities in which two or more State institutions cooperate to 
address those issues; identifies other colleges and 
universities in the State and other States with capacity to 
participate with them in current and emerging efforts towards 
improved collaborations; and provides a summary of current 
programs. The Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory 
Board and land-grant colleges and universities, shall develop 
protocols to be used to evaluate the plans of work. The 
Secretary may delay the applicability of these requirements 
until October 1, 1999, if the Secretary finds that the eligible 
institution will be unable to meet such requirements despite 
good faith efforts. (Section 211)
      The Senate has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 225)

   (53) Findings, Authorities, and Competitive Research Grants under 
     Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978

      The House Amendment amends the congressional statement of 
findings and purposes of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Act of 1978. The Secretary is authorized to conduct, 
support, and cooperate in forestry and rangeland research and 
education that is of the highest priority to the United States 
and users of public and private forest lands and rangelands in 
the United States. This section includes 5 priorities for 
Federal forest and range research and education which include: 
the biology of forest and range organisms; functional 
characteristics and cost-effective management of forest and 
rangelands ecosystems; interactions between humans and forests 
and rangelands; wood and forage as a raw material; and 
international trade, competition, and cooperation.
      Under the House amendment, the Secretary shall inventory 
and analyze public and private forests and their resources at 
least every five years as compared with the current eight to 
ten years. The Secretary shall also prepare a State forest 
inventory for each State. At least every five years, the 
Secretary shall prepare a report that contains a description of 
the State forest inventories, analyzes the results of the 
annual nationwide reports, and analyzes forest health trends.
      The House amendment modifies the competitive grants 
authority under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Act of 1978 to allow the Secretary to use up to 5% of 
appropriated funds to make competitive grants for forestry 
research and up to 5% for rangeland research in the five 
priority areas. The Secretary shall give priority to proposals 
with collaborative research, matching funds, and in cooperation 
with existing research efforts. (Section 251)
      The Senate has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
an amendment regarding authorization from private property 
owners for the inventory and an amendment authorizing forestry 
research for Northeastern states . (Section 253)
      The Managers recognize that the Forest Service already 
obtains verbal permission from private landowners before 
visiting plots located on private land, abides by provisions of 
the Privacy Act of 1974 to safeguard the confidentiality of 
data collected on private lands, and assumes the liability for 
any injury suffered by field crew members while on private 
land. Where a landowner wishes a written authorization, a 
written notice shall be provided outlining the purpose and 
legal authority for conducting the forest inventory, the 
voluntary nature of private landowner participation, and a 
means for the landowner to communicate in writing a denial of 
access. Landowners participating in the inventory program by 
allowing data collection on their property shall be provided a 
written communication of the date and time when data were 
collected and a copy of the annual compilation required by 
paragraph (2) that is based, in part, on their data.
      The Managers intend that the core set of variables 
collected on federal lands, such as the National Forest System 
should be consistent across all landownerships.
      The Managers intend the words ``and education'' in the 
subsection related to high priority forestry research and 
education exclude the teaching of full semester-long university 
courses by Forest Service employees as a regular part of their 
Federal employment.

 (54) Partnerships for High-Value Agricultural Product Quality Research

      The House amendment defines ``eligible partnership,'' 
``high-value agricultural product,'' and ``Secretary.'' 
(Section 401)
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to make 
competitive grants to establish partnerships to coordinate and 
manage research and extension activities to enhance the quality 
of high-value agricultural products. The primary institution 
involved in a partnership shall be a land-grant college or 
university acting in partnership with other colleges or 
universities, nonprofit research and development entities, and 
Federal laboratories. Partnerships shall prioritize research 
and extension activities to enhance the competitiveness of 
agricultural products, increase agricultural exports, and 
substitute such products for imports. (Section 402)
      The House amendment provides that the partnership may 
address a spectrum of production, processing, packaging, 
transportation, and marketing issues regarding effective and 
environmentally responsible pest management alternatives and 
biotechnology, genetic research, refinement of field production 
practices, processing and packaging technology, and research 
tofacilitate diversified, value-added enterprises in rural areas. 
(Section 402)
      The House amendment provides that grants may be awarded 
for a maximum of 5 years with a possibility for renewal. The 
Secretary shall give preference to multi-institutional 
proposals that guarantee matching funds in excess of the 
required amount. The non-Federal sponsors of a partnership 
shall contribute, at a minimum, the same amount awarded by the 
Federal Government. (Section 403)
      The House amendment authorizes the necessary funds to be 
appropriated for this subtitle for fiscal years 1998 through 
2002. (Section 404)
      The Senate bill has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 402)
      The Managers recognize the need for additional research 
emphasis on high value agricultural commodities such as wine, 
horticultural and floriculture products, and other products 
that depend on quality issues that are best addressed through 
cooperative research agreements. The Managers intend that this 
initiative will emphasize a team approach which furthers 
cooperation among industry, government and academic 
researchers.

         (55) High-priority research and extension initiatives

      The House amendment amends Section 1672 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5925) to allow the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory 
Board, to make competitive grants for high-priority research 
and extension grants and provides that the Secretary shall seek 
proposals for grants and perform peer-review of the proposals 
from State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and 
universities, Federal agencies, and the private sector for high 
priority research and extension. The grant may not be used for 
construction of a facility.
      The House amendment requires grant recipients to 
contribute non-Federal matching funds or in-kind support. The 
Secretary may waive this matching funds requirement if the 
Secretary determines that the results of the project are likely 
to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally or that 
the project involves a minor commodity, deals with 
scientifically important research, and the recipient would be 
unable to satisfy the match requirement.
      The House amendment permits the Secretary to give 
priority, after the peer-review process for all grant 
proposals, to proposals involving the cooperation of multiple 
institutions.
      The House amendment identifies and describes the thirty-
two high-priority research and extension areas for which the 
Secretary will make grants and authorizes the necessary funds 
to be appropriated for fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to establish 
task forces to make recommendations in the high priority 
research and extension areas. The Secretary may not incur costs 
greater than $1,000 in any fiscal year in connection with each 
task force. (Section 421)
      The Senate bill authorizes separate research programs for 
fire ants, formosan termite, wheat scab, small and medium sized 
dairy and livestock operations and reauthorizes the red meat 
safety research center. (Sections 213, 233, 238, 237, and 401)
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
amendments to strike the authorization for dairy efficiency, 
profitability and competitiveness and instead adopt the Senate 
research provision for dairy, livestock and poultry operations; 
to insert an authorization for tomato spotted wilt virus; to 
insert modified Senate provisions regarding Formosan termites 
and imported fire ants; and to create a separate nutrient 
management research and extension initiative focusing on 
authorization for animal waste and odor, water quality and 
ecosystems, rural/urban interfaces, animal feed, and 
alternative uses of animal waste. (Sections 242 and 243)
      The Managers recognize the growing threat of the Tomato 
Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), to several integral crops in the 
Southeast such as peanuts, tobacco, and tomatoes. Spotted wilt 
epidemics in the Southeast involve two thrips species, western 
flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and tobacco thrips 
(F. Fusca) in which the virus multiplies and thus can be 
transmitted for the life of the thrips. The TSWV and related 
viruses cause approximately $1 billion a year in damages. The 
TSWV has an extremely wide host range that includes many 
important cultivated crops as well as weeds. Two of the species 
of thrips that transmit TSWV are endemic in the Southeast. The 
wide host range of the virus and its thrips vectors make 
spotted wilt control extremely difficult. Progress in better 
managing spotted wilt has been limited by an inadequate 
understanding of the disease. The Managers encourage the 
Secretary to give priority funding to those areas with the 
highest historical rates of infestation.
      The Managers strongly believe that food safety research 
should be a priority at the Department of Agriculture and our 
nation's colleges and universities. We applaud the efforts of 
institutions whose work on E. coli 0157:H7, Cyclospora, and 
other foodborne pathogens has helped us gain a better 
understanding of these new and emerging threats. The Managers 
consider this matter of extreme importance and encourage the 
Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with other agencies 
and institutions, to utilize funds for research partnerships.
      The Managers encourage the Secretary to direct research 
toward practices that preserve the nutrient value of manure and 
its use as a crop nutrient source. This would include methods 
to alter the storage and use of manure from different 
production systems but would also include the assessment of the 
nutrient value of manure once applied to the soil. Research 
should especially focus on gaining understanding of the process 
of odor formation, transport across landscapes, and effective 
techniques for odor reduction.
      The Managers recognize that animal waste management 
involves the investigation of the nutrient properties of manure 
that can be used in crop and pasture production systems, 
including composting to enhance manure characteristics. 
Furthermore, it is clear that efforts need to be directed 
toward methods to assess manure quality, processing to improve 
nutrient value and methods of reducing water content to improve 
transport characteristics. As this research continues to 
progress, the Managers further encourage the integration of 
research concepts into demonstration trials in order to 
transfer this information to producers.
      The Managers intend that the Department make every effort 
to implement the new section dealing with swine nutrient 
management and odor control research and extension with minimal 
disruption. The Managers are aware that laboratories are 
currently doing swine odor research. To the maximum extent 
possible, the Department should integrate this new section with 
ongoing microbiology and water quality research, emphasizing 
environmentally sound animal production methods.

      (56) Organic agricultural research and extension initiative

      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Advisory Board, to make competitive 
specialized research and extension grants for organic 
activities. The recipient must provide matching, non-Federal 
funds; however, the Secretary may waive the match if the 
results of the project, while of particular benefit to one 
commodity, are likely to be applicable to agriculture generally 
or the project involves a minor commodity, deals with 
scientifically important research, and the recipient would be 
unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement. (Section 422)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
an amendment to direct that fees collected under the Organic 
Foods Production Act be provided to USDA to cover the cost of 
the program. (Sections 244 and 601)

       (57) Thomas Jefferson Initiative for Crop Diversification

      Section 427 establishes the Thomas Jefferson Initiative 
in order to conduct research and development, in cooperation 
with other public and private entities, on the production and 
marketing of new and nontraditional crops. The Secretary shall 
coordinate the initiative through a nonprofit center that will 
coordinate research and education programs in cooperation with 
other public and private entities. The Secretary shall support 
development of multi-State regional efforts in crop 
diversification, and 50% of available funding shall be used for 
regional efforts centered at land-grant institutions. The 
Secretary may award the remaining funds to colleges or 
universities, nonprofit organizations, or public agencies in 5 
year, competitive grants. Recipients must contribute matching 
non-Federal funds. (Section 427)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 405)

 (58) Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants 
                                Program

      The House amendment authorizes the Secretary to award 
competitive grants to colleges and universities for integrated 
research, education, and extension projects that address 
priorities of U.S. agriculture. The Secretary shall require 
matching funds or in-kind support if the grant will benefit a 
particular commodity; however, the Secretary may waive the 
requirement if the results are likely to benefit agriculture 
generally or the project involves a minor commodity, deals with 
scientifically important research, and the recipient would be 
unable to meet the match requirement. (Section 428)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 406)

(59) Research grants under Equity in Education Land-Grant States Act of 
                                  1994

      The House amendment amends the Equity in Education Land-
Grant States Act to authorize the Secretary to make competitive 
grants to 1994 Institutions to conduct agricultural research 
that addresses high priority concerns of tribal, national, and 
multi-State significance. Research will be conducted under a 
cooperative agreement with land-grant colleges and 
universities. (Section 429)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 251)

 (60) Role of Secretary of Agriculture regarding food and agricultural 
              sciences research, education, and extension

      The House amendment designates the Secretary of 
Agriculture as the principal official in the Executive branch 
responsible for coordinating all Federal research and extension 
activities related to food and agricultural sciences. (Section 
501)
      The Senate bill has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 613)

                 (61) Office of Pest Management Policy

      The House amendment requires the Secretary to establish 
an Office of Pest Management Policy. This Office of Pest 
Management Policy shall, in addition to its assigned 
responsibilities within the Department of Agriculture, shall 
provide leadership in coordinating interagency activities with 
the EPA, FDA, and other Federal and State agencies and 
coordinate agricultural policies within the Department related 
to pesticides. This section requires the Office of Pest 
Management Policy to consult with and provide services to 
producer groups and interested parties. (Section 502)
      The Senate bill has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 614)
      The Managers believe that the creation of an Office of 
Pest Management Policy is necessary to focus and coordinate the 
many pest management and pesticide-related activities carried 
out within the Department. The Managers feel strongly that this 
is a necessary step if the Department is to be effective in 
carrying out its statutory responsibilities with respect to 
pesticide issues and pest management research. For example, the 
National Cancer Institute (NCI), in conjunction with the 
National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences and the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are conducting a series 
of epidemiological studies, collectively called the 
``Agricultural Health Study.'' The studies are designed to 
evaluate the health of farmers and will focus primarily on 
pesticide exposures. The managers believe that the studies 
should be carried out and the results reported according to the 
highest standards of epidemiological science. The Managers 
expect the Office of Pest Management Policy to closely monitor 
this project and provide input and advice whenever appropriate.
      The Managers also expect the Office of Pest Management 
Policy to coordinate with the EPA to ensure effective 
implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 
(FQPA). The Managers recommend the Director of the office work 
with EPA, producers, and other appropriate groups to develop 
effective, efficient mechanisms for gathering data necessary 
for making regulatory decisions under FQPA. The Managers expect 
the Director and the Administrators of the relevant 
Departmental agencies to work with producers in 
reorientingresearch priorities in pest management to facilitate 
development, evaluation and delivery of alternative pest management 
tools.
      The Managers expect the office to be created within and 
staffed by an official within the Office of the Secretary. The 
managers intend for the Director of the office to report 
directly to the Secretary or the Deputy Secretary of 
Agriculture.

  (62) Food Safety Research Information Office and National Conference

      The House amendment directs the Secretary to establish a 
Food and Safety Research Information Office at the National 
Agricultural Library to provide information on food safety 
research initiatives to the research community and the general 
public and further directs the Secretary to sponsor a National 
Conference on Food Safety Research within 120 days after the 
enactment of this Act as well as annual workshops in each of 
the subsequent four years after the conference.
      The House amendment provides that the National Academy of 
Sciences' study include recommendations to ensure that the food 
safety inspection system, within the resources traditionally 
available to existing food safety agencies, protects the public 
health. (Section 503)
      The Senate bill has no comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
an amendment to authorize continued development of food safety 
handling education. (Section 615)

(63) Availability of funds received or collected on behalf of National 
                               Arboretum

      The House amendment provides a technical amendment to 
clarify that fees collected at the National Arboretum under the 
Act of March 4, 1927 are available for use by the Secretary 
without further appropriation. (Section 505)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 601)

(64) Retention and use of agricultural research service patent culture 
                            collection fees

      The House amendment provides that fees collected by ARS 
from the Patent Culture Collection shall be retained by ARS for 
maintenance and operation of the Patent Culture Collection. 
(Section 506)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 601)

    (65) Reimbursement of expenses incurred under Sheep Promotion, 
                 Research, and Information Act of 1994

      The House amendment provides that the Agricultural 
Marketing Service may use its funds to reimburse the American 
Sheep Industry Association for expenses incurred by the 
Association in preparation for the implementation of a sheep 
and wool promotion, research, education, and information order. 
(Section 507)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 617)

(66) Designation of Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research 
                         Center, Weslaco, Texas

      The House amendment designates the Subtropical 
Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco, Texas, as the Kika de 
la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center. (Section 
508)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 619)

(67) Sense of Congress regarding Agricultural Research Service emphasis 
        on field research regarding methyl bromide alternatives

      The House amendment provides that it is the sense of 
Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture should use a 
substantial portion of the ARS funds appropriated for the 
development of agricultural alternatives to methyl bromide for 
research to be conducted in real field conditions such as pre-
planting and post-harvest conditions. (Section 509)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 641)

      (68) Sense of Congress regarding importance of school-based 
                         agricultural education

      The House amendment contains Sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Education 
cooperate in providing support for school-based agricultural 
education. (Section 510)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision. 
(Section 642)

   (69) Sense of Congress regarding designation of Department crisis 
                            management team

      Based on congressional findings, it is the sense of 
Congress that the Secretary should designate a Crisis 
Management Team, composed of senior departmental personnel in 
relevant areas, to develop and implement a department-wide 
crisis management plan. (Section 511)
      The Senate bill does not contain a comparable provision.
      The conference substitute adopts the House provision with 
an amendment to strike the findings and require the Secretary 
to develop a crisis management strategy and to designate a 
crisis management team. (Section 618)

                            Committee on Resources,
                                    Washington, DC, March 20, 1998.
Hon. Robert F. Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Longworth HOB,
Washington, DC.
      Dear Mr. Chairman: Although S. 1150 contains substantial 
amendments to the National Aquaculture Act of 1980, an act 
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Resources, I was 
disappointed that the Committee on Resources was not named a 
conferee on the bill.
      However, I understand that there is some interest in 
including a simple authorization of the National Aquaculture 
Act in the conference report on S. 1150. As funding 
authorization for the National Aquaculture Act has expired and 
no reauthorization vehicle has been introduced this Congress, 
in the interests of efficiency, I would have no objection to 
including a level reauthorization of appropriations for the 
Departments of Interior, Commerce and Agriculture through 2003 
in the conference report. Reauthorization of the National 
Aquaculture Act has been included in other bills reported from 
the Committee on Agriculture in the past, but the Committee on 
Merchant Marine (the predecessor to the Committee on Resources 
in this jurisdictional area) had always been named a conferee 
on those provisions. In addition, S. 1150 itself was never 
referred to a committee in the House of Representatives. 
Therefore, I make this request with the understanding that the 
inclusion of funding for these agencies in a bill authorizing 
agricultural research, a matter within the jurisdiction of the 
Agriculture Committee, does not diminish or otherwise affect 
the long-standing jurisdiction of the Committee on Resources 
over the National Aquaculture Act.
      I appreciate you keeping me informed on the progress of 
the conference on this bill and I thank you for your continued 
recognition of the role of the Committee on Resources in 
aquaculture.
            Sincerely,
                                                 Don Young,
                                                          Chairman.
                                ------                                


                                  Committee on Agriculture,
                                    Washington, DC, March 24, 1998.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources, Longworth HOB,
Washington, DC.
      Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of March 20, 
1998 agreeing to include in the conference report on S. 1150 a 
simple reauthorization of appropriations for that portion of 
the National Aquaculture Act under the jurisdiction of the 
Committee on Resources.
      As you noted, funding authorization for the Act has 
expired and no bill addressing this matter has been introduced 
in the House. I appreciate your willingness to expedite the 
reauthorizing process by using S. 1150 as the vehicle. You duly 
noted in your letter that had S. 1150 been referred to 
committee, you would have requested referral to the Committee 
on Resources and that you had requested conferees from that 
committee after that bill passed the House. I can assure you 
that inclusion of this provision in S. 1150, a bill authorizing 
agricultural research, a matter within the jurisdiction of the 
Committee on Agriculture, should not be construed to diminish 
or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
Resources over subject matter contained in the National 
Aquaculture Act.
      I look forward to working with you and the Committee on 
Resources, of which I am a member, on aquaculture and other 
issues of shared jurisdiction.
            Sincerely,
                                     Robert F. (Bob) Smith,
                                                          Chairman.

                                   Robert Smith,
                                   Larry Combest,
                                   Bill Barrett,
                                   Charles W. Stenholm,
                                   Calvin Dooley,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Richard G. Lugar,
                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Paul D. Coverdell,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Patrick Leahy,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                
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