[House Report 105-763]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-763
_______________________________________________________________________


 
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG 
   ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES PROGRAMS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 
           ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1999, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

                October 2, 1998.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


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

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 4101]

      The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of 
the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
4101) ``making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for 
other purposes'', having met, after full and free conference, 
have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective 
Houses as follows:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an 
amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
amendment, insert:
    That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money 
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, 
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1999, and for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                         AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary


                     (including transfers of funds)


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

                          Executive Operations


                            chief economist


    For necessary expenses of the Chief Economist, including 
economic analysis, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and 
the functions of the World Agricultural Outlook Board, as 
authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1622g), and including employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), of which not to exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109, $5,620,000.


                       national appeals division


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

                 Office of Budget and Program Analysis

    For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program 
Analysis, including employment pursuant to the second sentence 
of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), 
of which not to exceed $5,000 is for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
3109, $6,120,000.

                Office of the Chief Information Officer

    For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, including employment pursuant to the 
second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 
U.S.C. 2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment 
under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $5,551,000.

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer

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

          Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

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

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to 
Public Law 92-313, including authorities pursuant to the 1984 
delegation of authority from the Administrator of General 
Services to the Department of Agriculture under 40 U.S.C. 486, 
for programs and activities of the Department which are 
included in this Act, and for the operation, maintenance, and 
repair of Agriculture buildings, $132,184,000: Provided, That 
in the event an agency within the Department should require 
modification of space needs, the Secretary of Agriculture may 
transfer a share of that agency's appropriation made available 
by this Act to this appropriation, or may transfer a share of 
this appropriation to that agency's appropriation, but such 
transfers shall not exceed 5 percent of the funds made 
available for space rental and related costs to or from this 
account. In addition, for construction, repair, improvement, 
extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or 
facilities as necessary to carry out the programs of the 
Department, where not otherwise provided, $5,000,000, to remain 
available until expended; making a total appropriation of 
$137,184,000.

                       Hazardous Waste Management


                     (including transfers of funds)


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

                      Departmental Administration


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For Departmental Administration, $32,168,000, to provide 
for necessary expenses for management support services to 
offices of the Department and for general administration and 
disaster management of the Department, repairs and alterations, 
and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise 
provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient work 
of the Department, including employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), of which not to exceed $10,000 is for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
reimbursed from applicable appropriations in this Act for 
travel expenses incident to the holding of hearings as required 
by 5 U.S.C. 551-558.


              outreach for socially disadvantaged farmers


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

     Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations


                     (including transfers of funds)


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

                        Office of Communications

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

                    Office of the Inspector General


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector 
General, including employment pursuant to the second sentence 
of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), 
and the Inspector General Act of 1978, $65,128,000, including 
such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other 
arrangements with public agencies and private persons pursuant 
to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, 
including a sum not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109; and including a sum not to exceed $100,000 for 
certain confidential operational expenses, including the 
payment of informants, to be expended under the direction of 
the Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95-452 and section 
1337 of Public Law 97-98: Provided, That for fiscal year 1999 
and thereafter, funds transferred to the Office of the 
Inspector General through forfeiture proceedings or from the 
Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund or the Department 
of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, as a participating agency, as 
an equitable share from the forfeiture of property in 
investigations in which the Office of the Inspector General 
participates, or through the granting of a Petition for 
Remission or Mitigation, shall be deposited to the credit of 
this account for law enforcement activities authorized under 
the Inspector General Act of 1978, to remain available until 
expended.

                     Office of the General Counsel

    For necessary expenses of the Office of the General 
Counsel, $29,194,000.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

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

                       Economic Research Service


                     (including transfer of funds)


    For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service in 
conducting economic research and analysis, as authorized by the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and 
other laws, $65,757,000: Provided, That $2,000,000 shall be 
transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ``Food and 
Nutrition Service, Food Program Administration'' for studies 
and evaluations: Provided further, That this appropriation 
shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225).

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

    For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service in conducting statistical reporting and 
service work, including crop and livestock estimates, 
statistical coordination and improvements, marketing surveys, 
and the Census of Agriculture, as authorized by the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), the 
Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-113), and 
other laws, $103,964,000, of which up to $23,599,000 shall be 
available until expended for the Census of Agriculture: 
Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for 
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of 
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
$40,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

                     Agricultural Research Service


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For necessary expenses to enable the Agricultural Research 
Service to perform agricultural research and demonstration 
relating to production, utilization, marketing, and 
distribution (not otherwise provided for); home economics or 
nutrition and consumer use including the acquisition, 
preservation, and dissemination of agricultural information; 
and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase 
at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, and for land exchanges 
where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value or shall be 
equalized by a payment of money to the grantor which shall not 
exceed 25 percent of the total value of the land or interests 
transferred out of Federal ownership, $781,950,000: Provided, 
That appropriations hereunder shall be available for temporary 
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of 
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
$115,000 shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: 
Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be 
available for the operation and maintenance of aircraft and the 
purchase of not to exceed one for replacement only: Provided 
further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available 
pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for the construction, alteration, and 
repair of buildings and improvements, but unless otherwise 
provided, the cost of constructing any one building shall not 
exceed $250,000, except for headhouses or greenhouses which 
shall each be limited to $1,000,000, and except for ten 
buildings to be constructed or improved at a cost not to exceed 
$500,000 each, and the cost of altering any one building during 
the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the current 
replacement value of the building or $250,000, whichever is 
greater: Provided further, That the limitations on alterations 
contained in this Act shall not apply to modernization or 
replacement of existing facilities at Beltsville, Maryland: 
Provided further, That appropriations hereunder shall be 
available for granting easements at the Beltsville Agricultural 
Research Center, including an easement to the University of 
Maryland to construct the Transgenic Animal Facility which upon 
completion shall be accepted by the Secretary as a gift: 
Provided further, That the foregoing limitations shall not 
apply to replacement of buildings needed to carry out the Act 
of April 24, 1948 (21 U.S.C. 113a): Provided further, That 
funds may be received from any State, other political 
subdivision, organization, or individual for the purpose of 
establishing or operating any research facility or research 
project of the Agricultural Research Service, as authorized by 
law.
    None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
available to carry out research related to the production, 
processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products.
    In fiscal year 1999, the agency is authorized to charge 
fees, commensurate with the fair market value, for any permit, 
easement, lease, or other special use authorization for the 
occupancy or use of land and facilities (including land and 
facilities at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center) 
issued by the agency, as authorized by law, and such fees shall 
be credited to this account and shall remain available until 
expended for authorized purposes.

                        buildings and facilities

    For acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, 
extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or 
facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural research 
programs of the Department of Agriculture, where not otherwise 
provided, $56,437,000, to remain available until expended (7 
U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That funds may be received from any 
State, other political subdivision, organization, or individual 
for the purpose of establishing any research facility of the 
Agricultural Research Service, as authorized by law.

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


                   research and education activities


    For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for 
cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and 
for other expenses, including $180,545,000 to carry into effect 
the provisions of the Hatch Act (7 U.S.C. 361a-i); $21,932,000 
for grants for cooperative forestry research (16 U.S.C. 582a-
a7); $29,676,000 for payments to the 1890 land-grant colleges, 
including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 3222); $63,116,000 for 
special grants for agricultural research (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); 
$15,048,000 for special grants for agricultural research on 
improved pest control (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)); $119,300,000 for 
competitive research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)); $5,109,000 for 
the support of animal health and disease programs (7 U.S.C. 
3195); $750,000 for supplemental and alternative crops and 
products (7 U.S.C. 3319d); $600,000 for grants for research 
pursuant to the Critical Agricultural Materials Act of 1984 (7 
U.S.C. 178) and section 1472 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3318), to remain available until expended; 
$3,000,000 for higher education graduate fellowship grants (7 
U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)), to remain available until expended (7 
U.S.C. 2209b); $4,350,000 for higher education challenge grants 
(7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)); $1,000,000 for a higher education 
multicultural scholars program (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(5)), to remain 
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $2,850,000 for an 
education grants program for Hispanic-serving Institutions (7 
U.S.C. 3241); $500,000 for a secondary agriculture education 
program and two-year postsecondary education (7 U.S.C. 3152 
(h)); $4,000,000 for aquaculture grants (7 U.S.C. 3322); 
$8,000,000 for sustainable agriculture research and education 
(7 U.S.C. 5811); $9,200,000 for a program of capacity building 
grants (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)) to colleges eligible to receive 
funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 
328), including Tuskegee University, to remain available until 
expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b); $1,552,000 for payments to the 1994 
Institutions pursuant to section 534(a)(1) of Public Law 103-
382; and $10,688,000 for necessary expenses of Research and 
Education Activities, of which not to exceed $100,000 shall be 
for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; in all, $481,216,000.
    None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
available to carry out research related to the production, 
processing or marketing of tobacco or tobacco products.

              Native American Institutions Endowment Fund

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

                          Extension Activities

    Payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and 
American Samoa: For payments for cooperative extension work 
under the Smith-Lever Act, to be distributed under sections 
3(b) and 3(c) of said Act, and under section 208(c) of Public 
Law 93-471, for retirement and employees' compensation costs 
for extension agents and for costs of penalty mail for 
cooperative extension agents and State extension directors, 
$276,548,000; payments for extension work at the 1994 
Institutions under the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 
343(b)(3)),$2,060,000; payments for the nutrition and family education 
program for low-income areas under section 3(d) of the Act, 
$58,695,000; payments for the pest management program under section 
3(d) of the Act, $10,783,000; payments for the farm safety program 
under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,000,000; payments for the pesticide 
impact assessment program under section 3(d) of the Act, $3,214,000; 
payments to upgrade research, extension, and teaching facilities at the 
1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University, as authorized 
by section 1447 of Public Law 95-113 (7 U.S.C. 3222b), $8,426,000, to 
remain available until expended; payments for the rural development 
centers under section 3(d) of the Act, $908,000; payments for a 
groundwater quality program under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,561,000; 
payments for youth-at-risk programs under section 3(d) of the Act, 
$9,000,000; payments for a food safety program under section 3(d) of 
the Act, $3,500,000; payments for carrying out the provisions of the 
Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978, $3,192,000; payments for 
Indian reservation agents under section 3(d) of the Act, $1,714,000; 
payments for sustainable agriculture programs under section 3(d) of the 
Act, $3,309,000; payments for rural health and safety education as 
authorized by section 2390 of Public Law 101-624 (7 U.S.C. 2661 note, 
2662), $2,628,000; payments for cooperative extension work by the 
colleges receiving the benefits of the second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 
321-326 and 328) and Tuskegee University, $25,843,000; and for Federal 
administration and coordination including administration of the Smith-
Lever Act, and the Act of September 29, 1977 (7 U.S.C. 341-349), and 
section 1361(c) of the Act of October 3, 1980 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), and 
to coordinate and provide program leadership for the extension work of 
the Department and the several States and insular possessions, 
$11,741,000; in all, $434,122,000: Provided, That funds hereby 
appropriated pursuant to section 3(c) of the Act of June 26, 1953, and 
section 506 of the Act of June 23, 1972, shall not be paid to any 
State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin 
Islands, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, and American Samoa prior to 
availability of an equal sum from non-Federal sources for expenditure 
during the current fiscal year.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

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

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service


                         salaries and expenses


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For expenses, not otherwise provided for, including those 
pursuant to the Act of February 28, 1947 (21 U.S.C. 114b-c), 
necessary to prevent, control, and eradicate pests and plant 
and animal diseases; to carry out inspection, quarantine, and 
regulatory activities; to discharge the authorities of the 
Secretary of Agriculture under the Act of March 2, 1931 (46 
Stat. 1468; 7 U.S.C. 426-426b); and to protect the environment, 
as authorized by law, $425,803,000, of which $4,105,000 shall 
be available for the control of outbreaks of insects, plant 
diseases, animal diseases and for control of pest animals and 
birds to the extent necessary to meet emergency conditions: 
Provided, That no funds shall be used to formulate or 
administer a brucellosis eradication program for the current 
fiscal year that does not require minimum matching by the 
States of at least 40 percent: Provided further, That this 
appropriation shall be available for field employment pursuant 
to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 
1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $40,000 shall be 
available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, 
That this appropriation shall beavailable for the operation and 
maintenance of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed four, of 
which two shall be for replacement only: Provided further, That, in 
addition, in emergencies which threaten any segment of the agricultural 
production industry of this country, the Secretary may transfer from 
other appropriations or funds available to the agencies or corporations 
of the Department such sums as may be deemed necessary, to be available 
only in such emergencies for the arrest and eradication of contagious 
or infectious disease or pests of animals, poultry, or plants, and for 
expenses in accordance with the Act of February 28, 1947, and section 
102 of the Act of September 21, 1944, and any unexpended balances of 
funds transferred for such emergency purposes in the next preceding 
fiscal year shall be merged with such transferred amounts: Provided 
further, That appropriations hereunder shall be available pursuant to 
law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the repair and alteration of leased buildings 
and improvements, but unless otherwise provided the cost of altering 
any one building during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of 
the current replacement value of the building.
    In fiscal year 1999, the agency is authorized to collect 
fees to cover the total costs of providing technical 
assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other 
political subdivisions, domestic and international 
organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided 
that such fees are structured such that any entity's liability 
for such fees is reasonably based on the technical assistance, 
goods, or services provided to the entity by the agency, and 
such fees shall be credited to this account, to remain 
available until expended, without further appropriation, for 
providing such assistance, goods, or services.
     Of the total amount available under this heading in fiscal 
year 1999, $88,000,000 shall be derived from user fees 
deposited in the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection User Fee 
Account.

                        buildings and facilities

    For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, 
environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, and 
purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized by 7 
U.S.C. 2250, and acquisition of land as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 
428a, $7,700,000, to remain available until expended.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           marketing services


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


                 limitation on administrative expenses


    Not to exceed $60,730,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative 
expenses: Provided, That if crop size is understated and/or 
other uncontrollable events occur, the agency may exceed this 
limitation by up to 10 percent with notification to the 
Appropriations Committees.


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


                     (including transfers of funds)


    Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 
1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) shall be used only for commodity program 
expenses as authorized therein, and other related operating 
expenses, except for: (1) transfers to the Department of 
Commerce as authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Act of August 
8, 1956; (2) transfers otherwise provided in this Act; and (3) 
not more than $10,998,000 for formulation and administration of 
marketing agreements and orders pursuant to the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 and the Agricultural Act of 
1961.


                   payments to states and possessions


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

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


                         salaries and expenses


    For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
United States Grain Standards Act, for the administration of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, for certifying procedures used 
to protect purchasers of farm products, and the standardization 
activities related to grain under the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946, including field employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), and not to exceed $25,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
3109, $26,787,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
available pursuant to law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration 
and repair of buildings and improvements, but the cost of 
altering any one building during the fiscal year shall not 
exceed 10 percent of the current replacement value of the 
building.


        limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses


    Not to exceed $42,557,000 (from fees collected) shall be 
obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and 
weighing services: Provided, That if grain export activities 
require additional supervision and oversight, or other 
uncontrollable factors occur, this limitation may be exceeded 
by up to 10 percent with notification to the Appropriations 
Committees.


             office of the under secretary for food safety


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

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

    For necessary expenses to carry out services authorized by 
the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, 
$609,250,000, and in addition, $1,000,000 may be credited to 
this account from fees collected for the cost of laboratory 
accreditation as authorized by section 1017 of Public Law 102-
237: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be available 
for shell egg surveillance under section 5(d) of the Egg 
Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1034(d)): Provided further, 
That this appropriation shall be available for field employment 
pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the 
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $75,000 
shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided 
further, That this appropriation shall be available pursuant to 
law (7 U.S.C. 2250) for the alteration and repair of buildings 
and improvements, but the cost of altering any one building 
during the fiscal year shall not exceed 10 percent of the 
current replacement value of the building.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

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

                          Farm Service Agency


                         salaries and expenses


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration 
and implementation of programs administered by the Farm Service 
Agency, $714,499,000: Provided, That the Secretary is 
authorized to use the services, facilities, and authorities 
(but not the funds) of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make 
program payments for all programs administered by the Agency: 
Provided further, That other funds made available to the Agency 
for authorized activities may be advanced to and merged with 
this account: Provided further, That these funds shall be 
available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and 
not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be available for employment 
under 5 U.S.C. 3109.


                         state mediation grants


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


                        dairy indemnity program


                     (including transfers of funds)


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


           agricultural credit insurance fund program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
and guaranteed loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, to be 
available from funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, 
as follows: farm ownership loans, $510,682,000, of which 
$425,031,000 shall be for guaranteed loans; operating loans, 
$1,648,276,000, of which $948,276,000 shall be for unsubsidized 
guaranteed loans and $200,000,000 shall be for subsidized 
guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition loans as 
authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $1,000,000; for emergency insured 
loans, $25,000,000 to meet the needs resulting from natural 
disasters; and for boll weevil eradication program loans as 
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $100,000,000.
    For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the 
cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm ownership 
loans, $19,580,000, of which $6,758,000 shall be for guaranteed 
loans; operating loans, $62,630,000, of which $11,000,000 shall 
be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $17,480,000 shall be 
for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition 
loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $153,000; for emergency 
insured loans, $5,900,000 to meet the needs resulting from 
natural disasters; and for boll weevil eradication program 
loans as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1989, $1,440,000.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $219,861,000, of 
which $209,861,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the 
appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and 
Expenses''.

                         Risk Management Agency

    For administrative and operating expenses, as authorized by 
the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 
U.S.C. 6933), $64,000,000: Provided, That not to exceed $700 
shall be available for official reception and representation 
expenses, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1506(i).

                              CORPORATIONS

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


                federal crop insurance corporation fund


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

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund


                 reimbursement for net realized losses


    For fiscal year 1999, such sums as may be necessary to 
reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized 
losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed (estimated to 
be $8,439,000,000 in the President's fiscal year 1999 Budget 
Request (H. Doc. 105-177)), but not to exceed $8,439,000,000, 
pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 17, 1961 (15 U.S.C. 
713a-11).


       operations and maintenance for hazardous waste management


    For fiscal year 1999, the Commodity Credit Corporation 
shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for expenses to comply 
with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 
U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961: Provided, That expenses shall 
be for operations and maintenance costs only and that other 
hazardous waste management costs shall be paid for by the USDA 
Hazardous Waste Management appropriation in this Act.

                                TITLE II

                         CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

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

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                        conservation operations


    For necessary expenses for carrying out the programs 
administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
including the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 
U.S.C. 590a-f), including preparation of conservation plans and 
establishment of measures to conserve soil and water (including 
farm irrigation and land drainage and such special measures for 
soil and water management as may be necessary to prevent floods 
and the siltation of reservoirs and to control agricultural 
related pollutants); operation of conservation plant materials 
centers; classification and mapping of soil; dissemination of 
information; acquisition of lands, water, and interests therein 
for use in the plant materials program by donation, exchange, 
or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100 pursuant to 
the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 428a); purchase and 
erection or alteration or improvement of permanent and 
temporary buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft, 
$641,243,000, to remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 
2209b), of which not less than $5,990,000 is for snow survey 
and water forecasting and not less than $9,025,000 is for 
operation and establishment of the plant materials centers: 
Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available 
pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of 
buildings and public improvements at plant materials centers, 
except that the cost of alterations and improvements to other 
buildings and other public improvements shall not exceed 
$250,000: Provided further, That when buildings or other 
structures are erected on non-Federal land, that the right to 
use such land is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a: 
Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available 
for technical assistance and related expenses to carry out 
programs authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the 
Colorado River Basin Salinity ControlAct of 1974 (43 U.S.C. 
1592(c)): Provided further, That no part of this appropriation may be 
expended for soil and water conservation operations under the Act of 
April 27, 1935 in demonstration projects: Provided further, That this 
appropriation shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), 
and not to exceed $25,000 shall be available for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That qualified local engineers may be 
temporarily employed at per diem rates to perform the technical 
planning work of the Service (16 U.S.C. 590e-2).


                     watershed surveys and planning


    For necessary expenses to conduct research, investigation, 
and surveys of watersheds of rivers and other waterways, and 
for small watershed investigations and planning, in accordance 
with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act approved 
August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1001-1009), $10,368,000: Provided, 
That this appropriation shall be available for employment 
pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of the 
Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed $110,000 
shall be available for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109.


               watershed and flood prevention operations


    For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, 
including but not limited to research, engineering operations, 
methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, 
rehabilitation of existing works and changes in use of land, in 
accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 
Act approved August 4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1001-1005 and 1007-
1009), the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 
590a-f), and in accordance with the provisions of laws relating 
to the activities of the Department, $99,443,000, to remain 
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b) (of which up to 
$15,000,000 may be available for the watersheds authorized 
under the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936 (33 U.S.C. 
701 and 16 U.S.C. 1006a)): Provided, That not to exceed 
$47,000,000 of this appropriation shall be available for 
technical assistance: Provided further, That this appropriation 
shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), and not to exceed $200,000 shall be available for 
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That not to 
exceed $1,000,000 of this appropriation is available to carry 
out the purposes of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public 
Law 93-205), including cooperative efforts as contemplated by 
that Act to relocate endangered or threatened species to other 
suitable habitats as may be necessary to expedite project 
construction.


                 resource conservation and development


    For necessary expenses in planning and carrying out 
projects for resource conservation and development and for 
sound land use pursuant to the provisions of section 32(e) of 
title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010-
1011; 76 Stat. 607), the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-
f), and the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451-
3461), $35,000,000, to remain available until expended (7 
U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, That this appropriation shall be 
available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and 
not to exceed $50,000 shall be available for employment under 5 
U.S.C. 3109.


                      forestry incentives program


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

                               TITLE III

           RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

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


                  rural community advancement program


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants, 
as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 1926, 1926a, 1926c, and 1932, except 
for sections 381E-H, 381N, and 381O of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), $722,686,000, to 
remain available until expended, of which $29,786,000 shall be 
for rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) of 
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; of which 
$645,007,000 shall be for the rural utilities programs 
described in section 381E(d)(2) of such Act; and of which 
$47,893,000 shall be for the rural business and cooperative 
development programs described in section 381E(d)(3) of such 
Act: Provided, That of the amount appropriated for the rural 
business and cooperative development programs, not to exceed 
$500,000 shall be made available for a grant to a qualified 
national organization to provide technical assistance for rural 
transportation in order to promote economic development: 
Provided further, That not to exceed $16,215,000 shall be for 
technical assistance grants for rural waste systems pursuant to 
section 306(a)(14) of such Act; and not to exceed $5,300,000 
shall be for contracting with qualified national organizations 
for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for 
rural water systems: Provided further, That of the total amount 
appropriated, not to exceed $33,926,000 shall be available 
through June 30, 1999, for empowerment zones and enterprise 
communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66, of which 
$1,844,000 shall be for rural community programs described in 
section 381E(d)(1) of such Act; of which $23,948,000 shall be 
for the rural utilities programs described in section 
381E(d)(2) of such Act; of which $8,134,000 shall be for the 
rural business and cooperative development programs described 
in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act.

                         Rural Housing Service


              rural housing insurance fund program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing 
Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing 
insurance fund, as follows: $3,965,313,000 for loans to section 
502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of which 
$3,000,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; 
$25,001,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; $100,000,000 
for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; 
$20,000,000 for section 514 farm labor housing; $114,321,000 
for section 515 rental housing; $5,152,000 for section 524 site 
loans; $16,930,000 for credit sales of acquired property, of 
which up to $5,001,000 may be for multi-family credit sales; 
and $5,000,000 for section 523 self-help housing land 
development loans.
    For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the 
cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 
loans, $116,800,000, of which $2,700,000 shall be for 
unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair 
loans, $8,808,000; section 538 multi-family housing guaranteed 
loans, $2,320,000; section 514 farm labor housing, $10,406,000; 
section 515 rental housing, $55,160,000; section 524 site 
loans, $17,000; credit sales of acquired property, $3,492,000, 
of which up to $2,416,000 may be for multi-family credit sales; 
and section 523 self-help housing land development loans, 
$282,000: Provided, Thatof the total amount appropriated in 
this paragraph, $10,380,000 shall be for empowerment zones and 
enterprise communities, as authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided 
further, That if such funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and 
enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, they shall remain available 
for other authorized purposes under this head.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $360,785,000, 
which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation 
for ``Rural Housing Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


                       rental assistance program


    For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed 
pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements 
entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or payments for 
eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of 
the Housing Act of 1949, $583,397,000; and, in addition, such 
sums as may be necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of 
the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 
to carry out the rental assistance program under section 
521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of this amount, not more 
than $5,900,000 shall be available for debt forgiveness or 
payments for eligible households as authorized by section 
502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $10,000 per project 
for advances to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to 
cover direct costs (other than purchase price) incurred in 
purchasing projects pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the 
Act: Provided further, That agreements entered into or renewed 
during fiscal year 1999 shall be funded for a five-year period, 
although the life of any such agreement may be extended to 
fully utilize amounts obligated.


                  mutual and self-help housing grants


    For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) 
of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490c), $26,000,000, to 
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, 
That of the total amount appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be for 
empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by 
Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if such funds are not 
obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by 
June 30, 1999, they shall remain available for other authorized 
purposes under this head.


                    rural housing assistance grants


    For grants and contracts for housing for domestic farm 
labor, very low-income housing repair, supervisory and 
technical assistance, compensation for construction defects, 
and rural housing preservation made by the Rural Housing 
Service, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474, 1479(c), 1486, 1490e, 
and 1490m, $41,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, $1,200,000 
shall be for empowerment zones and enterprise communities, as 
authorized by Public Law 103-66: Provided further, That if such 
funds are not obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise 
communities by June 30, 1999, they shall remain available for 
other authorized purposes under this head.


                         salaries and expenses


    For necessary expenses of the Rural Housing Service, 
including administering the programs authorized by the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, title V of the 
Housing Act of 1949, and cooperative agreements, $60,978,000: 
Provided, That this appropriation shall be available for 
employment pursuant to the second sentence of section 706(a) of 
the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and not to exceed 
$520,000 may be used for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109: 
Provided further, That the Administrator may expend not more 
than $10,000 to provide modest nonmonetary awards to non-USDA 
employees.

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service


              rural development loan fund program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For the cost of direct loans, $16,615,000, as authorized by 
the Rural Development Loan Fund (42 U.S.C. 9812(a)): Provided, 
That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, 
shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are available 
to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of 
direct loans of $33,000,000: Provided further, That through 
June 30, 1999, of the total amount appropriated, $3,215,520 
shall be available for the cost of direct loans for empowerment 
zones and enterprise communities, as authorized by title XIII 
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, to subsidize 
gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans, 
$7,246,000: Provided further, That if such funds are not 
obligated for empowerment zones and enterprise communities by 
June 30, 1999, they shall remain available for other authorized 
purposes under this head.
    In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
direct loan programs, $3,482,000 shall be transferred to and 
merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


            rural economic development loans program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized 
under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the 
purpose of promoting rural economic development and job 
creation projects, $15,000,000.
    For the cost of direct loans, including the cost of 
modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, $3,783,000.
    Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit 
payments in fiscal year 1999, as authorized by section 313 of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $3,783,000 shall not be 
obligated and $3,783,000 are rescinded.


                  rural cooperative development grants


    For rural cooperative development grants authorized under 
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932), $3,300,000, of which $1,300,000 shall be 
available for cooperative agreements for the appropriate 
technology transfer for rural areas program and $250,000 shall 
be available for an agribusiness and cooperative development 
program.


                         salaries and expenses


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

  Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation 
                             Revolving Fund

    For necessary expenses to carry out the Alternative 
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5901-5908), $3,500,000 is appropriated to the 
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization 
Corporation Revolving Fund.

                        Rural Utilities Service


   rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be 
made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, 
$71,500,000; 5 percent rural telecommunications loans, 
$75,000,000; cost of money rural telecommunications loans, 
$300,000,000; municipal rate rural electric loans, 
$295,000,000; and loans made pursuant to section 306 of that 
Act, rural electric, $700,000,000 and rural telecommunications, 
$120,000,000, to remain available until expended.
    For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
modifying loans, of direct and guaranteed loans authorized by 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935 and 936), 
as follows: cost of direct loans, $16,667,000; cost of 
municipal rate loans, $25,842,000; cost of money rural 
telecommunications loans, $810,000: Provided, That 
notwithstanding section 305(d)(2) of the Rural Electrification 
Act of 1936, borrower interest rates may exceed 7 percent per 
year.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $29,982,000, which 
shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for 
``Rural Utilities Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


                  rural telephone bank program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    The Rural Telephone Bank is hereby authorized to make such 
expenditures, within the limits of funds available to such 
corporation in accord with law, and to make such contracts and 
commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control 
Act, as may be necessary in carrying out its authorized 
programs. During fiscal year 1999and within the resources and 
authority available, gross obligations for the principal amount of 
direct loans shall be $157,509,000.
    For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
modifying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), $4,174,000.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out the loan programs, $3,000,000, which shall be transferred 
to and merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Utilities 
Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


               distance learning and telemedicine program


    For the cost of direct loans and grants, as authorized by 7 
U.S.C. 950aaa et seq., $12,680,000, to remain available until 
expended, to be available for loans and grants for telemedicine 
and distance learning services in rural areas: Provided, That 
the costs of direct loans shall be as defined in section 502 of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.


                         salaries and expenses


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

                                TITLE IV

                         DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

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

                       Food and Nutrition Service


                        child nutrition programs


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For necessary expenses to carry out the National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section 21, and the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), except 
sections 17 and 21; $9,176,897,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 2000, of which $4,128,747,000 is hereby 
appropriated and $5,048,150,000 shall be derived by transfer 
from funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 
1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c): Provided, That none of the funds made 
available under this heading shall be used for studies and 
evaluations: Provided further, That up to $4,300,000 shall be 
available for independent verification of school food service 
claims: Provided further, That none of the funds under this 
heading shall be available unless the value of bonus 
commodities provided under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 
1935 (49 Stat. 774, chapter 641; 7 U.S.C. 612c), and section 
416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431) is included 
in meeting the minimum commodity assistance requirement of 
section 6(g) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1755(g)).


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


    For necessary expenses to carry out the special 
supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), 
$3,924,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2000: 
Provided, That none of the funds made available under this 
heading shall be used for studies and evaluations: Provided 
further, That of the total amount available, the Secretary 
shall obligate $10,000,000 for the farmers' market nutrition 
program within 45 days of the enactment of this Act, and an 
additional $5,000,000 for the farmers' market nutrition program 
from any funds not needed to maintain current caseload levels: 
Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act shall be 
available to pay administrative expenses of WIC clinics except 
those that have an announced policy of prohibiting smoking 
within the space used to carry out the program: Provided 
further,That none of the funds provided in this account shall 
be available for the purchase of infant formula except in accordance 
with the cost containment and competitive bidding requirements 
specified in section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966: Provided 
further, That State agencies required to procure infant formula using a 
competitive bidding system may use funds appropriated by this Act to 
purchase infant formula under a cost containment contract entered into 
after September 30, 1996, only if the contract was awarded to the 
bidder offering the lowest net price, as defined by section 17(b)(20) 
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, unless the State agency 
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the weighted 
average retail price for different brands of infant formula in the 
State does not vary by more than 5 percent.


                           food stamp program


    For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $22,585,106,000, of which $100,000,000 
shall be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at 
such times as may become necessary to carry out program 
operations: Provided, That none of the funds made available 
under this head shall be used for studies and evaluations: 
Provided further, That funds provided herein shall be expended 
in accordance with section 16 of the Food Stamp Act: Provided 
further, That this appropriation shall be subject to any work 
registration or workfare requirements as may be required by 
law: Provided further, That funds made available for Employment 
and Training under this head shall remain available until 
expended, as authorized by section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp 
Act.

                      commodity assistance program

    For necessary expenses to carry out the commodity 
supplemental food program as authorized by section 4(a) of the 
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c 
note) and the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, 
$131,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2000: 
Provided, That none of these funds shall be available to 
reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities 
donated to the program.


              food donations programs for selected groups


    For necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of the 
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c 
note), and section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3030a), $141,081,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 2000.

                      food program administration

    For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic food 
programs funded under this Act, $108,561,000, of which 
$5,000,000 shall be available only for simplifying procedures, 
reducing overhead costs, tightening regulations, improving food 
stamp coupon handling, and assistance in the prevention, 
identification, and prosecution of fraud and other violations 
of law and of which $2,000,000 shall be available for 
obligation only after promulgation of a final rule to curb 
vendor related fraud: Provided, That this appropriation shall 
be available for employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225), and 
not to exceed $150,000 shall be available for employment under 
5 U.S.C. 3109.

                                TITLE V

                FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

         Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, 
including carrying out title VI of the Agricultural Act of 1954 
(7 U.S.C. 1761-1768), market development activities abroad, and 
for enabling the Secretary to coordinate and integrate 
activities of the Department in connection with foreign 
agricultural work, including not to exceed $128,000 for 
representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 
8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1766), 
$136,203,000: Provided, That the Service may utilize advances 
of funds, or reimburse this appropriation for expenditures made 
on behalf of Federal agencies, public and private organizations 
and institutions under agreements executed pursuant to the 
agricultural food production assistance programs (7 U.S.C. 
1736) and the foreign assistance programs of the International 
Development Cooperation Administration (22 U.S.C. 2392).
    None of the funds in the foregoing paragraph shall be 
available to promote the sale or export of tobacco or tobacco 
products.


               public law 480 program and grant accounts


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise 
recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including 
interest thereon, under the Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691, 1701-1704, 1721-1726a, 
1727-1727e, 1731-1736g-3, and 1737), as follows: (1) 
$203,475,000 for Public Law 480 title I credit, including Food 
for Progress programs; (2) $16,249,000 is hereby appropriated 
for ocean freight differential costs for the shipment of 
agricultural commodities pursuant to title I of said Act and 
the Food for Progress Act of 1985; (3) $837,000,000 is hereby 
appropriated for commodities supplied in connection with 
dispositions abroad pursuant to title II of said Act; and (4) 
$25,000,000 is hereby appropriated for commodities supplied in 
connection with dispositions abroad pursuant totitle III of 
said Act: Provided, That not to exceed 15 percent of the funds made 
available to carry out any title of said Act may be used to carry out 
any other title of said Act: Provided further, That such sums shall 
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b).
    For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct credit agreements 
as authorized by the Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistance Act of 1954, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, 
including the cost of modifying credit agreements under said 
Act, $176,596,000.
    In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
Public Law 480 title I credit program, and the Food for 
Progress Act of 1985, to the extent funds appropriated for 
Public Law 480 are utilized, $1,850,000, of which $1,035,000 
may be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for 
``Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager'' and 
$815,000 may be transferred to and merged with the 
appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and 
Expenses''.


       commodity credit corporation export loans program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity 
Credit Corporation's export guarantee program, GSM 102 and GSM 
103, $3,820,000; to cover common overhead expenses as permitted 
by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act 
and in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, 
of which $3,231,000 may be transferred to and merged with the 
appropriation for ``Foreign Agricultural Service and General 
Sales Manager'' and $589,000 may be transferred to and merged 
with the appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and 
Expenses''.

                                TITLE VI

           RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration


                         salaries and expenses


    For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration, 
including hire and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for 
payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public 
Law 92-313 for programs and activities of the Food and Drug 
Administration which are included in this Act; for rental of 
special purpose space in the District of Columbia or elsewhere; 
and for miscellaneous and emergency expenses of enforcement 
activities, authorized and approved by the Secretary and to be 
accounted for solely on the Secretary's certificate, not to 
exceed $25,000; $1,098,140,000, of which not to exceed 
$132,273,000 in fees pursuant to section 736 of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this 
appropriation and remain available until expended: Provided, 
That fees derived from applications received during fiscal year 
1999 shall be subject to the fiscal year 1999 limitation: 
Provided further, That none of these funds shall be used to 
develop, establish, or operate any program of user fees 
authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701: Provided further, That of the 
total amount appropriated: (1) $226,580,000 shall be for the 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and related field 
activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs, of which, and 
notwithstanding section 409(h)(5)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, 
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), an amount of $500,000 
shall be made available for the development of systems, 
regulations, and pilot programs, if any, that would be required 
to permit full implementation, consistent with section 
409(h)(5) of that Act, in fiscal year 2000 of the food contact 
substance notification program under section 409(h) of such 
Act; (2) $291,981,000 shall be for the Center for Drug 
Evaluation and Research and related field activities in the 
Office of Regulatory Affairs; (3) $125,095,000 shall be for the 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and for related 
field activities in theOffice of Regulatory Affairs; (4) 
$41,973,000 shall be for the Center for Veterinary Medicine and for 
related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs; (5) 
$145,736,000 shall be for the Center for Devices and Radiological 
Health and for related field activities in the Office of Regulatory 
Affairs; (6) $31,579,000 shall be for the National Center for 
Toxicological Research; (7) $34,000,000 shall be for the Office of 
Tobacco; (8) $25,855,000 shall be for Rent and Related activities, 
other than the amounts paid to the General Services Administration; (9) 
$88,294,000 shall be for payments to the General Services 
Administration for rent and related costs; and (10) $87,047,000 shall 
be for other activities, including the Office of the Commissioner, the 
Office of Policy, the Office of External Affairs, the Office of 
Operations, the Office of Management and Systems, and central services 
for these offices.
    In addition, fees pursuant to section 354 of the Public 
Health Service Act may be credited to this account, to remain 
available until expended.
    In addition, fees pursuant to section 801 of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act may be credited to this account, 
to remain available until expended.


                        buildings and facilities


    For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, 
alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of or 
used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise 
provided, $11,350,000, to remain available until expended (7 
U.S.C. 2209b).

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

                      Financial Management Service


  payments to the farm credit system financial assistance corporation


    For necessary payments to the Farm Credit System Financial 
Assistance Corporation by the Secretary of the Treasury, as 
authorized by section 6.28(c) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, 
for reimbursement of interest expenses incurred by the 
Financial Assistance Corporation on obligations issued through 
1994, as authorized, $2,565,000.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the 
Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), including the 
purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; the rental of 
space (to include multiple year leases) in the District of 
Columbia and elsewhere; and not to exceed $25,000 for 
employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, $61,000,000, including not to 
exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation 
expenses: Provided, That the Commission is authorized to charge 
reasonable fees toattendees of Commission sponsored educational 
events and symposia to cover the Commission's costs of providing those 
events and symposia, and notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, said fees 
shall be credited to this account, to be available without further 
appropriation.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 limitation of administrative expenses


    Not to exceed $35,800,000 (from assessments collected from 
farm credit institutions and from the Federal Agricultural 
Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated during the current 
fiscal year for administrative expenses as authorized under 12 
U.S.C. 2249: Provided, That this limitation shall not apply to 
expenses associated with receiverships.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Sec. 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law, 
appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of 
Agriculture for the fiscal year 1999 under this Act shall be 
available for the purchase, in addition to those specifically 
provided for, of not to exceed 440 passenger motor vehicles, of 
which 437 shall be for replacement only, and for the hire of 
such vehicles.
    Sec. 702. Funds in this Act available to the Department of 
Agriculture shall be available for uniforms or allowances 
therefor as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902).
    Sec. 703. Not less than $1,500,000 of the appropriations of 
the Department of Agriculture in this Act for research and 
service work authorized by the Acts of August 14, 1946, and 
July 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C. 427 and 1621-1629), and by chapter 63 
of title 31, United States Code, shall be available for 
contracting in accordance with said Acts and chapter.
    Sec. 704. The cumulative total of transfers to the Working 
Capital Fund for the purpose of accumulating growth capital for 
data services and National Finance Center operations shall not 
exceed $2,000,000: Provided, That no funds in this Act 
appropriated to an agency of the Department shall be 
transferred to the Working Capital Fund without the approval of 
the agency administrator.
    Sec. 705. New obligational authority provided for the 
following appropriation items in this Act shall remain 
available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service, the contingency fund to meet 
emergency conditions, fruit fly program, integrated systems 
acquisition project, and up to $2,000,000 for costs associated 
with collocating regional offices; Farm Service Agency, 
salaries and expenses funds made available to county 
committees; and Foreign Agricultural Service, middle-income 
country training program.
    New obligational authority for the boll weevil program; up 
to 10 percent of the screwworm program of the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service; Food Safety and Inspection Service, 
field automation and information management project; funds 
appropriated for rental payments; funds for the Native American 
Institutions Endowment Fund in the Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service; and funds for the competitive 
research grants (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), shall remain available 
until expended.
    Sec. 706. No part of any appropriation contained in this 
Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
    Sec. 707. Not to exceed $50,000 of the appropriations 
available to the Department of Agriculture in this Act shall be 
available to provide appropriate orientation and language 
training pursuant to Public Law 94-449.
    Sec. 708. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to 
pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements or 
similar arrangements between the United States Department of 
Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 percent 
of the total direct cost of the agreement when the purpose of 
such cooperative arrangements is to carry out programs of 
mutual interest between the two parties. This does not preclude 
appropriate payment of indirect costs on grants and contracts 
with such institutions when such indirect costs are computed on 
a similar basis for all agencies for which appropriations are 
provided in this Act.
    Sec. 709. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
commodities acquired by the Department in connection with 
Commodity Credit Corporation and section 32 price support 
operations may be used, as authorized by law (15 U.S.C. 714c 
and 7 U.S.C. 612c), to provide commodities to individuals in 
cases of hardship as determined by the Secretary of 
Agriculture.
    Sec. 710. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
to restrict the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
to lease space for its own use or to lease space on behalf of 
other agencies of the Department of Agriculture when such space 
will be jointly occupied.
    Sec. 711. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
to pay indirect costs on research grants awarded competitively 
by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service that exceed 14 percent of total Federal funds provided 
under each award: Provided, That notwithstanding section 1462 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7U.S.C. 3310), funds provided by this Act 
for grants awarded competitively by the Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service shall be available to pay full 
allowable indirect costs for each grant awarded under the Small 
Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, Public Law 97-219 (15 
U.S.C. 638).
    Sec. 712. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, 
all loan levels provided in this Act shall be considered 
estimates, not limitations.
    Sec. 713. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture 
for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in 
fiscal year 1999 shall remain available until expended to cover 
obligations made in fiscal year 1999 for the following 
accounts: the rural development loan fund program account; the 
Rural Telephone Bank program account; the rural electrification 
and telecommunications loans program account; and the rural 
economic development loans program account.
    Sec. 714. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
1999 pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be 
absorbed within the levels appropriated by this Act.
    Sec. 715. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative 
Agreement Act, marketing services of the Agricultural Marketing 
Service; Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration; and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service may use cooperative agreements to reflect a 
relationship between the Agricultural Marketing Service, the 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration or the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and a State or 
Cooperator to carry out agricultural marketing programs or to 
carry out programs to protect the Nation's animal and plant 
resources.
    Sec. 716. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative 
Agreement Act, the Natural Resources Conservation Service may 
enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with a 
State agency or subdivision, or a public or private 
organization, for the acquisition of goods or services, 
including personal services, to carry out natural resources 
conservation activities: Provided, That Commodity Credit 
Corporation funds obligated for such purposes shall not exceed 
the level obligated by the Commodity Credit Corporation for 
such purposes in fiscal year 1998.
    Sec. 717. None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
retire more than 5 percent of the Class A stock of the Rural 
Telephone Bank or to maintain any account or subaccount within 
the accounting records of the Rural Telephone Bank the creation 
of which has not specifically been authorized by statute: 
Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this 
Act may be used to transfer to the Treasury or to the Federal 
Financing Bank any unobligated balance of the Rural Telephone 
Bank telephone liquidating account which is in excess of 
current requirements and such balance shall receive interest as 
set forth for financial accounts in section 505(c) of the 
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
    Sec. 718. Hereafter, none of the funds made available in 
this Act may be used to provide assistance to, or to pay the 
salaries of personnel to carry out a market promotion/market 
access program pursuant to section 203 of the Agricultural 
Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) that provides assistance to 
the United States Mink Export Development Council or any mink 
industry trade association.
    Sec. 719. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more 
than $1,800,000 shall be used to cover necessary expenses of 
activities related to all advisory committees, panels, 
commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agriculture, 
except for panels used to comply with negotiated rule makings 
and panels used to evaluate competitively awarded grants: 
Provided, That interagency funding is authorized to carry out 
the purposes of the National Drought Policy Commission.
    Sec. 720. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be 
used to carry out the provisions of section 918of Public Law 
104-127, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act.
    Sec. 721. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may 
be detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by this 
Act to any other agency or office of the Department for more 
than 30 days unless the individual's employing agency or office 
is fully reimbursed by the receiving agency or office for the 
salary and expenses of the employee for the period of 
assignment.
    Sec. 722. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available to the Department of Agriculture shall be used to 
transmit or otherwise make available to any non-Department of 
Agriculture employee questions or responses to questions that 
are a result of information requested for the appropriations 
hearing process.
    Sec. 723. None of the funds made available to the 
Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire 
new information technology systems or significant upgrades, as 
determined by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the 
concurrence of the Executive Information Technology Investment 
Review Board: Provided, That notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act may be transferred to the Office of 
the Chief Information Officer without the prior approval of the 
Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 724. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, or 
provided by previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded 
by this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure 
in fiscal year 1999, or provided from any accounts in the 
Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of fees 
available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be 
available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming 
of funds which: (1) creates new programs; (2) eliminates a 
program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel 
by any means for any project or activity for which funds have 
been denied or restricted; (4) relocates an office or 
employees; (5) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities; or 
(6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities 
presently performed by Federal employees; unless the Committee 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are notified 
fifteen days in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
    (b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by 
previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act 
that remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal 
year 1999, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury of the 
United States derived bythe collection of fees available to the 
agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for obligation or 
expenditure for activities, programs, or projects through a 
reprogramming of funds in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever 
is less, that: (1) augments existing programs, projects, or activities; 
(2) reduces by 10 percent funding for any existing program, project, or 
activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent as approved by 
Congress; or (3) results from any general savings from a reduction in 
personnel which would result in a change in existing programs, 
activities, or projects as approved by Congress; unless the Committee 
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress are notified fifteen days 
in advance of such reprogramming of funds.
    Sec. 725. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act or any other Act may be used to pay the 
salaries and expenses of personnel to carry out section 793 of 
Public Law 104-127, with the exception of funds made available 
under that section on January 1, 1997.
    Sec. 726. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and 
expenses of personnel who carry out an environmental quality 
incentives program authorized by sections 334-341 of Public Law 
104-127 in excess of $174,000,000.
    Sec. 727. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
available to the Department of Agriculture may be used to 
administer the provision of contract payments to a producer 
under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et 
seq.) for contract acreage on which wild rice is planted unless 
the contract payment is reduced by an acre for each contract 
acre planted to wild rice.
    Sec. 728. The Federal facility located in Stuttgart, 
Arkansas, and known as the ``United States National Rice 
Germplasm Evaluation and Enhancement Center'', shall be known 
and designated as the ``Dale Bumpers National Rice Research 
Center'': Provided, That any reference in law, map, regulation, 
document, paper, or other record of the United States to such 
federal facility shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
``Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center''.
    Sec. 729. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, subject to the reprogramming 
requirements established by this Act, may transfer up to 
$26,000,000 in discretionary funds made available by this Act 
among programs of the Department, not otherwise appropriated 
for a specific purpose or a specific location, for distribution 
to or for the benefit of the Lower Mississippi Delta Region, as 
defined in Public Law 100-460, prior to normal state or 
regional allocation of funds: Provided, That any funds made 
available through Chapter Four of Subtitle D of Title XII of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) may be 
included in any amount reprogrammed under this section if such 
funds are used for a purpose authorized by such Chapter: 
Provided further, That any funds made available from ongoing 
programs of the Department of Agriculture used for the benefit 
of the Lower Mississippi Delta Region shall be counted toward 
the level cited in this section.
    Sec. 730. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and 
expenses of personnel to enroll in excess of 120,000 acres in 
the fiscal year 1999 wetlands reserve program as authorized by 
16 U.S.C. 3837.
    Sec. 731. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and 
expenses of personnel to carry out the emergency food 
assistance program authorized by section 27(a) of the Food 
Stamp Act if such program exceeds $90,000,000.
    Sec. 732. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to pay thesalaries and 
expenses of personnel to carry out the provisions of section 401 of 
Public Law 105-185.
    Sec. 733. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
City of Big Spring, Texas shall be eligible to participate in 
rural housing programs administered by the Rural Housing 
Service.
    Sec. 734. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Municipality of Carolina, Puerto Rico shall be eligible for 
grants and loans administered by the Rural Utilities Service.
    Sec. 735. Notwithstanding section 381A of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009), the definitions 
of rural areas for certain business programs administered by 
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service and the community 
facilities programs administered by the Rural Housing Service 
shall be those provided for in statute and regulations prior to 
the enactment of Public Law 104-127.
    Sec. 736. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to carry out any commodity 
purchase program that would prohibit eligibility or 
participation by farmer-owned cooperatives.
    Sec. 737. Section 512(d)(4)(D)(iii) of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(d)(4)(D)(iii)) is 
amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, 
except that for purposes of this clause, antibacterial 
ingredient or animal drug does not include the ionophore or 
arsenical classes of animal drugs''.
    Sec. 738. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available to the Secretary by this Act, any other Act, or 
any other source may be used to issue the final rule to 
implement the amendments to Federal milk marketing orders 
required by subsection (a)(1) of section 143 of the 
Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7253), other than 
during the period of February 1, 1999, through April 4, 1999, 
and only if the actual implementation of the amendments as part 
of Federal milk marketing orders takes effect on October 1, 
1999, notwithstanding the penalties that would otherwise be 
imposed under subsection (c) of such section.
    (b) None of such funds may be used to designate the State 
of California as a separate Federal milk marketing order under 
subsection (a)(2) of such section, other than during the period 
beginning on the date of the issuance of the final rule 
referred to in subsection (a) through September 30, 1999.
    (c) For purposes of this section, a rule shall be 
considered to be a final rule when the rule is submitted to 
Congress as required by chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, to permit congressional review of agency rulemaking and 
before the Secretary of Agriculture conducts the producer 
referendum required under section 8c(19) of the Agricultural 
Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(19)), reenacted with amendments 
by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
    Sec. 739. Whenever the Secretary of Agriculture announces 
the basic formula price for milk for purposes of Federal milk 
marketing orders issued under section 8c of the Agricultural 
Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c), reenacted with amendments by 
the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, the Secretary 
shall include in the announcement an estimate, stated on a per 
hundredweight basis, of the costs incurred by milk producers, 
including transportation and marketing costs, to produce milk 
in the different regions of the United States.
    Sec. 740. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to pay the salaries and 
expenses of personnel to carry out a conservation farm option 
program, as authorized by section 335 of Public Law 104-127.
    Sec. 741. Waiver of Statute of Limitations. (a) To the 
extent permitted by the Constitution, any civil action to 
obtain relief with respect to the discrimination alleged in an 
eligible complaint, if commenced not later than2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, shall not be barred by any 
statute of limitations.
    (b) The complainant may, in lieu of filing a civil action, 
seek a determination on the merits of the eligible complaint by 
the Department of Agriculture if such complaint was filed not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. The 
Department of Agriculture shall--
            (1) provide the complainant an opportunity for a 
        hearing on the record before making that determination; 
        and
            (2) award the complainant such relief as would be 
        afforded under the applicable statute from which the 
        eligible complaint arose notwithstanding any statute of 
        limitations.
    (c) A proposed administrative award or settlement, 
exceeding $75,000 (other than debt relief), of an eligible 
complaint--
            (1) shall not take effect until 90 days after 
        notice of that award or settlement is given to the 
        Attorney General (or the Attorney General's designee); 
        and
            (2) shall not take effect in any event if, during 
        that 90-day period, the Attorney General (or the 
        Attorney General's designee) objects to the award or 
        settlement.
    (d) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), if an eligible 
claim is denied administratively, the claimant shall have at 
least 180 days to commence a cause of action in a Federal court 
of competent jurisdiction seeking a review of such denial.
    (e) The United States Court of Federal Claims and the 
United States District Court shall have exclusive original 
jurisdiction over--
            (1) any cause of action arising out of a complaint 
        with respect to which this section waives the statute 
        of limitations; and
            (2) over any civil action for judicial review of a 
        determination in an administrative proceeding in the 
        Department of Agriculture under this section.
    (f) As used in this section, the term ``eligible 
complaint'' means a non-employment-related complaint that was 
filed with the Department of Agriculture before July 1, 1997 
and alleges discrimination at any time during the period 
beginning on January 1, 1983 and ending December 31, 1996:
            (1) under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 
        U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) in administering a farm ownership, 
        farm operating, or emergency loan fromthe Agricultural 
Credit Insurance Program Account; or
            (2) in the administration of a commodity program or 
        a disaster assistance program.
    (g) This section shall apply in fiscal year 1999 and 
thereafter.
    Sec. 742. In any claim brought under the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973 and filed with the Secretary of Agriculture after 
January 1994 resulting in a finding that a farmer was subjected 
to discrimination under any farm loan program or activity 
conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture in 
violation of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 794), the Secretary of Agriculture shall be liable for 
compensatory damages. Such liability shall apply to any 
administrative action brought before the date of enactment of 
this Act, but only if the action is brought within the 
applicable statute of limitations and the complainant sought or 
seeks compensatory damages while the action is pending.
    Sec. 743. Public Law 102-237, Title X, Section 1013(a) and 
(b) (7 U.S.C. 426 note) is amended by striking ``, to the 
extent practicable,'' in each instance in which it appears.
    Sec. 744. Funds made available for conservation operations 
by this or any other Act, including prior-year balances, shall 
be available for financial assistance and technical assistance 
for Franklin County, Mississippi, in the amounts earmarked in 
appropriations report language.
    Sec. 745. Section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926d) is amended by inserting ``25 
percent in'' in lieu of ``equal'' in subsection (b), and by 
inserting ``$20,000,000'' in lieu of ``$15,000,000'' in 
subsection (d).
    Sec. 746. None of the funds made available to the Food and 
Drug Administration by this Act shall be used to close or 
relocate, or to plan to close or relocate, the Food and Drug 
Administration Division of Drug Analysis in St. Louis, 
Missouri.
    Sec. 747. None of the funds made available by this Act or 
any other Act for any fiscal year may be used to carry out 
section 302(h) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
U.S.C. 1622(h)) unless the Secretary of Agriculture inspects 
and certifies agricultural processing equipment, and imposes a 
fee for the inspection and certification, in a manner that is 
similar to the inspection and certification of agricultural 
products under that section, as determined by the Secretary: 
Provided, That this provision shall not affect the authority of 
the Secretary to carry out the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 451 et seq.), or the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 1031 et seq.).
    Sec. 748. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 
508(b)(5)(A) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 
1508(b)(5)(A)), for the 1999 reinsurance and subsequent 
reinsurance years, no producer shall pay more than $50 per crop 
per county as an administrative fee for catastrophic risk 
protection under section 508(b)(5)(A) of the Act.
    Sec. 749. That notwithstanding section 4703(d)(1) of title 
5, United States Code, the personnel management demonstration 
project established in the Department of Agriculture, as 
described at 55 FR 9062 and amended at 61 FR 9507 and 61 FR 
49178, shall be continued indefinitely and become effective 
upon enactment of this Act.
    Sec. 750. (a) The first sentence of section 509(f)(4)(A) of 
the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1479(f)(4)(A)) is amended by 
striking ``fiscal year 1998'' and inserting ``fiscal year 
2000''.
    (b) Section 515(b)(4) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1485(b)(4)) is amended by striking ``September 30, 1998'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2000''.
    (c) The first sentence of section 515(w)(1) of the Housing 
Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(w)(1)) is amended by striking 
``fiscal year 1998'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2000''.
    (d) Section 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1490p-2) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (t), by striking ``fiscal year 
        1998'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2000''; and
            (2) in subsection (u), by striking ``September 30, 
        1998'' and inserting ``September 30, 2000''.
    (e) Section 538(f) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
1490p-2(f)) is amended by adding after paragraph (5) the 
following new flush sentence:

``The Secretary may not deny a guarantee under this section on 
the basis that the interest on the loan, or on an obligation 
supporting the loan, for which the guarantee is sought is 
exempt from inclusion in gross income for purposes of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
    Sec. 751. Section 1237D(c)(1) of subchapter C of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after 
``perpetual'' the following ``or 30-year''.
    Sec. 752. Section 1237(b)(2) of subchapter C of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 is amended by adding the following:
                    ``(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), to 
                the maximum extent practicable should be 
                interpreted to mean that acceptance of wetlands 
                reserve program bids may be in proportion to 
                landowner interest expressed in program 
                options.''.
    Sec. 753. (a) Section 3(d)(3) of the Forest and Rangeland 
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642(d)(3)) 
(as amended by section 253(b) of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998) is amended by 
striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``At the request of 
the Governor of the State of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, or 
Vermont, the Secretary''.
    (b) Section 7(e)(2) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and 
Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(e)(2)) (as amended by 
section 605(f)(3) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998) is amended by striking 
``$0.0075'' each place it appears and inserting ``$0.01''.
    (c)(1) Section 793(c)(2)(B) of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 2204f(c)(2)(B)) is 
amended--
            (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (B) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the 
        end and inserting ``; or''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(v) a State agricultural 
                        experiment station.''.
    (2) Section 401(d) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7621(d)) is 
amended--
            (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'' at the 
        end;
            (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the 
        end and inserting ``; or''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) a State agricultural experiment station.''.
    (d) Section 3(d) of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 
361c(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``No'' and 
        inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (4), no''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Territories.--In lieu of the matching funds 
        requirement of paragraph (1), the Commonwealth of 
        Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam shall be 
        subject to the same matching funds requirements as 
        those applicable to an eligible institution under 
        section 1449 of the National Agricultural Research, 
        Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
        3222d).''.
    (e) Section 3(e) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(e)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``paragraph (4) 
        and'' after ``provided in''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Territories.--In lieu of the matching funds 
        requirement of paragraph (1), the Commonwealth of 
        Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam shall be 
        subject to the same matching funds requirements as 
        those applicable to an eligible institution under 
        section 1449 of the National Agricultural Research, 
        Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
        3222d).''.
    (f) The amendments made by this section shall take effect 
on the date of enactment of the Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998.
    Sec. 754. None of the funds appropriated by this Act or any 
other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of 
personnel who prepare or submit appropriations language as part 
of the President's Budget submission to the Congress of the 
United States for programs under the jurisdiction of the 
Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, 
and Related Agencies that assumes revenues or reflects a 
reduction from the previous year due to user fees proposals 
that have not been enacted into law prior to the submission of 
the Budget unless such Budget submission identifies which 
additional spending reductions should occur in the event the 
users fees proposals are not enacted prior to the date of the 
convening of a committee of conference for the fiscal year 2000 
appropriations Act.
    Sec. 755. (a) Section 203(h) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: ``Shell eggs packed under the voluntary grading 
program of the Department of Agriculture shall not have been 
shipped for sale previous to being packed under the program, as 
determined under a regulation promulgated by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, shall submit a joint status report 
to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate that describes actions taken by 
the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services--
            (1) to enhance the safety of shell eggs and egg 
        products;
            (2) to prohibit the grading, under the voluntary 
        grading program of the Department of Agriculture, of 
        shell eggs previously shipped for sale; and
            (3) to assess the feasibility and desirability of 
        applying to all shell eggs the prohibition on 
        repackaging to enhance food safety, consumer 
        information, and consumer awareness.
    Sec. 756. Expenses for computer-related activities of the 
Department of Agriculture funded through the Commodity Credit 
Corporation pursuant to section 161(b)(1)(A) of Public Law 104-
127 in fiscal year 1999 shall not exceed $65,000,000: Provided, 
That section 4(g) of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter 
Act is amended by striking $193,000,000 and inserting 
$188,000,000.
    Sec. 757. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture may use funds 
for tree assistance made available under Public Law 105-174, to 
carry out a tree assistance program to owners of trees that 
were lost or destroyed as a result of a disaster or emergency 
that was declared by the President or the Secretary of 
Agriculture during the period beginning May 1, 1998, and ending 
August 1, 1998, regardless of whether the damage resulted in 
loss or destruction after August 1, 1998.
    (b) Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary shall carry 
out the program, to the maximum extent practicable, in 
accordance with the terms and conditions of the tree assistance 
program established under part 783 of title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    (c) A person shall be presumed eligible for assistance 
under the program if the person demonstrates to the Secretary 
that trees owned by the person were lost or destroyed by May 
31, 1999, as a direct result of fire blight infestation that 
was caused by a disaster or emergency described in subsection 
(a).
    Sec. 758. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to establish an Office of 
Community Food Security or any similar office within the United 
States Department of Agriculture without the prior approval of 
the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
    Sec. 759. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
city of Vineland, New Jersey, shall be eligible for programs 
administered by the Rural Housing Service and the Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service.
    Sec. 760. (a)(1) For purposes of this section, the term 
``Commission'' means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
    (2) For purposes of this section, the term ``qualifying 
hybrid instrument or swap agreement'' means a hybrid instrument 
or swap agreement that--
            (A) was entered into before the start of the 
        restraint period or is entered into during the 
        restraint period; and
            (B) is exempt under part 34 or part 35 of title 17, 
        Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 
        1998), qualifies for the safe harbor contained in the 
        Policy Statement of the Commission regarding swap 
        agreements published in the Federal Register on July 
        21, 1989 (54 Fed. Reg. 30694), or qualifies for the 
        exclusion set forth in the Statutory Interpretation of 
        the Commission concerning certain hybrid instruments 
        published in the Federal Register on April 11, 1990 (55 
        Fed. Reg. 13582).
    (3) For purposes of this section, the term ``restraint 
period'' means the period--
            (A) beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act; and
            (B) ending on March 30, 1999, or the first date on 
        which legislation is enacted that authorizes 
        appropriations for the Commission for a fiscal year 
        after fiscal year 2000, whichever occurs first.
    (b) During the restraint period, the Commission may not 
propose or issue any rule or regulation, or issue any 
interpretation or policy statement, that restricts or regulates 
activity in a qualifying hybrid instrument or swap agreement.
    (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), during the restraint 
period, the Commission may--
            (1) act on a petition for exemptive relief under 
        section 4(c) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 
        6(c));
            (2) enter such cease and desist orders and take 
        such enforcement action, including the imposition of 
        sanctions, as the Commission considers necessary to 
        enforce any provision of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 
        U.S.C. 1 et seq.) or title 17, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, in connection with a qualifying hybrid 
        instrument or swap agreement, to the extent such 
        provision is otherwise applicable to that qualifying 
        hybrid instrument or swap agreement or a transaction 
        involving that qualifying hybrid instrument or swap 
        agreement;
            (3) take such action as the Commission considers 
        appropriate with regard to agricultural trade options; 
        and
            (4) take such action as the Commission considers 
        appropriate to respond to a market emergency.
    (d)(1) The legal status of contracts involving a qualifying 
hybrid instrument or swap agreement shall not differ from the 
legal status afforded such contracts during the period--
            (A) beginning on--
                    (i) in the case of swap agreements, July 
                21, 1989, which was the date on which the 
                Commission adopted a Policy Statement regarding 
                swap agreements (54 Fed. Reg. 30694); and
                    (ii) in the case of hybrid instruments, 
                April 11, 1990, which was the date that the 
                Statutory Interpretation of the Commission 
                concerning hybrid instruments was published in 
                the Federal Register; and
            (B) ending on January 1, 1998.
    (2) Neither the comment letter of the Commission submitted 
on February 26, 1998, to the Securities and Exchange Commission 
regarding the proposal known as ``Broker-Dealer Lite'', nor the 
Concept Release of the Commission regarding over-the-counter 
derivatives published in the Federal Register on May 12, 1998 
(63 Fed. Reg. 26114), shall alter or affect the legal status of 
a qualifying hybrid instrument or swap agreement under the 
Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.).
    (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as 
reflecting or implying a determination that a qualifying hybrid 
instrument or swap agreement, or a transaction involving a 
qualifying hybrid instrument or swap agreement, is subject to 
the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.).
    Sec. 761. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this or any other Act may be used to carry out 
provisions of section 612 of Public Law 105-185.
    Sec. 762. Section 136 of the Agricultural Market Transition 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7236) is amended by striking ``1.25 cents'' each 
place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ``3 
cents''.
    Sec. 763. In implementing section 1124 of subtitle C of 
title XI of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall:
    (a) provide $18,000,000 to the states for distribution of 
emergency aid to individuals with family incomes below the 
federal poverty level who have been adversely affected 
utilizing Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines;
    (b) transfer to the Secretary of Commerce for obligation 
and expenditure (1) $15,000,000 for programs pursuant to title 
IX of Public Law 91-304, as amended, of which six percent may 
be available for administrative costs; (2) $5,000,000 for the 
Trade Adjustment Assistance program as provided by the Trade 
Act of 1974, as amended; and (3) $7,000,000 for disaster 
research and prevention pursuant to section 402(d) of Public 
Law 94-265; and
    (c) transfer to the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration for obligation and expenditure, $5,000,000 for 
the cost of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) of the 
Small Business Act, as amended, for eligible small businesses.
    Sec. 764. (a) Section 604 of the Clean Air Act is amended 
by inserting at the end the following:
    ``(h) Methyl Bromide.--Notwithstanding subsection (d) and 
section 604(b), the Administrator shall not terminate 
production of methyl bromide prior to January 1, 2005. The 
Administrator shall promulgate rules for reductions in, and 
terminate the production, importation, and consumption of, 
methyl bromide under a schedule that is in accordance with, but 
not more stringent than, the phaseout schedule of the Montreal 
Protocol Treaty as in effect on the date of the enactment of 
this subsection.''.
    (b) Section 604(d) of the Clean Air Act is amended by 
inserting at the end the following:
            ``(5) Sanitation and food protection.--To the 
        extent consistent with the Montreal Protocol's 
        quarantine and preshipment provisions, the 
        Administrator shall exempt the production, importation, 
        and consumption of methyl bromide to fumigate 
        commodities entering or leaving the United States or 
        any State (or political subdivision thereof) for 
        purposes of compliance with Animal and Plant Health 
        Inspection Service requirements or with any 
        international, Federal, State, or local sanitation or 
        food protection standard.
            ``(6) Critical uses.--To the extent consistent with 
        the Montreal Protocol, the Administrator and the 
        Secretary of Agriculture, after notice and opportunity 
        for public comment, may exempt the production, 
        importation, and consumption of methyl bromide for 
        critical uses.''.
    (c) Section 604(e) of the Clean Air Act is amended by 
inserting at the end the following:
            ``(3) Methyl bromide.--Notwithstanding the phaseout 
        and termination of production of methyl bromide 
        pursuant to section 604(h), the Administrator may, 
        consistent with the Montreal Protocol, authorize the 
        production of limited quantities of methyl bromide, 
        solely for use in developing countries that are Parties 
        to the Copenhagen Amendments to the Montreal 
        Protocol.''.

                    TITLE VIII--AGRICULTURAL CREDIT

    Sec. 801. Section 373 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008h) is amended by striking 
subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Prohibition of Loans for Borrowers That Have Received 
Debt Forgiveness.--
            ``(1) Prohibitions.--Except as provided in 
        paragraph (2)--
                    ``(A) the Secretary may not make a loan 
                under this title to a borrower that has 
                received debt forgiveness on a loan made or 
                guaranteed under this title; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary may not guarantee a 
                loan under this title to a borrower that has 
                received--
                            ``(i) debt forgiveness after April 
                        4, 1996, on a loan made or guaranteed 
                        under this title; or
                            ``(ii) received debt forgiveness on 
                        no more than 3 occasions on or before 
                        April 4, 1996.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may make a 
                direct or guaranteed farm operating loan for 
                paying annual farm or ranch operating expenses 
                of a borrower who--
                            (i) was restructured with a write-
                        down under section 353; or
                            (ii) is current on payments under a 
                        confirmed reorganization plan under 
                        chapters 11, 12, or 13 of Title II of 
                        the United States Code.
                    ``(B) Emergency loans.--The Secretary may 
                make an emergency loan under section 321 to a 
                borrower that--
                            ``(i) on or before April 4, 1996, 
                        received not more than 1 debt 
                        forgiveness on a loan made or 
                        guaranteed under this title; and
                            ``(ii) after April 4, 1996, has not 
                        received debt forgiveness on a loan 
                        made or guaranteed under this title.''.
    Sec. 802. Section 324(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1964(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(d) All loans'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(d) Repayment.--
            ``(1) In general.-- All loans''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) No basis for denial of loan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary shall not deny a loan under 
                this subtitle to a borrower by reason of the 
                fact that the borrower lacks a particular 
                amount of collateral for the loan if the 
                Secretary is reasonably certain that the 
                borrower will be able to repay the loan.
                    ``(B) Refusal to pledge available 
                collateral.--The Secretary may deny or cancel a 
                loan under this subtitle if a borrower refuses 
                to pledge available collateral on request by 
                the Secretary.''.
    Sec. 803. (a) Section 508(n) of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(n)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``If'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in 
                paragraph (2), if''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not 
                apply to emergency loans under subtitle C of 
                the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
                (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.).''.
    (b) Section 196(i)(3) of the Agricultural Market Transition 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7333(i)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``If'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), if''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                ``(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not 
                apply to emergency loans under subtitle C of 
                the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
                (7 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.).''.
    Sec. 804. Section 302 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(D) Notice.--Beginning with fiscal year 2000 not 
        later than 12 months before a borrower will become 
        ineligible for direct loans under this subtitle by 
        reason of this paragraph, the Secretary shall notify 
        the borrower of such impending ineligibility.''.
    Sec. 805. The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 302(a)(2) (7 U.S.C. 1922(a)(2)), by 
        inserting ``for direct loans only,'' before ``have 
        either'';
            (2) in section 311(a)(2) (7 U.S.C. 1941(a)(2)), by 
        inserting ``for direct loans only,'' before ``have 
        either''; and
            (3) in section 359 (7 U.S.C. 2006a)--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``and 
                guaranteed''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``or 
                guaranteed'' each place it appears.
    Sec. 806. (a) Section 305 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Sec. 305. The Secretary'' and 
        inserting the following:

``SEC. 305. LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF FARM OWNERSHIP LOANS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary'';
    (2) by striking ``$300,000" and inserting ``$700,000 
(increased, beginning with fiscal year 2000, by the inflation 
percentage applicable to the fiscal year in which the loan is 
guaranteed and reduced by the amount of any unpaid indebtedness 
of the borrower on loans under subtitle B that are guaranteed 
by the Secretary)'';
    (3) by striking ``In determining'' and inserting the 
following:
    ``(b) Determination of Value.--In determining''; and
    (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Inflation Percentage.--For purposes of this section, 
the inflation percentage applicable to a fiscal year is the 
percentage (if any) by which--
            ``(1) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as 
        defined in section 1(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code 
        of 1986) for the 12-month period ending on August 31 of 
        the immediately preceding fiscal year; exceeds
            ``(2) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as 
        so defined) for the 12-month period ending on August 
        31, 1996.''.
    (b) Section 313 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Sec. 313. The Secretary'' and 
        inserting the following:

``SEC. 313. LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF OPERATING LOANS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary'';
            (2) by striking ``this subtitle (1) that would 
        cause'' and inserting ``this subtitle--
                    ``(1) that would cause'';
            (3) by striking ``$400,000; or (2) for the 
        purchasing'' and inserting ``$700,000 (increased, 
        beginning with fiscal year 2000, by the inflation 
        percentage applicable to the fiscal year in which the 
        loan is guaranteed and reduced by the unpaid 
        indebtedness of the borrower on loans under the 
        sections specified in section 305 that are guaranteed 
        by the Secretary); or
                    ``(2) for the purchasing''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Inflation Percentage.--For purposes of this section, 
the inflation percentage applicable to a fiscal year is the 
percentage (if any) by which--
            ``(1) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as 
        defined in section 1(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code 
        of 1986) for the 12-month period ending on August 31 of 
        the immediately preceding fiscal year; exceeds
            ``(2) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as 
        so defined) for the 12-month period ending on August 
        31, 1996.''.
    Sec. 807. Section 353(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2001(e)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(6) Notice of recapture.--Beginning with fiscal 
        year 2000 not later than 12 months before the end of 
        the term of a shared appreciation arrangement, the 
        Secretary shall notify the borrower involved of the 
        provisions of the arrangement.''.
    Sec. 808. Section 353(c)(3)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2001(c)(3)(C)) is amended by 
striking ``110 percent'' and inserting ``100 percent''.

                  TITLE IX--INDIA-PAKISTAN RELIEF ACT

    Sec. 901. Short Title. This title may be cited as the 
``India-Pakistan Relief Act of 1998''.
    Sec. 902. Waiver Authority. (a) Authority.--The President 
may waive for a period not to exceed one year upon enactment of 
this Act with respect to India or Pakistan the application of 
any sanction or prohibition (or portion thereof) contained in 
section 101 or 102 of the Arms Export Control Act, section 
620E(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, or section 
2(b)(4) of the Export Import Bank Act of 1945.
    (b) Exception.--The authority provided in subsection (a) 
shall not apply to any restriction in section 102(b)(2) (B), 
(C), or (G) of the Arms Export Control Act.
    (c) Availability of Amounts.--Amounts made available by 
this section are designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: 
Provided, That such amounts shall be available only to the 
extent that an official budget request that includes 
designation of the entire amount of the request as an emergency 
requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, is transmitted by the 
President to the Congress.
    Sec. 903. Consultation. Prior to each exercise of the 
authority provided in section 902, the President shall consult 
with the appropriate congressional committees.
    Sec. 904. Reporting Requirement. Not later than 30 days 
prior to the expiration of a one-year period described in 
section 902, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to 
the appropriate congressional committees on economic and 
national security developments in India and Pakistan.
    Sec. 905. Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined. In 
this title, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
Committee on International Relations of the House of 
Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate.

 TITLE X--UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY 
                                PROGRAMS

SEC. 1001. GENERAL.

    Title II of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6901 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 218(a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by adding ``and'' at 
                the end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``; and'' 
                and inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (3);
            (2) by redesignating subtitle I as subtitle J;
            (3) by inserting after subtitle H the following:

            ``Subtitle I--Marketing and Regulatory Programs

``SEC. 285. UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY 
                    PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary is authorized to 
establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of 
Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
    ``(b) Confirmation Required.--If the Secretary establishes 
the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing 
and Regulatory Programs authorized under subsection (a), the 
Under Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate.
    ``(c) Functions of Under Secretary.--
            ``(1) Principal functions.--Upon establishment, the 
        Secretary shall delegate to the Under Secretary of 
        Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs those 
        functions and duties under the jurisdiction of the 
        Department that are related to agricultural marketing, 
        animal and plant health inspection, grain inspection, 
        and packers and stockyards.
            ``(2) Additional functions.--The Under Secretary of 
        Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs shall 
        perform such other functions and duties as may be 
        required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Succession.--Any official who is serving as Assistant 
Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs 
on the date of the enactment of this section and who was 
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, shall not be required to be reappointed under 
subsection (b) to the successor position authorized under 
subsection (a) if the Secretary establishes the position, and 
the official occupies the new position, within 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this section (or such later date set 
by the Secretary if litigation delays rapid succession).
    ``(e) Executive Schedule.--Section 5314 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety (as added by 
section 261(c)) the following:
    `Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and 
Regulatory Programs.'.''; and
            (4) in section 296(b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the 
                period and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) the authority of the Secretary to establish 
        in the Department the position of Under Secretary of 
        Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs under 
        section 285.''.

SEC. 1002. PAY INCREASE PROHIBITED.

    The compensation of any officer or employee of the 
Department of Agriculture on the date of enactment of this Act 
shall not be increased as a result of the enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 1003. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``Assistant Secretaries of Agriculture (3).'' and 
inserting ``Assistant Secretaries of Agriculture (2).''.

             TITLE XI--EMERGENCY AND MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE

Subtitle A--Emergency Assistance for Crop and Livestock Feed Losses Due 
                              to Disasters

SEC. 1101. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) Fair and Equitable Distribution.--Assistance made 
available under this subtitle shall be distributed in a fair 
and equitable manner to producers who have incurred crop and 
livestock feed losses in all affected geographic regions of the 
United States.
    (b) Program Administration.--In carrying out this subtitle, 
the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this title as the 
``Secretary'') may determine--
            (1) 1 or more loss thresholds producers on a farm 
        must incur with respect to a crop to be eligible for 
        assistance;
            (2) the payment rate for crop and livestock feed 
        losses incurred; and
            (3) eligibility and payment limitation criteria (as 
        defined by the Secretary) for persons to receive 
        assistance under this subtitle, which, in the case of 
        assistance received under any section of this subtitle, 
        shall be in addition to--
                    (A) assistance made available under any 
                other section of this subtitle and subtitle B;
                    (B) payments or loans received by a person 
                under the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
                U.S.C. 7201 et seq.);
                    (C) payments received by a person for the 
                1998 crop under the noninsured crop assistance 
                program established under section 196 of that 
                Act (7 U.S.C. 7333);
                    (D) crop insurance indemnities provided for 
                the 1998 crop under the Federal Crop Insurance 
                Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.); and
                    (E) emergency loans made available for the 
                1998 crop under subtitle C of the Consolidated 
                Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961 
                et seq.).

SEC. 1102. CROP LOSS ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer a program 
under which emergency financial assistance is made available to 
producers on a farm who have incurred losses associated with 
crops due to disasters (as determined by the Secretary).
    (b) Losses Incurred for 1998 Crop.--Subject to section 
1132, the Secretary shall use not more than $1,500,000,000 to 
make available assistance to producers on a farm who have 
incurred losses in the 1998 crop due to disasters.
    (c) Multiyear Losses.--Subject to section 1132, the 
Secretary shall use not more than $675,000,000 to make 
available assistance to producers on a farm who have incurred 
multiyear losses (as defined by the Secretary) in the 1998 and 
preceding crops of a commodity due to disasters (including, but 
not limited to, diseases such as scab).
    (d) Relationship Between Assistance.--The Secretary shall 
make assistance available to producers on a farm under either 
subsection (b) or (c).
    (e) Qualifying Losses.--Assistance under this section may 
be made for losses associated with crops that are due to, as 
determined by the Secretary--
            (1) quantity losses;
            (2) quality (including, but not limited to, 
        aflatoxin) losses; or
            (3) severe economic losses due to damaging weather 
        or related condition.
    (f) Crops Covered.--Assistance under this section shall be 
applicable to losses for all crops, as determined by the 
Secretary, due to disasters.
    (g) Crop Insurance.--
            (1) Administration.--In carrying out this section, 
        the Secretary shall not discriminate against or 
        penalize producers on a farm who have purchased crop 
        insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
        U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
            (2) Encouraging future crop insurance 
        participation.--Subject to section 1132, the Secretary, 
        acting through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, 
        may use the funds made available under subsections (b) 
        and (c), and only those funds, to provide premium 
        refunds or other assistance to purchasers of crop 
        insurance for their 1998 insured crops, or their 
        preceding (including 1998) insured crops.
            (3) Producers who have not purchased crop insurance 
        for 1998 crop.--As a condition of receiving assistance 
        under this section, producers on a farm who have not 
        purchased crop insurance for the 1998 crop under that 
        Act shall agree by contract to purchase crop insurance 
        for the subsequent 2 crops produced by the producers.
            (4) Liquidated damages.--
                    (A) In general.--The contract under 
                paragraph (3) shall provide for liquidated 
                damages to be paid by the producers due to the 
                failure of the producers to purchase crop 
                insurance as provided in paragraph (3).
                    (B) Notice of damages.--The amount of the 
                liquidated damages shall be established by the 
                Secretary and specified in the contract agreed 
                to by the producers.
            (5) Funding for crop insurance purchase 
        requirement.--Subject to section 1132, such sums as may 
        be necessary, to remain available until expended, shall 
        be available to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 
        to cover costs incurred by the Corporation as a result 
        of the crop insurance purchase requirement of paragraph 
        (3). Funds made available under subsections (b) and (c) 
        may not be used to cover such costs.

SEC. 1103. EMERGENCY LIVESTOCK FEED ASSISTANCE.

    Subject to section 1132, the Secretary shall use not more 
than $175,000,000 to make available livestock feed assistance 
to livestock producers affected by disasters during calendar 
year 1998.

                   Subtitle B--Market Loss Assistance

SEC. 1111. MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Subject to section 1132, the Secretary 
shall use $1,650,000,000 for assistance to owners and producers 
on a farm who are eligible for final payments for fiscal year 
1998 under a production flexibility contract for the farm under 
the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) 
to partially compensate the owners and producers for the loss 
of markets for the 1998 crop of a commodity.
    (b) Amount.--The amount of assistance made available to 
owners and producers on a farm under this section shall be 
proportional to the amount of the contract payment received by 
the owners and producers for fiscal year 1998 under a 
production flexibility contract for the farm under the 
Agricultural Market Transition Act.
    (c) Time for Payment.--The assistance made available under 
this section for an eligible owner or producer shall be made as 
soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act.

                      Subtitle C--Other Assistance

SEC. 1121. INDEMNITY PAYMENTS FOR COTTON PRODUCERS.

    (a) Federal Contribution.--Subject to subsection (b), the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall pay $5,000,000 to the State of 
Georgia to help fund an indemnity fund, to be established and 
managed by that State, to compensate cotton producers in that 
State for losses incurred in 1998 or 1999 from the loss of 
properly stored, harvested cottonas the result of the 
bankruptcy of a warehouseman or other party in possession of warehouse 
receipts evidencing title to the commodity, an improper conversion or 
transfer of the cotton, or such other potential hazards as determined 
appropriate by the State.
    (b) Conditions on Payment to State.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall make the payment to the State of Georgia 
under subsection (a) only if the State also contributes 
$5,000,000 to the indemnity fund and agrees to expend all 
amounts in the indemnity fund by not later than January 1, 
2000, to provide compensation to cotton producers as provided 
in such subsection. If the State of Georgia fails to make its 
contribution of $5,000,000 to the indemnity fund by July 1, 
1999, the funds that would otherwise be paid to the State shall 
be available to the Secretary for the purpose of providing 
partial compensation to cotton producers as provided in such 
subsection.
    (c) Reporting Requirements.--Upon the establishment of the 
indemnity fund, and not later than October 1, 1999, the State 
of Georgia shall submit a report to the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the Congress describing the State's efforts to 
use the indemnity fund to provide compensation to injured 
cotton producers.

SEC. 1122. HONEY RECOURSE LOANS.

    (a) In General.--In order to assist producers of honey to 
market their honey in an orderly manner during a period of 
disastrously low prices, the Secretary shall make available 
recourse loans to producers of the 1998 crop of honey on fair 
and reasonable terms and conditions, as determined by the 
Secretary.
    (b) Loan Rate.--The loan rate of the loans shall be 85 
percent of the average price of honey during the 5-crop year 
period preceding the 1998 crop year, excluding the crop year in 
which the average price of honey was the highest and the crop 
year in which the average price of honey was the lowest in the 
period.
    (c) No Net Cost Basis.--Repayment of a loan under this 
section shall include repayment for interest and administrative 
costs as necessary to operate the program established under 
this section on a no net cost basis.

SEC. 1123. NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE TO RAISIN PRODUCERS.

    Notwithstanding any of the provisions of section 196 of the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 
U.S.C. 7333) that would exclude the following producers from 
benefits thereunder, the Secretary shall make Noninsured Crop 
Assistance Program payments in fiscal year 1999 to raisin 
producers who obtained catastrophic risk protection but because 
of adverse weather conditions were not able to comply with the 
policy deadlines for laying the raisins in trays.

SEC. 1124. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

    In addition to amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act, $50,000,000 is appropriated to the 
Department of Agriculture, to remain available until expended, 
to provide emergency disaster assistance to persons or entities 
who have incurred losses from a failure under section 312(a) of 
Public Law 94-265.

SEC. 1125. FOOD FOR PROGRESS.

    The Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (f)(3), by inserting after 
        ``$30,000,000'' the following: ``(or, in the case of 
        fiscal year 1999, $35,000,000)'';
            (2) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting after 
        ``$10,000,000'' the following: ``(or, in the case of 
        fiscal year 1999, $12,000,000)'';
            (3) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection 
        (o); and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (m) the 
        following:
    ``(n) During fiscal year 1999, to the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall utilize Private Voluntary 
Organizations to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 1126. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF RECOURSE LOAN AUTHORITY.

    Section 137 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
U.S.C. 7237) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``AND 
        OTHER FIBERS'' before the period at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
        (d); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the 
        following:
    ``(c) Recourse Loans Available for Mohair.--
            ``(1) Recourse loans available.--Notwithstanding 
        any other provision of law, during fiscal year 1999, 
        the Secretary shall make available recourse loans, as 
        determined by the Secretary, to producers of mohair 
        produced during or before that fiscal year.
            ``(2) Loan rate.--The loan rate for a loan under 
        paragraph (1) shall be equal to $2.00 per pound.
            ``(3) Term of loan.--A loan under paragraph (1) 
        shall have a term of 1 year beginning on the first day 
        of the first month after the month in which the loan is 
        made.
            ``(4) Waiver of interest.--Notwithstanding 
        subsection (d), the Secretary shall not charge interest 
        on a loan made under paragraph (1).''.

                       Subtitle D--Administration

SEC. 1131. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.

    Subject to section 1132, the Secretary shall use the funds, 
facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
to carry out subtitles A, B, and C.

SEC. 1132. EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT.

    Notwithstanding the last sentence of section 251(b)(2)(A) 
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
1985, as amended, amounts made available by subtitles A, B, and 
C of this title are designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: 
Provided, That such amounts shall be available only to the 
extent that an official budget request that includes 
designation of the entire amount of the request as an emergency 
requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, is transmitted by the 
President to Congress.

SEC. 1133. REGULATIONS.

    (a) Issuance of Regulations.--As soon as practicable after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the 
Commodity Credit Corporation, as appropriate, shall issue such 
regulations as are necessary to implement subtitles A, B, and 
C. The issuance of the regulations shall be made without regard 
to--
            (1) the notice and comment provisions of section 
        553 of title 5, United States Code;
            (2) the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of 
        Agriculture effective July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 
        13804), relating to notices of proposed rulemaking and 
        public participation in rulemaking; and
            (3) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code 
        (commonly known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
    (b) Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking.--In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary shall use the authority 
provided under section 808 of title 5, United States Code.

                          TITLE XII--BIODIESEL

SEC. 1201. BIODIESEL FUEL USE CREDITS.

    (a) Amendment.--Title III of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
(42 U.S.C. 13211-13219) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 312. BIODIESEL FUEL USE CREDITS.

    ``(a) Allocation of Credits.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall allocate one 
        credit under this section to a fleet or covered person 
        for each qualifying volume of the biodieselcomponent of 
fuel containing at least 20 percent biodiesel by volume purchased after 
the date of the enactment of this section for use by the fleet or 
covered person in vehicles owned or operated by the fleet or covered 
person that weigh more than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--No credits shall be allocated 
        under paragraph (1) for a purchase of biodiesel--
                    ``(A) for use in alternative fueled 
                vehicles; or
                    ``(B) that is required by Federal or State 
                law.
            ``(3) Authority to modify percentage.--The 
        Secretary may, by rule, lower the 20 percent biodiesel 
        volume requirement in paragraph (1) for reasons related 
        to cold start, safety, or vehicle function 
        considerations.
            ``(4) Documentation.--A fleet or covered person 
        seeking a credit under this section shall provide 
        written documentation to the Secretary supporting the 
        allocation of a credit to such fleet or covered person 
        under paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Use of Credits.--
            ``(1) In general.--At the request of a fleet or 
        covered person allocated a credit under subsection (a), 
        the Secretary shall, for the year in which the purchase 
        of a qualifying volume is made, treat that purchase as 
        the acquisition of one alternative fueled vehicle the 
        fleet or covered person is required to acquire under 
        this title, title IV, or title V.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Credits allocated under 
        subsection (a) may not be used to satisfy more than 50 
        percent of the alternative fueled vehicle requirements 
        of a fleet or covered person under this title, title 
        IV, and title V. This paragraph shall not apply to a 
        fleet or covered person that is a biodiesel alternative 
        fuel provider described in section 501(a)(2)(A).
    ``(c) Credit Not a Section 508 Credit.--A credit under this 
section shall not be considered a credit under section 508.
    ``(d) Issuance of Rule.--The Secretary shall, before 
January 1, 1999, issue a rule establishing procedures for the 
implementation of this section.
    ``(e) Collection of Data.--The Secretary shall collect such 
data as are required to make a determination described in 
subsection (f)(2)(B).
    ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) the term `biodiesel' means a diesel fuel 
        substitute produced from nonpetroleum renewable 
        resources that meets the registration requirements for 
        fuels and fuel additives established by the 
        Environmental Protection Agency under section 211 of 
        the Clean Air Act; and
            ``(2) the term `qualifying volume' means--
                    ``(A) 450 gallons; or
                    ``(B) if the Secretary determines by rule 
                that the average annual alternative fuel use in 
                light duty vehicles by fleets and covered 
                persons exceeds 450 gallons or gallon 
                equivalents, the amount of such average annual 
                alternative fuel use.''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents of 
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 is amended by adding at the end 
of the items relating to title III the following new item:

``Sec. 312. Biodiesel fuel use credits.''.

                  TITLE XIII--EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                          Farm Service Agency


                         salaries and expenses


    For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'', 
$40,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 
the entire amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.


           agricultural credit insurance fund program account


    For an additional gross obligation for the principal amount 
of direct and guaranteed farm operating loans as authorized by 
7 U.S.C. 1928-1929, to be available from funds in the 
Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, $540,510,000, of which 
$150,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and 
$156,704,000 shall be for subsidized guaranteed loans.
    For the additional cost of direct and guaranteed farm 
operating loans, including the cost of modifying such loans as 
defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, 
farm operating loans, $31,405,000, of which $15,969,000 shall 
be for direct loans, $13,696,000 for guaranteed subsidized 
loans, and $1,740,000 for unsubsidized guaranteed loans: 
Provided, That the entire amount is designated by the Congress 
as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of 
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, 
as amended.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                      forestry incentives program


    For an additional amount to carry out the program of 
forestry incentives, as authorized by the Cooperative Forestry 
Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101), including technical 
assistance and related expenses, $10,000,000, to remain 
available until expended, as authorized by that Act: Provided, 
That the entire amount is designated by the Congress as an 
emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as 
amended: Provided further, That such amount shall be available 
only to the extent that an official budget request that 
includes designation of the entire amount of the request as an 
emergency requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, is 
transmitted by the President to the Congress.
     This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 1999''.
    And the Senate agree to the Same.
                                   Joe Skeen,
                                   James T. Walsh,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Jack Kingston,
                                   George R. Nethercutt, Jr.,
                                   Henry Bonilla,
                                   Tom Latham,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Marcy Kaptur
                                           (except CFTC derivative 
                                               moratorium),
                                   Vic Fazio,
                                   Jose E. Serrano,
                                   Rosa L. DeLauro,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Kit Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Dale Bumpers
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Tom Harkin
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Patrick J. Leahy
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Barbara Boxer
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Robert C. Byrd
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and Senate at the 
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 4101) making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other purposes, 
submit the following joint statement to the House and Senate in 
explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon by the 
managers and recommended in the accompanying conference report.

                        CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES

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

                         FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE

      Funding for Food Safety is of critical importance to the 
conferees and, accordingly, it has been given high priority. 
The conferees note that many of the activities described under 
the President's Food Safety Initiative have been funded for 
many years. The President's budget request, which assumes the 
collection of user fees that have not been authorized, further 
complicates the process.
      The following table reflects funding increases for 
activities identified under the Food Safety Initiative:

Food and Drug Administration............................     $20,000,000
Food Safety and Inspection Service......................       8,412,000
Office of the Chief Economist...........................          98,000
Economic Research Service...............................         453,000
Food and Nutrition Service..............................       2,000,000
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension 
    Service.............................................      12,135,000
Agricultural Research Service...........................       8,802,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
            Total.......................................     $51,900,000

                     TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary

      The conference agreement provides $2,836,000 for the 
Office of the Secretary as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$2,941,000 as proposed by the House.
      The conference agreement adopts language as proposed by 
the House to prohibit the use of salaries and expenses to carry 
out section 793(d) of Public Law 104-127, a limitation on 
program levels in the Fund for Rural America and section 
793(c)(1)(C) of Public Law 104-127, a limitation on housing 
assistance. The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      The conferees concur with Senate report language 
regarding the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) that says 
that, in implementing the FQPA, decisions should be ``. . . 
based on sound science, and reliable, accurate and widely 
accepted data which reflects the Nation's agricultural 
production, practices, and conditions.''
      The conferees understand the trust responsibility the 
U.S. has toward Indians and Alaska Natives and directs the 
Department of Agriculture to report to the Congress no later 
than February 1, 1999, on the progress made with Indian 
agriculture, Federal inter-agency coordination, and the level 
of Indian usage of Federal programs and initiatives outlined to 
benefit Indian agriculture.
      The conferees have included in the bill a prohibition on 
funding to establish an Office of Community Food Security or 
any similar office without the prior approval of the Committees 
on Appropriations.

                          Executive Operations

                            CHIEF ECONOMIST

      The conference agreement provides $5,620,000 for the 
Chief Economist instead of $5,973,000 as proposed by the House 
and $5,048,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included in this 
amount is $219,000 for agricultural weather activities, 
$255,000 for the World Agricultural Outlook Board, and $98,000 
to support the Food Safety Initiative.

                       NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION

      The conference agreement provides $11,718,000 for the 
National Appeals Division as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$12,204,000 as proposed by the House.

                 Office of Budget and Program Analysis

      The conference agreement provides $6,120,000 for the 
Office of Budget and Program Analysis as proposed by the House 
instead of $5,986,000 as proposed by the Senate.

          Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration

      The conference agreement provides $613,000 for the Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Administration as proposed by 
the Senate instead of $636,000 as proposed by the House.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments

      The conference agreement does not include language as 
proposed by the House limiting the purpose for which funds may 
be transferred to commercial space expansion. The conference 
agreement includes new language that provides flexibility for 
the Secretary to transfer not more than 5 percent of this 
appropriation to or from another agency's appropriation to 
allow for incremental changes in the amount of GSA or 
commercial space and not to finance changes in GSA billing.

                      Departmental Administration

      The conference agreement provides $32,168,000 for 
Departmental Administration as proposed by the House instead of 
$27,034,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                    Office of the Inspector General

      The conference agreement provides $65,128,000 for the 
Office of the Inspector General instead of $67,178,000 as 
proposed by the House and $63,128,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. Included in this amount is $100,000 for confidential 
operational expenses instead of $95,000 as proposed by the 
House and $125,000 as proposed by the Senate.The conference 
agreement includes $2,000,000 for law enforcement and related work 
instead of $1,965,000 as proposed by the House.

                     Office of the General Counsel

      The conference agreement provides $29,194,000 for the 
Office of the General Counsel instead of $30,396,000 as 
proposed by the House and $28,759,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. Included in this amount is $435,000 to provide legal 
support for the Department's civil rights program.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics

      The conference agreement provides $540,000 for the Office 
of the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $560,000 as proposed by the 
House.

                       Economic Research Service

      The conference agreement provides $65,757,000 for the 
Economic Research Service instead of $67,282,000 as proposed by 
the House and $53,109,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included 
in this amount is $12,195,000 for studies and evaluations of 
the child nutrition, WIC, and food stamp programs. Of this 
amount, $2,000,000 is transfered to the Food Program 
Administration account of the Food and Nutrition Service to 
conduct programmatic evaluations and analyses. The conferees 
direct that any welfare reform studies, analyses, or 
evaluations undertaken by the agency shall directly relate to 
USDA programs.
      The conferees expect a study as proposed by the House, as 
part of the nutrition related studies, to assess cost 
containment practices used by states to limit branded products 
sold in the WIC food package other than infant formula. The 
conferees direct that the total cost for this study shall not 
exceed $1,100,000 in fiscal year 1999 nor $1,500,000 over the 
next three years.
      The conference agreement includes $453,000 for estimating 
the benefits of food safety.
      The conferees are aware of a 1996 GAO study on plate 
waste in the school lunch program and expect the USDA to 
develop recommendations for eliminating this problem.
      Two years ago, the U.S. Congress set U.S. farm policy 
through the year 2002. As international trade negotiations move 
into a phase critical to U.S. agriculture, it is essential that 
our negotiators and farmers have accurate and timely 
information. Therefore, in addition to the language in the 
Senate report, the conferees expect commodity situation and 
outlook reports be maintained at the reporting frequency in 
place at the time of enactment of the Food and Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act.
      The conference agreement provides $300,000 for a study by 
the National Academy of Sciences concerning the appropriate 
amounts of fruit, fiber and sugar in the diet of the population 
targeted for benefit by the Special Supplemental Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The study will 
be a compilation and review of existing studies and data, 
including data compiled and materials prepared by the 
Department in developing the Dietary Guidelines and the Healthy 
Eating Index. It will examine, in particular, whether WIC 
program participants would benefit nutritionally if the six 
grams of sugar per ounce of dried cereal limitation in WIC 
program regulations were to be modified so that sugar contained 
in dried fruit in such cereals did not count against this 
limitation. The study will also examine the impact of the above 
modifications to the WIC dried cereal limitation on the dental 
health of WIC participants. A report on this study should be 
transmitted to the appropriate committees of Congress and to 
the Secretary no later than 12 months after the project is 
initiated by the Academy.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

      The conference agreement provides $103,964,000 for the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $105,082,000 as proposed by the House. Of 
this amount up to $23,599,000, is provided for the Census of 
Agriculture including $600,000 for the agriculture economics 
and land ownership survey and the aquaculture statistics census 
as proposed by the Senate instead of up to $23,141,000 as 
proposed by the House.
      The conferees expect the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service to continue to revise the Census of Agriculture to 
eliminate redundancies in questions asked of farmers.

                     Agricultural Research Service

      The conference agreement provides $781,950,000 for the 
Agricultural Research Service instead of $755,816,000 as 
proposed by the House and $768,221,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:
                                                                  Amount
FY 1998 Appropriation...................................    $744,605,000
Transfer:
    Office of Civil Rights..............................         170,000
    Department of State.................................          16,000
        Rescission......................................      ($223,000)
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Adjusted FY 1998 Base...................................     744,568,000
Emerging Diseases and Exotic Pests......................       7,550,000
Plants: Emerging Plant Diseases.........................     (1,450,000)
    Albany, CA..........................................       (250,000)
    Beltsville, MD......................................       (250,000)
    Frederick, MD.......................................       (250,000)
    College Station, TX.................................       (250,000)
    Montpellier, FR.....................................       (250,000)
    Logan, UT...........................................       (200,000)
Fusarium Head Blight (ARS/Consortium of 12 Land Grant 
    Univ................................................     (3,000,000)
Animals: Exotic Infectious Diseases.....................     (3,100,000)
    Athens, GA..........................................       (500,000)
    Ames, IA (NADC).....................................     (1,000,000)
    Beltsville, MD......................................       (500,000)
    Pullman, WA.........................................       (600,000)
    Laramie, WY.........................................       (500,000)
Environmental Quality/Natural Resources.................       2,400,000
    Bioactive Compounds.................................       (250,000)
    Gainesville, FL.....................................       (250,000)
    IPM/Areawide........................................     (1,150,000)
    Beltsville, MD......................................       (250,000)
    Columbia, MO........................................       (400,000)
    Stoneville, MS......................................       (250,000)
    College Station, TX.................................       (250,000)
    Livestock Management Systems........................     (1,000,000)
Everglades Initiative...................................         750,000
    Canal Point, FL.....................................       (250,000)
    Miami, FL...........................................       (250,000)
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL..................................       (250,000)
Food Safety.............................................       8,802,000
    Preharvest..........................................     (4,802,000)
    Athens, GA..........................................       (250,000)
    Ames, IA............................................       (250,000)
    West Lafayette, IN..................................       (250,000)
    Beltsville, MD......................................       (250,000)
    Clay Center, NE.....................................       (600,000)
    College Station, TX.................................       (250,000)
    Postharvest.........................................     (2,000,000)
    Safety/Quality of Fruits/Vegetables.................     (1,000,000)
    Food Safety Engineering, Purdue Univ................     (1,000,000)
Genetic Resources.......................................       2,100,000
    Palmer, AK..........................................       (100,000)
    Columbia, MO........................................       (700,000)
    Leetown, WV.........................................     (1,000,000)
Human Nutrition Initiative..............................       2,250,000
    Little Rock, AR.....................................       (750,000)
    San Francisco, CA...................................       (250,000)
    Boston, MA..........................................       (250,000)
    Beltsville, MD......................................       (250,000)
    Grand Forks, ND.....................................       (250,000)
    Houston, TX.........................................       (500,000)
Pfiesteria..............................................         719,000
Alternative Fish Feed, Aberdeen, ID.....................         250,000
Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV...         250,000
Aquaculture Research, AK................................       1,100,000
Biological Control of Western Weeds, Albany, CA.........         300,000
Biomedical Materials in Plants (C/A with Biotech. 
    Foundation, Inc.....................................         500,000
Cereal Crops Research, Madison WI.......................         250,000
Cotton Ginning, Stoneville, MS..........................         250,000
Endophyte Research (C/A with Univ. of AR, MO and OSU....         200,000
Fish Diseases, Auburn, AL...............................         750,000
Fish Farming Experiment Laboratory, Stuttgart, AR.......         750,000
Floriculture and Nursery Crop Res (USNA, Washington, DC/
    OSU/Cornell and CA Univ)............................       1,000,000
Ft. Pierce, FL (Horticulture............................         500,000
Forage Crops, Woodward, OK..............................         250,000
Garden Unit, USNA, Washington, DC.......................         250,000
Golden Nematode, Ithaca, NY.............................         150,000
Grape Rootstock, Geneva, NY.............................         300,000
Grasshopper Research, AK................................         750,000
Grazinglands Research, El Reno, OK......................         250,000
Honeybee Research (Varroa/Tracheal Mites), Baton Rouge, 
    LA..................................................         300,000
Lettuce Geneticist/Breeding, Salinas, CA................         250,000
Lyme Disease (Tick Control Project, Beltsville, MD......         200,000
Manure Handling and Disposal, Starkville, MS............         500,000
Meadowfoam Research, Peoria, IL.........................         200,000
Mycoplasma Research, Starkville, MS.....................         250,000
National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS...       1,100,000
National Agricultural Library...........................         250,000
Natural Products, Oxford, MS............................         750,000
New England Plant, Soil and Water Lab, Orono, ME........         250,000
Non-Chemical Control of Pecan Insect Pests, Byron, GA...         250,000
Peaceh Varieties Research, Byron, GA....................         150,000
Peanut Quality Research Dawson, GA/Raleigh, NC..........       1,000,000
Pear Thrips, Ithaca, NY.................................         100,000
Potato Breeder Position, Aberdeen, ID...................         150,000
Range Research, Burns, OR...............................         250,000
Rice Research:
    Stuttgart, ARK......................................       1,400,000
    Davis, CA...........................................         250,000
    Beaumont, TX........................................         200,000
Root Diseases of Wheat and Barley, Pullman, WA..........         500,000
Small Fruits Research, Poplarville, MS..................         250,000
Small Fruits Research, Corvallis, OR....................         250,000
Soil Tilth Research, Ames, IA...........................         500,000
Soybean and Corn Research, Stoneville, MS...............         750,000
Subtropical Animal Research Station, Brooksville, FL....         500,000
Subtropical Horticultural Research Station, Miami, FL...         300,000
Sugarbeet Research, Ft. Collins, CO.....................         200,000
U.S. Plant Stress and Water Conserv. Lab, Lubbock, TX...         500,000
Vegetable Research, East Lansing, MI....................         200,000
Wild Rice Research, St. Paul, MN........................         100,000
Wind Erosion Research, Manhattan, KS....................         250,000
    Termination of ongoing projects.....................      -1,419,000
    Children's nutrition study..........................      -5,000,000
    Food safety study...................................        -420,000
    Citrus Tristeza Virus (transfer)....................        -500,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
        Total, ARS......................................     781,950,000

    The conference agreement concurs in the following program 
terminations: global environmental change, CO; and water and 
agrochemical management, LA.
      The conferees understand that ARS and the Institute for 
Technology Development are collaborating to develop promising 
imaging technology to help assure food quality and safety. The 
conferees encourage the continuation of this important research 
and expect ARS to increase its support for this cooperative 
project from the increased funding provided for food safety.
      The conferees are aware of the important research carried 
out by ARS National Animal Disease Center at Ames, Iowa, on 
corn insects and crop genetics, plant introduction, soil tilth, 
and national programs to control and prevent avian and animal 
diseases. The conferees continue funding for these important 
ARS projects in FY 1999 and have provided an additional 
$2,000,000 for ARS research as reflected in the table.
      The amount recommended does not provide funding for 
program and operations supporting the mission of the newly-
constructed swine facility which has been deeded to Iowa State 
University (ISU). In the Department's report to the Committees 
regarding funding options for the facility, the conferees 
understand (1) ISU is presently investing funds in research 
that is related or complementary to the research proposed for 
the new facility, and (2) the swine industry is prepared to 
work toward obtaining other sources of funds to support 
operational costs and the program of research planned for this 
facility. The National Swine Research Center was conveyed to 
ISU in March, 1998, as directed under the Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, P.L. 104-19, 
October 17, 1995. Under this agreement, the conference report 
stated ``that any future costs of operation associated with 
that facility be provided by sources other than the Federal 
government.''
      The conferees expect the Department to consult with the 
Strategic Planning Task Force on the appropriateness of 
establishing a human nutrition research center in preventive 
nutrition, diet, and obesity.
      The conferees recognize the important research being done 
at the ARS-Athens Russell Research Center on competitive 
exclusion of enteritidis food safety pathogens and encourage 
the Department to extend this important research to swine.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

      The conference agreement provides $56,437,000 for 
Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities instead 
of $61,380,000 as proposed by the House and $31,930,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Arizona: Water Conservation and Western Cotton, Maricopa        $500,000
California: Western Human Nutrition Laboratory, Davis...       6,150,000
Hawaii: U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.       4,500,000
Illinois: National Center for Agricultural Utilization, 
    Peoria..............................................       8,200,000
Iowa: National Animal Disease Center, Ames..............       2,957,000
Kansas: U.S. Grain Marketing Research Laboratory, 
    Manhattan...........................................       1,400,000
Louisiana: Southern Regional Research Center, New 
    Orleans.............................................       6,000,000
Maryland:
    National Agricultural Library, Beltsville...........       1,200,000
    Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville.       2,500,000
Mississippi: Biocontrol and Insect Rearing Laboratory, 
    Stoneville..........................................         200,000
Montana: Pest Quarantine/Integrated Pest Management 
    Facility, Sidney....................................       7,300,000
New Mexico: Jornada Range Research Station, Las Cruces..       6,700,000
New York: Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport..       3,500,000
Pennsylvania: Eastern Regional Research Center, 
    Philadelphia........................................       3,300,000
Utah: Poisonous Plant Laboratory, Logan.................          30,000
West Virginia: National Center for Cool and Cold Water 
    Aquaculture, Leetown................................       2,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total...........................................      56,437,000

      The conference agreement provides $500,000 in additional 
planning funds for the relocation and replacement of ARS 
research laboratory from the Phoenix, Arizona location to the 
Maricopa Agriculture Center. The conferees direct the agency to 
further review and evaluate the size, capacity and costs 
associated with replacing the existing research laboratory. 
This effort is essential to determine the required scope and 
the most cost-efficient facility required to meet the needs of 
ARS water and cotton research. The conference agreement 
provides $2,957,000 for the National Animal Disease Center and 
expects the ARS to use $1,943,000 in available unobligated 
funds to complete the project.
      The conference agreement does not include funding for the 
avian disease laboratory in Michigan without any prejudice 
toward the project.

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

                   RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

      The conference agreement provides $481,216,000 for 
research and education activities instead of $431,125,000 as 
proposed by the House and $432,982,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The conference agreement reflects a 7% increase from the 
fiscal year 1998 level for payments under the Hatch Act, 
cooperative forestry research, payments to 1890 Colleges and 
Universities, animal health and disease grants, and payments to 
1994 institutions; and an increase of $32,100,000 for the 
National Research Initiative. The following table reflects the 
conference agreement:

Research and education activities

                        [In thousands of dollars]

Payments Under Hatch Act......................................   180,545
Cooperative forestry research (McIntire-Stennis)..............    21,932
Payments to 1890 colleges and Tuskegee........................    29,676
  Special Research Grants (P.L. 89-106):
    Aegilops cylindricum (WA).................................       360
    Aflatoxin (IL)............................................       113
    Agriculture-based industrial lubricants (IA)..............       250
    Agricultural diversification (HI).........................       131
    Agricultural diversity/Red River Corridor (MN/ND).........       250
    Agriculture water usage (GA)..............................       300
    Alliance for food protection (NE, GA).....................       300
    Alternative crops (ND)....................................       550
    Alternative crops for arid lands (TX).....................       100
    Alternative marine and fresh water species (MS)...........       308
    Alternative salmon products (AK)..........................       400
    Animal science food safety consortium (AR, IA, KS)........     1,521
    Apple fire blight (NY, MI)................................       500
    Aquaculture (LA)..........................................       330
    Aquaculture (MS)..........................................       592
    Aquaculture (VA)..........................................       100
    Aquaculture product and marketing development (WV)........       750
    Babcock Institute (WI)....................................       400
    Binational agriculture research and development...........       400
    Biodiesel research (MO)...................................       152
    Brucellosis vacinos (MT)..................................       150
    Center for animal health and productivity (PA)............       113
    Center for innovative food technology (OH)................       381
    Center for rural studies (VT).............................       200
    Chesapeake Bay agroecology (MD)...........................       150
    Chesapeake Bay aquaculture................................       385
    Citrus tristeza...........................................       500
    Competitiveness of agricultural products (WA).............       680
    Contagious equine metitis (KY)............................       250
    Cool season legume research (ID, WA)......................       329
    Cotton research (TX)......................................       200
    Cranberry/blueberry (MA)..................................       150
    Cranberry/blueberry disease & breeding (NJ, MA)...........       220
    Dairy and meat goat research (TX).........................        63
    Delta rural revitalization (MS)...........................       148
    Designing foods for health (TX)...........................       250
    Drought mitigation (NE)...................................       200
    Ecosystems (AL)...........................................       500
    Environmental research (NY)...............................       486
    Environmental risk factors/cancer (NY)....................       100
    Expanded wheat pasture (OK)...............................       285
    Farm and rural business finance (IL)......................        87
    Feed barley for rangeland cattle (MT).....................       600
    Floriculture (HI).........................................       250
    Food and Agriculture Policy Institute (IA, MO)............       800
    Food irradiation (IA).....................................       200
    Food marketing policy center (CT).........................       400
    Food processing center (NE)...............................        42
    Food quality (AK).........................................       350
    Food safety...............................................     5,000
    Food safety (AL)..........................................       300
    Food systems research group (WI)..........................       225
    Forestry (AR).............................................       523
    Fruit and vegetable market analysis (AZ, MO)..............       320
    Generic commodity promotion research and evaluation (NY)..       212
    Global change.............................................     1,000
    Global marketing support service (AR).....................       127
    Grain sorghum (KS)........................................       106
    Grass seed cropping systems for a sustainable agriculture 
      (WA, OR, ID)............................................       423
    Human nutrition (IA)......................................       473
    Human nutrition (LA)......................................       752
    Human nutrition (NY)......................................       622
    Hydroponic tomato production (OH).........................       200
    Illinois-Missouri Alliance for Biotechnology..............     1,184
    Improved dairy management practices (PA)..................       296
    Improved fruit practices (MI).............................       445
    Infectious disease research (CO)..........................       250
    Institute for Food Science and Engineering (AR)...........     1,250
    Integrated production systems (OK)........................       180
    International agricultural market structures and 
      institutions (KY).......................................       250
    International arid lands consortium.......................       400
    Iowa biotechnology consortium.............................     1,564
    Livestock and dairy policy (NY, TX).......................       475
    Lowbush blueberry research (ME)...........................       220
    Maple research (VT).......................................       100
    Meadowfoam (OR)...........................................       300
    Michigan biotechnology consortium.........................       675
    Midwest advanced food manufacturing alliance..............       423
    Midwest agricultural products (IA)........................       592
    Milk safety (PA)..........................................       250
    Minor use animal drugs (IR-4).............................       550
    Molluscan shellfish (OR)..................................       400
    Multi-commodity research (OR).............................       364
    Multi-cropping strategies for aquaculture (HI)............       127
    National biological impact assessment.....................       254
    Nematode resistance genetic engineering (NM)..............       127
    Non-food uses of agricultural products (NE)...............        64
    Oil resources from desert plants (NM).....................       175
    Organic waste utilization (NM)............................       100
    Pasture and forage research (UT)..........................       225
    Peach tree short life (SC)................................       162
    Pest control alternatives (SC)............................       106
    Phytophthora root rot (NM)................................       127
    Plant, drought, and disease resistance gene cataloging 
      (NM)....................................................       150
    Postharvest rice straws (CA)..............................       300
    Potato research...........................................     1,300
    Precision agriculture (KY)................................       500
    Precision agriculture (MS)................................     1,000
    Preharvest food safety (KS)...............................       212
    Preservation and processing research (OK).................       226
    Rangeland ecosystems (NM).................................       200
    Regional barley gene mapping project......................       400
    Regionalized implications of farm programs (MO, TX).......       294
    Rice Modeling (AR)........................................       296
    Rural devel. cntrs. (PA, IA (ND), MS, OR, LA).............       523
    Rural policies institute (NE, MO).........................       644
    Russian wheat aphid (CO)..................................       200
    Seafood and aquaculture harvesting, processing and 
      marketing (MS)..........................................       305
    Small fruit research (OR, WA, ID).........................       300
    Southwest consortium for plant genetics and water 
      resources...............................................       338
    Soybean cyst nematode (MO)................................       475
    STEEP III--water quality in Northwest.....................       500
    Sustainable agriculture (MI)..............................       445
    Sustainable agriculture and natural resources (PA)........        95
    Sustainable agriculture systems (NE)......................        59
    Sustainable beef supply (MT)..............................       500
    Sustainable pest management for dryland wheat (MT)........       400
    Swine waste management (NC)...............................       500
    Tillage, silviculture, waste management (LA)..............       212
    Tomato wilt virus (GA)....................................       200
    Tropical and subtropical..................................     2,724
    Turkey carnavirus (IN)....................................       200
    Urban pests (GA)..........................................        64
    Vidalia onions (GA).......................................       100
    Viticulture consortium (NY, CA)...........................     1,000
    Water conservation (KS)...................................        79
    Water quality.............................................     3,461
    Weed control (ND).........................................       423
    Wetland plants (LA).......................................       600
    Wheat genetic research (KS)...............................       261
    Wood utilization research (OR, MS, NC, MN, ME, MI, ID, TN)     5,136
    Wool research (TX, MT, WY)................................       300
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

    Total, Special Research Grants............................    63,116
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Improved pest control:
    Critical issues...........................................       200
    Emerging pest and disease issues..........................     1,623
    Expert IPM decision support issues........................       177
    Integrated pest management................................     2,731
    Pesticide clearance (IR-4)................................     8,990
    Pesticide impact assessment...............................     1,327
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Improved pest control..........................    15,048
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Competititve research grants:
    Animal systems............................................    29,000
    Markets, trade and policy.................................     4,600
    Nutrition, food quality and health........................    16,000
    Natural resources and the environment.....................    20,500
    Plant systems.............................................    41,000
    Processes and new products................................     8,200
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Competitive research grants....................   119,300
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Animal Health and Disease (Sec. 1433).........................     5,109
Critical Agricultural Materials Act...........................       600
Aquaculture Centers (Sec. 1475)...............................     4,000
Alternative Crops.............................................       750
Sustainable agriculture.......................................     8,000
Capacity building grants......................................     9,200
Payments to the 1994 Institutions.............................     1,552
Graduate fellowship grants....................................     3,000
Institution challenge grants..................................     4,350
Multicultural scholars program................................     1,000
Hispanic-serving institutions.................................     2,850
Secondary/2-year post-secondary...............................       500
  Federal Administration:
    Agriculture development in American Pacific...............       564
    Agriculture waste utilization (WV)........................       250
    Alternative fuels characterization laboratory (ND)........       218
    Animal waste management (OK)..............................       250
    Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (IA)........       355
    Center for North American Studies (TX)....................        87
    Data information system...................................     1,000
    Geographic information system.............................       844
    Mariculture (NC)..........................................       250
    Mississippi Valley State University.......................       583
    National Center for Peanut Competitiveness................       300
    Office of grants and program systems......................       310
    Pay costs and FERS (prior)................................     1,100
    Peer panels...............................................       350
    PM-10 study (CA, WA)......................................       873
    Shrimp aquaculture (AZ, HI, MS, MA, SC)...................     3,354
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Federal Administration.........................    10,688
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
        Total, Research and Education Activities..............   481,216

      The conferees direct the USDA to consult with the Food 
and Drug Administration regarding food safety research 
objectives of that agency and recommend that $5,000,000 of the 
funds provided for the food safety component of the National 
Research Initiative be used to meet those needs.
      The conference agreement includes $523,000 for Rural 
Development Centers, of which $100,000 is for a new center in 
Louisiana. The conference agreement includes $750,000 for 
alternative crops, of which $550,000 is for canola and $200,000 
is for hesperaloe. The conference agreement includes $1,000,000 
for the wood utilization special grant for the establishment of 
two new centers in Idaho and Tennessee with the remainder of 
the increase to be shared on a proportionate basis by the 
existing centers.
      The conference agreement includes $5,000,000 for the 
special grant for food safety as requested by the President and 
an increase of $7,400,000 in the National Research Initiative 
category for nutrition, food quality and health.

                          EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

      The conference agreement provides $434,122,000 for 
extension activities instead of $416,789,000 as proposed by the 
House and $432,181,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Extension activities

                        [In thousands of dollars)

                                                              Conference
                                                               agreement
Smith Lever 3(b) & 3(c).......................................   276,548
  Smith Lever: 3(d):
    Farm safety...............................................     3,000
    Food and nutrition education (EFNEP)......................    58,695
    Food safety...............................................     3,500
    Indian reservation agents.................................     1,714
    Pest management...........................................    10,783
    Pesticide impact assessment...............................     3,214
    Rural development centers.................................       908
    Sustainable agriculture...................................     3,309
    Water quality.............................................     9,561
    Youth at risk.............................................     9,000
1890's Colleges and Tuskegee..................................    25,843
1890's facilities grants......................................     8,426
Renewable Resources Extension Act.............................     3,192
Rural health and safety education.............................     2,628
Extension services at the 1994 institutions...................     2,060
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Subtotal..............................................   422,381
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Federal Administration and special grants:
    Ag in the classroom.......................................       208
    Beef producers' improvement (AR)..........................       197
    Delta teachers academy....................................     3,500
    Diabetes detection, prevention (WA).......................       550
    Extension specialist (AR).................................        99
    Extension specialist (MS).................................       100
    General administration....................................     4,787
    Income enhancement demonstration (OH).....................       246
    Integrated cow/calf resources management (IA).............       300
    National Center for Agriculture Safety (IA)...............       195
    Pilot tech. transfer (OK, MS).............................       326
    Pilot tech. transfer (WI).................................       163
    Range improvement (NM)....................................       197
    Rural development (NM)....................................       280
    Rural development (OK)....................................       150
    Rural rehabilitation (GA).................................       246
    Wood biomass as an alternative farm product (NY)..........       197
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Federal Administration.........................    11,741
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
        Total, Extension Activities...........................   434,122

      The conferees are concerned that funds for cooperative 
agriculture extension services are being used to promote 
Federal welfare programs. Such activities are appropriate only 
to the extent that they fall within the traditional educational 
role of extension for home economics and similar missions.
      The conference agreement includes a 3% increase for the 
formula grant programs as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement has provided an increase for 
water quality and expects the projects in North Dakota and 
Illinois to compete for these funds.
      The conference agreement includes an increase of $500,000 
for the Farm*A*Sys program, and an increase of $145,000 for the 
Agribility project.

                   Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

      The conference agreement provides $618,000 for the Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory 
Programs as proposed by the Senate instead of $642,000 as 
proposed by the House.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $425,803,000 for the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) instead of 
$424,500,000 as proposed by the House and $419,473,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                        [In thousands of dollars]

                                                              Conference
  Pest and disease exclusion:                                  agreement
    Agricultural quarantine inspection........................    30,648
    User fees.................................................    88,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Subtotal, Agricultural quarantine inspection..........   118,648
    Cattle ticks..............................................     4,627
    Foot-and-mouth disease....................................     3,803
    Import-export inspection..................................     6,815
    International programs....................................     6,630
    Fruit fly exclusion and detection.........................    22,970
    Screwworm.................................................    30,301
    Tropical bont tick........................................       407
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Pest and disease exclusion.....................   194,201
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Plant and animal health monitoring:
    Animal health monitoring and surveillance.................    63,389
    Animal and plant health regulatory enforcement............     5,855
    Pest detection............................................     6,426
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Plant and animal health monitoring.............    75,670
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Pest and disease management programs:
    Aquaculture...............................................       567
    Biocontrol................................................     8,160
    Boll weevil...............................................    16,209
     Brucellosis eradication..................................    11,864
    Golden nematode...........................................       435
    Gypsy moth................................................     4,366
    Imported fire ant.........................................     1,000
    Miscellaneous plant diseases..............................     1,410
    Noxious weeds.............................................       424
    Pink bollworm.............................................     1,048
    Pseudorabies..............................................     4,567
    Scrapie...................................................     2,991
    Silverleaf whitefly.................................................
    Tuberculosis..............................................     4,920
    Wildlife services--operations.............................    28,797
    Witchweed.................................................     1,506
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Pest and disease management programs...........    88,264
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Animal care:
    Animal welfare............................................     9,175
    Horse protection..........................................       361
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Animal care....................................     9,536
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Scientific and technical services:
    Aviation safety...........................................     1,200
    Biotechnology/environmental protection....................     7,393
    Integrated systems acquisition project....................     3,500
    International cooperative administrative service..........       909
    Plant methods development laboratories....................     4,693
    Veterinary biologics......................................    10,345
    Veterinary diagnostics....................................    15,622
    Wildlife services--methods development....................    10,365
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

        Total, Scientific and technical services..............    54,027
    Contingency fund..........................................     4,105
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
        Total, Salaries and expenses..........................   425,803

      The conference agreement includes $909,000 for the 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Service 
Program.
      The conferees direct APHIS to conduct an analysis of the 
existing Medfly exclusion and detection program in the State of 
Florida and include in that analysis a review of various 
potential alternatives, including the feasibility of 
implementing a year-round sterile Medfly release program. 
Specifically, the analysis should identify the scope, annual 
cost, and method of implementation for such programs. APHIS 
shall report its findings to both the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees no later than May 1, 1999.
      Infestations of red imported fire ants have been found in 
Dona Ana County, New Mexico and, as a result, the county has 
been quarantined. In order to properly survey and monitor the 
remaining counties of New Mexico for red imported fire ants, 
the conferees direct APHIS to provide the necessary financial 
and technical assistance to the State of New Mexico to carry 
out the necessary activities.
      The conferees request APHIS to grant a six-month 
extension of the comment period for the proposed rule published 
in the Federal Register on August 12, 1998, concerning 
importation of grapefruits, lemons, and oranges from Argentina. 
Additional time is needed to allow independent scientists to 
review the scientific data submitted on behalf of Argentina's 
petition and to review the risk mitigation measures advocated 
by APHIS.
      The conferees direct the Department to publish rules 
regarding the compensation of Arizona wheat producers, seed 
companies, seed producers, and handlers for their economic loss 
for the 1997-1998 crop due to Karnal bunt.
      The conferees direct the Department to work with the 
Arizona wheat industry and Arizona regulatory agencies to 
develop a plan for de-regulation of Karnal bunt in Arizona, to 
be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations no later than 
November 15, 1998, to allow for appropriate grower decisions 
for planting wheat for 1999.
      The conferees direct APHIS to establish protocols 
containing appropriate verification procedures including 
permanent country of origin marking requirements for each 
country or region requesting to export livestock into the 
United States.
      The conference agreement adopts House report language 
providing $1,500,000 for rabies control activities. The Senate 
report provided $800,000 for specific states.
      The conference agreement adopts House report language 
providing $450,000 for trap testing and related activities to 
meet U.S. obligations under international standards. The Senate 
report had no similar language. The conferees expect the agency 
to work toward the development of more humane trapping methods.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate report language 
providing $300,000 for an assessment of the economic threat 
from a newly-described contagious equine metritis-like 
bacterium to the U.S. horse industry. The House report had no 
similar provision.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate report language 
providing $500,000 for operation of the bison quarantine 
facility and all associated operations including the testing of 
bison which have left Yellowstone National Park. The House 
report had no similar provision.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate report language 
providing $300,000 to establish and operate a Wildlife Services 
office in Hawaii. The House report had no similar provision.
      The conference agreement provides an increase of $175,000 
to offset the impact of expanding wolf populations and the 
reintroduction of wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.
      The conference report adopts Senate report language 
providing $400,000 to require the Secretary to prevent the 
inadvertent introduction of brown tree snakes into Hawaii and 
other states. The House had no similar language.
      The conferees urge the Secretary to delay the 
implementation of regulations issued by the Animal and Plant 
Health and Inspection Service (Fed. Reg. Vol. 63, No. 172, 
September 4, 1998) entitled ``Swim with the Dolphin'' as 
applied to wading programs. The managers expect the Department 
to solicit input from affected parties and ensure that the 
regulations will not impose unreasonable requirements, economic 
hardship, or conflict with State laws.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

      The conference agreement provides $7,700,000 for the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Buildings and 
Facilities, instead of $5,200,000 as proposed by the House and 
$4,200,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes $3,500,000 for 
completion of a wing at the National Wildlife Research Center 
in Fort Collins, CO.
      The conferees direct the agency to consider locations in 
Montana and Iowa for construction of a large animal biosafety 
level-3 containment facility.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service

                           MARKETING SERVICES

      The conference agreement provides $46,000,000 for the 
Agricultural Marketing Service instead of $46,567,000 as 
proposed by the House and $45,567,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The conferees expect that, of the funds available for 
the National Organic Standards Program, amounts as may be 
necessary shall be used to offset the initial costs of 
accreditation services.
      El Nino and the Asian currency crisis have caused 
significant problems to West Coast tuna fishermen. The USDA 
should use its surplus removal authorities to assist with this 
problem.

                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $60,730,000 for the 
Limitation on Administrative Expenses as proposed by the House 
instead of $59,521,000 as proposed by the Senate.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $26,787,000 for the 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration instead 
of $27,542,000 as proposed by the House and $26,390,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is $2,500,000 
as proposed by the Senate for restructuring the Packers and 
Stockyards Administration and $397,000 as proposed by the House 
for packer concentration and industry structure.

             Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety

      The conference agreement provides $446,000 for the Office 
of the Under Secretary for Food Safety as proposed by the 
Senate. The House bill provided an unspecified amount of 
funding for the Office of the Under Secretary from the Food 
Safety and Inspection Service account.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

      The conference agreement provides $609,250,000 for the 
Food Safety and Inspection Service as proposed by the House 
instead of $605,149,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes the full amount 
requested in the fiscal year 1999 budget for the Food Safety 
Initiative and inspection costs.
      The conferees note that the report on ratites was not 
delivered until six months after the requested submission date 
and, although a cost-benefit analysis was requested, it was not 
supplied. While citing significant potential health risks and 
the existence of industry microbiological data, the Department 
did not perform a risk assessment to quantify public health 
benefits. The Department is directed to resubmit the report 
with the cost-benefit analysis, as requested, by December 31, 
1998, or to provide the conferees a detailed accounting of the 
projected cost and time required to determine the merits and 
effectiveness of a mandatory ratite inspection program.
      The conference agreement adopts language as proposed by 
the House disagreeing with the Administration's proposal to 
waive cost-sharing limitations for cooperative state inspection 
programs. The Senate report had no similar provision.
      The conferees direct the Secretary of Agriculture to 
report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by 
March 1, 1999, recommendations on lifting the ban on the 
interstate distribution of State inspected meat.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

      The conference agreement provides $572,000 for the Office 
of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
Services as proposed by the Senate instead of $597,000 as 
proposed by the House.
      The conferees are concerned that the USDA is 
administering the forfeiture penalty provisions of 7 U.S.C. 
7272(g) in a manner inconsistent with the intent of Congress. 
These provisions were intended only to act as a disincentive to 
program loan forfeitures. Unfortunately, as evidenced in the 
fiscal year 1999 Budget Summary, the Department has interpreted 
the provisions to have ``effectively reduced sugar loan 
rates.'' The conferees direct the Secretary of Agriculture to 
administer the program consistent with Congressional intent, 
and to ensure that the forfeiture penalty shall not apply for 
any purpose other than an actual loan forfeiture resulting in 
the reduction of the statutory price support loan levels for 
sugarcane (18 cents per pound of raw cane sugar) or sugar beets 
(22.9 cents per pound of refined beet sugar). In addition, the 
conferees direct that the penalty shall not be considered in 
the calculation of any sugar forfeiture price level by the 
Secretary or by any other official responsible for the 
administration of the sugar program under 7 U.S.C. 7272, the 
no-cost provision in section 902(a) of P.L. 99-198, and any 
related authorities.

                          Farm Service Agency

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $714,499,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the Farm Service Agency instead of 
$724,499,000 as proposed by the House and $710,842,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement does not 
include $10,000,000 as proposed by the House for the Common 
Computing Environment.
      The conferees expect the Secretary, to the extent 
practicable, to avoid the use of reductions-in-force or 
furloughs for both Federal and non-Federal employees or any 
county office closings.

           Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account

      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Farm Ownership Loans:
    Direct..............................................   ($85,651,000)
    Subsidy.............................................      12,822,000
    Guaranteed..........................................   (425,031,000)
    Subsidy.............................................       6,758,000
Farm Operating Loans:
    Direct..............................................   (500,000,000)
    Subsidy.............................................      34,150,000
    Subsidized Guaranteed...............................   (200,000,000)
    Subsidy.............................................      17,480,000
    Unsubsidized Guaranteed.............................   (948,276,000)
    Subsidy.............................................      11,000,000
    Boll Weevil Eradication.............................   (100,000,000)
    Subsidy.............................................       1,440,000
    Credit Sales of Acquired Property...................................
    Subsidy.............................................................

                Disaster Assistance/Reserve Inventories

      The conference agreement does not include $521,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate for disaster assistance and reserve 
inventories. Disaster related problems are addressed in Titles 
XI--XIII.

                         Risk Management Agency

      The conferees note that risk management tools are limited 
for livestock producers. The conferees expect the Risk 
Management Agency to provide a report to the appropriate 
Committees of Congress on the feasibility of a crop insurance 
program that livestock producers can utilize for forages and 
native pasture.

                    TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

      The conference agreement provides $693,000 for the Office 
of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $719,000 as proposed by the 
House.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service

                        CONSERVATION OPERATIONS

      The conference agreement provides $641,243,000 for the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Operations 
as proposed by the House instead of $638,664,000 as proposed by 
the Senate. Included in this amount is not less than $5,990,000 
for snow survey and water forecasting as proposed by the House 
instead of $5,835,000 as proposed by the Senate and not less 
than $9,025,000 for operation and establishment of plant 
materials centers as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$7,825,000 as proposed by the House.
      In addition to the items in the House and Senate reports 
that are not changed by the conference agreement, funding is 
included for the following items: $100,000 increase for native 
plants on the Island of Kahoolawe in Hawaii; $300,000 increase 
for the Loess Hills Erosion Control in Iowa; $300,000 for the 
Long Beach Water Management District Project in Mississippi; 
$400,000 increase for the Delta Water Resources Study in 
Mississippi; $500,000 for the Tri-Valley watershed in Utah; 
$500,000 for the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil and Erosion 
Sediment Control; $100,000 increase for the Potomac Ohio River 
Basin Soil Nutrient Project; $100,000 for the Trees Forever 
Program in Iowa; and $443,000 increase for construction of the 
Plant Materials Center at Alderson, West Virginia.
      The conferees do not agree with the Senate report 
language citing problems that have arisen with the Wetlands 
Reserve Program (WRP). However, the conferees concur with 
Senate report language that encourages the USDA to structure 
the terms of WRP contracts so that high priority is given to 
the consideration of adjacent landowners, including but not 
limited to the maintenance of watershed protection.
      The conferees encourage the agency to provide any 
technical assistance for construction and repairs to the 
spillway and roads for Lake Peltier at Salmen Scout 
Reservation, Hancock County, Mississippi.

                     Watershed Surveys and Planning

      The conference agreement provides $10,368,000 for 
Watershed Surveys and Planning instead of $9,545,000 as 
proposed by the House and $11,190,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

               Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations

      The conference agreement provides $99,443,000 for 
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations instead of 
$97,850,000 as proposed by the House and $101,036,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement includes House 
language providing that not more than $47,000,000 shall be 
available for technical assistance. The conference agreement 
includes continued progress and assistance for the Chino Dairy 
Preserve Project, San Bernardino County, CA.
      The conferees expect the NRCS to provide for corrective 
action to the North Powder-Rock Creek South pipeline in the 
Powder Valley Water Control District, OR, to prevent the 
premature deterioration of the pipeline. The conferees note 
that since the Powder Valley Water Control District cost-shared 
in the construction of the current pipeline the cost-share 
requirements shall not apply to the corrective action necessary 
since the NRCS has admitted their design flaw.

                 Resource Conservation and Development

      The conference agreement provides $35,000,000 for the 
Resource Conservation and Development program as proposed by 
the House instead of $34,377,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 
conferees expect the Department to present to the House and 
Senate Appropriations Committees no later than March 1, 1999, 
options to fund new Resource Conservation and Development 
districts, including a graduation component, while considering 
program effectiveness, efficiency, and necessary structural 
changes.

                      Forestry Incentives Program

      The conference agreement provides $6,325,000 for the 
Forestry Incentives Program as proposed by the Senate. The 
House bill provided no funds for this account.

      TITLE III--RURAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

      The conference agreement provides $588,000 for the Office 
of the Under Secretary for Rural Development as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $611,000 as proposed by the House.
      The conferees expect the Secretary, to the extent 
practicable, to avoid the use of reductions-in-force and 
furloughs in the rural development work force. The conferees 
further expect that no reductions-in-force or furloughs will 
take place unless the Secretary provides detailed 
justifications for such actions to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations.
      The conferees note that it has become necessary in annual 
appropriations bills to declare certain communities eligible 
for rural development programs. This is because of anomalies in 
the criteria for eligibility, such as population and average 
income levels, that have made these communities ineligible 
under a strict interpretation of regulations. The conferees 
believe that there may not be sufficient flexibility under 
current law and regulations to address this problem. Therefore, 
the conferees direct the Department to develop a plan that will 
address this situation including changes in current law or 
regulation and present this plan to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations.
      The House and Senate reports recommend projects for 
consideration under various rural development programs and the 
conferees expect the Department to apply established review 
procedures when considering applications.
      The conferees further expect the Department to give 
consideration to business enterprise and housing preservation 
projects in the city of Bayview, VA;applications for rural 
business enterprise grants from TELACU, for a project in Selma, CA; for 
assistance for a community improvement program in Arkansas; water and 
sewer improvements for the City of Vaughn, NM; the Shulerville/Honey 
Hill Water project, S.C.; and a rural enterprise grant for Indian Hills 
Community College, IA.
      The conferees direct the agency to exercise its authority 
to consider the effects of economic circumstances and high 
unemployment in calculating median household income for the 
community of Wrangell, AK, for the purpose of determining 
whether the community is eligible for loans and grants.
      The Department should consider a request, subject to 
normal review procedures, from the Water Environment Research 
Foundation for water quality research.
      The conferees are aware that the Territory of American 
Samoa is currently in the grip of a severe, prolonged drought, 
and that the island's water system is rapidly becoming 
infiltrated by salt water and is unsafe for human consumption. 
Even with aggressive water conservation and service curtailment 
efforts, there will soon be insufficient safe drinking water to 
sustain human needs in the Territory. If assistance is not 
provided expeditiously, there is an imminent threat that 
waterborne illnesses will reach epidemic proportions which will 
severely overburden American Samoa's limited health care 
facilities. The drought crisis poses an immediate and rapidly 
escalating threat to human life in this most remote part of 
American Territories.
      It has come to the attention of the conferees that the 
American Samoa Power Authority (the Territory's water, 
electric, and sanitary sewer utility) has applied to USDA for 
assistance in obtaining and installing water filtration and 
treatment equipment. This project would provide approximately 
one million gallons per day of safe drinking water necessary to 
sustain basic human needs and prevent life-threatening illness.
      The conferees urge the Secretary to utilize creative and 
flexible solutions under the existing water and sewer loan and 
grants program, the community facilities loan and grants 
program, and such other rural development programs as the 
Secretary in his discretion may determine appropriate to meet 
this critical need in American Samoa.

                           Rural Development

                  rural community advancement program

      The conference agreement provides $722,686,000 for the 
Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) instead of 
$702,601,000 as proposed by the Senate and $745,172,000 as 
proposed by the House.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

RCAP accounts

Water/Sewer.............................................    $645,007,000
Community Facilities....................................      29,786,000
Business-Cooperative Development........................      47,893,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total...............................................     722,686,000
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Earmarks:
    Tech. Asst. (water/sewer)...........................      16,215,000
    Circuit Rider.......................................       5,300,000
    EZ/EC...............................................      33,926,000
    Tech. Asst. (transportation)........................         500,000

      The conference agreement adopts House bill language that 
does not include section 381O of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f) from authorized 
activities included in RCAP funding. The Senate bill had no 
similar provision.
      The conference agreement does not include language in the 
Senate report directing USDA to provide for rural venture 
capital demonstration projects in Kentucky and Vermont. The 
House report had no similar provision.
      The conference agreement also adopts Senate bill language 
providing that funds not obligated for empowerment zones and 
enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, will remain available 
for other purposes under this heading. The House bill had no 
similar provision.
      The conference agreement does not provide the requested 
three percent earmark for Federally-recognized Indian tribes. 
The conferees note that, according to USDA, Indian tribes now 
receive approximately five percent of funding under the RCAP 
and the conferees believe the three percent earmark would 
arbitrarily restrict rural development benefits to the tribes.
      The conferees expect the Department to use funds provided 
for technical assistance for water and sewer projects to 
maintain the number of circuit riders at the same level as 
fiscal year 1998.
      The conferees have agreed to permanently increase the 
authorization of funding for water and sewer projects 
benefiting Alaska Natives under the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 from $15,000,000 to 
$20,000,000 and to make the state match required under the 
program consistent with the 25 percent requirement for the 
Colonias. The conferees direct the Department, in awarding 
grants to various regions of the country, to give priority 
consideration to areas which lack flush toilets and running 
water . It shall also give highest priority to areas without 
modern sewage disposal systems, with open sewers, and high 
rates of disease caused by poor sanitation.

                         Rural Housing Service

              RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
$197,285,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$4,251,717,000) for activities under the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund Program Account instead of $186,855,000 
(providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$4,235,601,000) as proposed by the House and $207,601,000 
(providing for an estimated program level of $4,284,398,000) as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement provides $10,380,000 from the 
total amount available for empowerment zones and enterprise 
communities instead of $10,380,100 as proposed by the Senate. 
The House bill had no similar provision.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account

Loan authorizations:
    Single family (sec. 502)............................   (965,313,000)
        Unsubsidized guaranteed......................... (3,000,000,000)
    Housing repair (sec. 504)...........................    (25,001,000)
    Farm labor (sec. 514)...............................    (20,000,000)
    Rental housing (sec. 515)...........................   (114,321,000)
    Multi-family housing guarantees (sec. 538)..........   (100,000,000)
    Site loans (sec. 524)...............................     (5,152,000)
    Credit sales of acquired property...................    (16,930,000)
    Self-help housing land development fund.............     (5,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, Loan authorizations........................ (4,251,717,000)
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Loan subsidies:
    Single family (sec. 502)............................     114,100,000
        Unsubsidized guaranteed.........................       2,700,000
    Housing repair (sec. 504)...........................       8,808,000
    Multi-family housing guarantees (sec. 538)..........       2,320,000
    Farm labor (sec. 514)...............................      10,406,000
    Rental housing (sec. 515)...........................      55,160,000
    Site loans (sec. 524)...............................          17,000
    Credit sales of acquired property...................       3,492,000
    Self-help housing land development fund.............         282,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, Loan subsidies.............................     197,285,000
RHIF administrative expenses (transfer to RHS)..........     360,785,000
      Total, Rural Housing..............................
      Insurance Fund....................................   1,141,467,000
        (Loan authorization)............................ (4,251,717,000)

      The conferees direct that the Department give preference 
to projects with the lowest interest rates in the section 538 
program to ensure that the program serves tenants with low 
incomes.
      The conferees recognize the importance of providing 
assistance to the economically distressed areas of the Lower 
Mississippi Delta. The conferees encourage the Secretary to 
consider using the reprogramming authority provided in section 
724 of this Act to fund applications for Rural Housing Service 
programs in those areas where there is a shortage of affordable 
rental and home ownership opportunities. One of the areas to be 
considered is West Tallahatchie, MS, where there is a shortage 
of housing for teachers.

                  MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS

      The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 from the 
total amount available for Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants 
for empowerment zones and enterprise communities as proposed by 
the Senate. The House bill had no similar provision.

                    RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

      The conference agreement provides $41,000,000 for Rural 
Housing Assistance Grants as proposed by the House instead of 
$45,720,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement provides $1,200,000 from the 
total amount available for empowerment zones and enterprise 
communities as proposed by the House instead of $1,372,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The House bill had no similar 
provision.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $60,978,000 for 
salaries and expenses as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$57,958,000 as proposed by the House. The conference agreement 
also provides for a transfer of $360,785,000 from the Rural 
Housing Insurance Fund as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$354,785,000 as proposed by the House. The total provided for 
Rural Housing Service salaries and expenses is $421,763,000 as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $412,743,000 as proposed by 
the House.
      The conference agreement includes a provision that allows 
the Administrator of the Rural Housing Service to spend not 
more than $10,000 for non-monetary awards to non-employees of 
the Department of Agriculture. The House bill had no similar 
provision.

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service

              RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
$16,615,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$33,000,000) for the Rural Development Loan Fund Program 
Account as proposed by the Senate instead of $17,622,000 
(providing for an estimated loan program level of $35,000,000) 
as proposed by the House.
      The conference agreement also provides from the total 
amount available a subsidy of $3,215,520 (providing for an 
estimated loan program level of $7,246,000) for empowerment 
zones and enterprise communities as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement also provides $3,482,000 for 
administrative expenses as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$3,499,000 as proposed by the House.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate language that 
provides that funds not obligated for empowerment zones/
enterprise communities by June 30, 1999, will remain available 
for other authorized purposes. The House bill had no similar 
provision.

            RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement rescinds $3,783,000 of funds 
derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments 
established in the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 901) and 
further provides $3,783,000 (providing for an estimated loan 
program level of $15,000,000) for the cost of loans under the 
Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account as proposed by 
the House instead of $5,801,000 (providing for an estimated 
loan program level of $23,000,000) as proposed by the Senate.

                  RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

      The conference agreement provides a total of $3,300,000 
for rural cooperative development grants as proposed by the 
House instead of $3,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Both 
House and Senate bills provide $1,300,000 from the total amount 
available for cooperative agreements for the Appropriate 
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas Program. The conference 
agreement also provides $250,000 for a cooperative development 
program as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement has not earmarked projects under 
this title but the conferees expect the Department to give 
consideration to the following projects requesting assistance 
under the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program: 
agricultural diversification, to be conducted by the Jefferson 
Institute, MO; Silos and Smokestacks, IA; and the Pennsylvania 
Cooperative Development Center. The conferees expect the 
Department to use established review procedures in considering 
these projects.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides a direct appropriation 
of $25,680,000 for salaries and expenses of the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service. The conference agreement further provides 
for transfers of $3,482,000 to this account from the Rural 
Development Loan Fund Program Account as proposed by the Senate 
instead of $3,499,000 as proposed by the House.

  alternative agricultural research and commercialization corporation 
                             revolving fund

    The conference agreement provides $3,500,000 for the 
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization 
Corporation Revolving Fund instead of $7,000,000 as proposed by 
the Senate. The House bill provided no funding for this 
account.

                        Rural Utilities Service

   RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
$43,319,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$1,561,500,000) for activities under the Rural Electrification 
and Telecommunications Loans Program Account as proposed by the 
House instead of $43,184,000 (providing for an estimated loan 
program level of $1,511,500,000) as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account

Loan authorizations:
    Direct loans:
        Electric 5%.....................................    (71,500,000)
        Telecommuincations 5%...........................    (75,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
          Subtotal......................................   (146,500,000)
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
    Treasury rates: Telecommunications..................   (300,000,000)
    Muni-rate: Electric.................................   (295,000,000)
    FFB loans:
        Electric, regular...............................   (700,000,000)
        Telecommunications..............................   (120,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
          Subtotal......................................   (820,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
         Total, Loan authorizations..................... (1,561,500,000)
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Loan subsidies:
    Direct loans:
        Electric 5%.....................................       9,325,000
        Telecommunications 5%...........................       7,342,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
          Subtotal......................................      16,667,000
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
    Treasury rates: Telecommunications..................         810,000
    Mini-rate: Electric.................................      25,842,000
    FFB loans: Electric, regular........................       .........
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
          Total, Loan subsidies.........................      43,319,000
RETLP administrative expenses (transfer to RUS).........      29,982,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, Rural Electrification and 
      Telecommunications Loans Program Account..........      73,301,000
        (Loan authorization)............................ (1,561,500,000)

      By increasing the amount available for Federal Financing 
Bank lending, it is the intent of the conferees that the Rural 
Utilities Service will fully utilize the authorities of section 
306 of the Rural Electrification Act by issuing guarantees to 
private sector lenders such as the Cooperative Finance 
Corporation and other legally organized organizations to ensure 
the financial needs of borrowers are met in a timely and 
efficient manner.

                  RURAL TELEPHONE BANK PROGRAM ACCOUNT

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
$4,174,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$157,509,000) for the Rural Telephone Bank Program Account 
instead of $4,638,000 (providing for an estimated loan program 
level of $175,000,000) as proposed by the House and $3,710,000 
(providing for an estimated program level of $140,000,000) as 
proposed by the Senate.

               DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $12,680,000 for the 
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $10,180,000 as proposed by the House. The 
conference agreement also provides that $12,500,000 of the 
total amount shall be available for grants under this program 
as proposed by the Senate instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by 
the House. Both House and Senate bills provide a subsidy of 
$180,000 from the total amount available, which provides for an 
estimated loan level of $150,000,000.

                    TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

      The conference agreement provides $554,000 for the Office 
of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer 
Services as proposed by the Senate. The House bill provided an 
unspecified amount of funding for the Office of the Under 
Secretary from the Food Program Administration account.

                       Food and Nutrition Service

                        child nutrition programs

      The conference agreement provides a total of 
$9,176,897,000 for child nutrition programs instead of 
$9,218,647,000 as proposed by the House and $9,219,897,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is an 
appropriated amount of $4,128,747,000 and an amount transferred 
from section 32 of $5,048,150,000.
      The conference agreement includes language as proposed by 
the Senate providing that no funds are available for the 
commodity procurement program unless the value of section 32 
commodities and section 416 commodities are calculated in 
meeting the minimum commodity assistance requirement of section 
6(g) of the School Lunch Act.
      The conference agreement provides the following:

Total Obligational Authority

Child Nutrition Programs:
    School lunch program................................  $5,384,452,000
    School breakfast program............................   1,396,955,000
    Child and adult care food program...................   1,611,520,000
    Summer food service program.........................     294,414,000
    Special milk program................................      18,055,000
    State administrative expenses.......................     118,074,000
    Commodity procurement and computer support..........     337,127,000
    School meals initiative.............................      10,000,000
    Coordinated review effort...........................       4,300,000
    Food safety education...............................       2,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................   9,176,897,000

      The conference agreement provides $10,000,000 for the 
school meals initiative. Included in this amount is $4,000,000 
for food service training grants to states, $1,600,000 for 
technical assistance materials, $800,000 for National Food 
Service Management Institute cooperative agreements, $400,000 
for print and electronic food service resource systems, and 
$3,200,000 for other activities.

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

      The conference agreement provides $3,924,000,000 for the 
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 
Children (WIC) as proposed by the House instead of 
$3,948,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference 
agreement includes bill language that directs USDA to obligate 
$10,000,000 for the farmers' market nutrition program within 45 
days of enactment of this Act, and an additional $5,000,000 for 
the farmers' market nutrition program from any funds not needed 
to maintain current caseload levels.
      The conferees direct that USDA reduce to 120 days the 
time period in which states are required to report on monthly 
obligation of funds as proposed by the House. The Senate had no 
similar language.
      The conferees direct the Department to review the 
methodology and data used to estimate participation and funding 
levels for WIC and to report to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations its recommendations for improvements no later 
than April 1, 1999, as proposed by the House. The Senate had no 
similar language.
      The conferees address the need for a study on WIC cost 
containment activity under the Economic Research Service.
      The conference agreement does not include bill language 
as proposed by the House regarding the allocation of fiscal 
year 1998 recovered funds.
      The conference agreement includes bill language as 
proposed by the House that state agencies required to procure 
infant formula using a competitive bidding system award a 
contract only to the bidder offering the lowest net price.

                           FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $22,585,106,000 for the 
Food Stamp Program instead of $22,591,806,000 as proposed by 
the House and $23,781,806,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
Included in this amount is a contingency reserve of 
$100,000,000. Also included in this amount is $1,236,000,000 
for nutrition assistance to Puerto Rico and $90,000,000 for 
TEFAP commodity purchases.

                      COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $131,000,000 for the 
Commodity Assistance Program instead of $141,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and Senate. Included in the amount is 
$45,000,000 for administration of TEFAP. The conferees provide 
that these funds may be used for administration or food costs 
at the discretion of the states. The conferees note that there 
is a $10,000,000 carryover from fiscal year 1998 in this 
account for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and have 
adjusted the appropriation accordingly.

                      FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

      The conference agreement provides $108,561,000 for Food 
Program Administration instead of $108,311,000 as proposed by 
the House and $109,069,000 as proposed by the Senate. Included 
in this amount is $252,000 for publication of Dietary 
Guidelines and $725,000 for program and financial integrity 
advancement. The conference agreement includes language that 
withholds $2,000,000 of this appropriation until a final rule 
is promulgated to curb vendor-related fraud in the WIC program 
as proposed by the House.
      The conferees understand USDA is reviewing the Dietary 
Guidelines and should ensure that scientific messages on 
dietary and nutritional behaviors are consistent among the 
Dietary Guidelines, the Food Guide Pyramid, and any related 
nutritional publications.
      The conferees direct that the funds transferred to this 
account from the Economic Research Service be used for 
programmatic studies and evaluations directly related to USDA 
programs, and that any welfare reform studies, analyses, or 
evaluations undertaken shall directly relate to USDA programs.

            TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

         Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager

      The conference agreement includes a direct appropriation 
of $136,203,000 instead of $131,295,000 as proposed by the 
House and $131,795,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement adopts a Senate provision which 
provides for the transfer of $3,231,000 from the Export Loan 
Program and $1,035,000 from the P.L. 480 program account under 
the P.L. 480 and Export Loan program accounts. The House bill 
provided for these transfers under this heading.
      The conference agreement does not include a Senate 
provision providing up to $2,000,000 solely for the purpose of 
offsetting international exchange rate fluctuations. The House 
bill had no similar provision. The conferees note that the 
deletion of this provision does not indicate a judgment on the 
merits of the request but reflects the fact that the agency has 
not developed a plan for this activity as requested in the 
fiscal year 1998 conference agreement. The conferees expect 
such a plan to be submitted with the fiscal year 2000 
President's Budget.
      The amount provided includes $4,408,000 for the 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Service 
Program.
      The conference agreement includes $128,000 of the total 
provided for a representation allowance as proposed by the 
Senate instead of $140,000 as proposed by the House. The 
conferees also provide $3,500,000 for the Cochran Fellowship 
Program.

               Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts

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

Public Law 480 Program and Grant Accounts

Title I--Credit sales:
    Program level.......................................   (219,724,000)
        Direct loans....................................   (203,475,000)
        Ocean freight differential......................    (16,249,000)
Title II--Commodities for disposition abroad:
    Program level.......................................   (837,000,000)
    Appropriation.......................................     837,000,000
Title III--Commodity grants:
    Program level.......................................    (25,000,000)
    Appropriation.......................................      25,000,000
Loan subsidies..........................................     176,596,000
Salaries and expenses:
    General Sales Manager (transfer to FAS).............       1,035,000
    Farm Service Agency (transfer to FSA)...............         815,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Subtotal..........................................       1,850,000
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Total, Public Law 480:
    Program level....................................... (1,081,724,000)
    Appropriation.......................................   1,056,695,000

      The conferees are concerned that Agency for International 
Development (AID) and Title II operational policies are not 
fully meeting both statutory mandates and the program's primary 
humanitarian objective of providing U.S. agricultural products 
and commodities for feeding the needy worldwide. While 
encouraged by recent aid commitments to increase relief-type 
feeding programs, the conferees expect AID, to the extent 
practicable, in utilizing the funds provided herein, to ensure 
that the non-emergency programs, including monetization 
programs, comply with the statutory requirement that 75% of the 
commodities provided be in the form of highly nutritious value-
added agricultural commodities.

      TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement includes a direct appropriation 
of $1,098,140,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Food and 
Drug Administration, instead of $998,340,000 as proposed by the 
House and $1,062,642,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Food Safety & Applied Nutrition.........................    $226,580,000
Human Drugs.............................................     200,305,000
Biologics...............................................      96,279,000
Animal Drugs and Feeds..................................      41,973,000
Devices & Radiological Products.........................     145,736,000
National Center for Toxicological Research..............      31,579,000
Tobacco.................................................      34,000,000
Rent and related activities.............................      25,855,000
Other activities........................................      80,694,000
Rental Payments to GSA..................................      82,866,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Sub-Total.........................................     965,867,000
Prescription Drug User Fees \1\.........................     132,273,000
    Total...............................................   1,098,140,000

\1\ Of the total $132,273,000 in PDUFA collections, $91,676,000 is for 
Human Drugs, $28,816,000 is for Biologics, $6,353,000 is for other 
activities, and $5,428,000 is for payments to the General Services 
Administration.

       The conference agreement includes an increase of 
$2,500,000 for the Office of Cosmetics and Color; $500,000 to 
begin development of a new approval process for food packaging 
materials; $1,000,000 for the Office of Generic Drugs; and 
$250,000 for the Office of Seafood Inspection. Within the 
amount for the Office of Seafood Inspection $200,000 is for a 
grant to the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Commission.
      The conference agreement includes an increase of 
$20,000,000 for the Food Safety Initiative. The FDA should use 
$19,500,000 for increased food inspection and $500,000 for 
research at the National Center for Toxicological Research.
      The conferees expect the FDA to publish a proposed rule 
concerning the use of foreign marketing data in the review of 
new sunscreen active ingredients in the sunscreen over-the-
counter drug monograph. The conferees expect the proposed rule 
will be published not later than June 1, 1999.
      The conferees note that the Food and Drug Administration 
will soon consider a citizen petition requesting approval of 
disjunctive labeling for surimi. The conferees strongly urge 
the agency to act in an expeditious manner to propose a rule in 
response to the petition, but in no case shall the FDA propose 
such a rule later than six months after the receipt of the 
citizen petition, nor shall the agency finalize such a rule 
later than twelve months after the receipt of the citizen 
petition.
      Included within the amount is $700,000 for the Clinical 
Pharmacology program. The conferees expect these funds to be 
used for competitive grants.
      The conferees note that recent court decisions (Mova 
Pharmaceutical Corp. v. Shalala, 104 F.3d 1061 (D.C. Cir. 
1998); Granutec, Inc. v. Shalala, No. 97-1873 and No. 97-1874, 
1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 6685 (4th Cir. Apr 3, 1998)) have 
invalidated an element of the Food and Drug Administration's 
regulations regarding the 180-day exclusivity period for first 
applicants under section 505(j)(5)(B)(iv) of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The conferees strongly urge the FDA to 
use the funds provided to issue new regulations and guidance 
for industry to fulfill the intent of the Generic Drug Act 
(Waxman/Hatch) for the broadest possible availability of 
generic drugs to consumers consistent with the Act.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

      The conference agreement provides $11,350,000 for Food 
and Drug Administration Buildings and Facilities as proposed by 
the House instead of $12,350,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 for 
construction of Phase III at the National Center for 
Toxicological Research as proposed by the House instead of 
$4,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees expect 
these funds, in addition to any Phase II remaining balances, to 
be sufficient to initiate Phase III construction.

                            RENTAL PAYMENTS

      The conference agreement provides $88,294,000 for FDA 
rental costs in the salaries and expenses account as proposed 
by the Senate. The House proposed these funds in a separate 
account.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

      The conference agreement provides $61,000,000 for the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission as proposed by the Senate 
instead of $62,140,000 as proposed by the House.

                       Farm Credit Administration

                 LIMITATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

      The conference agreement adopts the limitation of 
$35,800,000 on the expenses of the Farm Credit Administration 
as proposed by the House. The Senate bill had no limitation on 
expenses.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

      Senate Section 705.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 705) proposed by the Senate to allow up to 
$2,000,000 for costs associated with collocation of APHIS 
regional offices to remain available until expended. The House 
bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 710.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the House that limits agencies' 
reimbursement to General Services Administration for costs for 
rental space. The Senate bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 716 and Senate Section 715.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 715) proposed by the House 
that allows the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration to use cooperative agreements to carry out 
programs.
      Senate Section 716.--The conference agreement includes 
language that allows the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
to use contracts, grants or cooperative agreements for goods or 
services.
      Senate Section 717 and House Section 718.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 718) proposed by the 
Senate that permanently prohibits funds of the Market Access 
Program from being used to promote mink product exports.
      House Section 719 and Senate Section 718.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 719) to allow up to 
$1,800,000 for expenses of advisory committees, panels, 
commissions, and task forces. The House bill recommended a 
limit of $1,400,000 and the Senate bill recommended a limit of 
$1,350,000.
      Senate Section 722.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 723) to require the approval of the Chief 
Information Officer for purchases of information technology 
systems or upgrades by the Department of Agriculture. The 
language also includes a provision to prohibit any transfers of 
funds to the Office of the Chief Information Officer without 
the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriation of both 
Houses.
      House Section 724.--The conference agreement does not 
include language relating to common support services. The 
conferees concur that the Department has sufficient authority 
to carry out such a program. The Senate bill had no similar 
provision.
      Senate Section 724.--The conference agreement modifies 
language (Section 727) to prohibit contract acreage payments to 
a producer who plants wild rice on contract acreage unless the 
contract payment is reduced by an acre for each contract acre 
planted to wild rice. The agreement deletes the Senate 
provision that made this permanent law. The House bill had no 
similar provision.
      Senate Section 725.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 728) that names the National Rice Germplasm 
Evaluation and Enhancement Center the ``Dale Bumpers National 
Rice Research Center.'' The House bill had no similar 
provision.
      Senate Section 726.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 729) proposed by the Senate to allow the 
Secretary of Agriculture to transfer, subject to reprogramming 
requirements, up to $26,000,000 for authorized programs to 
benefit the Lower Mississippi Delta Region. This amount should 
include any and all funds provided to that region as part of 
the total. The House bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 725 and Senate Section 727.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 725) to prohibit funding 
for the Fund for Rural America.
      House Section 726.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the House that prohibited funding 
for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program.
      House Section 727.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 726) proposed by the House that limits 
funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to 
$174,000,000.
      House and Senate Section 728.--The conference agreement 
includes language (Section 730) to limit acreage enrolled in 
the Wetlands Reserve Program to 120,000 acres as proposed by 
the Senate. The House proposed a limit of 130,000 acres.
      House and Senate Section 729.--The conference agreement 
includes language (Section 731) to limit funding for The 
Emergency Food Assistance Program to $90,000,000 as proposed by 
the House instead of $80,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Senate Section 730 and House Section 739.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 740) that prohibits 
funding for the Conservation Farm Option Program as proposed by 
both the House and Senate.
      House Section 730.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 732) that prohibits funding for the 
Initiative for Future Agricultural and Food Systems (P.L. 105-
185) as proposed by the House. The Senate bill had no similar 
provision.
      Senate Section 731.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 743) proposed by the Senate that amended 
Public Law 102-237 with regard to control of the brown tree 
snake. The House bill had no similar provision.
      House Section 731.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 733) proposed by the House to make the City 
of Big Spring, Texas eligible for rural housing programs.
      House Section 732--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 734) that makes the municipality of Carolina, 
Puerto Rico eligible for grants and loans administered by the 
Rural Utilities Service.
      Senate Section 732.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 744) as proposed by the Senate that makes 
funds in this or any other Act available for financial and 
technical assistance for Franklin County, Mississippi.
      House Section 734 and Senate Section 736.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 736) as proposed by the 
House that does not allow funds from this Act to be used to 
carry out any commodity purchase program that would prohibit 
eligibility or participation by a farmer-owned cooperative.
      Senate Section 733--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 745) that makes the cost share requirement 
for Alaska water and wastewater loan and grants 25% and the 
authorized level $20,000,000.
      Senate Section 735.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 746) as proposed by the Senate that prohibits 
the Food and Drug Administration from closing or relocating the 
Division of Drug Analysis in St. Louis, MO.
      House Section 735.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 737) as proposed by the House that amends the 
technical definition of the word ``antibacterial'' in the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
      House Section 736.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 738) as proposed by the House that prohibits 
funds from being used to issue a final rule to implement the 
amendments to the Federal milk marketing orders as required by 
subsection (a) of the Agricultural Market Transition Act other 
than during the period February 1, 1999 through April 4, 1999. 
The conference agreement also modifies the House provision to 
include language clarifying marketing order reform in the State 
of California.
      House Section 737 and Senate Section 738.--The conference 
agreement does not include language proposed by both the House 
and Senate related to sanctions for the sales of agricultural 
products. A similar provision has been enacted into law.
      Senate Section 737.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 747) proposed by the Senate that requires the 
Secretary of Agriculture to inspect and certify agricultural 
processing equipment and to impose a fee for the inspection and 
certification in a manner that is similar to the inspection and 
certification of agricultural products under the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946.
      House Section 738.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 739) which requires that when the Secretary 
of Agriculture announces the basic formula price for milk, the 
Secretary shall include in the announcement an estimate of the 
costs incurred by milk producers to produce milk in the 
different regions of the United States.
      Senate Section 739.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 748) as proposed by the Senate to prohibit 
funds from being used to require a producer to pay an 
administrative fee of 10 per cent for catastrophic insurance 
protection. The language also makes the provision permanent 
law.
      House Section 740 and Senate Section 761.--The conference 
agreement includes bill language (Section 741) that waives the 
statute of limitations on non-employment complaints of 
discrimination in certain programs of the Department of 
Agriculture, and modifies the House language to include 
expedited procedure in processing the complaints as proposed in 
Senate Section 761.
      Senate Section 741.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 749) as proposed by the Senate that mandates 
the indefinite continuation of a personnel management 
demonstration project.
      House Section 741.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 750) as proposed by the House that provides 
that the Secretary may not deny certain guarantees in housing 
on the basis that the interest on the loan for which the 
guarantee is sought is exempt from inclusion in gross income 
for purposes of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
      Senate Section 742.--The conference agreement modifies 
language proposed by the Senate (Section 750) that extends the 
authorization of certain provisions of the Housing Act of 1949 
through September 30, 2000. The Senate proposed an extension 
until September 30, 1999.
      Section 742.--The conference agreement includes language 
that makes the Secretary of Agriculture liable for compensatory 
damages to farmers who are found to have been discriminated 
against under any farm loan program or activity conducted by 
the USDA in violation of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973.
      House Section 742.--The conference agreement does not 
include language to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration 
from using funds for the testing, development, or approval of 
any drug for the chemical inducement of abortion.
      Senate Section 743.--The conference agreement does not 
include bill language as proposed by the Senate requiring a 
review of methyl bromide alternatives research. The House bill 
had no similar provision. The conferees expect the Agricultural 
Research Service to conduct a review of the methyl bromide 
alternatives research conducted by the Department. The review 
should include: 1) the total amount of funds expended by the 
Department for methyl bromide alternatives research for each 
fiscal year 1990 to 1997 and estimates for fiscal years 1998 
and 1999, including a description of how funds are distributed 
and utilized; 2) descriptions of plot and field scale testing 
of methyl bromide alternatives conducted in fiscal years 1990 
through 1998, including: a) total amount of funds expended for 
plot and field scale testing; and b) the results of the testing 
and the impact of the results on future research; and 3) a 
description of the variables that impact the effectiveness of 
methyl bromide alternatives and the Department's strategy for 
addressing them.
      The conferees expect the Department to submit a report 
describing the results of its review to the appropriate 
committees of both Houses of Congress not later than 180 days 
after enactment of this Act.
      Senate Section 744.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate regarding the need to 
provide drought relief in Texas. The conference agreement 
includes language related to all agriculture disasters in 
Titles XI-XIII.
      Senate Section 745.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 751) proposed by the Senate that amends the 
1985 farm bill to exempt 30-year easements from payment 
limitations for the Wetlands Reserve Program.
      Senate Section 746.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 752) proposed by the Senate that acceptance 
of Wetlands Reserve Program bids may be in proportion to 
landowner interest expressed in program operations.
      Senate Section 748.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 754) proposed by the Senate that prohibits 
funds from being used to prepare a budget submission to 
Congress that assumes reductions from the previous year's 
budget due to user fee proposals unless the submission also 
identifies spending reductions which should occur if the user 
fees are not enacted.
      Senate Sections 747 and 752.--The conference agreement 
includes language (Section 753) that makes several technical 
corrections to the Agriculture Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act.
      Senate Section 749.--The conference agreement does not 
include language to establish a pilot program to permit haying 
and grazing on conservation reserve land.
      Senate Section 750.--The conference agreement includes 
language proposed by the Senate (Section 755) that amends the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 regarding shipment of shell 
eggs and mandates a report on egg safety and repackaging.
      Senate Section 751.--The conference agreement does not 
include the sense of the Senate provision regarding economic 
hardships faced by agricultural producers and rural 
communities. The conference agreement includes language related 
to agriculture disasters in Titles XI-XIII.
      Senate Section 753.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate that exempts food, 
other agricultural products, medicines and medical equipment 
from export control sanctions except where the country 
repeatedly provided support for the acts of terrorism.
      Senate Section 754.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate regarding mandatory 
price reporting.
      The conferees direct the Secretary of Agriculture to take 
steps to increase the voluntary reporting of fed cattle, and 
wholesale beef carcass prices and volumes on a quality and 
yield grade basis, as well as the prices and volumes of boxed 
beef (on carcass equivalent basis) sales by quality grades and 
trim categories, on a daily basis. These reports may include 
all domestic and international forward sales for delivery 
period currently reported, prices for branded products, sales 
delivered as priced basis to a futures contract, sales of less 
than carlot volume and formulated sales. The Secretary shall 
encourage the reporting of the price differential for USDA 
Prime, the upper \2/3\ of USDA Choice, and a sub-select price 
category. Reports should include imported beef products and 
livestock.
      With regard to lamb, the conferees direct the Secretary 
of Agriculture to expand current voluntary reporting of live 
lamb and wholesale lamb carcass prices and volumes on a yield 
grade basis, as well as the prices and volumes of boxed lamb 
and other fabricated lamb cut sales. Price should be reported 
on a weekly basis, for the period currently reported, and 
should include prices for certified and branded products, sales 
of less than carlot volume and formulated sales. Reports should 
include imported lamb products.
      The Secretary of Agriculture shall compile and publish 
price, volume sales, and the shipment information regarding all 
exports and imports of beef, veal, lamb and products thereof 
which is collected via the expanded voluntary process. The 
livestock, carcass, boxed product, primal, sub-primal and other 
meat cut descriptions currently being used by AMS Market News 
Service should serve as a basis for describing and reporting 
imported and exported products for price and volume purposes. 
The Secretary shall also standardize AMS price reporting data 
collection activities to ensure uniformity and complete sales 
data capture and to maximize the information available to all 
aspects of the industry. The Secretary shall report to 
Congress, not more than six months after enactment, on the 
feasibility or need for mandatory price reporting. The 
Secretary is also directed to implement new, electronic export 
certificate issuance and data-reporting programs. The Secretary 
shall encourage the information to be reported not later than 
one week after the end of the week during which exports 
occurred consistent with the advanced notice of rule-making 
published by USDA during 1997.
      Senate Section 755.--The conference agreement does not 
include language related to metered dose inhalers. The House 
bill had no similar provision. The conferees note the Senate's 
interest in a transition from the use of chlorofluorocarbons 
(CFCs) in metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) to less environmentally 
damaging substances, as required by international treaty. The 
use of CFCs has been shown to be harmful to the atmospheric 
ozone layer, which protects humans from skin cancer, although 
the magnitude of the environmental impact of the amount of CFCs 
used in MDIs is unclear. Metered-dose inhalers, which contain 
CFCs as propellants, are used primarily for the treatment of 
asthma and other chronic pulmonary disorders. Asthma and 
pulmonary patients and physicians rightfully believe that the 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must consider their 
concerns, as well as the need to have a range of suitable 
substitutes in place before current products are withdrawn from 
the market, as the agency moves forward with a proposal to 
manage the transition from CFC to non-CFC products. At the same 
time, clear and timely guidance about a transition process is 
needed by both patients and caregivers. Therefore, the 
conferees direct FDA to devote the resources necessary to 
ensure that a proposed rule is issued no later than September 
1, 1999.
      Senate Section 756.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate directing the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Comptroller General, to 
submit a report on the Market Access Program (MAP) to the 
appropriate committees of Congress not later than 180 days 
after enactment of this Act.
      The conferees direct the Secretary to produce a report on 
the MAP which should include an analysis of the costs and 
benefits of the program for compliance with OMB circular A-94; 
estimate the impact of MAP on the agricultural sector, on 
consumers, and other sectors of the economy in the United 
States; assess the relation between the priorities and spending 
levels of programs carried out under MAP and the privately 
funded market promotion activities undertaken by participants 
in the programs; and evaluate the additional spending of 
participants and the amount of export additionality resulting 
from the MAP.
      Senate Section 757.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding the economic 
effect of low commodity prices. The conference agreement 
includes language regarding agricultural disasters in Titles 
XI-XIII.
      Senate Section 758.--The conference agreement does not 
include language as proposed by the Senate that amends the law 
regarding reserve inventories. The conference agreement 
includes language relating to agricultural disasters in Titles 
XI-XIII.
      Senate Section 759.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate that provided for an 
assessment on tobacco programs and reductions in several 
Department of Agriculture programs and increased funding for 
food safety related activities.
      Senate Section 760.--The conference agreement (Section 
756) modifies Senate Section 760 and reduces the spending cap 
on computer-related activities funding through the CCC.
      Senate Section 762.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate to amend the Census of 
Agriculture Act of 1997.This issue is addressed under the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service.
      Senate Section 763.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 757) as proposed by the Senate that makes 
certain owners of trees with fire blight eligible for disaster 
assistance.
      Senate Section 764.--The conference agreement does not 
include language as proposed by the Senate that requires the 
Secretary of Agriculture to make assistance and information 
available to the Commission on 21st Century Production 
Agriculture. The conferees expect the Secretary to assist and 
cooperate as necessary with the Commission.
      Senate Section 765.--The conference agreement does not 
include bill language requiring country of origin labeling for 
fresh produce.
      The conferees direct the General Accounting Office (GAO) 
to conduct a comprehensive study on the potential effects of 
mandatory country of origin labeling of fresh produce. This 
report should assess the impact of such mandatory labeling 
requirements on importers, producers, consumers, and retailers, 
including a cost/benefit analysis. The report should identify 
U.S. trading-partner countries which currently have country of 
origin practices in place, the nature and scope of such 
practices, and a record of U.S. challenges to those 
requirements. The GAO report should also address the ability of 
the Federal government and the public to respond to warnings 
about the outbreak of food-borne illness arising from imported 
produce. The final report should be submitted to the Congress 
no later than six months after the enactment of this Act.
      Senate Section 766.--The conference agreement does not 
include the Sense of the Senate provision that certain programs 
in the bill receive additional funding in the event that 
additional allocation becomes available.
      Senate Section 767.--The conference agreement does not 
include a provision requiring creation of a new Office of the 
Small Farms Advocate as provided in the Senate bill. The 
conferees believe that better management of existing programs 
within the Department, generally, would result in a more 
efficient and effective use of limited resources as they apply 
to small farm and other considerations. Accordingly, the 
conferees urge the Secretary to coordinate activities and to 
encourage policy considerations within existing programs of the 
Department that promote the needs of small farm operators and 
that may help reverse the unwarranted decline in small farm 
operations.
      Senate Section 768.--The conference agreement does not 
include Senate language addressing the inadvertent planting of 
ineligible beans. The conferees are aware that there may be 
instances in which producers, in good faith or in reliance on 
information provided by agricultural consultants, inadvertently 
planted crops in violation of section 118 of the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (FAIR). The FAIR 
Act encouraged producers to exercise planting flexibility in 
order to adapt to new markets and to promote sound conservation 
and agronomic practices. Accordingly, the Secretary is urged to 
exercise reasonable treatment of producers in order to avoid 
harmful consequences.
      Senate Section 769.--The conference agreement does not 
include language as proposed by the Senate that requires a 
report to Congress on a recommendation to lift theban on 
interstate distribution of state inspected meat. The conferees direct 
the Secretary of Agriculture to report to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations by March 1, 1999, with recommendations on 
lifting the ban on the interstate distribution of State-inspected meat.
      Senate Section 770.--The conference agreement includes 
language under Title VIII regarding loans to borrowers who have 
received debt forgiveness.
      Senate Section 771.--The conference agreement does not 
include language related to the definition of family farm.
      Senate Section 772.--The conference agreement includes 
language under Title VIII regarding the basis for denial of 
loans.
      Senate Section 773.--The conference agreement does not 
include language as proposed by the Senate that amends the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding medical drug and 
device recalls.
      Section 759.--The conference agreement includes language 
proposed by the House to make the city of Vineland, New Jersey 
eligible for programs administered by the Rural Housing Service 
and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
      Section 760.--The conference agreement includes language 
that places a moratorium on the rule-making authority of the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over swaps and 
derivatives until March 30, 1999. The conferees do not intend 
to preclude the CFTC's participation in the President's Working 
Group on Financial Markets. Further, the conferees do not 
intend to preclude the Commission from taking action pursuant 
to any determination by the President's Working Group on 
Financial Markets regarding regulatory restraints with respect 
to qualifying hybrid instruments and swap agreements.
      In light of recent market events, including the need for 
financial rescue measures to avert the collapse of a large 
hedge fund, the conferees strongly urge the President's Working 
Group on Financial Markets to undertake an immediate review and 
study of over-the-counter transactions of entities such as 
hedge funds and their relationships with their creditors. This 
provision would not interfere with the Commission's ability to 
take action in furtherance of any determination by the 
President's Working Group.
      Section 761.--The conference agreement includes language 
providing a limitation on the use of funds to carry out section 
612 of Public Law 105-185.
      Section 762.--The conference agreement includes language 
amending section 136 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act 
(7 U.S.C. 7236) by striking ``1.25 cents'' each place it 
appears in subsection (a) and (b) and inserting ``3 cents''.
      Section 763.--The conference agreement includes language 
regarding the distribution of funds made available by section 
1124 of subtitle C of Title XI of this Act.
      Section 764.--The conference agreement includes language 
regarding methyl bromide.

                    TITLE VIII--AGRICULTURAL CREDIT

      The conference agreement includes several changes to 
agricultural credit laws including eligibility for emergency 
loans, notification of ineligibility for loans, training 
requirement exemptions, limitations on amount of farm loans, 
and cash flow requirements.

                  TITLE IX--INDIA-PAKISTAN RELIEF ACT

      The conference agreement adopts Senate language (Title 
IX) allowing waivers of certain export control laws for India 
and Pakistan.

                            (SENATE TITLE X)

      The conference agreement does not include language 
proposed by the Senate requiring meat labeling.
      The conferees direct the Secretary to conduct a 
comprehensive study on the potential effects of mandatory 
country of origin labeling of imported fresh muscle cuts of 
beef and lamb. The report shall include the impact of such 
requirements on imports, exports, livestock producers, 
consumers, processors, packers, distributors and grocers. The 
report shall also include, but is not limited to, the 
following: any additional costs to the Federal government which 
would be incurred as a result of mandatory country of origin 
labeling of imported fresh muscle cuts of beef and lamb; the 
projected costs for beef and lamb distributors, retailers or 
consumers; any projected gains that may result from country of 
origin labeling of imported fresh muscle cuts of beef and lamb; 
and any empirical evidence of benefit or harm, to producers, 
processors, distributors, retailers or consumers produced by 
similar labeling programs in other countries. The report shall 
be submitted to Congress no later than 6 months after the 
enactment of this Act and shall contain a detailed statement of 
the findings and conclusions of the Secretary, together with 
his recommendations for such legislation and administrative 
actions as he considers appropriate.
      The study may also consider the economic effects of 
exempting imported beef and lamb, including meat produced from 
animals imported directly for slaughter in sealed trucks and 
containers, from eligibility for USDA quality grades. The 
Secretary is directed to differentiate ``meat produced from 
animals in sealed trucks and containers directly for 
slaughter'' from ``U.S. production'' in all market reports.

 TITLE X--UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY 
                                PROGRAMS

      The conferees have included bill language that gives the 
Secretary of Agriculture the authority to create an Under 
Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs position at 
USDA.

             TITLE XI--EMERGENCY AND MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE

      The conference agreement includes funding to provide 
assistance to agricultural producers who have suffered 
financial hardship due to adverse weather conditions and loss 
of markets.
      The conference agreement provides $1,500,000,000 in 
assistance directed to producers who have incurred losses in 
the 1998 crop due to disaster. An additional $675,000,000 is 
provided to make available assistance to producers who have 
incurred multiyear losses in the 1998 and preceding crop years. 
The Secretary may make assistance available for crop losses due 
to losses in quantity, quality or severe economic losses due to 
damaging weather or related conditions.
      The conference agreement requires that producers 
receiving crop loss assistance who have not purchased crop 
insurance for the 1998 crop shall agree to purchase crop 
insurance for the subsequent two crops produced by the 
producers.
      The conference agreement makes available $175,000,000 to 
provide livestock feed assistance to livestock producers 
affected by disasters during calendar year 1998.
      The conferees have granted the Secretary broad authority 
to create and implement a crop loss assistance program with the 
funds made available. This will allow the Secretary to complete 
an assessment of 1998 crop losses and provide the maximum 
flexibility to expedite the delivery of assistance.
      The conference agreement provides $1,650,000,000 to 
partially compensate producers for loss of markets in 1998 due 
to circumstances beyond their control, such as regional 
economic dislocation, unilateral trade sanctions and failure of 
the government to pursue trade opportunities aggressively. 
Payments shall be proportional to the amount of the production 
flexibility contract payment made to producers in fiscal year 
1998.
      The agreement includes $50,000,000 for emergency disaster 
assistance to persons or entities who have incurred losses from 
a failure under section 312 (a) of P.L. 94-265, $5,000,000 for 
cotton warehouse losses, temporary recourse loans for honey and 
mohair, and adjustments to crop insurance for raisin producers. 
The conference agreement includes language providing additional 
funding for the Food for Progress program.
      The conferees direct the Farm Service Agency to take into 
consideration the history of flooding in a watershed in 
determining emergency conservation program eligibility in 
Vermont.
      The conferees expect the Secretary of Agriculture to 
extend for two years the time period that a participant in the 
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has for completion of 
pruning, thinning, and stand improvement of trees on lands 
subject to a contract under CRP. Such pruning, thinning, or 
stand improvement activities are otherwise required to be 
completed under the contract in 1998 or 1999.
      The conferees expect the Secretary of Agriculture to 
provide guaranteed loans for purposes of installing irrigation 
systems if a farmer operates a farm within an area that has 
been declared an agricultural disaster due to drought 
conditions.
      The conferees understand that in addition to the 
devastating forest fires that occurred in Florida earlier this 
year, the drought in Texas has also had a significant impact on 
timber production and forest health. The conferees also 
understand that it may take several planting seasons to 
complete the reforestation due to lack of available planting 
stock.
      The conferees are concerned about the weather-related 
crop losses that have devastated New York State fruit and onion 
growers in 1998. The Secretary shall make funding available to 
assist producers who have incurred losses during the 1998 crop 
year to fruit crops and to the trees and vines on which those 
fruit crops are produced.
      The Secretary is also directed to develop a crop disaster 
assistance program suitable for the New York State fruit and 
onion growers. The Secretary shall provide financial assistance 
to apple producers proportioned according to their volume of 
apples sold in fresh, processing and juice markets, based on 
1997 marketing data, and shall not deduct a salvage value when 
the cost of harvesting a crop in that marketing category 
approximates the 1998 cash market value at the time of harvest.
      The Secretary shall make eligible for the Emergency 
Conservation Program fruit drops in orchards as well as 
replacement of trellises in orchards and vineyards that were 
damaged by storms.
      The managers direct that in carrying out the disaster 
relief activities funded by this conference agreement, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall give particular attention to 
assessing and meeting the needs of Puerto Rico and the United 
States Virgin Islands following Hurricane Georges. The 
Secretary should take all necessary steps to help the 
territories recover from the 1998 hurricane season and restore 
their agricultural economies, such as covering losses in 
livestock and non-program crops, including but not limited to 
coffee, bananas, and tropical fruits.

                          TITLE XII--BIODIESEL

      The conference agreement includes language that creates a 
biodiesel program. The Senate bill included similar language.

                  TITLE XIII--EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS

      The conference agreement includes additional funding for 
emergency related costs including $40,000,000 for salaries and 
expenses for the Farm Service Agency, $31,405,000 for subsidy 
costs for additional operating loans for a total loan amount of 
$540,510,000, and $10,000,000 for the Forestry Incentives 
Program.

                   Conference Total--With Comparisons

      The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
fiscal year 1999 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
with comparisons to the fiscal year 1998 amount, the 1999 
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1999 
follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1998... $49,793,563,000
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal 
    year 1999...........................................  59,567,544,000
House bill, fiscal year 1999............................  55,883,142,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 1999...........................  56,820,368,000
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1999..................  59,949,240,000
Conference agreement compared with:
    New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 
      1998.............................................. +10,155,677,000
    Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, 
      fiscal year 1999..................................    +381,696,000
    House bill, fiscal year 1999........................  +4,066,098,000
    Senate bill, fiscal year 1999.......................  +3,128,872,000

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

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Kit Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Dale Bumpers
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Tom Harkin
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Patrick J. Leahy
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Barbara Boxer
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                   Robert C. Byrd
                                           (with exception of title 
                                               XI),
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                
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