[House Report 106-354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





106th Congress                                                   Report
  1st Session           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                106-354

=======================================================================



 
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG 
   ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES PROGRAMS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 
           ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2000, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

               September 30, 1999.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______


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

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 1906]

    The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
1906) ``making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, 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, 2000, 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, $15,436,000, of which, $12,600,000, to remain 
available until expended, shall be available only for the 
development and implementation of a common computing 
environment: 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 the funds made available for the 
development and implementation of a common computing 
environment shall only be available upon approval of the 
Committees on Appropriations and Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate of a plan for the development 
and implementation of a common computing environment: 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, 
energy and new uses, 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, $6,411,000.


                       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, $6,583,000.

                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, $6,051,000.

                 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, $4,783,000.

          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, $140,364,000: 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.

                       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, $34,738,000, 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, $3,568,000: 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 not to exceed $50,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 
3109; and including not to exceed $125,000 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.

                     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

    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, $65,419,000: Provided, That $1,000,000 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 7 U.S.C. 1621-
1627, Public Law 105-113, and other laws, $99,405,000, of which 
up to $16,490,000 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

    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, $834,322,000: 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 2000, 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, $52,500,000, 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); $30,676,000 for payments to the 1890 land-grant colleges, 
including Tuskegee University (7 U.S.C. 3222), of which 
$1,000,000 shall be made available to West Virginia State 
College in Institute, West Virginia, which for fiscal year 2000 
and thereafter shall be designated as an eligible institution 
under section 1445 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222); 
$63,238,000 for special grants for agricultural research (7 
U.S.C. 450i(c)); $13,721,000 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); $650,000 
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; $500,000 for the 1994 research 
program (7 U.S.C. 301 note); $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 post-secondary 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 
$14,825,000 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, $485,698,000.
    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)), 
$3,060,000; 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, $4,000,000; 
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), $12,000,000, to remain available until 
expended; payments for the rural development centers under 
section 3(d) of the Act, $908,000; payments for youth-at-risk 
programs under section 3(d) of the Act, $9,000,000; 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, $26,843,000, of which $1,000,000 shall 
be made available to West Virginia State College in Institute, 
West Virginia, which for fiscal year 2000 and thereafter shall 
be designated as an eligible institution under section 1444 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221); 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, $12,242,000; in all, 
$424,922,000: 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.

                         integrated activities

    For the integrated research, education, and extension 
competitive grants programs, including necessary administrative 
expenses, $39,541,000, as follows: payments for the water 
quality program, $13,000,000; payments for the food safety 
program, $15,000,000; payments for the national agriculture 
pesticide impact assessment program, $4,541,000; payments for 
the Food Quality Protection Act risk mitigation program for 
major food crop systems, $4,000,000; payments for the crops 
affected by Food Quality Protection Act implementation, 
$1,000,000; and payments for the methyl bromide transition 
program, $2,000,000, as authorized under section 406 of the 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626).

  Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

    For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of the 
Under 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, $441,263,000, 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 be available for the operation and maintenance 
of aircraft and the purchase of not to exceed four, of which two shall 
be for replacement only: Provided further, That, in addition, in 
emergencies which threaten any segment of the agricultural production 
industry of this country, the Secretary may transfer from other 
appropriations or funds available to the agencies or corporations of 
the Department such sums as 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 2000, 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 2000, $87,000,000 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, $5,200,000, to remain available until expended.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           marketing services


    For necessary expenses to carry on services related to 
consumer protection, agricultural marketing and distribution, 
transportation, and regulatory programs, as authorized by law, 
and for administration and coordination of payments to States, 
including field employment pursuant to the second sentence of 
section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2225) and 
not to exceed $90,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109, 
$51,625,000, 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 $12,443,000 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, $26,448,000: 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, 
$649,411,000, of which no less than $544,902,000 shall be 
available for federal food inspection, 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 alterationand 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, $794,839,000: 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), $3,000,000.


                        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, $559,422,000, of which 
$431,373,000 shall be for guaranteed loans; operating loans, 
$2,397,842,000, of which $1,697,842,000 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, $1,028,000; 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, $7,243,000, of which $2,416,000, shall be for guaranteed 
loans; operating loans, $70,860,000, of which $23,940,000 shall 
be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans and $17,620,000 shall be 
for subsidized guaranteed loans; Indian tribe land acquisition 
loans as authorized by 25 U.S.C. 488, $21,000; and for 
emergency insured loans, $3,882,000 to meet the needs resulting 
from natural disasters.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $214,161,000, of 
which $209,861,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the 
appropriation for ``Farm Service Agency, Salaries and 
Expenses''.
    Funds appropriated by this Act to the Agricultural Credit 
Insurance Program Account for farm ownership and operating 
direct loans and guaranteed loans may be transferred among 
these programs with the prior approval of the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations.

                         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 year limitations as 
provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control 
Act as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth 
in the budget for the current fiscal year for such corporation 
or agency, except as hereinafter provided.

                Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund

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

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund


                 reimbursement for net realized losses


    For fiscal year 2000, such sums as may be necessary to 
reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized 
losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed, 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 2000, the Commodity Credit Corporation 
shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for expenses to comply 
with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 
U.S.C. 9607(g), and section 6001 of the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6961: Provided, That expenses shall 
be for operations and maintenance costs only and that other 
hazardous waste management costs shall be paid for by the USDA 
Hazardous Waste Management appropriation in this Act.

                                TITLE II

                         CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

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

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                        conservation operations


    For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of 
the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a-f), including 
preparation of conservation plans and establishment of measures 
to conserve soil and water (including farm irrigation and land 
drainage and such special measures for soil and water 
management as may be necessary to prevent floods and the 
siltation of reservoirs and to control agricultural related 
pollutants); operation of conservation plant materials centers; 
classification and mapping of soil; dissemination of 
information; acquisition of lands, water, and interests therein 
for use in the plant materials program by donation, exchange, 
or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100 pursuant to 
the Act of August 3, 1956 (7 U.S.C. 428a); purchase and 
erection or alteration or improvement of permanent and 
temporary buildings; and operation and maintenance of aircraft, 
$661,243,000, 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 $9,125,000 is for 
operation and establishment of the plant materials centers: 
Provided, That appropriations hereunder shall be available 
pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2250 for construction and improvement of 
buildings and public improvements at plant materials centers, 
except that the cost of alterations and improvements to other 
buildings and other public improvements shall not exceed 
$250,000: Provided further, That when buildings or other 
structures are erected on non-Federal land, that the right to 
use such land is obtained as provided in 7 U.S.C. 2250a: 
Provided further, That this appropriation shall be available 
for technical assistance and related expenses to carry out 
programs authorized by section 202(c) of title II of the 
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (43 U.S.C. 
1592(c)): Provided further, That 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: Provided further, That of the funds available for 
Emergency Watershed Protection activities, $8,000,000 shall be 
available for Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin for 
financial and technical assistance for pilot rehabilitation 
projects of small, upstream dams built under the Watershed and 
Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq., section 13 of the 
Act of December 22, 1994; Public Law 78-534; 58 Stat. 905), and 
the pilot watershed program authorized under the heading 
``FLOOD PREVENTION'' of the Department of Agriculture 
Appropriation Act, 1954 (Public Law 83-156; 67 Stat. 214).

                 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), $35,265,000, 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, 1926d, and 1932, 
except for sections 381E-H, 381N, and 381O of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009f), $718,837,000, 
to remain available until expended, of which $23,150,000 shall 
be for rural community programs described in section 381E(d)(1) 
of such Act; of which $631,088,000 shall be for the rural 
utilities programs described in section 381E(d)(2), 306C(a)(2), 
and 306D of such Act; and of which $64,599,000 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 rural community programs, $6,000,000 shall be 
available for a Rural Community Development Initiative: 
Provided further, That such funds shall be used solely to 
develop the capacity and ability of private, nonprofit 
community-based housing and community development 
organizations, and low income rural communities to undertake 
projects to improve housing, community facilities, community 
and economic development projects in rural areas: Provided 
further, That such funds shall be made available to qualified 
private and public (including tribal) intermediary 
organizations proposing to carry out a program of technical 
assistance: Provided further, That such intermediary 
organizations shall provide matching funds from other sources 
in an amount not less than funds provided: Provided further, 
That of the amount appropriated for the rural business and 
cooperative development programs, not to exceed $500,000 shall 
be made available for a grant to a qualified national 
organization to provide technical assistance for rural 
transportation in order to promote economic development: 
Provided further, That of the amount appropriated for rural 
utilities programs, not to exceed $20,000,000 shall be for 
water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along 
the United States/Mexico borders, including grants pursuant to 
section 306C of such Act; not to exceed $12,000,000 shall be 
for water and waste disposal systems to benefit Federally 
Recognized Native American Tribes, including grants pursuant to 
section 306C of such Act: Provided further, That the Federally 
Recognized Native American Tribe is not eligible for any other 
rural utilities programs set aside under the Rural Community 
Advancement Program; not to exceed $20,000,000 shall be for 
water and waste disposal systems for rural and native villages 
in Alaska pursuant to section 306D of such Act with up to one 
percent available to administer the program and up to one 
percent available to improve interagency coordination; 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 $7,300,000 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 
$45,245,000 shall be available through June 30, 2000, for 
authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and 
communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural 
Economic Area Partnership Zones; of which $34,704,000 shall be 
for the rural utilities programs described in section 
381E(d)(2) of such Act; of which $8,435,000 shall be for the 
rural business and cooperative development programs described 
in section 381E(d)(3) of such Act: Provided further, That any 
obligated and unobligated balances available from prior years 
for the ``Rural Utilities Assistance Program'' account shall be 
transferred to and merged with this account.

                         Rural Housing Service


              rural housing insurance fund program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 
and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing 
Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing 
insurance fund, as follows: $4,300,000,000 for loans to section 
502 borrowers, as determined by the Secretary, of which 
$3,200,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; 
$32,396,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; $100,000,000 
for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; 
$25,001,000 for section 514 farm labor housing; $114,321,000 
for section 515 rental housing; $5,152,000 for section 524 site 
loans; $7,503,000 for credit sales of acquired property, of 
which up to $1,250,000 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, $113,350,000, of which $19,520,000 shall be for 
unsubsidized guaranteed loans; section 504 housing repair 
loans, $9,900,000; section 538 multi-family housing guaranteed 
loans, $480,000; section 514 farm labor housing, $11,308,000; 
section 515 rental housing, $45,363,000; section 524 site 
loans, $4,000; credit sales of acquired property, $874,000, of 
which up to $494,250 may be for multi-family credit sales; and 
section 523 self-help housing land development loans, $281,000: 
Provided, That of the total amount appropriated in this 
paragraph, $11,180,000 shall be available through June 30, 
2000, for authorized empowerment zones and enterprise 
communities and communities designated by the Secretary of 
Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones.
    In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $375,879,000, 
which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation 
for ``Rural Housing Service, Salaries and Expenses'': Provided, 
That of this amount the Secretary of Agriculture may transfer 
up to $7,000,000 to the appropriation for ``Outreach for 
Socially Disadvantaged Farmers''.


                       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, $640,000,000; 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 2000 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), $28,000,000, to 
remain available until expended (7 U.S.C. 2209b): Provided, 
That of the total amount appropriated, $1,000,000 shall be 
available through June 30, 2000, for authorized empowerment 
zones and enterprise communities and communities designated by 
the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership 
Zones.


                    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, $45,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
Provided, That of the total amount appropriated, $1,200,000 
shall be available through June 30, 2000, for authorized 
empowerment zones and enterprise communities and communities 
designatedby the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural Economic 
Area Partnership Zones.


                         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, $61,979,000: 
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 $38,256,000: Provided further, That of the 
total amount appropriated, $3,216,000 shall be available 
through June 30, 2000, for the cost of direct loans for 
authorized empowerment zones and enterprise communities and 
communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural 
Economic Area Partnership Zones.
    In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
direct loan programs, $3,337,000 shall be transferred to and 
merged with the appropriation for ``Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Salaries and Expenses''.


            rural economic development loans program account


                    (including rescission 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, $3,453,000.
    Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit 
payments in fiscal year 2000, as authorized by section 313 of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $3,453,000 shall not be 
obligated and $3,453,000 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), $6,000,000, of which $1,500,000 shall be 
available for cooperative agreements for the appropriate 
technology transfer for rural areas program: Provided, That at 
least twenty-five percent of the total amount appropriated 
shall be made available to cooperatives or associations of 
cooperatives that assist small, minority producers.

                         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, $24,612,000: Provided, That this appropriation 
shall be available for employment pursuant to the second 
sentence of section 706(a) of the Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 
2225), and not to exceed $260,000 may be used for employment 
under 5 U.S.C. 3109.

                        Rural Utilities Service

   rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account


                     (including transfers of funds)


    Insured loans pursuant to the authority of section 305 of 
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935) shall be 
made as follows: 5 percent rural electrification loans, 
$121,500,000; 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, $1,700,000,000 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, $1,935,000; cost of municipal 
rate loans, $10,827,000; cost of money rural telecommunications 
loans, $2,370,000: 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, $31,046,000, 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 2000 and within the resources and 
authority available, gross obligations for the principal amount 
of direct loans shall be $175,000,000.
    For the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including the cost of 
modifying loans, of direct loans authorized by the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 935), $3,290,000.
    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., $20,700,000, 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, 
$34,107,000: 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; $9,554,028,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 2001, of which $4,618,829,000 is hereby 
appropriated and $4,935,199,000 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, except as specifically 
provided under this heading, none of the funds made available 
under this heading shall be used for studies and evaluations: 
Provided further, That of the funds made available under this 
heading, up to $7,000,000 shall be for school breakfast pilot 
projects, including the evaluation required under section 18(e) 
of the National School Lunch Act: Provided further, That up to 
$4,363,000 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), 
$4,032,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2001: 
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 none of the funds provided 
shall be available for activities that are not fully reimbursed 
by other federal government departments or agencies unless 
authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.


                           food stamp program


    For necessary expenses to carry out the Food Stamp Act (7 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $21,071,751,000, 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); the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, $133,300,000, 
to remain available through September 30, 2001: 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 necessary expenses to carry out section 4(a) of the 
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973; special 
assistance for the nuclear affected islands as authorized by 
section 103(h)(2) of the Compacts of Free Association Act of 
1985, as amended; and section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 
1965, $141,081,000, to remain available through September 30, 
2001.


                      food program administration


    For necessary administrative expenses of the domestic food 
programs funded under this Act, $111,561,000, of which 
$5,000,000 shall be available only for simplifying procedures, 
reducing overhead costs, tightening regulations, improving food 
stamp coupon handling, and assisting in the prevention, 
identification, and prosecution of fraud and other violations 
of law and of which not less than $3,000,000 shall be available 
to improve integrity in the Food Stamp and Child Nutrition 
programs: 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), 
$109,203,000: 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. 
1737) and the foreign assistance programs of the United States 
Agency for International Development.
    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) 
$155,000,000 for Public Law 480 title I credit, including Food 
for Progress programs; (2) $21,000,000 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; and (3) $800,000,000 is 
hereby appropriated for commodities supplied in connection with 
dispositions abroad pursuant to title II 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, $127,813,000.
    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; $1,186,072,000, of which not to exceed 
$145,434,000 in prescription drug user fees authorized by 21 
U.S.C. 379(h) may be credited to this appropriation and remain 
available until expended: Provided, That fees derived from 
applications received during fiscal year 2000 shall be subject 
to the fiscal year 2000 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) 
$269,245,000 shall be for the Center for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition and related field activities in the Office of 
Regulatory Affairs; (2) $309,026,000 shall be for the Center 
for Drug Evaluation and Research and related field activities 
in the Office of Regulatory Affairs, of which no less than 
$11,542,000 shall be available for grants and contracts awarded 
under section 5 of the Orphan Drug Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee); (3) 
$132,092,000 shall be for the Center for Biologics Evaluation 
and Research and for related field activities in the Office of 
Regulatory Affairs; (4) $48,821,000 shall be for the Center for 
Veterinary Medicine and for related field activities in the 
Office of Regulatory Affairs; (5) $154,271,000 shall be for the 
Center for Devices and Radiological Health and for related 
field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs, of which 
$1,000,000 shall be for premarket review, enforcement and 
oversight activities related to users and manufacturers of all 
reprocessed medical devices as authorized by the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), and of which no 
less than $55,500,000 and 522 full-time equivalent positions 
shall be for premarket application review activities to meet 
statutory review times; (6) $34,536,000 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) $100,180,000 shall be 
for payments to the General Services Administration for rent 
and related costs; and (10) $78,046,000 shall be for other 
activities, including the Office of the Commissioner; the 
Office of Policy; the Office of the Senior Associate 
Commissioner; the Office of International and Constituent 
Relations; the Office of Policy, Legislation, and Planning; and 
central services for these offices: Provided further, That 
funds may be transferred from one specified activity to another 
with the prior approval of the Committee on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress.
    In addition, mammography user fees authorized by 42 U.S.C. 
263(b) may be credited to this account, to remain available 
until expended.
    In addition, export certification user fees authorized by 
21 U.S.C. 381 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).

                          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, $63,000,000, including not to 
exceed $1,000 for official reception and representation 
expenses: Provided, That for fiscal year 2000 and thereafter, 
the Commission is authorized to charge reasonable fees to 
attendees of Commission sponsored educational events and 
symposia to cover the Commission's costs of providing those 
events and symposia, and notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, said 
fees shall be credited to this account, to be available without 
further appropriation.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 limitation on administrative expenses


    Not to exceed $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 2000 under this Act shall be 
available for the purchase, in addition to those specifically 
provided for, of not to exceed 365 passenger motor vehicles, of 
which 361 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: Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service, the contingency fund to meet emergency conditions, 
fruit fly program, integrated systems acquisition project, boll 
weevil program, up to 10 percent of the screwworm program, and 
up to $2,000,000 for costs associated with colocating regional 
offices; Food Safety and Inspection Service, field automation 
and information management project; funds appropriated for 
rental payments; Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service, funds for competitive research grants (7 
U.S.C. 450i(b)) and funds for the Native American Institutions 
Endowment Fund; Farm Service Agency, salaries and expenses 
funds made available to county committees; and Foreign 
Agricultural Service, middle-income country training program.
    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 charged against competitive agricultural 
research, education, or extension grant awards issued by the 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
that exceed 19 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 (7 U.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 provision of this Act, 
all loan levels provided in this Act shall be considered 
estimates, not limitations.
    Sec. 713. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
effective on September 29, 1999, appropriations made available 
to the Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account for the 
costs of direct and guaranteed loans and to the Rural Housing 
Assistance Grants Account in fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, 
1997, 1998, and 1999 shall remain available until expended to 
cover obligations made in each of those fiscal years 
respectively with regard to each account.
    Sec. 714. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture 
for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in 
fiscal year 2000 shall remain available until expended to cover 
obligations made in fiscal year 2000 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; the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund Program Account; and the rural economic 
development loans program account.
    Sec. 715. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
2000 pay raises for programs funded by this Act shall be 
absorbed within the levels appropriated by this Act.
    Sec. 716. Notwithstanding the Federal Grant and Cooperative 
Agreement Act, marketing services of the Agricultural Marketing 
Service; Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration; the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; 
and the food safety activities of the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service may use cooperative agreements to reflect a 
relationship between the Agricultural Marketing Service; the 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; the 
Animal and PlantHealth Inspection Service; or the Food Safety 
and Inspection Service and a State or Cooperator to carry out 
agricultural marketing programs, to carry out programs to protect the 
Nation's animal and plant resources, or to carry out educational 
programs or special studies to improve the safety of the Nation's food 
supply.
    Sec. 717. Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
(including provisions of law requiring competition), the 
Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements (which may 
provide for the acquisition of goods or services, including 
personal services) with a State, political subdivision, or 
agency thereof, a public or private agency, organization, or 
any other person, if the Secretary determines that the 
objectives of the agreement will (1) serve a mutual interest of 
the parties to the agreement in carrying out the Wetlands 
Reserve Program; (2) all parties will contribute resources to 
the accomplishment of these objectives: 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. 718. None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
retire more than 5 percent of the Class A stock of the Rural 
Telephone Bank or to maintain any account or subaccount within 
the accounting records of the Rural Telephone Bank the creation 
of which has not specifically been authorized by statute: 
Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this 
Act may be used to transfer to the Treasury or to the Federal 
Financing Bank any unobligated balance of the Rural Telephone 
Bank telephone liquidating account which is in excess of 
current requirements and such balance shall receive interest as 
set forth for financial accounts in section 505(c) of the 
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
    Sec. 719. 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 by this Act may be 
used to carry out the provisions of section 918 of Public Law 
104-127, the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act.
    Sec. 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 2000, 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 2000, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury of the 
United States derived by the collection of fees available to 
the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for 
obligation or expenditure for activities, programs, or projects 
through a reprogramming of funds in excess of $500,000 or 10 
percent, whichever is less, that: (1) augments existing 
programs, projects, or activities; (2) reduces by 10 percent 
funding for any existing program, project, or activity, or 
numbers of personnel by 10 percent as approved by Congress; or 
(3) results from any general savings from a reduction in 
personnel which would result in a change in existing programs, 
activities, or projects as approved by Congress; unless the 
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 the transfer or 
obligation of fiscal year 2000 funds under the provisions of 
section 793 of Public Law 104-127.
    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 in fiscal year 2000 
or thereafter 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. 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 150,000 acres in 
the fiscal year 2000 wetlands reserve program as authorized by 
16 U.S.C. 3837.
    Sec. 729. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this or any other Act shall be used to pay the 
salaries and expenses of personnel to carry out the transfer or 
obligation of fiscal year 2000 funds under the provisions of 
section 401 of Public Law 105-185, the Initiative for Future 
Agriculture and Food Systems.
    Sec. 730. Notwithstanding section 381A of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009), in fiscal year 
2000 and thereafter, 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. 731. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act shall be used to carry outany commodity 
purchase program that would prohibit eligibility or participation by 
farmer-owned cooperatives.
    Sec. 732. 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. 733. 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, or the Food and Drug Administration Detroit, 
Michigan, District Office Laboratory; or to reduce the Detroit, 
Michigan, Food and Drug Administration District Office below 
the operating and full-time equivalent staffing level of July 
31, 1999; or to change the Detroit District Office to a 
station, residence post or similarly modified office; or to 
reassign residence posts assigned to the Detroit District 
Office.
    Sec. 734. 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. 735. 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 2001 
appropriations Act.
    Sec. 736. 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. 737. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this or any other Act may be used to carry out 
provision of section 612 of Public Law 105-185.
    Sec. 738. 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 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)) if such program exceeds 
$98,000,000.
    Sec. 739. None of the funds appropriated by this Act shall 
be used to propose or issue rules, regulations, decrees, or 
orders for the purpose of implementation, or in preparation for 
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol which was adopted on 
December 11, 1997, in Kyoto, Japan.
    Sec. 740. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in 
fiscal year 2000 and thereafter, permanent employees of county 
committees employed on or after October 1, 1998, pursuant to 
8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 
U.S.C. 590h(b)) shall be considered as having Federal Civil 
Service status only for the purpose of applying for United 
States Department of Agriculture Civil Service vacancies.
    Sec. 741. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act may be used to declare excess or surplus 
all or part of the lands and facilities owned by the Federal 
Government and administered by the Secretary of Agriculture at 
Fort Reno, Oklahoma, or to transfer or convey such lands or 
facilities, without the specific authorization of Congress.
    Sec. 742. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall 
provide funds, within discretionary amounts available, for the 
settlement of claims associated with the Chuquatonchee 
Watershed Project in Mississippi to close out this project.
    Sec. 743. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall offer 
to enter into an agreement with the Governor of the State of 
Hawaii to conduct a pilot program to inspect mail entering the 
State of Hawaii for any plant, plant product, plant pest, or 
other organism that is subject to Federal quarantine laws.
    (b) The agreement described in subsection (a) shall contain 
the same terms and conditions as are contained in the 
memorandum of understanding entered into between the Secretary 
and the State of California, dated February 1, 1999, unless the 
Secretary and the Governor agree to different terms or 
conditions.
    (c) Unless the Secretary and the Governor agree otherwise, 
the agreement described in subsection (b) shall terminate on 
the later of--
            (1) the date that is 1 year after the date the 
        agreement becomes effective; or
            (2) the date that the February 1, 1999 memorandum 
        of understanding terminates.
    Sec. 744. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary is authorized under section 306 of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1926), to 
provide guaranteed lines of credit, including working capital 
loans, for health care facilities, to address Year 2000 
computer conversion issues.
    Sec. 745. After taking any action involving the seizure, 
quarantine, treatment, destruction, or disposal of wheat 
infested with karnal bunt, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
compensate the producers and handlers for economic losses 
incurred as the result of the action not later than 45 days 
after receipt of a claim that includes all appropriate 
paperwork.
    Sec. 746. In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated or 
made available by this Act, $2,000,000 is appropriated for the 
purpose of providing Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger 
Fellowships through the Congressional Hunger Center, which is 
an organization described in subsection (c)(3) of section 501 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from 
taxation under subsection (a) of such section.
    Sec. 747. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there 
are hereby appropriated $250,000 for the program authorized 
under section 388 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996, solely for use in the State of New 
Hampshire.
    Sec. 748. The Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1188 et seq.) is amended: (a) in section 218(c)(1) by striking 
``60 days'' and inserting ``45 days'', and (b) in section 
218(c)(3)(A) by striking ``20 days'' and inserting ``30 days''.
    Sec. 749. Successorship Provisions Relating to Bargaining 
Units and Exclusive Representatives. (a) Voluntary Agreement.--
            (1) In general.--If the exercise of the Secretary 
        of Agriculture's authority under this section results 
        in changes to an existing bargaining unit that has been 
        certified under chapter 71 of title 5, United States 
        Code, the affected parties shall attempt to reach a 
        voluntary agreement on a new bargaining unit and an 
        exclusive representative for such unit.
            (2) Criteria.--In carrying out the requirements of 
        this subsection, the affected parties shall use 
        criteria set forth in--
                    (A) sections 7103(a)(4), 7111(e), 
                7111(f)(1), and 7120 of title 5, United States 
                Code, relating to determining an exclusive 
                representative; and
                    (B) section 7112 of title 5, United States 
                Code (disregarding subsections (b)(5) and (d) 
                thereof), relating to determining appropriate 
                units.
    (b) Effect of an Agreement.--
            (1) In general.--If the affected parties reach 
        agreement on the appropriate unit and the exclusive 
        representative for such unit under subsection (a), the 
        Federal Labor Relations Authority shall certify the 
        terms of such agreement, subject to paragraph (2)(A). 
        Nothing in this subsection shall be considered to 
        require the holding of any hearing or election as a 
        condition for certification.
            (2) Restrictions.--
                    (A) Conditions requiring 
                noncertification.--The Federal Labor Relations 
                Authoritymay not certify the terms of an 
agreement under paragraph (1) if--
                            (i) it determines that any of the 
                        criteria referred to in subsection 
                        (a)(2) (disregarding section 7112(a) of 
                        title 5, United States Code) have not 
                        been met; or
                            (ii) after the Secretary's exercise 
                        of authority and before certification 
                        under this section, a valid election 
                        under section 7111(b) of title 5, 
                        United States Code, is held covering 
                        any employees who would be included in 
                        the unit proposed for certification.
                    (B) Temporary waiver of provision that 
                would bar an election after a collective 
                bargaining agreement is reached.--Nothing in 
                section 7111(f)(3) of title 5, United States 
                Code, shall prevent the holding of an election 
                under section 7111(b) of such title that covers 
                employees within a unit certified under 
                paragraph (1), or giving effect to the results 
                of such an election (including a decision not 
                to be represented by any labor organization), 
                if the election is held before the end of the 
                12-month period beginning on the date such unit 
                is so certified.
                    (C) Clarification.--The certification of a 
                unit under paragraph (1) shall not, for 
                purposes of the last sentence of section 
                7111(b) of title 5, United States Code, or 
                section 7111(f)(4) of such title, be treated as 
                if it had occurred pursuant to an election.
            (3) Delegation.--
                    (A) In general.--The Federal Labor 
                Relations Authority may delegate to any 
                regional director (as referred to in section 
                7105(e) of title 5, United States Code) its 
                authority under the preceding provisions of 
                this subsection.
                    (B) Review.--Any action taken by a regional 
                director under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                subject to review under the provisions of 
                section 7105(f) of title 5, United States Code, 
                in the same manner as if such action had been 
                taken under section 7105(e) of such title, 
                except that in the case of a decision not to 
                certify, such review shall be required if 
                application therefore is filed by an affected 
                party within the time specified in such 
                provisions.
    (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``affected party'' means--
            (1) with respect to an exercise of authority by the 
        Secretary of Agriculture under this section, any labor 
        organization affected thereby; and
            (2) the Department of Agriculture.
    Sec. 750. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available by this Act or any other Act shall be used for the 
implementation of a Support Services Bureau or similar 
organization.
    Sec. 751. Contracts for Procurement or Processing of 
Certain Commodities. (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) HUBZone sole source contract.--The term 
        ``HUBZone sole source contract'' means a sole source 
        contract authorized by section 31 of the Small Business 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 657a).
            (2) HUBZone price evaluation preference.--The term 
        ``HUBZone price evaluation preference'' means a price 
        evaluation preference authorized by section 31 of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657a).
            (3) Qualified HUBZone small business concern.--The 
        term ``qualified HUBZone small business concern'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 3(p) of the Small 
        Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(p)).
            (4) Covered procurement.--The term ``covered 
        procurement'' means a contract for the procurement or 
        processing of a commodity furnished under title II or 
        III of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
        Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.), section 
        416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 
        1431(b)), the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
        1736o), or any other commodity procurement or 
        acquisition by the Commodity Credit Corporation under 
        any other law.
    (b) Prohibition of Use of Funds.--None of the funds made 
available by this Act may be used:
            (1) to award a HUBZone sole source contract or a 
        contract awarded through full and open competition in 
        combination with a HUBZone price evaluation preference 
        to any qualified HUBZone small business concern in any 
        covered procurement if performance of the contract by 
        the business concern would exceed the production 
        capacity of the business concern or would require the 
        business concern to subcontract to any other company or 
        enterprise for the purchase of the commodity being 
        procured through the covered procurement.
            (2) in any contract awarded through full and open 
        competition in any covered procurement,
                    (A) to fund a price evaluation preference 
                greater than 5 percent if the dollar value of 
                the contract awarded is not greater than 50 
                percent of the total dollar value being 
                procured in a single tender for a commodity, or
                    (B) to fund any price evaluation preference 
                at all if the dollar value of the contract 
                awarded is greater than 50 percent of the total 
                dollar value being procured in a single tender 
                for a commodity.
    Sec. 752. Redesignation of National School Lunch Act as 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. (a) In General.--
The first section of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1751 note) is amended by striking ``National School Lunch Act'' 
and inserting ``Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The following provisions of law 
are amended by striking ``National School Lunch Act'' each 
place it appears and inserting ``Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act'':
            (1) Sections 3 and 13(3)(A) of the Commodity 
        Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987 (7 
        U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 100-237).
            (2) Section 404 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 
        U.S.C. 1424).
            (3) Section 201(a) of the Act entitled ``An Act to 
        extend the Agricultural Trade Development and 
        Assistance Act of 1954, and for other purposes'', 
        approved September 21, 1959 (7 U.S.C. 1431c(a); 73 
        Stat. 610).
            (4) Section 211(a) of the Agricultural Trade 
        Suspension Adjustment Act of 1980 (7 U.S.C. 4004(a)).
            (5) Section 245A(h)(4)(A) of the Immigration and 
        Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255a(h)(4)(A)).
            (6) Sections 403(c)(2)(C), 422(b)(3), 423(d)(3), 
        741(a)(1), and 742 of the Personal Responsibility and 
        Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
        1613(c)(2)(C), 1632(b)(3), 1183a note, 42 U.S.C. 1751 
        note, 8 U.S.C. 1615; Public Law 104-193).
            (7) Section 2243(b) of title 10, United States 
        Code.
            (8) Sections 404B(g)(1)(A), 404D(c)(2), and 
        404F(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1070a-22(g)(1)(A), 1070a-24(c)(2), 1070a-
        26(a)(2); Public Law 105-244).  (6) Sections 
        403(c)(2)(C), 422(b)(3), 423(d)(3), 741(a)(1), and 742 
        of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
        Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(c)(2)(C), 
        1632(b)(3), 1183a note, 42 U.S.C. 1751 note, 8 U.S.C. 
        1615; Public Law 104-193).
            (7) Section 2243(b) of title 10, United States 
        Code.
            (8) Sections 404B(g)(1)(A), 404D(c)(2), and 
        404F(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1070a-22(g)(1)(A), 1070a-24(c)(2), 1070a-
        26(a)(2); Public Law 105-244).
            (9) Section 231(d)(3)(A)(i) of the Carl D. Perkins 
        Vocational Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2341(d)(3)(A)(i)).
            (10) Section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)).
            (11) Section 1397E(d)(4)(A)(iv)(II) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986.
            (12) Sections 254(b)(2)(B) and 263(a)(2)(C) of the 
        Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1633(b)(2)(B), 
        1643(a)(2)(C)).
            (13) Section 3803(c)(2)(C)(xiii) of title 31, 
        United States Code.
            (14) Section 602(d)(9)(A) of the Federal Property 
        and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 
        474(d)(9)(A)).
            (15) Sections 2(4), 3(1), and 301 of the Healthy 
        Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 1751 
        note; Public Law 103-448).
            (16) Sections 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16(b), 17, and 19(d) 
        of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1772, 
        1773, 1776, 1779, 1782, 1785(b), 1786, 1788(d)).
            (17) Section 658O(b)(3) of the Child Care and 
        Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
        9858m(b)(3)).
            (18) Subsection (b) of the first section of Public 
        Law 87-688 (48 U.S.C. 1666(b)).
            (19) Section 10405(a)(2)(H) of the Omnibus Budget 
        Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-239; 103 
        Stat. 2489).
    Sec. 753. Public Law 105-199 (112 Stat. 641) is amended in 
section 3(b)(1)(G) by striking ``persons'', and inserting in 
lieu thereof ``governors, who may be represented on the 
Commission by their respective designees,''.
    Sec. 754. Section 889 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by inserting ``HARRY K. 
        DUPREE'' before ``STUTTGART'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) in the heading, by inserting ``HARRY K. 
                DUPREE'' before ``STUTTGART''; and
                    (B) in subparagraphs (A) and (B), by 
                inserting ``Harry K. Dupree'' before 
                ``Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research 
                Center'' each place it appears.
    Sec. 755. Tobacco Leasing and Information. (a) Cross-County 
Leasing.--Section 319(l) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 
1938 (7 U.S.C. 1314e(l)) is amended in the second sentence by 
inserting ``, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky,'' after ``Tennessee''.
    (b) Tobacco Production and Marketing Information.--Part I 
of subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act 
of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 320D. TOBACCO PRODUCTION AND MARKETING INFORMATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the Secretary may, subject to subsection (b), release 
marketing information submitted by persons relating to the 
production and marketing of tobacco to State trusts or similar 
organizations engaged in the distribution of national trust 
funds to tobacco producers and other persons with interests 
associated with the production of tobacco, as determined by the 
Secretary.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) In general.--Information may be released 
        under subsection (a) only to the extent that--
                    ``(A) the release is in the interest of 
                tobacco producers, as determined by the 
                Secretary; and
                    ``(B) the information is released to a 
                State trust or other organization that is 
                created to, or charged with, distributing funds 
                to tobacco producers or other parties with an 
                interest in tobacco production or tobacco farms 
                under a national or State trust or settlement.
            ``(2) Exemption from release.--The Secretary shall, 
        to the maximum extent practicable, in advance of making 
        a release of information under subsection (a), allow, 
        by announcement, a period of at least 15 days for 
        persons whose consent would otherwise be required by 
        law to effectuate the release, to elect to be exempt 
        from the release.
    ``(c) Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--In making a release under 
        subsection (a), the Secretary may provide such other 
        assistance with respect to information released under 
        subsection (a) as will facilitate the interest of 
        producers in receiving the funds that are the subject 
        of a trust described in subsection (a).
            ``(2) Funds.--The Secretary shall use amounts made 
        available for salaries and expenses of the Department 
        to carry out paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Records.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person who obtains information 
        described in subsection (a) shall maintain records that 
        are consistent with the purposes of the release and 
        shall not use the records for any purpose not 
        authorized under this section.
            ``(2) Penalty.--A person who knowingly violates 
        this subsection shall be fined not more than $10,000, 
        imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
    ``(e) Application.--This section shall not apply to--
            ``(1) records submitted by cigarette manufacturers 
        with respect to the production of cigarettes;
            ``(2) records that were submitted as expected 
        purchase intentions in connection with the 
        establishment of national tobacco quotas; or
            ``(3) records that aggregate the purchases of 
        particular buyers.''.
    Sec. 756. Notwithstanding section 306(a)(7) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1926(a)(7)), the city of Berlin, New Hampshire, shall be 
eligible during fiscal year 2000 for a rural utilities grant or 
loan under the Rural Community Advancement Program.
    Sec. 757. Cranberry Marketing Orders. (a) Paid Advertising 
for Cranberries and Cranberry Products.--Section 8c(6)(I) of 
the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(6)(I)), 
reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937, is amended in the first proviso--
            (1) by striking ``or Florida grown strawberries'' 
        and inserting ``, Florida grown strawberries, or 
        cranberries''; and
            (2) by striking ``and Florida Indian River 
        grapefruit'' and inserting ``Florida Indian River 
        grapefruit, and cranberries''.
    (b) Collection of Cranberry Inventory Data.--Section 8d of 
the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608d), reenacted with 
amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3) Collection of cranberry inventory data.--
            ``(A) In general.--If an order is in effect with 
        respect to cranberries, the Secretary of Agriculture 
        may require persons engaged in the handling or 
        importation of cranberries or cranberry products 
        (including producer-handlers, second handlers, 
        processors, brokers, and importers) to provide such 
        information as the Secretary considers necessary to 
        effectuate the declared policy of this title, including 
        information on acquisitions, inventories, and 
        dispositions of cranberries and cranberry products.
            ``(B) Delegation to committee.--The Secretary may 
        delegate the authority to carry out subparagraph (A) to 
        any committee that is responsible for administering an 
        order covering cranberries.
            ``(C) Confidentiality.--Paragraph (2) shall apply 
        to information provided under this paragraph.
            ``(D) Violations.--Any person who violates this 
        paragraph shall be subject to the penalties provided 
        under section 8c(14).''.
    Sec. 758. Beginning in fiscal year 2001 and thereafter, the 
Food Stamp Act (Public Law 95-113, section 16(a)) is amended by 
inserting after the phrase ``Indian reservation under section 
11(d) of this Act'' the following new phrase: ``or in a Native 
village within the State of Alaska identified in section 11(b) 
of Public Law 92-203, as amended.''.
    Sec. 759. Education Grants to Alaska Native Serving 
Institutions and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions. (a) 
Education Grants Program for Alaska Native Serving 
Institutions.--
            (1) Grant authority.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        may make competitive grants (or grants without regard 
        to any requirement for competition) to Alaska Native 
        serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and 
        strengthening the ability of Alaska Native serving 
        institutions to carry out education, applied research, 
        and related community development programs.
            (2) Use of grant funds.--Grants made under this 
        section shall be used--
                    (A) to support the activities of consortia 
                of Alaska Native serving institutions to 
                enhance educational equity for under 
                represented students;
                    (B) to strengthen institutional educational 
                capacities, including libraries, curriculum, 
                faculty, scientific instrumentation, 
                instruction delivery systems, and student 
                recruitment and retention, in order to respond 
                to identified State, regional, national, or 
                international educational needs in the food and 
                agriculture sciences;
                    (C) to attract and support undergraduate 
                and graduate students from under represented 
                groups in order to prepare them for careers 
                related to the food, agricultural, and natural 
                resource systems of the United States, 
                beginning with the mentoring of students at the 
                high school level including by village elders 
                and continuing with the provision of financial 
                support for students through their attainment 
                of a doctoral degree; and
                    (D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives 
                between two or more Alaska Native serving 
                institutions, or between Alaska Native serving 
                institutions and units of State government or 
                the private sector, to maximize the development 
                and use of resources, such as faculty, 
                facilities, and equipment, to improve food and 
                agricultural sciences teaching programs.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to make grants under this 
        subsection $10,000,000 in fiscal years 2001 through 
        2006.
    (b) Education Grants Program for Native Hawaiian Serving 
Institutions.--
            (1) Grant authority.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        may make competitive grants (or grants without regard 
        to any requirement for competition) to Native Hawaiian 
        serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and 
        strengthening the ability of Native Hawaiian serving 
        institutions to carry out education, applied research, 
        and related community development programs.
            (2) Use of grant funds.--Grants made under this 
        section shall be used--
                    (A) to support the activities of consortia 
                of Native Hawaiian serving institutions to 
                enhance educational equity for under 
                represented students;
                    (B) to strengthen institutional educational 
                capacities, including libraries, curriculum, 
                faculty, scientific instrumentation, 
                instruction delivery systems, and student 
                recruitment and retention, in order to respond 
                to identified State, regional, national, or 
                international educational needs in the food and 
                agriculture sciences;
                    (C) to attract and support undergraduate 
                and graduate students from under represented 
                groups in order to prepare them for careers 
                related to the food, agricultural, and natural 
                resource systems of the United States, 
                beginning with the mentoring of students at the 
                high school level and continuing with the 
                provision of financial support for students 
                through their attainment of a doctoral degree; 
                and
                    (D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives 
                between two or more Native Hawaiian serving 
                institutions, or between Native Hawaiian 
                serving institutions and units of State 
                government or the private sector, to maximize 
                the development and use of resources, such as 
                faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve 
                food and agricultural sciences teaching 
                programs.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to make grants under this 
        subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 
        through 2006.
    Sec. 760. Effective October 1, 1999, section 8c(11) of the 
Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c(11)), reenacted with 
amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The price of 
milk paid by a handler at a plant operating in Clark County, 
Nevada shall not be subject to any order issued under this 
section.''.
    Sec. 761. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
City of Olean, New York, shall be eligible for grants and loans 
administered by the Rural Utilities Service.
    Sec. 762. 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. 763. Section 1232(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3832(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (9), by adding ``and'' after the 
        semicolon at the end;
                    (2) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; 
                and'' and inserting a period; and
                    (3) by striking paragraph (11).
    Sec. 764. None of the funds made available by this or any 
other Act shall be used to implement Notice CRP-338, issued by 
the Farm Service Agency on March 10, 1999, nor shall funds be 
used to implement any related administrative action including 
implementation of such procedures published in Farm Service 
Agency program manuals: Provided, That rental payments for any 
lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program under this 
section shall be reduced by an amount equal to the federal cost 
of any remaining value of a federally cost-shared conservation 
practice as determined by the Secretary.
    Sec. 765. None of the funds made available by this or any 
other Act shall be used to implement Notice CRP-327, issued by 
the Farm Service Agency on October 26, 1998, nor shall funds be 
used to implement any related administrative action including 
implementation of such procedures published in Farm Service 
Agency program manuals: Provided, That this section shall not 
apply to any lands for which there is not full compliance with 
the conservation practices required under terms of the CRP 
contract.
    Sec. 766. The federal facility located in Riverside, 
California, and known as the ``U.S. Salinity Laboratory'', 
shall be known and designated as the ``George E. Brown, Jr., 
Salinity Laboratory'': 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 ``George E. Brown, Jr., Salinity Laboratory''.
    Sec. 767. Sections 657, 658, 1006, 1014 of title 18, United 
States Code, are amended by--
            (1) inserting ``or successor agency'' after 
        ``Farmers Home Administration'' each place it appears; 
        and
            (2) inserting ``or successor agency'' after ``Rural 
        Development Administration'' each place it appears.
    Sec. 768. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
maximum income limits established for single family housing for 
families and individuals in the high cost areas of Alaska shall 
be 150 percent of the state metropolitan income level for 
Alaska.
    Sec. 769. Section 1232(a)(7) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``except that the Secretary may 
        permit harvesting'' and inserting ``except that the 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) may permit--
                            ``(i) harvesting'';
            (2) by striking ``emergency, and the Secretary may 
        permit limited'' and inserting ``emergency; and
                            ``(ii) limited'';
            (3) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the 
        end; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) shall approve not more than 6 
                projects, no more than 1 of which may be in any 
                state, under which land subject to the contract 
                may be harvested for recovery of biomass used 
                in energy production if--
                            ``(i) no acreage subject to the 
                        contract is harvested more than once 
                        every other year;
                            ``(ii) not more than 25 percent of 
                        the total acreage enrolled in the 
                        program under this subchapter in any 
                        crop reporting district (as designated 
                        by the Secretary), is harvested in any 
                        1 year;
                            ``(iii) no portion of the crop is 
                        used for any commercial purpose other 
                        than energy production from biomass;
                            ``(iv) no wetland, or acreage of 
                        any type enrolled in a partial field 
                        conservation practice (including 
                        riparian forest buffers, filter strips, 
                        and buffer strips), is harvested;
                            ``(v) the owner or operator agrees 
                        to a payment reduction under this 
                        section in an amount determined by the 
                        Secretary.
                    ``(C) the total acres for all of the 
                projects shall not exceed 250,000 acres.''.

      TITLE VIII--EMERGENCY AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS

              Subtitle A--Crop and Market Loss Assistance

SEC. 801. CROP LOSS ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to 
in this title as the ``Secretary'') shall use $1,200,000,000 of 
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make emergency 
financial assistance available to producers on a farm that have 
incurred losses in a 1999 crop due to a disaster, as determined 
by the Secretary.
    (b) Administration.--The Secretary shall make assistance 
available under this section in the same manner as provided 
under section 1102 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act, 1999 (7 U.S.C. 1421 note; Public Law 105-277), including 
using the same loss thresholds as were used in administering 
that section.
    (c) Qualifying Losses.--Assistance under this section may 
be made for losses associated with crops that are, as 
determined by the Secretary--
            (1) quantity losses;
            (2) quality losses; or
            (3) severe economic losses due to damaging weather 
        or related condition.
    (d) Crops Covered.--Assistance under this section shall be 
applicable to losses for all crops (including losses of trees 
from which a crop is harvested, livestock, and fisheries), as 
determined by the Secretary, due to disasters.
    (e) Crop Insurance.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall not discriminate against or penalize producers 
on a farm that have purchased crop insurance under the Federal 
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
    (f) Rice Loan Deficiency Payments.--In the case of 
producers of the 1999 crop of rice that harvested such rice on 
or before August 4, 1999, the Secretary may use funds made 
available under this section to--
            (1) make loan deficiency payments to producers that 
        received, or that were eligible to receive, such 
        payments under section 135 of the Agricultural Market 
        Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7235) in a manner that results 
        in the same total payment that would have been made if 
        the payment had been requested by the producers on 
        August 5, 1999; and
            (2) recalculate any repayment made for a marketing 
        assistance loan for the 1999 crop of rice on or before 
        August 4, 1999, as if the repayment had been made on 
        August 5, 1999.
    (g) Honey Recourse Loans.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, in order to assist producers of honey 
        to market their honey in an orderly manner during a 
        period of disastrously low prices, the Secretary may 
        use funds made available under this section to make 
        available recourse loans to producers of the 1999 crop 
        of honey on fair and reasonable terms and conditions, 
        as determined by the Secretary.
            (2) 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 1999 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.
    (h) Recourse Loans for Mohair.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and 
        notwithstanding any other provision of law, during 
        fiscal year 2000, the Secretary may use funds made 
        available under this section to make recourse loans 
        available in accordance with section 137(c) of the 
        Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7237(c)) 
        to producers of mohair produced during or before that 
        fiscal year.
            (2) Interest.--Section 137(c)(4) of that Act shall 
        not apply to a loan made under paragraph (1).

SEC. 802. MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--The Secretary shall use not 
more than $5,544,453,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation to provide assistance to owners and producers on a 
farm that are eligible for final payments for fiscal year 1999 
under a production flexibility contract for the farm under the 
Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.).
    (b) Amount.--The amount of assistance made available to 
owners and producers on a farm under this section shall be 
proportionate to the amount of the contract payment received by 
the owners and producers for fiscal year 1999 under a 
production flexibility contract for the farm under the 
Agricultural Market Transition Act.
    (c) Protection of Tenants and Sharecroppers; Sharing of 
Payments.--Sections 111(c) and 114(g) of the Agricultural 
Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7211(c), 7214(g)) shall apply 
to the payments made under subsection (a).

SEC. 803. SPECIALTY CROPS.

    (a) Peanuts.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use such 
        amounts as are necessary of funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation to provide payments to producers of 
        quota peanuts or additional peanuts to partially 
        compensate the producers for continuing low commodity 
        prices, and increasing costs of production, for the 
        1999 crop year.
            (2) Amount.--The amount of a payment made to 
        producers on a farm of quota peanuts or additional 
        peanuts under paragraph (1) shall be equal to the 
        product obtained by multiplying--
                    (A) the quantity of quota peanuts or 
                additional peanuts produced or considered 
                produced by the producers; and
                    (B) an amount equal to 5 percent of the 
                loan rate established for quota peanuts or 
                additional peanuts, respectively, under section 
                155 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act 
                (7 U.S.C. 7271).
    (b) Condition on Payment of Salaries and Expenses.--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 of the Department of Agriculture to carry out or 
enforce section 156(f) of the Agricultural Market Transition 
Act (7 U.S.C. 7272(f)) through fiscal year 2001.
    (c) Tobacco.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use 
        $328,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation to make payments to States on behalf of 
        persons described in paragraph (2) for the reduction in 
        the quantity of quota allotted to certain farms under 
        part I of subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural 
        Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1311 et seq.) from the 
        1998 crop year to the 1999 crop year.
            (2) Eligible persons.--To be eligible to receive a 
        payment under paragraphs (1) through (5), a person must 
        own or operate, or produce tobacco on, a farm--
                    (A) for which the quantity of quota 
                allotted to the farm under part I of subtitle B 
                of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act 
                of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1311 et seq.) was reduced 
                from the 1998 crop year to the 1999 crop year; 
                and
                    (B) that was used for the production of 
                tobacco during the 1998 or 1999 crop year.
            (3) Allocation to states.--The Secretary shall 
        allocate funds made available under paragraph (1) to 
        States with eligible persons described in paragraph (2) 
        in proportion to the relative quantity of quota 
        allotted to farms in the States that was reduced from 
        the 1998 crop year to the 1999 crop year.
            (4) Distribution by states.--
                    (A) In general.--In the case of a State 
                described in paragraph (3) that is a party to 
                the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust, 
                the State shall distribute funds made available 
                under paragraph (3) to eligible persons in the 
                State in accordance with the formulas 
                established pursuant to the Trust.
                    (B) Other states.--Subject to the approval 
                of the Secretary, in the case of a State 
                described in paragraph (3) that is not a party 
                to the National Tobacco Grower Settlement 
                Trust, the State shall distribute funds made 
                available under paragraph (3) to eligible 
                persons in the State in a manner determined by 
                the State.
            (5) Alternative distribution.--In lieu of making 
        payments under this subsection to States, the Secretary 
        may distribute funds directly to eligible persons using 
        the facilities of private disbursing agents, facilities 
        of the Farm Service Agency, or other available 
        facilities.
            (6) Flue-cured tobacco.--
                    (A) Limitation on quantity of allotment 
                leased or sold.--Section 316(e) of the 
                Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 
                1316(e)) is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                        ``farm or, in'' and all that follows 
                        through ``: Provided, That in'' and 
                        inserting ``farm. In'';
                            (ii) by redesignating paragraph (2) 
                        as paragraph (3); and
                            (iii) by inserting after paragraph 
                        (1) the following:
    ``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to flue-cured 
tobacco.''.
                    (B) Transfers of quota or allotment across 
                county lines in a state.--Section 316(g) of the 
                Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 
                1314b(g)) is amended by adding at the end the 
                following:
            ``(3) Transfers allowed by referendum.--
                    ``(A) Referendum.--On the request of at 
                least 25 percent of the active flue-cured 
                tobacco producers within a State, the Secretary 
                shall conduct a referendum of the active flue-
                cured tobacco producers within the State to 
                determine whether the producers favor or oppose 
                permitting the sale of a flue-cured tobacco 
                allotment or quota from a farm in a State to 
                any other farm in the State.
                    ``(B) Approval.--If the Secretary 
                determines that a majority of the active flue-
                cured tobacco producers voting in the 
                referendum approves permitting the sale of a 
                flue-cured tobacco allotment or quota from a 
                farm in the State to any other farm in the 
                State, the Secretary shall permit the sale of a 
                flue-cured tobacco allotment or quota from a 
                farm in the State to any other farm in the 
                State.''.
                    (C) Same grower in contiguous counties.--
                Section 379(b) of the Agricultural Adjustment 
                Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1379(b)) is amended by 
                inserting ``or flue-cured'' after ``Burley''.

SEC. 804. OILSEEDS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall use $475,000,000 of 
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make payments to 
producers of the 1999 crop of oilseeds that are eligible to 
obtain a marketing assistance loan under section 131 of the 
Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7231).
    (b) Computation.--A payment to producers on a farm under 
this section for an oilseed shall be equal to the product 
obtained by multiplying--
            (1) a payment rate determined by the Secretary;
            (2) the acreage of the producers on the farm for 
        the oilseed, as determined under subsection (c); and
            (3) the yield of the producers on the farm for the 
        oilseed, as determined under subsection (d).
    (c) Acreage.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), the acreage of the producers on the farm for an 
        oilseed under subsection (b)(2) shall be equal to the 
        greater of--
                    (A) the number of acres planted to the 
                oilseed by the producers on the farm during the 
                1997 crop year, as reported by the producers on 
                the farm to the Secretary (including any 
                acreage reports that are filed late); or
                    (B) the number of acres planted to the 
                oilseed by the producers on the farm during the 
                1998 crop year, as reported by the producers on 
                the farm to the Secretary (including any 
                acreage reports that are filed late).
            (2) New producers.--In the case of producers on a 
        farm that planted acreage to an oilseed during the 1999 
        crop year but not the 1997 or 1998 crop year, the 
        acreage of the producers for the oilseed under 
        subsection (b)(2) shall be equal to the number of acres 
        planted to the oilseed by the producers on the farm 
        during the 1999 crop year, as reported by the producers 
        on the farm to the Secretary (including any acreage 
        reports that are filed late).
    (d) Yield.--
            (1) Soybeans.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
        in the case of soybeans, the yield of the producers on 
        a farm under subsection (b)(3) shall be equal to the 
        greatest of--
                    (A) the average county yield per harvested 
                acre for each of the 1994 through 1998 crop 
                years, excluding the crop year with the highest 
                yield per harvested acre and the crop year with 
                the lowest yield per harvested acre;
                    (B) the actual yield of the producers on 
                the farm for the 1997 crop year; or
                    (C) the actual yield of the producers on 
                the farm for the 1998 crop year.
            (2) Other oilseeds.--Except as provided in 
        paragraph (3), in the case of oilseeds other than 
        soybeans, the yield of the producers on a farm under 
        subsection (b)(3) shall be equal to the greatest of--
                    (A) the average national yield per 
                harvested acre for each of the 1994 through 
                1998 crop years, excluding the crop year with 
                the highest yield per harvested acre and the 
                crop year with the lowest yield per harvested 
                acre;
                    (B) the actual yield of the producers on 
                the farm for the 1997 crop year; or
                    (C) the actual yield of the producers on 
                the farm for the 1998 crop year.
            (3) New producers.--In the case of producers on a 
        farm that planted acreage to an oilseed during the 1999 
        crop year but not the 1997 or 1998 crop year, the yield 
        of the producers on a farm under subsection (b)(3) 
        shall be equal to the greater of--
                    (A) the average county yield per harvested 
                acre for each of the 1994 through 1998 crop 
                years, excluding the crop year with the highest 
                yield per harvested acre and the crop year with 
                the lowest yield per harvested acre; or
                    (B) the actual yield of the producers on 
                the farm for the 1999 crop.
            (4) Data source.--To the maximum extent available, 
        the Secretary shall use data provided by the National 
        Agricultural Statistics Service to carry out this 
        subsection.

SEC. 805. LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY.

    The Secretary shall use $325,000,000 of funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to provide assistance directly to 
livestock and dairy producers, in a manner determined 
appropriate by the Secretary, to compensate the producers for 
economic losses incurred during 1999.

SEC. 806. UPLAND COTTON.

    (a) In General.--Section 136(a) of the Agricultural Market 
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7236(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or cash 
        payments'' and inserting ``or cash payments, at the 
        option of the recipient,'';
            (2) by striking ``3 cents per pound'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``1.25 cents per pound'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in the first sentence of subparagraph 
                (A), by striking ``owned by the Commodity 
                Credit Corporation in such manner, and at such 
                price levels, as the Secretary determines will 
                best effectuate the purposes of cotton user 
                marketing certificates'' and inserting ``owned 
                by the Commodity Credit Corporation or pledged 
                to the Commodity Credit Corporation as 
                collateral for a loan in such manner, and at 
                such price levels, as the Secretary determines 
                will best effectuate the purposes of cotton 
                user marketing certificates, including 
                enhancing the competitiveness and marketability 
                of United States cotton''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
                second sentence; and
            (4) by striking paragraph (4).
    (b) Ensuring the Availability of Upland Cotton.--Section 
136(b) of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 
7236(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) Establishment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The President shall 
                carry out an import quota program during the 
                period ending July 31, 2003, as provided in 
                this subsection.
                    ``(B) Program requirements.--Except as 
                provided in subparagraph (C), whenever the 
                Secretary determines and announces that for any 
                consecutive 4-week period, the Friday through 
                Thursday average price quotation for the 
                lowest-priced United States growth, as quoted 
                for Middling (M) 1\3/32\-inch cotton, delivered 
                C.I.F. Northern Europe, adjusted for the value 
                of any certificate issued under subsection (a), 
                exceeds the Northern Europe price by more than 
                1.25 cents per pound, there shall immediately 
                be in effect a special import quota.
                    ``(C) Tight domestic supply.--During any 
                month for which the Secretary estimates the 
                season-ending United States upland cotton 
                stocks-to-use ratio, as determined under 
                subparagraph (D), to be below 16 percent, the 
                Secretary, in making the determination under 
                subparagraph (B), shall not adjust the Friday 
                through Thursday average price quotation for 
                the lowest-priced United States growth, as 
                quoted for Middling (M) 1\3/32\-inch cotton, 
                delivered C.I.F. Northern Europe, for the value 
                of any certificates issued under subsection 
                (a).
                    ``(D) Season-ending united states stocks-
                to-use ratio.--For the purposes of making 
                estimates under subparagraph (C), the Secretary 
                shall, on a monthly basis, estimate and report 
                the season-ending United States upland cotton 
                stocks-to-use ratio, excluding projected raw 
                cotton imports but including the quantity of 
                raw cotton that has been imported into the 
                United States during the marketing year.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Limitation.--The quantity of cotton entered 
        into the United States during any marketing year under 
        the special import quota established under this 
        subsection may not exceed the equivalent of 5 week's 
        consumption of upland cotton by domestic mills at the 
        seasonally adjusted average rate of the 3 months 
        immediately preceding the first special import quota 
        established in any marketing year.''.

SEC. 807. MILK.

    (a) In General.--Section 141 of the Agricultural Market 
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7251) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ``calendar 
        year 1999'' and inserting ``each of calendar years 1999 
        and 2000''; and
            (2) in subsection (h), by striking ``1999'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``2000''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 142(e) of the 
Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7252(e)) is 
amended by striking ``2000'' and inserting ``2001''.

                      Subtitle B--Other Assistance

SEC. 811. AUTHORITY FOR ADVANCE PAYMENT IN FULL OF REMAINING PAYMENTS 
                    UNDER PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY CONTRACTS.

    Section 112(d)(3) of the Agricultural Market Transition Act 
(7 U.S.C. 7212(d)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``for 
        fiscal year 1999''; and
            (2) by striking ``for fiscal year 1999'' and 
        inserting ``for any of fiscal years 1999 through 
        2002''.

SEC. 812. COMMODITY CERTIFICATES.

    Subtitle E of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
U.S.C. 7281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 166. COMMODITY CERTIFICATES.

    ``(a) In General.--In making in-kind payments under 
subtitle C, the Commodity Credit Corporation may--
            ``(1) acquire and use commodities that have been 
        pledged to the Commodity Credit Corporation as 
        collateral for loans made by the Corporation;
            ``(2) use other commodities owned by the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation; and
            ``(3) redeem negotiable marketing certificates for 
        cash under terms and conditions established by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(b) Methods of Payment.--The Commodity Credit Corporation 
may make in-kind payments--
            ``(1) by delivery of the commodity at a warehouse 
        or other similar facility;
            ``(2) by the transfer of negotiable warehouse 
        receipts;
            ``(3) by the issuance of negotiable certificates, 
        which the Commodity Credit Corporation shall exchange 
        for a commodity owned or controlled by the Corporation 
        in accordance with regulations promulgated by the 
        Corporation; or
            ``(4) by such other methods as the Commodity Credit 
        Corporation determines appropriate to promote the 
        efficient, equitable, and expeditious receipt of the 
        in-kind payments so that a person receiving the 
        payments receives the same total return as if the 
        payments had been made in cash.
    ``(c) Administration.--
            ``(1) Form.--At the option of a producer, the 
        Commodity Credit Corporation shall make negotiable 
        certificates authorized under subsection (b)(3) 
        available to the producer, in the form of program 
        payments or by sale, in a manner that the Corporation 
        determines will encourage the orderly marketing of 
        commodities pledged as collateral for loans made to 
        producers under subtitle C.
            ``(2) Transfer.--A negotiable certificate issued in 
        accordance with this subsection may be transferred to 
        another person in accordance with regulations 
        promulgated by the Secretary.''.

SEC. 813. LIMITATION ON MARKETING LOAN GAINS AND LOAN DEFICIENCY 
                    PAYMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 1001(2) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308(1)), the total amount 
of the payments specified in section 1001(3) of that Act that a 
person shall be entitled to receive under the Agricultural 
Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) for 1 or more 
contract commodities and oilseeds produced during the 1999 crop 
year may not exceed $150,000.
    (b) 1999 Marketings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall allow a producer that has marketed a quantity 
of an eligible 1999 crop for which the producer has not 
received a loan deficiency payment or marketing loan gain under 
section 134 or 135 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 
U.S.C. 7234, 7235) to receive such payment or gain as of the 
date on which the quantity was marketed or redeemed, as 
determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 814. ASSISTANCE FOR PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL CROP INSURANCE 
                    COVERAGE.

    The Secretary shall transfer $400,000,000 of funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to the Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation to be used to assist agricultural producers in 
purchasing additional coverage for the 2000 crop year under the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).

SEC. 815. FORGIVENESS OF CERTAIN WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL LOANS.

    The Secretary shall forgive the principal indebtedness and 
accrued interest owed by the City of Stroud, Oklahoma, to the 
Rural Utilities Service on water and waste disposal loans 
numbered 9105 and 9107.

SEC. 816. NATIONAL SHEEP INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT CENTER.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 375(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008j(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Intermediary.--The term `intermediary' means 
        a financial institution receiving Center funds for 
        establishing a revolving fund and relending to an 
        eligible entity.''.
    (b) Revolving Fund.--Section 375(e) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008j(e)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The Center may use 
                amounts in the Fund to make direct loans, loan 
                guarantees, cooperative agreements, equity 
                interests, investments, repayable grants, and 
                grants to eligible entities, either directly or 
                through an intermediary, in accordance with a 
                strategic plan submitted under subsection 
                (d).'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the 
                end the following: ``The Fund is intended to 
                furnish the initial capital for a revolving 
                fund that will eventually be privatized for the 
                purposes of assisting the United States sheep 
                and goat industries.'';
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (D);
                    (D) by striking subparagraph (E) and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(E) Administration.--The Center may not 
                use more than 3 percent of the amounts in the 
                portfolio of the Center for each fiscal year 
                for the administration of the Center. The 
                portfolio shall be calculated at the beginning 
                of each fiscal year and shall include a total 
                of--
                            ``(i) all outstanding loan 
                        balances;
                            ``(ii) the Fund balance;
                            ``(iii) the outstanding balance to 
                        intermediaries; and
                            ``(iv) the amount the Center paid 
                        for all equity interests.'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (H)--
                            (i) in clause (v), by striking 
                        ``or'' at the end;
                            (ii) in clause (vi), by striking 
                        the period at the end and inserting ``; 
                        or''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the 
                        following:
                            ``(vii) purchase equity 
                        interests.''; and
                    (F) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) 
                through (H) as subparagraphs (D) through (G), 
                respectively; and
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking subparagraph (D).
    (c) Board of Directors.--Section 375(f) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008j(f)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) 
        and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) review any contract, direct loan, 
                loan guarantee, cooperative agreement, equity 
                interest, investment, repayable grant, and 
                grant to be made or entered into by the Center 
                and any financial assistance provided to the 
                Center;'';
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking subparagraph (C) 
        and inserting the following:
                    ``(C) Reappointment.--A voting member may 
                be reappointed for not more than 1 additional 
                term.''; and
            (3) in paragraph (6), by striking subparagraph (B) 
        and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Reappointment.--A voting member 
                appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired 
                term may be reappointed for 1 full term.''.
    (d) Privatization.--Section 375 of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008j) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(j) Privatization.--
            ``(1) In general.--Privatization of a revolving 
        fund for the purposes of assisting the United States 
        sheep and goat industries shall occur on the earlier 
        of--
                    ``(A) September 30, 2006; or
                    ``(B) the date as of which a total of 
                $30,000,000 has been appropriated for the 
                Center under subsection (e)(6)(C).
            ``(2) Privatization proposal.--On privatization of 
        a revolving fund in accordance with paragraph (1), the 
        Board shall submit to the Secretary, for approval, a 
        privatization proposal that--
                    ``(A) delineates a private successor entity 
                to the Center; and
                    ``(B) establishes a transition plan.
            ``(3) Private successor entity.--The private 
        successor entity shall--
                    ``(A) have the purposes described in 
                subsection (c);
                    ``(B) be organized under the laws of 1 of 
                the States; and
                    ``(C) be able to continue the activities of 
                the Center.
            ``(4) Transition plan.--The transition plan shall--
                    ``(A) identify any continuing role of the 
                Federal Government with respect to the Center;
                    ``(B) provide for the transfer of all 
                Center assets and liabilities to the private 
                successor entity; and
                    ``(C) delineate the status of the Board and 
                employees of the Center.
            ``(5) Implementation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--On approval by the 
                Secretary of the private successor entity and 
                the transition plan, the Center shall create 
                the private successor entity and implement the 
                transition plan.
                    ``(B) Authority.--The Secretary shall have 
                all necessary authority to implement the 
                transition plan.
            ``(6) Transfer of funds.--On creation of the 
        private successor entity, all funds held by the 
        Department of the Treasury pursuant to this section 
        shall be transferred to the private successor entity.
            ``(7) Repeal.--On the date the Secretary publishes 
        notice in the Federal Register that the transition plan 
        is complete, this section is repealed.''.

SEC. 817. FISHERIES.

    (a) Norton Sound Fisheries Failure.--
            (1) Income eligibility.--Section 763(a) of the 
        Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
        Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
        Act, 1999 (112 Stat. 2681-36), is amended by striking 
        ``federal poverty level'' and inserting ``income 
        eligibility level established for Alaska under the 
        temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) program 
        funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)''.
            (2) Emergency assistance.--Section 1124 of the 
        Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
        Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
        Act, 1999 (112 Stat. 2681-45), is amended by inserting 
        before the period at the end the following: ``or a 
        fisheries failure in the Norton Sound region of Alaska 
        that has resulted in the closure of commercial and 
        subsistence fisheries to persons that depend on fish as 
        their primary source of food and income''.
            (3) Appropriation.--
                    (A) In general.--In addition to amounts 
                appropriated or otherwise made available by 
                this Act, there is appropriated to the 
                Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2001, 
                out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise 
                appropriated, $15,000,000, to remain available 
                until expended, to provide emergency disaster 
                assistance to persons or entities affected by 
                the 1999 fisheries failure in the Norton Sound 
                region of Alaska.
                    (B) Transfer.--To carry out this paragraph, 
                the Secretary shall transfer to the Secretary 
                of Commerce for obligation and expenditure--
                            (i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2001 for grants under section 209 of 
                        the Public Works and Economic 
                        Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
                        3149); and
                            (ii) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2001 for carrying out section 312 of 
                        the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
                        Conservation and Management Act (16 
                        U.S.C. 1861a).
    (b) Commercial Fisheries Failure.--
            (1) In general.--In addition to amounts 
        appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act, 
        there is appropriated to the Department of Agriculture 
        for fiscal year 2001, out of any money in the Treasury 
        not otherwise appropriated, $15,000,000, to remain 
        available until expended, which shall be transferred to 
        the Department of Commerce to provide emergency 
        disaster assistance for the commercial fishery failure 
        under section 308(b)(1) of the Interjurisdictional 
        Fisheries Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 4107(b)(1)) with 
        respect to Northeast multispecies fisheries.
            (2) Use.--Amounts made available under this 
        subsection shall be used to support cooperative 
        research and management activities administered by the 
        National Marine Fisheries Services and based on 
        recommendations by the New England Fishery Management 
        Council.

SEC. 818. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING FAST-TRACK AUTHORITY AND FUTURE 
                    WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION NEGOTIATIONS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the President should make a formal request for 
        appropriate fast-track authority for future United 
        States trade negotiations;
            (2) regarding future World Trade Organization 
        negotiations--
                    (A) rules for trade in agricultural 
                commodities should be strengthened and trade-
                distorting import and export practices should 
                be eliminated or substantially reduced;
                    (B) the rules of the World Trade 
                Organization should be strengthened regarding 
                the practices or policies of a foreign 
                government that unreasonably--
                            (i) restrict market access for 
                        products of new technologies, including 
                        products of biotechnology; or
                            (ii) delay or preclude 
                        implementation of a report of a dispute 
                        panel of the World Trade Organization; 
                        and
                    (C) negotiations within the World Trade 
                Organization should be structured so as to 
                provide the maximum leverage possible to ensure 
                the successful conclusion of negotiations on 
                agricultural products;
            (3) the President should--
                    (A) conduct a comprehensive evaluation of 
                all existing export and food aid programs, 
                including--
                            (i) the export credit guarantee 
                        program established under section 202 
                        of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 
                        (7 U.S.C. 5622);
                            (ii) the market access program 
                        established under section 203 of that 
                        Act (7 U.S.C. 5623);
                            (iii) the export enhancement 
                        program established under section 301 
                        of that Act (7 U.S.C. 5651);
                            (iv) the foreign market development 
                        cooperator program established under 
                        section 702 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 
                        5722); and
                            (v) programs established under the 
                        Agricultural Trade Development and 
                        Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691 
                        et seq.); and
                    (B) transmit to Congress--
                            (i) the results of the evaluation 
                        under subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) recommendations on maximizing 
                        the effectiveness of the programs 
                        described in subparagraph (A); and
            (4) the Secretary should carry out a purchase and 
        donation or concessional sales initiative in each of 
        fiscal years 1999 and 2000 to promote the export of 
        additional quantities of soybeans, beef, pork, poultry, 
        and products of such commodities (including soybean 
        meal, soybean oil, textured vegetable protein, and soy 
        protein concentrates and isolates) using programs 
        established under--
                    (A) the Commodity Credit Corporation 
                Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.);
                    (B) section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 
                1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431);
                    (C) titles I and II of the Agricultural 
                Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 
                U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
                    (D) the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 
                U.S.C. 1736o).

                       Subtitle C--Administration

SEC. 821. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.

    The Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and 
authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out 
this title.

SEC. 822. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    (a) Reservation of Funds.--Subject to subsections (b) and 
(c), the Secretary may reserve up to $56,000,000 of the amounts 
made available under subtitle A to cover administrative costs 
incurred by the Farm Service Agency directly related to 
carrying out that subtitle.
    (b) Proportional Reservation.--The amount reserved by the 
Secretary from the amounts made available under each section of 
subtitle A (other than section 802) shall bear the same 
proportion to the total amount reserved under subsection (a) as 
the administrative costs incurred by the Farm Service Agency to 
carry out that section (other than section 802) bear to the 
total administrative costs incurred by the Farm Service Agency 
to carry out that subtitle (other than section 802).
    (c) Exception for Market Loss Assistance.--The Secretary 
may not reserve any portion of the amount made available under 
section 802 to pay administrative costs.

SEC. 823. EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT.

    The entire amount necessary to carry out this title and the 
amendments made by this title shall be available only to the 
extent that an official budget request for the entire amount, 
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: Provided, That 
the entire amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of such Act.

SEC. 824. REGULATIONS.

    (a) Promulgation.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, as appropriate, shall promulgate such regulations 
as are necessary to implement subtitle A and the amendments 
made by subtitle A. The promulgation of the regulations and 
administration of subtitle A 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.

SEC. 825. LIVESTOCK AND DAIRY ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Livestock Assistance.--Of the funds provided in 
sections 801 and 805, no less than $200,000,000 shall be in the 
form of assistance to livestock producers for losses due to 
drought or other natural disasters.
    (b) Dairy Assistance.--Of the funds provided in section 
805, no less than $125,000,000 shall be in the form of 
assistance to dairy producers.
    (c) Form of Assistance.--Assistance for livestock losses 
shall be in the form of grants and or other in-kind assistance, 
but shall not include loans.

                TITLE IX--LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING

SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Livestock Mandatory 
Reporting Act of 1999''.

               Subtitle A--Livestock Mandatory Reporting

SEC. 911. LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING.

    The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) by inserting before section 202 (7 U.S.C. 1621) 
        the following:

                  ``Subtitle A--General Provisions'';

        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

              ``Subtitle B--Livestock Mandatory Reporting

                   ``CHAPTER 1--PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS

``SEC. 211. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this subtitle is to establish a program of 
information regarding the marketing of cattle, swine, lambs, 
and products of such livestock that--
            ``(1) provides information that can be readily 
        understood by producers, packers, and other market 
        participants, including information with respect to the 
        pricing, contracting for purchase, and supply and 
        demand conditions for livestock, livestock production, 
        and livestock products;
            ``(2) improves the price and supply reporting 
        services of the Department of Agriculture; and
            ``(3) encourages competition in the marketplace for 
        livestock and livestock products.

``SEC. 212. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subtitle:
            ``(1) Base price.--The term `base price' means the 
        price paid for livestock, delivered at the packing 
        plant, before application of any premiums or discounts, 
        expressed in dollars per hundred pounds of carcass 
        weight.
            ``(2) Basis level.--The term `basis level' means 
        the agreed-on adjustment to a future price to establish 
        the final price paid for livestock.
            ``(3) Current slaughter week.--The term `current 
        slaughter week' means the period beginning Monday, and 
        ending Sunday, of the week in which a reporting day 
        occurs.
            ``(4) F.O.B.--The term `F.O.B.' means free on 
        board, regardless of the mode of transportation, at the 
        point of direct shipment by the seller to the buyer.
            ``(5) Livestock.--The term `livestock' means 
        cattle, swine, and lambs.
            ``(6) Lot.--The term `lot' means a group of 1 or 
        more livestock that is identified for the purpose of a 
        single transaction between a buyer and a seller.
            ``(7) Marketing.--The term `marketing' means the 
        sale or other disposition of livestock, livestock 
        products, or meat or meat food products in commerce.
            ``(8) Negotiated purchase.--The term `negotiated 
        purchase' means a cash or spot market purchase by a 
        packer of livestock from a producer under which--
                    ``(A) the base price for the livestock is 
                determined by seller-buyer interaction and 
                agreement on a day; and
                    ``(B) the livestock are scheduled for 
                delivery to the packer not later than 14 days 
                after the date on which the livestock are 
                committed to the packer.
            ``(9) Negotiated sale.--The term `negotiated sale' 
        means a cash or spot market sale by a producer of 
        livestock to a packer under which--
                    ``(A) the base price for the livestock is 
                determined by seller-buyer interaction and 
                agreement on a day; and
                    ``(B) the livestock are scheduled for 
                delivery to the packer not later than 14 days 
                after the date on which the livestock are 
                committed to the packer.
            ``(10) Prior slaughter week.--The term `prior 
        slaughter week' means the Monday through Sunday prior 
        to a reporting day.
            ``(11) Producer.--The term `producer' means any 
        person engaged in the business of selling livestock to 
        a packer for slaughter (including the sale of livestock 
        from a packer to another packer).
            ``(12) Reporting day.--The term `reporting day' 
        means a day on which--
                    ``(A) a packer conducts business regarding 
                livestock committed to the packer, or livestock 
                purchased, sold, or slaughtered by the packer;
                    ``(B) the Secretary is required to make 
                information concerning the business described 
                in subparagraph (A) available to the public; 
                and
                    ``(C) the Department of Agriculture is open 
                to conduct business.
            ``(13) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 
        Secretary of Agriculture.
            ``(14) State.--The term `State' means each of the 
        50 States.

                     ``CHAPTER 2--CATTLE REPORTING

``SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) Cattle committed.--The term `cattle 
        committed' means cattle that are scheduled to be 
        delivered to a packer within the 7-day period beginning 
        on the date of an agreement to sell the cattle.
            ``(2) Cattle type.--The term `cattle type' means 
        the following types of cattle purchased for slaughter:
                    ``(A) Fed steers.
                    ``(B) Fed heifers.
                    ``(C) Fed Holsteins and other fed dairy 
                steers and heifers.
                    ``(D) Cows.
                    ``(E) Bulls.
            ``(3) Formula marketing arrangement.--The term 
        `formula marketing arrangement' means the advance 
        commitment of cattle for slaughter by any means other 
        than through a negotiated purchase or a forward 
        contract, using a method for calculating price in which 
        the price is determined at a future date.
            ``(4) Forward contract.--The term `forward 
        contract' means--
                    ``(A) an agreement for the purchase of 
                cattle, executed in advance of slaughter, under 
                which the base price is established by 
                reference to--
                            ``(i) prices quoted on the Chicago 
                        Mercantile Exchange; or
                            ``(ii) other comparable publicly 
                        available prices; or
                    ``(B) such other forward contract as the 
                Secretary determines to be applicable.
            ``(5) Packer.--The term `packer' means any person 
        engaged in the business of buying cattle in commerce 
        for purposes of slaughter, of manufacturing or 
        preparing meats or meat food products from cattle for 
        sale or shipment in commerce, or of marketing meats or 
        meat food products from cattle in an unmanufactured 
        form acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or 
        distributor in commerce, except that--
                    ``(A) the term includes only a cattle 
                processing plant that is federally inspected;
                    ``(B) for any calendar year, the term 
                includes only a cattle processing plant that 
                slaughtered an average of at least 125,000 head 
                of cattle per year during the immediately 
                preceding 5 calendar years; and
                    ``(C) in the case of a cattle processing 
                plant that did not slaughter cattle during the 
                immediately preceding 5 calendar years, the 
                Secretary shall consider the plant capacity of 
                the processing plant in determining whether the 
                processing plant should be considered a packer 
                under this chapter.
            ``(6) Packer-owned cattle.--The term `packer-owned 
        cattle' means cattle that a packer owns for at least 14 
        days immediately before slaughter.
            ``(7) Terms of trade.--The term `terms of trade' 
        includes, with respect to the purchase of cattle for 
        slaughter--
                    ``(A) whether a packer provided any 
                financing agreement or arrangement with regard 
                to the cattle;
                    ``(B) whether the delivery terms specified 
                the location of the producer or the location of 
                the packer's plant;
                    ``(C) whether the producer is able to 
                unilaterally specify the date and time during 
                the business day of the packer that the cattle 
                are to be delivered for slaughter; and
                    ``(D) the percentage of cattle purchased by 
                a packer as a negotiated purchase that are 
                delivered to the plant for slaughter more than 
                7 days, but fewer than 14 days, after the 
                earlier of--
                            ``(i) the date on which the cattle 
                        were committed to the packer; or
                            ``(ii) the date on which the cattle 
                        were purchased by the packer.
            ``(8) Type of purchase.--The term `type of 
        purchase', with respect to cattle, means--
                    ``(A) a negotiated purchase;
                    ``(B) a formula market arrangement; and
                    ``(C) a forward contract.

``SEC. 222. MANDATORY REPORTING FOR LIVE CATTLE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
program of live cattle price information reporting that will--
            ``(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market 
        information;
            ``(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; 
        and
            ``(3) promote competition in the cattle 
        slaughtering industry.
    ``(b) General Reporting Provisions Applicable to Packers 
and the Secretary.--
            ``(1) In general.--Whenever the prices or 
        quantities of cattle are required to be reported or 
        published under this section, the prices or quantities 
        shall be categorized so as to clearly delineate--
                    ``(A) the prices or quantities, as 
                applicable, of the cattle purchased in the 
                domestic market; and
                    ``(B) the prices or quantities, as 
                applicable, of imported cattle.
            ``(2) Packer-owned cattle.--Information required 
        under this section for packer-owned cattle shall 
        include quantity and carcass characteristics, but not 
        price.
    ``(c) Daily Reporting.--
            ``(1) In general.--The corporate officers or 
        officially designated representatives of each packer 
        processing plant shall report to the Secretary at least 
        twice each reporting day (including once not later than 
        10:00 a.m. Central Time and once not later than 2:00 
        p.m. Central Time) the following information for each 
        cattle type:
                    ``(A) The prices for cattle (per 
                hundredweight) established on that day, 
                categorized by--
                            ``(i) type of purchase;
                            ``(ii) the quantity of cattle 
                        purchased on a live weight basis;
                            ``(iii) the quantity of cattle 
                        purchased on a dressed weight basis;
                            ``(iv) a range of the estimated 
                        live weights of the cattle purchased;
                            ``(v) an estimate of the percentage 
                        of the cattle purchased that were of a 
                        quality grade of choice or better; and
                            ``(vi) any premiums or discounts 
                        associated with--
                                    ``(I) weight, grade, or 
                                yield; or
                                    ``(II) any type of 
                                purchase.
                    ``(B) The quantity of cattle delivered to 
                the packer (quoted in numbers of head) on that 
                day, categorized by--
                            ``(i) type of purchase;
                            ``(ii) the quantity of cattle 
                        delivered on a live weight basis; and
                            ``(iii) the quantity of cattle 
                        delivered on a dressed weight basis.
                    ``(C) The quantity of cattle committed to 
                the packer (quoted in numbers of head) as of 
                that day, categorized by--
                            ``(i) type of purchase;
                            ``(ii) the quantity of cattle 
                        committed on a live weight basis; and
                            ``(iii) the quantity of cattle 
                        committed on a dressed weight basis.
                    ``(D) The terms of trade regarding the 
                cattle, as applicable.
            ``(2) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the 
        information available to the public not less frequently 
        than 3 times each reporting day.
    ``(d) Weekly Reporting.--
            ``(1) In general.--The corporate officers or 
        officially designated representatives of each packer 
        processing plant shall report to the Secretary, on the 
        first reporting day of each week, not later than 9:00 
        a.m. Central Time, the following information applicable 
        to the prior slaughter week:
                    ``(A) The quantity of cattle purchased 
                through a forward contract that were 
                slaughtered.
                    ``(B) The quantity of cattle delivered 
                under a formula marketing arrangement that were 
                slaughtered.
                    ``(C) The quantity and carcass 
                characteristics of packer-owned cattle that 
                were slaughtered.
                    ``(D) The quantity, basis level, and 
                delivery month for all cattle purchased through 
                forward contracts that were agreed to by the 
                parties.
                    ``(E) The range and average of intended 
                premiums and discounts that are expected to be 
                in effect for the current slaughter week.
            ``(2) Formula purchases.--The corporate officers or 
        officially designated representatives of each packer 
        processing plant shall report to the Secretary, on the 
        first reporting day of each week, not later than 9:00 
        a.m. Central Time, the following information for cattle 
        purchased through a formula marketing arrangement and 
        slaughtered during the prior slaughter week:
                    ``(A) The quantity (quoted in both numbers 
                of head and hundredweights) of cattle.
                    ``(B) The weighted average price paid for a 
                carcass, including applicable premiums and 
                discounts.
                    ``(C) The range of premiums and discounts 
                paid.
                    ``(D) The weighted average of premiums and 
                discounts paid.
                    ``(E) The range of prices paid.
                    ``(F) The aggregate weighted average price 
                paid for a carcass.
                    ``(G) The terms of trade regarding the 
                cattle, as applicable.
            ``(3) Publication.--The Secretary shall make 
        available to the public the information obtained under 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) on the first reporting day of 
        the current slaughter week, not later than 10:00 a.m. 
        Central Time.
    ``(e) Regional Reporting of Cattle Types.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall determine 
        whether adequate data can be obtained on a regional 
        basis for fed Holsteins and other fed dairy steers and 
        heifers, cows, and bulls based on the number of packers 
        required to report under this section.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of this subtitle, the Secretary shall 
        submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the 
        determination of the Secretary under paragraph (1).

``SEC. 223. MANDATORY PACKER REPORTING OF BOXED BEEF SALES.

    ``(a) Daily Reporting.--The corporate officers or 
officially designated representatives of each packer processing 
plant shall report to the Secretary at least twice each 
reporting day (not less than once before, and once after, 12:00 
noon Central Time) information on total boxed beef sales, 
including--
            ``(1) the price for each lot of each negotiated 
        boxed beef sale (determined by seller-buyer interaction 
        and agreement), quoted in dollars per hundredweight (on 
        a F.O.B. plant basis);
            ``(2) the quantity for each lot of each sale, 
        quoted by number of boxes sold; and
            ``(3) information regarding the characteristics of 
        each lot of each sale, including--
                    ``(A) the grade of beef (USDA Choice or 
                better, USDA Select, or ungraded no-roll 
                product);
                    ``(B) the cut of beef; and
                    ``(C) the trim specification.
    ``(b) Publication.--The Secretary shall make available to 
the public the information required to be reported under 
subsection (a) not less frequently than twice each reporting 
day.

                      ``CHAPTER 3--SWINE REPORTING

``SEC. 231. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) Affiliate.--The term `affiliate', with 
        respect to a packer, means--
                    ``(A) a person that directly or indirectly 
                owns, controls, or holds with power to vote, 5 
                percent or more of the outstanding voting 
                securities of the packer;
                    ``(B) a person 5 percent or more of whose 
                outstanding voting securities are directly or 
                indirectly owned, controlled, or held with 
                power to vote, by the packer; and
                    ``(C) a person that directly or indirectly 
                controls, or is controlled by or under common 
                control with, the packer.
            ``(2) Applicable reporting period.--The term 
        `applicable reporting period' means the period of time 
        prescribed by the prior day report, the morning report, 
        and the afternoon report, as required under section 
        232(c).
            ``(3) Barrow.--The term `barrow' means a neutered 
        male swine.
            ``(4) Base market hog.--The term `base market hog' 
        means a hog for which no discounts are subtracted from 
        and no premiums are added to the base price.
            ``(5) Bred female swine.--The term `bred female 
        swine' means any female swine, whether a sow or gilt, 
        that has been mated or inseminated and is assumed, or 
        has been confirmed, to be pregnant.
            ``(6) Formula price.--The term `formula price' 
        means a price determined by a mathematical formula 
        under which the price established for a specified 
        market serves as the basis for the formula.
            ``(7) Gilt.--The term `gilt' means a young female 
        swine that has not produced a litter.
            ``(8) Hog class.--The term `hog class' means, as 
        applicable--
                    ``(A) barrows or gilts;
                    ``(B) sows; or
                    ``(C) boars or stags.
            ``(9) Noncarcass merit premium.--The term 
        `noncarcass merit premium' means an increase in the 
        base price of the swine offered by an individual packer 
        or packing plant, based on any factor other than the 
        characteristics of the carcass, if the actual amount of 
        the premium is known before the sale and delivery of 
        the swine.
            ``(10) Other market formula purchase.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `other market 
                formula purchase' means a purchase of swine by 
                a packer in which the pricing mechanism is a 
                formula price based on any market other than 
                the market for swine, pork, or a pork product.
                    ``(B) Inclusion.--The term `other market 
                formula purchase' includes a formula purchase 
                in a case in which the price formula is based 
                on 1 or more futures or options contracts.
            ``(11) Other purchase arrangement.--The term `other 
        purchase arrangement' means a purchase of swine by a 
        packer that--
                    ``(A) is not a negotiated purchase, swine 
                or pork market formula purchase, or other 
                market formula purchase; and
                    ``(B) does not involve packer-owned swine.
            ``(12) Packer.--The term `packer' means any person 
        engaged in the business of buying swine in commerce for 
        purposes of slaughter, of manufacturing or preparing 
        meats or meat food products from swine for sale or 
        shipment in commerce, or of marketing meats or meat 
        food products from swine in an unmanufactured form 
        acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or distributor in 
        commerce, except that--
                    ``(A) the term includes only a swine 
                processing plant that is federally inspected;
                    ``(B) for any calendar year, the term 
                includes only a swine processing plant that 
                slaughtered an average of at least 100,000 
                swine per year during the immediately preceding 
                5 calendar years; and
                    ``(C) in the case of a swine processing 
                plant that did not slaughter swine during the 
                immediately preceding 5 calendar years, the 
                Secretary shall consider the plant capacity of 
                the processing plant in determining whether the 
                processing plant should be considered a packer 
                under this chapter.
            ``(13) Packer-owned swine.--The term `packer-owned 
        swine' means swine that a packer (including a 
        subsidiary or affiliate of the packer) owns for at 
        least 14 days immediately before slaughter.
            ``(14) Packer-sold swine.--The term `packer-sold 
        swine' means the swine that are--
                    ``(A) owned by a packer (including a 
                subsidiary or affiliate of the packer) for more 
                than 14 days immediately before sale for 
                slaughter; and
                    ``(B) sold for slaughter to another packer.
            ``(15) Pork.--The term `pork' means the meat of a 
        porcine animal.
            ``(16) Pork product.--The term `pork product' means 
        a product or byproduct produced or processed in whole 
        or in part from pork.
            ``(17) Purchase data.--The term `purchase data' 
        means all of the applicable data, including weight (if 
        purchased live), for all swine purchased during the 
        applicable reporting period, regardless of the expected 
        delivery date of the swine, reported by--
                    ``(A) hog class;
                    ``(B) type of purchase; and
                    ``(C) packer-owned swine.
            ``(18) Slaughter data.--The term `slaughter data' 
        means all of the applicable data for all swine 
        slaughtered by a packer during the applicable reporting 
        period, regardless of when the price of the swine was 
        negotiated or otherwise determined, reported by--
                    ``(A) hog class;
                    ``(B) type of purchase; and
                    ``(C) packer-owned swine.
            ``(19) Sow.--The term `sow' means an adult female 
        swine that has produced 1 or more litters.
            ``(20) Swine.--The term `swine' means a porcine 
        animal raised to be a feeder pig, raised for seedstock, 
        or raised for slaughter.
            ``(21) Swine or pork market formula purchase.--The 
        term `swine or pork market formula purchase' means a 
        purchase of swine by a packer in which the pricing 
        mechanism is a formula price based on a market for 
        swine, pork, or a pork product, other than a future or 
        option for swine, pork, or a pork product.
            ``(22) Type of purchase.--The term `type of 
        purchase', with respect to swine, means--
                    ``(A) a negotiated purchase;
                    ``(B) other market formula purchase;
                    ``(C) a swine or pork market formula 
                purchase; and
                    ``(D) other purchase arrangement.

``SEC. 232. MANDATORY REPORTING FOR SWINE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
program of swine price information reporting that will--
            ``(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market 
        information;
            ``(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; 
        and
            ``(3) promote competition in the swine slaughtering 
        industry.
    ``(b) General Reporting Provisions Applicable to Packers 
and the Secretary.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish 
        and implement a price reporting program in accordance 
        with this section that includes the reporting and 
        publication of information required under this section.
            ``(2) Packer-owned swine.--Information required 
        under this section for packer-owned swine shall include 
        quantity and carcass characteristics, but not price.
            ``(3) Packer-sold swine.--If information regarding 
        the type of purchase is required under this section, 
        the information shall be reported according to the 
        numbers and percentages of each type of purchase 
        comprising--
                    ``(A) packer-sold swine; and
                    ``(B) all other swine.
            ``(4) Additional information.--
                    ``(A) Review.--The Secretary shall review 
                the information required to be reported by 
                packers under this section at least once every 
                2 years.
                    ``(B) Outdated information.--After public 
                notice and an opportunity for comment, subject 
                to subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall 
                promulgate regulations that specify additional 
                information that shall be reported under this 
                section if the Secretary determines under the 
                review under subparagraph (A) that--
                            ``(i) information that is currently 
                        required no longer accurately reflects 
                        the methods by which swine are valued 
                        and priced by packers; or
                            ``(ii) packers that slaughter a 
                        significant majority of the swine 
                        produced in the United States no longer 
                        use backfat or lean percentage factors 
                        as indicators of price.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--Under subparagraph (B), 
                the Secretary may not require packers to 
                provide any new or additional information 
                that--
                            ``(i) is not generally available or 
                        maintained by packers; or
                            ``(ii) would be otherwise unduly 
                        burdensome to provide.
    ``(c) Daily Reporting.--
            ``(1) Prior day report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The corporate officers 
                or officially designated representatives of 
                each packer processing plant shall report to 
                the Secretary, for each business day of the 
                packer, such information as the Secretary 
                determines necessary and appropriate to--
                            ``(i) comply with the publication 
                        requirements of this section; and
                            ``(ii) provide for the timely 
                        access to the information by producers, 
                        packers, and other market participants.
                    ``(B) Reporting deadline and plants 
                required to report.--Not later than 7:00 a.m. 
                Central Time on each reporting day, a packer 
                required to report under subparagraph (A) shall 
                report information regarding all swine 
                purchased, priced, or slaughtered during the 
                prior business day of the packer.
                    ``(C) Information required.--The 
                information from the prior business day of a 
                packer required under this paragraph shall 
                include--
                            ``(i) all purchase data, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) the total number of--
                                            ``(aa) swine 
                                        purchased; and
                                            ``(bb) swine 
                                        scheduled for delivery; 
                                        and
                                    ``(II) the base price and 
                                purchase data for slaughtered 
                                swine for which a price has 
                                been established;
                            ``(ii) all slaughter data for the 
                        total number of swine slaughtered, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) information 
                                concerning the net price, which 
                                shall be equal to the total 
                                amount paid by a packer to a 
                                producer (including all 
                                premiums, less all discounts) 
                                per hundred pounds of carcass 
                                weight of swine delivered at 
                                the plant--
                                            ``(aa) including 
                                        any sum deducted from 
                                        the price per 
                                        hundredweight paid to a 
                                        producer that reflects 
                                        the repayment of a 
                                        balance owed by the 
                                        producer to the packer 
                                        or the accumulation of 
                                        a balance to later be 
                                        repaid by the packer to 
                                        the producer; and
                                            ``(bb) excluding 
                                        any sum earlier paid to 
                                        a producer that must 
                                        later be repaid to the 
                                        packer;
                                    ``(II) information 
                                concerning the average net 
                                price, which shall be equal to 
                                the quotient (stated per 
                                hundred pounds of carcass 
                                weight of swine) obtained by 
                                dividing--
                                            ``(aa) the total 
                                        amount paid for the 
                                        swine slaughtered at a 
                                        packing plant during 
                                        the applicable 
                                        reporting period, 
                                        including all premiums 
                                        and discounts, and 
                                        including any sum 
                                        deducted from the price 
                                        per hundredweight paid 
                                        to a producer that 
                                        reflects the repayment 
                                        of a balance owed by 
                                        the producer to the 
                                        packer, or the 
                                        accumulation of a 
                                        balance to later be 
                                        repaid by the packer to 
                                        the producer, less all 
                                        discounts; by
                                            ``(bb) the total 
                                        carcass weight (in 
                                        hundred pound 
                                        increments) of the 
                                        swine;
                                    ``(III) information 
                                concerning the lowest net 
                                price, which shall be equal to 
                                the lowest net price paid for a 
                                single lot or a group of swine 
                                slaughtered at a packing plant 
                                during the applicable reporting 
                                period per hundred pounds of 
                                carcass weight of swine;
                                    ``(IV) information 
                                concerning the highest net 
                                price, which shall be equal to 
                                the highest net price paid for 
                                a single lot or group of swine 
                                slaughtered at a packing plant 
                                during the applicable reporting 
                                period per hundred pounds of 
                                carcass weight of swine;
                                    ``(V) the average carcass 
                                weight, which shall be equal to 
                                the quotient obtained by 
                                dividing--
                                            ``(aa) the total 
                                        carcass weight of the 
                                        swine slaughtered at 
                                        the packing plant 
                                        during the applicable 
                                        reporting period; by
                                            ``(bb) the number 
                                        of the swine described 
                                        in item (aa);
                                adjusted for special slaughter 
                                situations (such as skinning or 
                                foot removal), as the Secretary 
                                determines necessary to render 
                                comparable carcass weights;
                                    ``(VI) the average sort 
                                loss, which shall be equal to 
                                the average discount (in 
                                dollars per hundred pounds 
                                carcass weight) for swine 
                                slaughtered during the 
                                applicable reporting period, 
                                resulting from the fact that 
                                the swine did not fall within 
                                the individual packer's 
                                established carcass weight or 
                                lot variation range;
                                    ``(VII) the average 
                                backfat, which shall be equal 
                                to the average of the backfat 
                                thickness (in inches) measured 
                                between the third and fourth 
                                from the last ribs, 7 
                                centimeters from the carcass 
                                split (or adjusted from the 
                                individual packer's measurement 
                                to that reference point using 
                                an adjustment made by the 
                                Secretary) of the swine 
                                slaughtered during the 
                                applicable reporting period;
                                    ``(VIII) the average lean 
                                percentage, which shall be 
                                equal to the average percentage 
                                of the carcass weight comprised 
                                of lean meat for the swine 
                                slaughtered during the 
                                applicable reporting period, 
                                except that when a packer is 
                                required to report the average 
                                lean percentage under this 
                                subclause, the packer shall 
                                make available to the Secretary 
                                the underlying data, applicable 
                                methodology and formulae, and 
                                supporting materials used to 
                                determine the average lean 
                                percentage, which the Secretary 
                                may convert to the carcass 
                                measurements or lean percentage 
                                of the swine of the individual 
                                packer to correlate to a common 
                                percent lean measurement; and
                                    ``(IX) the total slaughter 
                                quantity, which shall be equal 
                                to the total number of swine 
                                slaughtered during the 
                                applicable reporting period, 
                                including all types of 
                                purchases and packer-owned 
                                swine; and
                            ``(iii) packer purchase 
                        commitments, which shall be equal to 
                        the number of swine scheduled for 
                        delivery to a packer for slaughter for 
                        each of the next 14 calendar days.
                    ``(D) Publication.--The Secretary shall 
                publish the information obtained under this 
                paragraph in a prior day report not later than 
                8:00 a.m. Central Time on the reporting day on 
                which the information is received from the 
                packer.
            ``(2) Morning report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The corporate officers 
                or officially designated representatives of 
                each packer processing plant shall report to 
                the Secretary not later than 10:00 a.m. Central 
                Time each reporting day--
                            ``(i) the packer's best estimate of 
                        the total number of swine, and packer-
                        owned swine, expected to be purchased 
                        throughout the reporting day through 
                        each type of purchase;
                            ``(ii) the total number of swine, 
                        and packer-owned swine, purchased up to 
                        that time of the reporting day through 
                        each type of purchase;
                            ``(iii) the base price paid for all 
                        base market hogs purchased up to that 
                        time of the reporting day through 
                        negotiated purchases; and
                            ``(iv) the base price paid for all 
                        base market hogs purchased through each 
                        type of purchase other than negotiated 
                        purchase up to that time of the 
                        reporting day, unless such information 
                        is unavailable due to pricing that is 
                        determined on a delayed basis.
                    ``(B) Publication.--The Secretary shall 
                publish the information obtained under this 
                paragraph in the morning report as soon as 
                practicable, but not later than 11:00 a.m. 
                Central Time, on each reporting day.
            ``(3) Afternoon report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The corporate officers 
                or officially designated representatives of 
                each packer processing plant shall report to 
                the Secretary not later than 2:00 p.m. Central 
                Time each reporting day--
                            ``(i) the packer's best estimate of 
                        the total number of swine, and packer-
                        owned swine, expected to be purchased 
                        throughout the reporting day through 
                        each type of purchase;
                            ``(ii) the total number of swine, 
                        and packer-owned swine, purchased up to 
                        that time of the reporting day through 
                        each type of purchase;
                            ``(iii) the base price paid for all 
                        base market hogs purchased up to that 
                        time of the reporting day through 
                        negotiated purchases; and
                            ``(iv) the base price paid for all 
                        base market hogs purchased up to that 
                        time of the reporting day through each 
                        type of purchase other than negotiated 
                        purchase, unless such information is 
                        unavailable due to pricing that is 
                        determined on a delayed basis.
                    ``(B) Publication.--The Secretary shall 
                publish the information obtained under this 
                paragraph in the afternoon report as soon as 
                practicable, but not later than 3:00 p.m. 
                Central Time, on each reporting day.
    ``(d) Weekly Noncarcass Merit Premium Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 4:00 p.m. Central 
        Time on the first reporting day of each week, the 
        corporate officers or officially designated 
        representatives of each packer processing plant shall 
        report to the Secretary a noncarcass merit premium 
        report that lists--
                    ``(A) each category of standard noncarcass 
                merit premiums used by the packer in the prior 
                slaughter week; and
                    ``(B) the amount (in dollars per hundred 
                pounds of carcass weight) paid to producers by 
                the packer, by category.
            ``(2) Premium list.--A packer shall maintain and 
        make available to a producer, on request, a current 
        listing of the dollar values (per hundred pounds of 
        carcass weight) of each noncarcass merit premium used 
        by the packer during the current or the prior slaughter 
        week.
            ``(3) Availability.--A packer shall not be required 
        to pay a listed noncarcass merit premium to a producer 
        that meets the requirements for the premium if the need 
        for swine in a given category is filled at a particular 
        point in time.Premium list.--A packer shall maintain 
        and make available to a producer, on request, a current 
        listing of the dollar values (per hundred pounds of 
        carcass weight) of each noncarcass merit premium used 
        by the packer during the current or the prior slaughter 
        week.
            ``(4) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the 
        information obtained under this subsection as soon as 
        practicable, but not later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time, 
        on the first reporting day of each week.

                      ``CHAPTER 4--LAMB REPORTING

``SEC. 241. MANDATORY REPORTING FOR LAMBS.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish a program 
of mandatory lamb price information reporting that will--
            ``(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market 
        information;
            ``(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; 
        and
            ``(3) promote competition in the lamb slaughtering 
        industry.
    ``(b) Notice and Comment.--If the Secretary establishes a 
mandatory price reporting program under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall provide an opportunity for comment on proposed 
regulations to establish the program during the 30-day period 
beginning on the date of the publication of the proposed 
regulations.

                      ``CHAPTER 5--ADMINISTRATION

``SEC. 251. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Confidentiality.--The Secretary shall make available 
to the public information, statistics, and documents obtained 
from, or submitted by, packers, retail entities, and other 
persons under this subtitle in a manner that ensures that 
confidentiality is preserved regarding--
            ``(1) the identity of persons, including parties to 
        a contract; and
            ``(2) proprietary business information.
    ``(b) Disclosure by Federal Government Employees.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), no 
        officer, employee, or agent of the United States shall, 
        without the consent of the packer or other person 
        concerned, divulge or make known in any manner, any 
        facts or information regarding the business of the 
        packer or other person that was acquired through 
        reporting required under this subtitle.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--Information obtained by the 
        Secretary under this subtitle may be disclosed--
                    ``(A) to agents or employees of the 
                Department of Agriculture in the course of 
                their official duties under this subtitle;
                    ``(B) as directed by the Secretary or the 
                Attorney General, for enforcement purposes; or
                    ``(C) by a court of competent jurisdiction.
            ``(3) Disclosure under freedom of information 
        act.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
        facts or information obtained under this subtitle shall 
        be disclosed in accordance with section 552 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
    ``(c) Reporting by Packers.--A packer shall report all 
information required under this subtitle on an individual lot 
basis.
    ``(d) Regional Reporting and Aggregation.--The Secretary 
shall make information obtained under this subtitle available 
to the public only in a manner that--
            ``(1) ensures that the information is published on 
        a national and a regional or statewide basis as the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate;
            ``(2) ensures that the identity of a reporting 
        person is not disclosed; and
            ``(3) conforms to aggregation guidelines 
        established by the Secretary.
    ``(e) Adjustments.--Prior to the publication of any 
information required under this subtitle, the Secretary may 
make reasonable adjustments in information reported by packers 
to reflect price aberrations or other unusual or unique 
occurrences that the Secretary determines would distort the 
published information to the detriment of producers, packers, 
or other market participants.
    ``(f) Verification.--The Secretary shall take such actions 
as the Secretary considers necessary to verify the accuracy of 
the information submitted or reported under chapter 2, 3, or 4.
    ``(g) Electronic Reporting and Publishing.--The Secretary 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide for the 
reporting and publishing of the information required under this 
subtitle by electronic means.
    ``(h) Reporting of Activities on Weekends and Holidays.--
            ``(1) In general.--Livestock committed to a packer, 
        or purchased, sold, or slaughtered by a packer, on a 
        weekend day or holiday shall be reported by the packer 
        to the Secretary (to the extent required under this 
        subtitle), and reported by the Secretary, on the 
        immediately following reporting day.
            ``(2) Limitation on reporting by packers.--A packer 
        shall not be required to report actions under paragraph 
        (1) more than once on the immediately following 
        reporting day.
    ``(i) Effect on Other Laws.--Nothing in this subtitle, the 
Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999, or amendments made 
by that Act restricts or modifies the authority of the 
Secretary to--
            ``(1) administer or enforce the Packers and 
        Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);
            ``(2) administer, enforce, or collect voluntary 
        reports under this title or any other law; or
            ``(3) access documentary evidence as provided under 
        sections 9 and 10 of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 49, 50).

``SEC. 252. UNLAWFUL ACTS.

    ``It shall be unlawful and a violation of this subtitle for 
any packer or other person subject to this subtitle (in the 
submission of information required under chapter 2, 3, or 4, as 
determined by the Secretary) to willfully--
            ``(1) fail or refuse to provide, or delay the 
        timely reporting of, accurate information to the 
        Secretary (including estimated information);
            ``(2) solicit or request that a packer, the buyer 
        or seller of livestock or livestock products, or any 
        other person fail to provide, as a condition of any 
        transaction, accurate or timely information required 
        under this subtitle;
            ``(3) fail or refuse to comply with this subtitle; 
        or
            ``(4) report estimated information in any report 
        required under this subtitle in a manner that 
        demonstrates a pattern of significant variance in 
        accuracy when compared to the actual information that 
        is reported for the same reporting period, or as 
        determined by any audit, oversight, or other 
        verification procedures of the Secretary.

``SEC. 253. ENFORCEMENT.

    ``(a) Civil Penalty.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any packer or other person that 
        violates this subtitle may be assessed a civil penalty 
        by the Secretary of not more than $10,000 for each 
        violation.
            ``(2) Continuing violation.--Each day during which 
        a violation continues shall be considered to be a 
        separate violation.
            ``(3) Factors.--In determining the amount of a 
        civil penalty to be assessed under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall consider the gravity of the offense, 
        the size of the business involved, and the effect of 
        the penalty on the ability of the person that has 
        committed the violation to continue in business.
            ``(4) Multiple violations.--In determining whether 
        to assess a civil penalty under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall consider whether a packer or other 
        person subject to this subtitle has engaged in a 
        pattern of errors, delays, or omissions in violation of 
        this subtitle.
    ``(b) Cease and Desist.--In addition to, or in lieu of, a 
civil penalty under subsection (a), the Secretary may issue an 
order to cease and desist from continuing any violation.
    ``(c) Notice and Hearing.--No penalty shall be assessed, or 
cease and desist order issued, by the Secretary under this 
section unless the person against which the penalty is assessed 
or to which the order is issued is given notice and opportunity 
for a hearing before the Secretary with respect to the 
violation.
    ``(d) Finality and Judicial Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--The order of the Secretary 
        assessing a civil penalty or issuing a cease and desist 
        order under this section shall be final and conclusive 
        unless the affected person files an appeal of the order 
        of the Secretary in United States district court not 
        later than 30 days after the date of the issuance of 
        the order.
            ``(2) Standard of review.--A finding of the 
        Secretary under this section shall be set aside only if 
        the finding is found to be unsupported by substantial 
        evidence.
    ``(e) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) In general.--If, after the lapse of the 
        period allowed for appeal or after the affirmance of a 
        penalty assessed under this section, the person against 
        which the civil penalty is assessed fails to pay the 
        penalty, the Secretary may refer the matter to the 
        Attorney General who may recover the penalty by an 
        action in United States district court.
            ``(2) Finality.--In the action, the final order of 
        the Secretary shall not be subject to review.
    ``(f) Injunction or Restraining Order.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary has reason to 
        believe that any person subject to this subtitle has 
        failed or refused to provide the Secretary information 
        required to be reported pursuant to this subtitle, and 
        that it would be in the public interest to enjoin the 
        person from further failure to comply with the 
        reporting requirements, the Secretary may notify the 
        Attorney General of the failure.
            ``(2) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may 
        apply to the appropriate district court of the United 
        States for a temporary or permanent injunction or 
        restraining order.
            ``(3) Court.--When needed to carry out this 
        subtitle, the court shall, on a proper showing, issue a 
        temporary injunction or restraining order without bond.
    ``(g) Failure To Obey Orders.--
            ``(1) In general.--If a person subject to this 
        subtitle fails to obey a cease and desist or civil 
        penalty order issued under this subsection after the 
        order has become final and unappealable, or after the 
        appropriate United States district court has entered a 
        final judgment in favor of the Secretary, the United 
        States may apply to the appropriate district court for 
        enforcement of the order.
            ``(2) Enforcement.--If the court determines that 
        the order was lawfully made and duly served and that 
        the person violated the order, the court shall enforce 
        the order.
            ``(3) Civil penalty.--If the court finds that the 
        person violated the cease and desist provisions of the 
        order, the person shall be subject to a civil penalty 
        of not more than $10,000 for each offense.

``SEC. 254. FEES.

    ``The Secretary shall not charge or assess a user fee, 
transaction fee, service charge, assessment, reimbursement, or 
any other fee for the submission or reporting of information, 
for the receipt or availability of, or access to, published 
reports or information, or for any other activity required 
under this subtitle.

``SEC. 255. RECORDKEEPING.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), each packer 
required to report information to the Secretary under this 
subtitle shall maintain, and make available to the Secretary on 
request, for 2 years--
            ``(1) the original contracts, agreements, receipts 
        and other records associated with any transaction 
        relating to the purchase, sale, pricing, 
        transportation, delivery, weighing, slaughter, or 
        carcass characteristics of all livestock; and
            ``(2) such records or other information as is 
        necessary or appropriate to verify the accuracy of the 
        information required to be reported under this 
        subtitle.
    ``(b) Limitations.--Under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary 
may not require a packer to provide new or additional 
information if--
            ``(1) the information is not generally available or 
        maintained by packers; or
            ``(2) the provision of the information would be 
        unduly burdensome.
    ``(c) Purchases of Cattle or Swine.--A record of a purchase 
of a lot of cattle or a lot of swine by a packer shall evidence 
whether the purchase occurred--
            ``(1) before 10:00 a.m. Central Time;
            ``(2) between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Central 
        Time; or
            ``(3) after 2:00 p.m. Central Time.

``SEC. 256. VOLUNTARY REPORTING.

    ``The Secretary shall encourage voluntary reporting by 
packers (as defined in section 201 of the Packers and 
Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191)) to which the mandatory 
reporting requirements of this subtitle do not apply.

``SEC. 257. PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION ON RETAIL PURCHASE PRICES FOR 
                    REPRESENTATIVE MEAT PRODUCTS.

    ``(a) In General.--Beginning not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this subtitle, the Secretary shall 
compile and publish at least monthly (weekly, if practicable) 
information on retail prices for representative food products 
made from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, veal, or lamb.
    ``(b) Information.--The report published by the Secretary 
under subsection (a) shall include--
            ``(1) information on retail prices for each 
        representative food product described in subsection 
        (a); and
            ``(2) information on total sales quantity (in 
        pounds and dollars) for each representative food 
        product.
    ``(c) Meat Price Spreads Report.--During the period ending 
2 years after the initial publication of the report required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall continue to publish 
the Meat Price Spreads Report in the same manner as the Report 
was published before the date of enactment of this subtitle.
    ``(d) Information Collection.--
            ``(1) In general.--To ensure the accuracy of the 
        reports required under subsection (a), the Secretary 
        shall obtain the information for the reports from 1 or 
        more sources including--
                    ``(A) a consistently representative set of 
                retail transactions; and
                    ``(B) both prices and sales quantities for 
                the transactions.
            ``(2) Source of information.--The Secretary may--
                    ``(A) obtain the information from retailers 
                or commercial information sources; and
                    ``(B) use valid statistical sampling 
                procedures, if necessary.
            ``(3) Adjustments.--In providing information on 
        retail prices under this section, the Secretary may 
        make adjustments to take into account differences in--
                    ``(A) the geographic location of 
                consumption;
                    ``(B) the location of the principal source 
                of supply;
                    ``(C) distribution costs; and
                    ``(D) such other factors as the Secretary 
                determines reflect a verifiable comparative 
                retail price for a representative food product.
    ``(e) Administration.--The Secretary--
            ``(1) shall collect information under this section 
        only on a voluntary basis; and
            ``(2) shall not impose a penalty on a person for 
        failure to provide the information or otherwise compel 
        a person to provide the information.

``SEC. 258. SUSPENSION AUTHORITY REGARDING SPECIFIC TERMS OF PRICE 
                    REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may suspend any 
requirement of this subtitle if the Secretary determines that 
application of the requirement is inconsistent with the 
purposes of this subtitle.
    ``(b) Suspension Procedure.--
            ``(1) Period.--A suspension under subsection (a) 
        shall be for a period of not more than 240 days.
            ``(2) Action by congress.--If an Act of Congress 
        concerning the requirement that is the subject of the 
        suspension under subsection (a) is not enacted by the 
        end of the period of the suspension established under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall implement the 
        requirement.

``SEC. 259. FEDERAL PREEMPTION.

    ``In order to achieve the goals, purposes, and objectives 
of this title on a nationwide basis and to avoid potentially 
conflicting State laws that could impede the goals, purposes, 
or objectives of this title, no State or political subdivision 
of a State may impose a requirement that is in addition to, or 
inconsistent with, any requirement of this subtitle with 
respect to the submission or reporting of information, or the 
publication of such information, on the prices and quantities 
of livestock or livestock products.''.

SEC. 912. UNJUST DISQUALIFICATION.

    Section 202(b) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 192(b)), is amended by striking ``whatsoever'' each 
place it appears.

SEC. 913. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Section 416 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 229a), is repealed.
    (b) Section 1127 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 1999 (7 U.S.C. 1421 note; Public Law 105-
277), is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Export Market Reporting.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) implement a streamlined electronic system for 
        collecting export sales and shipments data, in the 
        least intrusive manner possible, for fresh or frozen 
        muscle cuts of meat food products; and
            ``(2) develop a data-reporting program to 
        disseminate summary information in a timely manner (in 
        the case of beef, consistent with the reporting under 
        section 602(a) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 
        U.S.C. 5712(a))).''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``this section 
        of the Act'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''.

             Subtitle B--Related Beef Reporting Provisions

SEC. 921. BEEF EXPORT REPORTING.

    Section 602(a)(1) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 
U.S.C. 5712(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``, beef,'' after 
``cotton''.

SEC. 922. EXPORT CERTIFICATES FOR MEAT AND MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall fully implement a 
program, through the use of a streamlined electronic online 
system, to issue and report export certificates for all meat 
and meat products.

SEC. 923. IMPORTS OF BEEF, BEEF VARIETY MEATS, AND CATTLE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall--
            (1) obtain information regarding the import of beef 
        and beef variety meats (consistent with the information 
        categories reported for beef exports under section 
        602(a) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
        5712(a))) and cattle using available information 
        sources; and
            (2) publish the information in a timely manner 
        weekly and in a form that maximizes the utility of the 
        information to beef producers, packers, and other 
        market participants.
    (b) Content.--The published information shall include 
information reporting the year-to-date cumulative annual 
imports of beef, beef variety meats, and cattle for the current 
and prior marketing years.

SEC. 924. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary to carry out sections 922 and 923.

             Subtitle C--Related Swine Reporting Provisions

SEC. 931. IMPROVEMENT OF HOGS AND PIGS INVENTORY REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Effective beginning not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall publish on a monthly basis the Hogs and Pigs 
Inventory Report.
    (b) Gestating Sows.--The Secretary shall include in a 
separate category of the Report the number of bred female swine 
that are assumed, or have been confirmed, to be pregnant during 
the reporting period.
    (c) Phase-Out.--Effective for a period of 8 quarters after 
the implementation of the monthly report required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall continue to maintain and 
publish on a quarterly basis the Hogs and Pigs Inventory Report 
published on or before the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 932. BARROW AND GILT SLAUGHTER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
promptly obtain and maintain, through an appropriate collection 
system or valid sampling system at packing plants, information 
on the total slaughter of swine that reflects differences in 
numbers between barrows and gilts, as determined by the 
Secretary.
    (b) Availability.--The information shall be made available 
to swine producers, packers, and other market participants in a 
report published by the Secretary not less frequently than 
weekly.
    (c) Administration.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the 
        collection and compilation of information, and the 
        publication of the report, required by this section.
            (2) Nondelegation.--The Secretary shall not 
        delegate the collection, compilation, or administration 
        of the information required by this section to any 
        packer (as defined in section 201 of the Packers and 
        Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191)).

SEC. 933. AVERAGE TRIM LOSS CORRELATION STUDY AND REPORT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
contract with a qualified contractor to conduct a correlation 
study and prepare a report establishing a baseline and 
standards for determining and improving average trim loss 
measurements and processing techniques for pork processors to 
employ in the slaughter of swine.
    (b) Correlation Study and Report.--The study and report 
shall--
            (1) analyze processing techniques that would assist 
        the pork processing industry in improving procedures 
        for uniformity and transparency in how trim loss is 
        discounted (in dollars per hundred pounds carcass 
        weight) by different packers and processors;
            (2) analyze slaughter inspection procedures that 
        could be improved so that trimming procedures and 
        policies of the Secretary are uniform to the maximum 
        extent determined practicable by the Secretary;
            (3) determine how the Secretary may be able to 
        foster improved breeding techniques and animal handling 
        and transportation procedures through training programs 
        made available to swine producers so as to minimize 
        trim loss in slaughter processing; and
            (4) make recommendations that are designed to 
        effect changes in the pork industry so as to achieve 
        continuous improvement in average trim losses and 
        discounts.
    (c) Subsequent Reports on Status of Improvements and 
Updates in Baseline.--Not less frequently than once every 2 
years after the initial publication of the report required 
under this section, the Secretary shall make subsequent 
periodic reports that--
            (1) examine the status of the improvement in 
        reducing trim loss discounts in the pork processing 
        industry; and
            (2) update the baseline to reflect changes in trim 
        loss discounts.
    (d) Submission of Reports to Congress, Producers, Packers, 
and Others.--The reports required under this section shall be 
made available to--
            (1) the public on the Internet;
            (2) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (3) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
        Forestry of the Senate;
            (4) producers and packers; and
            (5) other market participants.

SEC. 934. SWINE PACKER MARKETING CONTRACTS.

    Title II of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 
191 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by inserting before section 201 (7 U.S.C. 191) 
        the following:

                  ``Subtitle A--General Provisions'';

        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

             ``Subtitle B--Swine Packer Marketing Contracts

``SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS.

    ``Except as provided in section 223(a), in this subtitle:
            ``(1) Market.--The term `market' means the sale or 
        disposition of swine, pork, or pork products in 
        commerce.
            ``(2) Packer.--The term `packer' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 231 of the Agricultural 
        Marketing Act of 1946.
            ``(3) Pork.--The term `pork' means the meat of a 
        porcine animal.
            ``(4) Pork product.--The term `pork product' means 
        a product or byproduct produced or processed in whole 
        or in part from pork.
            ``(5) State.--The term `State' means each of the 50 
        States.
            ``(6) Swine.--The term `swine' means a porcine 
        animal raised to be a feeder pig, raised for seedstock, 
        or raised for slaughter.
            ``(7) Type of contract.--The term `type of 
        contract' means the classification of contracts or risk 
        management agreements for the purchase of swine by--
                    ``(A) the mechanism used to determine the 
                base price for swine committed to a packer, 
                grouped into practicable classifications by the 
                Secretary (including swine or pork market 
                formula purchases, other market formula 
                purchases, and other purchase arrangements); 
                and
                    ``(B) the presence or absence of an accrual 
                account or ledger that must be repaid by the 
                producer or packer that receives the benefit of 
                the contract pricing mechanism in relation to 
                negotiated prices.
            ``(8) Other terms.--Except as provided in this 
        subtitle, a term has the meaning given the term in 
        section 212 or 231 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
        1946.

``SEC. 222. SWINE PACKER MARKETING CONTRACTS OFFERED TO PRODUCERS.

    ``(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
establish and maintain a library or catalog of each type of 
contract offered by packers to swine producers for the purchase 
of all or part of the producers' production of swine (including 
swine that are purchased or committed for delivery), including 
all available noncarcass merit premiums.
    ``(b) Availability.--The Secretary shall make available to 
swine producers and other interested persons information on the 
types of contracts described in subsection (a), including 
notice (on a real-time basis if practicable) of the types of 
contracts that are being offered by each individual packer to, 
and are open to acceptance by, producers for the purchase of 
swine.
    ``(c) Confidentiality.--The reporting requirements under 
subsections (a) and (b) shall be subject to the confidentiality 
protections provided under section 251 of the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946.
    ``(d) Information Collection.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) obtain (by a filing or other 
                procedure required of each individual packer) 
                information indicating what types of contracts 
                for the purchase of swine are available from 
                each packer; and
                    ``(B) make the information available in a 
                monthly report to swine producers and other 
                interested persons.
            ``(2) Contracted swine numbers.--Each packer shall 
        provide, and the Secretary shall collect and publish in 
        the monthly report required under paragraph (1)(B), 
        information specifying--
                    ``(A) the types of existing contracts for 
                each packer;
                    ``(B) the provisions contained in each 
                contract that provide for expansion in the 
                numbers of swine to be delivered under the 
                contract for the following 6-month and 12-month 
                periods;
                    ``(C) an estimate of the total number of 
                swine committed by contract for delivery to all 
                packers within the 6-month and 12-month periods 
                following the date of the report, reported by 
                reporting region and by type of contract; and
                    ``(D) an estimate of the maximum total 
                number of swine that potentially could be 
                delivered within the 6-month and 12-month 
                periods following the date of the report under 
                the provisions described in subparagraph (B) 
                that are included in existing contracts, 
                reported by reporting region and by type of 
                contract.
    ``(e) Violations.--It shall be unlawful and a violation of 
this title for any packer to willfully fail or refuse to 
provide to the Secretary accurate information required under, 
or to willfully fail or refuse to comply with any requirement 
of, this section.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry 
out this section.

``SEC. 223. REPORT ON THE SECRETARY'S JURISDICTION, POWER, DUTIES, AND 
                    AUTHORITIES.

    ``(a) Definition of Packer.--In this section, the term 
`packer' has the meaning given the term in section 201 of the 
Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191).
    ``(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this subtitle, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall provide to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describing the 
jurisdiction, powers, duties, and authorities of the Secretary 
that relate to packers and other persons involved in procuring, 
slaughtering, or processing swine, pork, or pork products that 
are covered by this Act and other laws, including--
            ``(1) the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 
        41 et seq.), especially sections 6, 8, 9, and 10 of 
        that Act (15 U.S.C. 46, 48, 49, 50); and
            ``(2) the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
        U.S.C. 1621 et seq.).
    ``(c) Contents.--The Comptroller General shall include in 
the report an analysis of--
            ``(1) burdens on and obstructions to commerce in 
        swine, pork, and pork products by packers, and other 
        persons that enter into arrangements with the packers, 
        that are contrary to, or do not protect, the public 
        interest;
            ``(2) noncompetitive pricing arrangements between 
        or among packers, or other persons involved in the 
        processing, distribution, or sale of pork and pork 
        products, including arrangements provided for in 
        contracts for the purchase of swine;
            ``(3) the effective monitoring of contracts entered 
        into between packers and swine producers;
            ``(4) investigations that relate to, and affect, 
        the disclosure of--
                    ``(A) transactions involved in the business 
                conduct and practices of packers; and
                    ``(B) the pricing of swine paid to 
                producers by packers and the pricing of 
                products in the pork and pork product 
                merchandising chain;
            ``(5) the adequacy of the authority of the 
        Secretary to prevent a packer from unjustly or 
        arbitrarily refusing to offer a producer, or 
        disqualifying a producer from eligibility for, a 
        particular contract or type of contract for the 
        purchase of swine; and
            ``(6) the ability of the Secretary to cooperate 
        with and enhance the enforcement of actions initiated 
        by other Federal departments and agencies, or Federal 
        independent agencies, to protect trade and commerce in 
        the pork and pork product industries against unlawful 
        restraints and monopolies.''.

SEC. 935. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary to carry out this subtitle and the amendments made by 
this subtitle.

                       Subtitle D--Implementation

SEC. 941. REGULATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
publish final regulations to implement this title and the 
amendments made by this title.
    (b) Publication of Proposed Regulations.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall publish proposed regulations to implement this title and 
the amendments made by this title.
    (c) Comment Period.--The Secretary shall provide an 
opportunity for comment on the proposed regulations during the 
30-day period beginning on the date of the publication of the 
proposed regulations.
    (d) Final Regulations.--Not later than 60 days after the 
conclusion of the comment period, the Secretary shall publish 
the final regulations and implement this title and the 
amendments made by this title.

SEC. 942. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

    The authority provided by this title and the amendments 
made by this title terminate 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2000''.
    And the Senate agree to the same.

                                   Joe Skeen,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Jack Kingston,
                                   Henry Bonilla,
                                   Tom Latham,
                                   Jo Ann Emerson,
                                   Bill Young,
                                   Sam Farr,
                                   Allen Boyd,
                                   David R. Obey,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Christopher S. Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   Dianne Feinstein,
                                   Robert Byrd,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and Senate at the 
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 1906) making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, 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. 
For fiscal year 2000, total funding of $326,633,000 is approved 
for programs and activities funded by this bill which are 
included in the President's Food Safety Initiative, an increase 
of $51,886,000 from the fiscal year 1999 level. The funding 
increases, by agency, are as follow:

Agricultural Research Service...........................     $11,000,000
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension 
    Service.............................................       2,635,000
Economic Research Service...............................         453,000
National Agricultural Statistic Service.................       2,500,000
Agricultural Marketing Service..........................       2,398,000
Food Safety and Inspection Service......................       2,900,000
Food and Drug Administration............................      30,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Total...............................................      51,886,000

                     TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary

      The conference agreement provides $15,436,000 for the 
Office of the Secretary instead of $2,836,000 as proposed by 
both the House and Senate. Included in this amount is 
$12,600,000 made available solely for the development and 
implementation of a common computing environment (CCE) for the 
Department of Agriculture, which will only be available upon 
approval by the Committees on Appropriations and Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Senate of a comprehensive 
plan for development and implementation of the CCE.
      The conferees strongly encourage the Department to make 
the funds from the fiscal year 1996 appropriation for Infoshare 
available to the Chief Information Officer for continued 
Service Center oversight and for supporting other high priority 
work which will facilitate information sharing and electronic 
access to USDA programs.
      The conferees expect the Secretary to use all existing 
authority for the implementation of trade adjustment assistance 
measures announced by the President on July 7, 1999, to improve 
the competitiveness of the U.S. lamb industry.
      The conferees believe that there is an absence of clarity 
concerning the definition of US cattle and US fresh beef 
products. This limitation hinders the ability of producers to 
promote their products as ``Product of the U.S.A.'' The 
conferees direct the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation 
with the affected industries, to promulgate regulations 
defining which cattle and fresh beef products are ``Products of 
the U.S.A.'' This will facilitate the development of voluntary, 
value-added promotion programs that will benefit U.S. 
producers, business, industry, consumers, and commerce.
      The conferees encourage the Secretary to enhance funding 
for research to further study the economic feasibility of 
converting biomass to ethanol through feedstock development, 
biomass gasification and syngas conditioning, microbial 
catalyst development, and syngas fermentation. The conferees 
note that this research could result in substantial economic 
benefits for rural America.

                          Executive Operations

                     office of the chief economist

      The conference agreement provides $6,411,000 as proposed 
by the Senate instead of $5,620,000 as proposed by the House.

                office of the chief information officer

      The conference agreement provides $6,051,000 for the 
Office of the Chief Information Officer instead of the 
$5,551,000 as proposed by the House and Senate. The amount 
includes an increase of $500,000 for information security.

                 office of the chief financial officer

      The conference agreement provides $4,783,000 for the 
Office of the Chief Financial Officer instead of the $4,283,000 
as proposed by the House and the $5,283,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The conference agreement deletes bill language proposed 
by the Senate that the Chief Financial Officer actively market 
cross-servicing activities of the National Finance Center.

        Agriculture Buildings and Facilities and Rental Payments

      The conference agreement provides $140,364,000 for 
agriculture buildings and facilities and rental payments as 
proposed by the House instead of $145,364,000 asproposed by the 
Senate. The conference agreement does not provide $5,000,000 for 
repairs, renovations and construction as proposed by the Senate. The 
House bill proposed no funding for this purpose.
      In the event an agency within the Department requires 
modification of its space needs, language in the bill allows 
the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer a share of that 
agency's appropriation or a share of this appropriation to that 
agency's appropriation, but such transfer cannot exceed 5 
percent of the funds made available for space rental and 
related costs.

                      Departmental Administration

      The conference agreement provides $34,738,000 for 
Departmental Administration as proposed by the Senate instead 
of $36,117,000 as proposed by the House.
      The amount provided includes the increases requested in 
the President's Budget for the Office of Civil Rights 
($1,639,000 and 17 staff years) and the Office of Outreach 
($931,000 and 11 staff years) to continue to implement 
recommendations from the Civil Rights Action Team report, the 
National Commission on Small Farms report, and to carry out 
other responsibilities under this account.

     Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations

      The conference agreement provides $3,568,000 for the 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations 
instead of $3,668,000 as proposed by the House and the Senate. 
The conference agreement includes language providing for the 
transfer of not less than $2,241,000 to agencies funded in this 
Act to maintain personnel at the agency level. The following 
table reflects the amounts provided by the conference:

Headquarters Activities.......................................  $857,000
Intergovernmental Affairs.....................................   470,000
Agricultural Marketing Service................................   176,000
Agricultural Research Service.................................   129,000
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service....................   101,000
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service...   120,000
Farm Service Agency...........................................   355,000
Food and Nutrition Service....................................   270,000
Food Safety and Inspection Service............................   309,000
Foreign Agricultural Service..................................   183,000
Natural Resources Conservation Service........................   148,000
Risk Management Agency........................................   109,000
Rural Business-Cooperative Service............................    52,000
Rural Housing Service.........................................   147,000
Rural Utilities Service.......................................   142,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

    Total..................................................... 3,568,000

                     Office of the General Counsel

      The conference agreement provides $29,194,000 for the 
Office of the General Counsel as proposed by the House instead 
of the $30,094,000 as proposed by the Senate.

  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 $940,000 as proposed by the 
House. Resources for activities related to the Biobased 
Coordinating Council as provided under the Agricultural 
Research Service.

                       Economic Research Service

      The conference agreement provided $65,419,000 for the 
Economic Research Service instead of $70,266,000 as proposed by 
the House and $62,919,000 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 which 
$1,000,000 is transferred to the Food Program Administration 
account of the Food and Nutrition Service; and $453,000 is for 
estimating the benefits of food safety, as requested in the 
budget.
      The conference agreement does not include $500,000 for a 
study on the decline in participation in the food stamp 
program. The conferees note that GAO released a study in July 
1999 on this same issue. The conference agreement deletes bill 
language reducing Economic Research Service cooperative 
research by $2,000,000.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

      The conference agreement provides $99,405,000 for the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service instead of 
$100,559,000 as proposed by the House and $99,355,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is up to 
$16,490,000 for the Census of Agriculture; and increases of 
$2,500,000 for the fruit and vegetable survey, $800,000 for the 
pesticide use survey, and $250,000 for a new office in Puerto 
Rico. The amount provided includes all savings identified in 
the President's request.

                     Agricultural Research Service

      The conference agreement provides $834,322,000 for the 
Agricultural Research Service instead of $823,381,000 as 
proposed by the House and $809,499,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

                                                              Amount
FY 1999 Appropriation..................................    $785,518,000
                                                        ----------------
      Agricultural Genome..............................       2,000,000
                                                        ----------------
Bioinformatic tools, biol. databases, and info mgmt             250,000
 (Plants)..............................................
    Columbia, MO.......................................        (250,000)
National Plant Germplasm System........................       1,750,000
    Albany, CA.........................................        (250,000)
    Ft. Collins, CO....................................        (250,000)
    Ames, IA...........................................        (250,000)
    Beltsville, MD.....................................        (250,000)
    Columbia, MO.......................................        (250,000)
    Ithaca, NY.........................................        (250,000)
    Pullman, WA........................................        (250,000)
                                                        ----------------
      Emerging Diseases and Exotic Pests...............       3,775,000
                                                        ----------------
Wheat and barley scab..................................         375,000
    Madison, WI........................................        (300,000)
    Raleigh, NC........................................         (75,000)
Consortium of Land Grant Universities..................       1,800,000
Cereal Rust, St. Paul, MN..............................         250,000
New emerging and exotic plant diseases.................         250,000
    Fort Pierce, FL....................................        (250,000)
Reniform Nematode, Stoneville, MS......................         500,000
Noxious Weeds, Burns, OR...............................         250,000
Avian Pneumovirus, Athens, GA..........................         250,000
Poult Enteritis Mortality Syndrome, Athens, GA.........         100,000
                                                        ----------------
      Food Quality Protection Act Implementation.......         250,000
                                                        ----------------
IPM tech. for fruits/veg/organophosphates and                   250,000
 carbamates............................................
    Ft. Pierce, FL.....................................        (250,000)
                                                        ----------------
      Food Safety......................................      11,000,000
                                                        ----------------
Preharvest:
  Manure handling and distribution.....................       1,750,000
    Miss. State, MS....................................        (500,000)
    Ames, IA...........................................        (250,000)
    Clay Center, NE....................................        (250,000)
    Lincoln, NE........................................        (250,000)
    Bushland, TX.......................................        (250,000)
    Phoenix, AZ........................................        (250,000)
  Antibiotic resistance................................       1,350,000
    Athens, GA.........................................        (450,000)
    Ames, IA...........................................        (450,000)
    College Station, TX................................        (450,000)
  Risk assessment......................................       1,550,000
    Athens, GA.........................................        (400,000)
    West Lafayette, IN.................................        (250,000)
    Clay Center, NE....................................        (500,000)
    Beltsville, MD.....................................        (400,000)
  Fungal toxins........................................         250,000
    Athens, GA.........................................        (250,000)
  Zoonotic disease risk................................         250,000
    Fayetteville, AR...................................        (250,000)
  Aflatoxin............................................         750,000
    Stoneville, MS.....................................        (500,000)
    Phoenix, AZ........................................        (250,000)
Postharvest:
  Pathogen control in fruits/vegetables................       1,200,000
    Beltsville, MD.....................................        (400,000)
    Wyndmoor, PA.......................................        (400,000)
    Albany, CA.........................................        (400,000)
  Pathogen control during slaughter/processing.........         500,000
    Athens, GA.........................................        (500,000)
  Antimicrobial resistance.............................         800,000
    Wyndmoor, PA.......................................        (400,000)
    Peoria, IL.........................................        (400,000)
  Food Safety Research, Listeria Monocytogenes and E.         1,000,000
   Coli Pathogens......................................
  Listeriosis, Sheep Scrapie, Ovine Progressive                 600,000
   Pneumonia Virus (OPPV), Pullman, WA/Dubois, ID......
  Food Safety Engineering, West Lafayette, IN (Purdue,          500,000
   Univ.)..............................................
  Hyperspectral Imaging, Stennis Space Center, MS......         500,000
                                                        ----------------
      Global Change....................................         900,000
                                                        ----------------
  Carbon cycle research................................         900,000
    Auburn, AL.........................................        (400,000)
    Mandan, ND.........................................        (250,000)
    Morris, MN.........................................        (250,000)
                                                        ----------------
      Human Nutrition..................................       3,000,000
                                                        ----------------
    Little Rock, AR....................................        (500,000)
    San Francisco/Davis, CA............................        (500,000)
    Boston, MA.........................................        (500,000)
    Beltsville, MD.....................................        (500,000)
    Grand Forks, ND....................................        (500,000)
    Houston, TX........................................        (500,000)
                                                        ----------------
      Sustainable Ecosystems...........................       1,500,000
                                                        ----------------
  Eutrophication, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.....         500,000
    University Park, PA................................        (250,000)
    Watkinsville, GA...................................        (250,000)
  Predict ecological impacts of extreme natural events.         500,000
    Lubbock, TX........................................        (250,000)
    El Reno, OK........................................        (250,000)
  Biologically-based IPM for invasive weeds/pests......         500,000
    Logan, UT..........................................        (250,000)
    Kearneysville, WV..................................        (250,000)
                                                        ----------------
      Subtotal.........................................      22,425,000
                                                        ----------------
Contingency Funds......................................        (928,500)
Pay Cost...............................................       4,999,500
                                                        ----------------
      Subtotal.........................................      26,496,000
                                                        ----------------
Alternative Replacement Crops..........................         800,000
Animal Vaccines, Joint Research between Univ. of CT/          2,000,000
 Univ. of MO...........................................
Animal Waste Management, IL............................         200,000
Appalachian Pasture-Based Beef System, Beckley, WV.....       1,000,000
Aquaculture Research, Pine Bluff, AR...................         500,000
Aquaculture Systems (Rainbow Trout), Univ. of Conn.....         500,000
Asian Bird Influenza, Athens, GA.......................         300,000
Binational Agricultural Research & Development (BARD)..      \1\400,000
Biobased Products......................................      \1\200,000
Biological Controls and Agric. Research:
    Center for Biological Controls, FAMU...............       1,000,000
    Science Center of Excellence, FAMU.................       1,000,000
Biomedical Materials in Plants, Beltsville, MD.........         500,000
Center for Food Safety/Post Harvest Technology, MS St.          300,000
 Univ..................................................
Fish Diseases, Auburn, AL..............................         500,000
Floriculture and Nursery Crop Research (portion for           2,000,000
 cooperative agreements with university partners, incl.
 Calif. Univ. & Cornell Univ.; $200,000 for Ohio State
 Univ.)................................................
Golden Nematode, Cornell Univ..........................         200,000
Grape Rootstock, Geneva, NY (Ithaca, NY Worksite)......         250,000
Greenhouse Lettuce Germplasm, Salinas, CA..............         250,000
Lettuce Geneticist/Breeder Position, Salinas, CA.......         250,000
Lyme Disease, Yale Univ................................         200,000
Mid-West/Mid-South Irrigation, Univ. of MO Delta                200,000
 Center, Portageville, MO..............................
Nat'l Center for Cool & Coldwater Aquaculture, Leetown,         250,000
 WV....................................................
Nat'l Center for Dev. of Natural Products, Oxford, MS..         750,000
Nat'l Sedimentation Lab, Oxford, MS:
    Acoustics..........................................          50,000
    Yazoo River Basin, MS..............................         500,000
National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS..         308,000
New England Plant, Soil & Water Research Lab, Orono, ME         300,000
Northern Plains Research Lab, Sidney, MT...............         750,000
Organic Minor Crop Specialist, Salinas, CA.............         250,000
Peanut Quality Research, Athens, GA....................       1,000,000
Post-Harvest and Controlled Atmosphere Chamber                  250,000
 (Lettuce), Salinas, CA................................
Potato Research Enhancement, Prosser, WA...............         250,000
Red Imported Fire Ants, Stoneville, MS.................         350,000
Rice Research, Stuttgart, AR...........................         500,000
Risk Assessment for BT Crops...........................         200,000
Root Diseases of Wheat/Barley, Pullman, WA.............         500,000
Small Fruits, Poplarville, MS..........................         750,000
Southern Insect Mgmt. (SCA with NCPA), Stoneville, MS..          75,000
Sunflower Research, Fargo, ND..........................         200,000
Sustainable Vineyard Practices Position, Davis, CA.....         250,000
Temperate Fruit Flies, Yakima, WA......................         250,000
U.S. Plant Stress & Water Conservation Lab, Lubbock, TX         750,000
U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hilo,          500,000
 HI....................................................
Viticulture, Univ. of Idaho--Pharma Research and Ext            450,000
 Center, ID............................................
Watershed Research, Columbia, MO.......................         325,000
                                                        ----------------
      Subtotal.........................................      22,308,000
                                                        ----------------
      FY 2000 Total....................................     834,322,000

\1\ Items moved from other USDA accounts.

      The conference agreement continues the fiscal year 1999 
level of funding for all research projects proposed to be 
terminated in the President's budget. The conference agreement 
provides no funding for contingencies.
      The conference agreement continues the fiscal year 1999 
level of funding for cooperative research conducted at the 
Rodale Institute, PA, with the ARS Soil-Microbial Systems 
Laboratory.
      The conferees are aware that USDA is considering the 
relocation of ARS scientists from the Shafter Cotton Research 
Station, CA. The conferees are concerned that this relocation 
will reduce the level of resources for cotton research 
conducted at the station. The conference agreement provides 
continued funding at the fiscal year 1999 level for this 
research and directs that no action be taken to shift funds or 
staffing resources from Shafter without the prior approval of 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
      The conferees recognize that fruit flies are an 
impediment to agricultural production in Hawaii and other 
states and encourage the ARS to consider demonstrating in 
Hawaii the efficacy of area-wide pest management strategies for 
fruit flies.
      Included in the additional funds recommended for food 
safety research is an increase of $600,000 for research on 
listeriosis, sheep scrapie, ovine progressive pneumonia virus, 
and other emerging diseases. These funds are to be utilized by 
the USDA-ARS Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman, WA, in 
part for collaborative research on sheep scrapie and ovine 
progressive pneumonia virus with the USDA-ARS Sheep Experiment 
Station in Dubois, ID.

                        buildings and facilities

      The conference agreement provides $52,500,000 for 
Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities instead 
of no funds as proposed by the House and $53,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Arizona: Water Conservation and Western Cotton 
    Laboratory, Maricopa................................      $1,400,000
California:.............................................
    Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis......       9,000,000
    Western Regional Research Center, Albany............       2,600,000
District of Columbia: National Arboretum................         500,000
Hawaii: U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.       4,500,000
Illinois:
    National Center for Agricultural Utilization 
      Research, Peoria..................................       1,800,000
    USDA Greenhouse complex, Urbana.....................         400,000
Iowa: National Animal Disease Center, Ames..............       3,000,000
Kansas: U.S. Grain Marketing Research Laboratory, 
    Manhattan...........................................         100,000
Louisiana: Southern Regional Research Center, New 
    Orleans.............................................       5,500,000
Maryland: Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, 
    Beltsville..........................................      13,000,000
Mississippi: Biocontrol and Insect Rearing Laboratory, 
    Stoneville..........................................       2,000,000
Montana: Fort Keogh Laboratory, Miles City..............         530,000
New York: Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport..       3,500,000
Pennsylvania: Eastern Regional Research Center, 
    Philadelphia........................................       4,400,000
Utah: Poisonous Plant Laboratory, Logan.................         270,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................      52,500,000

      Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

                   research and education activities

      The conference agreement provides $485,698,000 for 
research and education activities instead of $467,327,000 as 
proposed by the House and $473,377,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The Cooperative Extension System is playing a critical 
role in providing risk management training and other targeted 
program services to farm and ranch families struggling with the 
current farm crisis. The conferees encourage the Secretary to 
provide additional funding to the extension system to carry out 
these programs subject to the reprogramming requirements of 
this Act.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Research and Education Activities

                        [In thousands of dollars]

                                                              Conference
                                                               agreement
Payments Under Hatch Act......................................   180,545
Cooperative forestry research (McIntire-Stennis)..............    21,932
Payments to 1890 colleges and Tuskegee........................    30,676
Special Research Grants (P.L. 89-106):
    Advanced spatial technologies (MS)........................     1,000
    Aegilops cylindricum (jointed goatgrass) (WA).............       360
    Aflatoxin (IL)............................................       130
    Agriculture-based industrial lubricants (IA)..............       250
    Agricultural diversification (HI).........................       131
    Agricultural diversity/Red River Trade Corridor (MN/ND)...       250
    Agriculture Telecommunications (NY).......................       500
    Agriculture water usage (GA)..............................       300
    Alliance for food protection (NE, GA).....................       300
    Alternative crops (ND)....................................       550
    Alternative crops for arid lands (TX).....................       100
    Alternative salmon products (AK)..........................       650
    Animal science food safety consortium (AR, IA, KS)........     1,521
    Apple fire blight (NY, MI)................................       500
    Aquaculture (LA)..........................................       330
    Aquaculture (MS)..........................................       592
    Aquaculture (NC)..........................................       300
    Aquaculture (VA)..........................................       100
    Aquaculture product and marketing development (WV)........       750
    Babcock Institute (WI)....................................       600
    Biodiesel research (MO)...................................       152
    Blocking anhydrous methamphetamine production (IA)........       250
    Bovine tuberculosis (MI)..................................       200
    Brucellosis vaccines (MT).................................       500
    Center for animal health and productivity (PA)............       113
    Center for rural studies (VT).............................       200
    Chesapeake Bay agroecology (MD)...........................       150
    Chesapeake Bay aquaculture................................       385
    Citrus tristeza...........................................       700
    Coastal cultivars (GA)....................................       200
    Competitiveness of agricultural products (WA).............       680
    Cool season legume research (ID, WA)......................       329
    Cranberry/blueberry (MA)..................................       150
    Cranberry/blueberry disease and breeding (NJ).............       220
    Dairy and meat goat research (TX).........................        63
    Delta rural revitalization (MS)...........................       148
    Designing foods for health (TX)...........................       375
    Diaprepes/Root Weevil (FL)................................       350
    Drought mitigation (NE)...................................       200
    Ecosystems (AL)...........................................       500
    Environmental research (NY)...............................       400
    Environmental risk factors/cancer (NY)....................       200
    Environmentally-safe products (VT)........................       200
    Expanded wheat pasture (OK)...............................       285
    Farm and rural business finance (IL)......................        87
    Feed Barley for rangeland cattle (MT).....................       750
    Floriculture (HI).........................................       250
    Food and Agriculture Policy Institute (IA, MO)............       900
    Food irradiation (IA).....................................       200
    Food marketing policy center (CT).........................       400
    Food processing center (NE)...............................        42
    Food quality (AK).........................................       350
    Food safety (AL)..........................................       525
    Food systems research group (WI)..........................       500
    Forages for advancing livestock production (KY)...........       250
    Forestry (AR).............................................       523
    Fruit and vegetable market analysis (AZ, MO)..............       320
    Generic commodity promotion research and evaluation (NY)..       198
    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/germplasm development in 
      forage grasses (OH).....................................       200
    Illinois-Missouri Alliance for Biotechnology..............     1,184
    Improved dairy management practices (PA)..................       296
    Improved early detection of crop diseases (NC)............       200
    Improved fruit practices (MI).............................       445
    Infectious disease research (CO)..........................       300
    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)..........................................       350
    Minor use animal drugs....................................       550
    Molluscan shellfish (OR)..................................       400
    Multi-commodity research (OR).............................       364
    Multi-cropping strategies for acquaculture (HI)...........       127
    National biological impact assessment.....................       254
    Menatode resistance genetic engineering (NM)..............       127
    Nevada arid rangelands initiative (NV)....................       300
    New crop opportunities (AK)...............................       500
    New crop opportunities (KY)...............................       700
    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
    Peanut allergy reduction (AL).............................       500
    Pest control alternatives (SC)............................       106
    Phytophthora root rot (NM)................................       127
    Plant, drought, and disease resistance gene cataloging 
      (NM)....................................................       250
    Potato research...........................................     1,350
    Precision agriculture (KY)................................     1,000
    Preharvest food safety (KS)...............................       212
    Preservation and processing research (OK).................       226
    Rangeland ecosystems (NM).................................       200
    Red snapper research (AL).................................       600
    Regional barley gene mapping project......................       500
    Regionalized implications of farm programs (MO), TX)......       294
    Rice modeling (AR)........................................       296
    Rural Development Centers (PA, IA, ND, MS, OR, LA)........       523
    Rural policies institute (NE, MO).........................       644
    Russian wheat aphid (CO)..................................       200
    Seafood harvesting, processing and marketing (AK).........       650
    Seafood and aquaculture harvesting, processing, and 
      marketing (MS)..........................................       305
    Seafood safety (MA).......................................       300
    Small fruit research (OR, WA, ID).........................       300
    Southwest consortium for plant genetics and water 
      resources...............................................       338
    Soybean cyst nematode (MO)................................       500
    STEEP III--water quality in Pacific Northwest.............       500
    Sustainable agriculture (CA)..............................       300
    Sustainable agriculture (MI)..............................       445
    Sustainable agriculture and natural resources (PA)........       100
    Sustainable agriculture systems (NE)......................        59
    Sustainable beef supply (MT)..............................       750
    Sustainable pest management for dryland wheat (MT)........       500
    Swine waste management (NC)...............................       500
    Tillage, silviculture, waste management (LA)..............       212
    Tomato wilt virus (GA)....................................       200
    Tropical and subtropical research.........................     2,724
    Tropical aquaculture (FL).................................       200
    Turkey carnavirus (IN)....................................       200
    Urban pests (GA)..........................................        64
    Vidalia onions (GA).......................................       100
    Viticulture consortium (NY, CA)...........................     1,100
    Water conservation (KS)...................................        79
    Weed control (ND).........................................       423
    Wetland plants (LA).......................................       600
    Wheat genetic research (KS)...............................       261
    Wood utilization research (OR, MS, NC, MN, ME, MI, ID, TN, 
      AK).....................................................     5,786
    Wool research (TX, MT, WY)................................       300
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Special Research Grants..........................    63,238
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Improved pest control:
    Emerging pest/critical issues.............................       200
    Expert IPM decision support system........................       177
    Integrated pest management................................     2,731
    Minor crop pest management (IR-4).........................     8,990
    Pest management alternatives..............................     1,623
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Improved pest control............................    13,721
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Competitive research grants:
    Animals...................................................    29,000
    Markets, trade and development............................     4,600
    Nutrition, food safety and health.........................    16,000
    Natural resources and the environment.....................    20,500
    Plants....................................................    41,000
    Processes and new products................................     8,200
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Competitive research grants......................   119,300
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Animal Health and Disease (Sec. 1433).........................     5,109
Alternative Crops.............................................       750
Critical Agricultural Materials Act...........................       650
1994 Institutions research program............................       500
Graduate fellowship grants....................................     3,000
Institution challenge grants..................................     4,350
Multicultural scholars program................................     1,000
Hispanic education partnership grants.........................     2,850
Secondary agriculture education...............................       500
Aquaculture Centers (Sec. 1475)...............................     4,000
Sustainable agriculture.......................................     8,000
Capacity building grants (1890 institutions)..................     9,200
Payments to the 1994 Institutions.............................     1,552
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Federal Administration:
    Agriculture development in the American Pacific...........       564
    Agriculture waste utilization (WV)........................       500
    Alternative fuels characterization laboratory (ND)........       218
    Animal waste management (OK)..............................       250
    Biotechnology research (MS)...............................       500
    Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (IA)........       355
    Center for innovative food technology (OH)................       381
    Center for North American Studies (TX)....................        87
    Climate change research (FL)..............................       200
    Cotton research (TX)......................................       200
    Data information system...................................     2,000
    Geographic information system.............................     1,000
    Livestock Marketing Information Center (CO)...............       200
    Mariculture (NC)..........................................       250
    Mississippi Valley State University.......................       583
    National Center for Peanut Competitiveness................       300
    Office of extramural programs.............................       310
    Pay costs and FERS........................................     1,100
    Peer panels...............................................       350
    PM-10 study, (CA, WA).....................................       873
    Precision agriculture (AL, TN)............................       500
    Shrimp aquaculture (AZ, HI, MS, MA, SC)...................     3,354
    Water quality (IL)........................................       350
    Water quality (ND)........................................       400
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Federal Administration...........................    14,825
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, Research and Education Activities................   485,698

      The conferees direct that funding provided for the 
hydroponic tomato production/germplasm development in forage 
grasses special grant will be divided equally, with $100,000 
for hydroponic tomato production at Ohio State University and 
$100,000 for germplasm development in forage grasses at the 
University of Toledo.
      The conference agreement includes $5,786,000 for wood 
utilization research, of which $650,000 is for the 
establishment of a new center in Alaska. The remainder is to 
maintain each of the existing centers at its fiscal year 1999 
funding level.
      The conference agreement includes $750,000 for 
alternative crops, of which $550,000 is for canola and $200,000 
is for hesperaloe.
      The conferees do not concur with language included in the 
Senate report that Challenge Grants program funds be used to 
support the Food and Agricultural Education Information System 
(FAEIS). Section 223 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Education Reform Act of 1998 makes amounts available under 
Section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act available to maintain an agricultural 
education information system.
      The conferees expect that the deadline for proposals for 
funding under the Secondary Agriculture Education program will 
be no later than in the Spring of 2000.

                          extension activities

      The conference agreement provides $424,922,000 for 
extension activities instead of $438,987,000 as proposed by the 
House and $422,620,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Extension Activities

                        [In thousands of dollars]

                                                              Conference
                                                               agreement
Smith-Lever 3(b) and 3(c).....................................  $276,548
  Smith-Lever 3(d):
    Farm safety...............................................     4,000
    Food and nutrition education (EFNEP)......................    58,695
    Indian reservation agents.................................     1,714
    Pest management...........................................    10,783
    Rural development centers.................................       908
    Sustainable agriculture...................................     3,309
    Youth at risk.............................................     9,000
1890 Colleges and Tuskegee....................................    26,843
1890 facilities grants........................................    12,000
Renewable Resources Extension Act.............................     3,192
Rural health and safety education.............................     2,628
Extension services at the 1994 institutions...................     3,060
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Subtotal................................................   412,680
  Federal Administration and special grants:
    Ag in the classroom.......................................       208
    Beef producers' improvement (AR)..........................       197
    Botanic gardens initiative (IL)...........................       125
    Conservation technology transfer (WI).....................       200
    Delta teachers academy....................................     3,500
    Diabetes detection, prevention (WA).......................       550
    Extension specialist (MS).................................       100
    General administration....................................     4,787
    Income enhancement demonstration (OH).....................       246
    Integrated cow/calf resources management (IA).............       250
    National Center for Agriculture Safety (IA)...............       195
    Pilot tech. transfer (OK, MS).............................       326
    Pilot tech. transfer (WI).................................       163
    Range improvement (NM)....................................       197
    Rural development (AK)....................................       325
    Rural development (NM)....................................       280
    Rural development (OK)....................................       150
    Rural rehabilitation (GA).................................       246
    Wood biomass as an alternative farm product (NY)..........       197
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Federal Administration...........................    12,242
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, Extension Activities.............................   424,922

      Of the funds made available for farm safety, the 
conference agreement includes $3,055,000 for the AgrAbility 
project.
      The conferees expect a 4-H after-school program to be 
administered by the Los Angeles County Cooperative Extension 
Office of the University of California to be considered for 
funding from the funds made available to California under 
Smith-Lever 3(b) and (c).

                         integrated activities

      The conference agreement provides $39,541,000 for 
integrated activities instead of no funds as proposed by the 
House and $35,541,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Within the funds made available for water quality, the 
conferees expect that no less than the fiscal year 1999 levels 
of funding will be provided for the Farm*A*Syst program, and 
the Agricultural Systems for Environmental Quality and the 
Management Systems Evaluation programs.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Integrated Activities

                        [In thousands of dollars]

                                                              Conference
                                                               agreement
Water quality.................................................   $13,000
Food safety...................................................    15,000
Pesticide impact assessment...................................     4,541
Crops at risk from FQPA implementation........................     1,000
FQPA risk mitigation program for major food crop systems......     4,000
Methyl bromide transition program.............................     2,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

    Total, Integrated Activities..............................    39,541

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement provides $441,263,000 for the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) instead of 
$444,000,000 as proposed by the House and $439,445,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The following table reflects the confence agreement:

                        [In thousands of dollars]

                                                              Conference
  Pest and disease exclusion:                                  agreement
    Agricultural quarantine inspection........................   $34,576
    User fees.................................................    87,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Subtotal, Agricultural quarantine inspection............   121,576
    Cattle ticks..............................................     5,000
    Foot-and-mouth disease....................................     3,803
    Import-export inspection..................................     6,815
    International programs....................................     7,539
    Fruit fly exclusion and detection.........................    25,204
    Screwworm.................................................    30,301
    Tropical bont tick........................................       407
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Pest and disease exclusion.......................   200,645
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

  Plant and animal health monitoring:
    Animal health monitoring and surveillance.................    66,000
    Animal and plant health regulatory enforcement............     5,855
    National animal health emergency management system........       627
    Pest detection............................................     6,685
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Plant and animal health monitoring...............    79,167
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Pest and disease management programs:
    Aquaculture...............................................       767
    Biocontrol................................................     8,160
    Boll weevil...............................................    17,757
    Brucellosis eradication...................................    10,887
    Golden nematode...........................................       580
    Gypsy moth................................................     4,366
    Imported fire ant.........................................       100
    Emerging plant pests......................................     3,510
    Noxious weeds.............................................       424
    Pink bollworm.............................................     1,548
    Pseudorabies..............................................     4,567
    Scrapie...................................................     2,991
    Tuberculosis..............................................     4,920
    Wildlife services--operations.............................    31,672
    Witchweed.................................................     1,506
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Pest and disease management programs.............    93,755
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Animal care:
    Animal welfare............................................    10,175
    Horse protection..........................................       361
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total, Animal care......................................    10,536
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
  Scientific and technical services:
    Biotechnology/environmental protection....................     8,530
    Integrated systems acquisition project....................     3,500
    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................    53,055
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
    Contingency fund..........................................     4,105
                    ==============================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total, Salaries and expenses............................   441,263

      The conferees are aware of the spread of Pierce's disease 
to many California crops resulting from the presence of the 
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and accordingly encourage APHIS to 
work with the proper California agencies to help control these 
infestations and to draw upon the contingency fund as 
appropriate.
      The conference agreement does not include an earmark of 
$6,000,000 for the State of Florida for fruit fly exclusion and 
detection as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement adopts House language providing 
$500,000 for research and evaluation of nicarbizin as a means 
of controlling avian populations for airport safety.
      The conference agreement provides $100,000 for control, 
management and eradication of the imported fire ant of which, 
$58,000 is for use in New Mexico.
      The conference report provides $767,000 for aquaculture 
of which $100,000 is to support a wildlife biologist at the 
Northwest Florida Aquaculture Farm in Blountstown, FL to serve 
parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia.
      The conference agreement directs that the additional 
funding of $100,000 above the fiscal year 1999 level in 
aquaculture for bird depredation is provided for work on 
telemetry studies conducted at the Wildlife Services offices in 
Starkville, MS.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate language noting 
that the increase in the boll weevil eradication program over 
fiscal year 1999 is to increase the federal cost share. The 
conference agreement also adopts Senate language urging 
continuation of the development of the geographic information 
system so that economic and entomological efficiency of the 
boil weevil program can continue to improve and reduce overall 
program costs.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate language assuming 
the decrease in the proposed budget for brucellosis 
eradication, but providing an increase of $750,000 for the 
State of Montana to protect the state's brucellosis-free 
status, the operation of the bison quarantine facility, and 
testing of bison that have left Yellowstone National Park. The 
conference agreement also provides an increase of $610,000 for 
the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee and 
encourages the coordination of federal, state and private 
actions aimed at eliminating brucellosis in the greater 
Yellowstone area.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate language providing 
an increase of $136,000 above the fiscal year 1999 level for a 
total of $376,000 for the National Poultry Improvement Plan.
      The conference agreement adopts House language that 
expects the Secretary to instruct APHIS to utilize all 
available resources to provide financial assistance, in 
addition to direct appropriations and grower assessments, to 
operate the pink bollworm program in fiscal year 2000.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate language providing 
funding for the Commercial Transportation of Equines for 
Slaughter Act at the fiscal year 1999 level.
      The conference agreement provides no funding for the 
contagious equine metritis program as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate language 
continuing the demonstration project on kudzu at the fiscal 
year 1999 level. The conferees encourage APHIS to continue 
working with the State of Texas regarding orobanche ramosa at 
the fiscal year 1999 level.
      The conference agreement does not provide the requested 
increases in support of the Presidential Order on Invasive 
Alien Species as proposed by the Senate. The House report 
provided full funding for this activity.
      The conference report provides an increase of $137,000 
above the fiscal year 1999 level for the National Monitoring 
and Residue Analysis Laboratory in Gulfport, MS instead of 
$1,137,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House provided no 
funding for this activity. The conferees encourage APHIS to 
work with the laboratory in securing timely payments for 
contract work done for USDA agencies.
      The conference agreement includes an increase of 
$3,928,000 for additional inspectors which will provide 23 
staff years at the Canadian border, 15 staff years at the 
Mexican border, and 12 staff years at the Hawaiian border.
      The conferees are concerned about the serious damage to 
rangeland and cropland by grasshoppers and Mormon crickets in 
the western United States. Additional line item monies are not 
available for this activity, therefore, the conferees direct 
the agency to use contingency funds along with available 
Commodity Credit Corporation funds to assist the farmers and 
ranchers in the western states to control the growing 
population of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets.
      The conference agreement does not include an increase of 
$2,000,000 above the fiscal year 1999 for the enforcement of 
the Animal Welfare Act as proposed in the Senate.
      The conferees note that the agency has published 
regulations implementing the Animal Welfare Act which bans 
tethering of dogs, a practice common in Alaska and other 
locations that use sled dogs for transportation. A recent study 
conducted at Cornell University suggests that there is no 
significant difference in terms of aggressiveness, stressful 
behavior, socialization, or animal health between tethering 
dogs and keeping dogs in fenced, outdoor kennels under USDA/
APHIS-approved conditions. In light of this new information, 
the conferees direct the agency to reevaluate its regulations 
on tethering and report to the Committees on Appropriations its 
conclusions no later than March 1, 2000.
      The conferees urge the Secretary to consider requests 
from the Senate of Florida for Commodity Credit Corporation 
(CCC) funds for canopy replacement for trees destroyed in 
canker-affected areas, for release of the sterile Mediterranean 
fruit fly, and for increased fruit fly trappings.
      The conferees support the Department's continuation of 
the screwworm program to assure the pest does not reestablish 
itself in the United States and commends the efforts of the 
Department in assuring the lease of a production plant in 
Panama to maintain a biological barrier to the screwworm fly.
      The conferees expert APHIS not to redirect support for 
programs and activities without prior notification to and 
approval of the Committees on Appropriations in accordance with 
reprogramming procedures specified in the Act. The conferees 
also require that APHIS implement appropriations by programs, 
projects, commodities and activities as specified by the 
Committees unless otherwise notified. The conferees direct that 
unspecified reductions necessary to carry out provisions of 
this Act are to be implemented in accordance with the 
definitions contained in the ``Program, project, and activity'' 
section of the Senate report.

                        buildings and facilities

      The conference agreement provides $5,200,000 for 
buildings and facilities as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$7,200,000 as proposed by the House.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service

                           marketing services

      The conference agreement provides $51,625,000 for the 
Agricultural Marketing Service instead of $49,152,000 as 
proposed by the House and $51,229,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The conference agreement includes $321,000 for 
enhancing market opportunities for small farmers, and an 
additional $2,398,000 for the pesticide data program.
      The conferees understand that the AMS plans to publish 
revised draft regulations implementing the National Organic 
Foods Production Act. The conferees further understand that AMS 
has agreed to convene two national meetings to begin 
development of organic standards with respect to seafood, one 
to be held in Alaska and one on the Gulf Coast. The conferees 
expect the agency to use the information gathered at these 
meetings to develop draft regulations establishing national 
organic standards for seafood to be published in fiscal year 
2000. An additional $75,000 has been provided to organize these 
meetings, associated costs, and develop the draft seafood 
regulations.
      The conferees direct the AMS, with the assistance of the 
Economic Research Service and other appropriate USDA agencies, 
to develop a study measuring the extent slotting fees charged 
by retail supermarkets to shelve products impact the ability of 
smalland medium-sized producers to reach retail markets and 
consumers. The AMS is to report to the House and Senate Appropriations 
Committees prior to the fiscal year 2001 hearings on the design, scope 
and objectives of this study together with a schedule for its 
completion.

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement provides $26,448,000 for the 
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration as 
proposed by the House instead of $26,287,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

      The conference agreement provides $649,411,000 for the 
Food Safety and Inspection Service instead of $652,955,000 as 
proposed by the House and $638,404,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      Of the amount provided, no less than $544,902,000 is 
reserved for Federal food inspection. Included in this amount 
is $8,000,000 above the budget request for filling inspector 
vacancies and recruiting new inspectors, and $3,007,000, the 
same amount requested in the budget, for hiring new inspectors. 
The conferees note that despite being provided with its full 
budget request for fiscal year 1999, the agency has failed to 
devote sufficient funds for inspection activities. This has led 
to inspector shortages in certain parts of the country, 
creating an unnecessary hardship for the affected plants.
      The conference agreement includes $2,900,000 above the 
fiscal year 1999 level for the FSIS portion of the Food Safety 
Initiative, the full amount requested in the budget. The 
agreement does not provide funds requested for Consumer Safety 
Officers. The conferees are concerned about the substantial 
funding increase required to convert and relocate current 
employees to these upgraded positions. The conferees expect the 
agency to evaluate its staffing needs and to determine if 
relocation costs can be avoided by utilizing qualified local 
personnel and if these positions may be upgraded in a more cost 
effective manner, and report its findings to the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House and Senate no later than February 
15, 2000.
      The conferees expect the agency to provide the Committees 
on Appropriations of the House and Senate with an analysis of 
its staffing needs and recruitment program no later than 
February 15, 2000. If third-party consultants are necessary in 
order to fully evaluate recruitment, the agency should utilize 
such services. The conferees expect the agency to provide 
quarterly updates on budget execution, staffing levels and 
staffing needs in an effort to avoid future inspector 
shortages.

                          Farm Service Agency

                         state mediation grants

      The conference agreement provides $3,000,000 for state 
mediation grants instead of $4,000,000 as proposed by the House 
and $2,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

           agricultural credit insurance fund program account

      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Farm Operating Loans:
    Guaranteed subsidized...............................  ($200,000,000)
    Subsidy.............................................     17,620,000 
    Emergency disaster loans............................    (25,000,000)
    Subsidy.............................................      3,882,000 

      The conference agreement provides for emergency loans an 
estimated program level of $25,000,000 and a subsidy of 
$3,882,000 as proposed by the Senate instead of $53,000,000 and 
$8,231,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees agree that 
should additional funds be needed to meet the needs of farmers 
and ranchers affected by natural disasters, they will favorably 
consider requests of the Administration to provide supplemental 
funding for this program.

                         Risk Management Agency

      The conference agreement provides $64,000,000 for the 
Risk Management Agency as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$70,716,000 as proposed by the House.

                              CORPORATIONS

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund

                 Reimbursement for Net Realized Losses

      The conference agreement provides such sums as may be 
necessary to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net 
realized losses as proposed by the Senate instead of a 
limitation of $14,368,000,000 as proposed by the House.

                    TITLE II--CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service

                        conservation operations

      The conference agreement provides $661,243,000 for the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Operations 
instead of $654,243,000 as proposed by the House and 
$656,243,000 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 Senate instead of $6,124,000 as 
proposed by the House, and not less than $9,125,000 for 
operation and establishment of plant materials centers as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $9,238,000 as proposed by the 
House.
      The conference agreement does not include bill language 
as proposed by the House which prohibits conservation 
operations appropriations from being used for demonstration 
programs.
      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: $1,000,000 for the 
Resurrection River North Forest Acres instead of $1,250,000 
proposed by the Senate; $150,000 for native plants to clean up 
the Island of Kahoolawe instead of $200,000 as proposed by the 
Senate; $150,000 to test emerging alternative technology to 
reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Champlain instead of 
$300,000 as proposed by the Senate; $17,000,000 for the Grazing 
Lands Conservation Initiative instead of $15,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and the Senate; $3,000,000 for the 
National Fish and wildlife Foundation Partnerships instead of 
$5,000,000 proposed by the Senate; $7,870,000 for Animal 
Feeding Operation instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate; and $80,000 for the Tri-Valley Watershed in Utah 
instead of $500,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conferees direct the NRCS to provide financial 
assistance to the Salinas Valley Water Project in Monterey 
County, California.
      The conference agreement includes bill language that 
directs the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
to settle claims associated with the Chuquatonchee Water 
Project in Mississippi.

               watershed and flood prevention operations

      The conference agreement includes a provision that of the 
funds available for Emergency Watershed Protection activities 
$8,000,000 shall be available for Mississippi, Wisconsin, New 
Mexico, and Ohio for financial and technical assistance for 
pilot rehabilitation projects.
      In addition to the items in the House and Senate reports 
that are not changed by the conference agreement, the following 
items are included: the conferees direct the NRCS to provide 
financial assistance to the Freeman Lake Dam in Kentucky and 
the Tri-Valley Watershed project in Utah.
      The conferees direct that the amount of Federal funds 
that may be made available to an eligible local organization 
for construction of a particular rehabilitation project shall 
be equal to 65 percent of the total rehabilitation costs, but 
not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred 
in the rehabilitation. Consistent with existing statute, 
rehabilitation assistance provided, may not be used to perform 
operation and maintenance activities specified in the agreement 
for the covered water resource projects entered into between 
the Secretary and the eligible local organization responsible 
for the works of improvement.
      The conferees are aware of continued flooding in the 
Malheur-Harney Lakes Basin in Oregon, and note that the lake 
has risen nearly five feet during the past two years. The 
conferees encourage the agency, with the cooperation of the 
Farm Service Agency, to assist in the locally coordinated flood 
response and water management activities being developed in 
addition to providing assistance through any flood compensation 
programs. NRCS and FSA should continue to utilize conservation 
programs in providing water holding and storage areas on 
private land as necessary intermediate measures in watershed 
management.

                 resource conservation and development

      The conference agreement provides $35,265,000 for the 
Resource Conservation and Development program as proposed by 
the House instead of $35,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                      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 conferees note extensive backlogs of applicants for 
rural development programs and direct the Department to use 
rural development resources only on programs that directly 
benefit applicants for these programs.
      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 the following request for assistance from 
rural development programs: construction necessary for the 
withdrawal, treatment and transmission of water from the 
Ouachita River to supplement the water supply needs of Union 
County, AR; the Kettering Medical Center healthy hearts program 
in medically underserved areas of southwestern Ohio; the 
Western Massachusetts food processing center; rural utilities 
projects for the town of Lloyd, NY; a rural business enterprise 
grant for the Delta Training Center, Indianola, MS; a rural 
cooperative development grant for the conversion of the 
Chickasha Cotton Gin, GA, to a cooperative canola seed crushing 
plant; a community facilities loan and/or grant to address the 
serious housing shortage for the teachers at Mississippi Valley 
State University; a rural business enterprise grant for the 
Impact Seven Project in Almena, WI; the Rural Sanitation 
Training Initiative (AK) for wastewater technical assistance 
grants: a request from the California Human Development 
Corporation, Northern County Region, to expand existing housing 
for migrant farm Workers in Napa County; funds to assist 
construction of the Napa Valley Vinters Health Center project 
to house non-profit medical organizations serving the low-
income farm population in Napa Country; and a rural business 
enterprise grant for the Pembroke Farming Cooperative, Kankakee 
County, IL.
      The conferees are aware of the stress of the salt and 
fresh water resources caused by the growing population along 
the Mississippi Gulf Coast and direct the Department to utilize 
its discretionary authority to give high priority applications 
from that region for water and sewer loans and grants.
      The conferees are concerned with the recent economic and 
infrastructure losses in Grant and Hidalgo Counties, New 
Mexico. Accordingly, the conferees direct the Secretary to 
employ the resources of the Department, particularly Rural 
Development, to provide such assistance as necessary to Grant 
and Hidalgo Counties, New Mexico.

                           Rural Development

                  rural community advancement program

      The conference agreement provides $718,837,000 for the 
Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) instead of 
$718,006,000 a proposed by the Senate and $669,103,000 as 
proposed by the House.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

RCAP Accounts

Water/Sewer.............................................    $631,088,000
Community/Facilities....................................      23,150,000
Business-Cooperative Development........................       6,599,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................     718,837,000
Earmarks:
    Tech. Asst. (water/sewer)...........................      16,215,000
    Circuit Rider.......................................       7,300,000
    Native Americans....................................      12,000,000
    Rural Community Development Initiative..............       6,000,000

      The conference agreement does not provide the requested 
set asides for hazardous weather early warning systems and 
partnership technical assistance grants. The conferees direct 
the Department to consider applications for these activities 
and make grants from the appropriate RCAP accounts.
      The conference does not provide authority for state rural 
development directors to transfer funds among accounts.
      The conference agreement provides $6,000,000 for the 
Rural Community Development Initiative as proposed by the 
House.
      The conference agreement includes a set aside of 
$45,245,000 for empowerment zones, enterprise communities and 
communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural 
Economic Area Partnership Zones.
      The conferees direct that $1,000,000 of the funds 
appropriated to the Rural Community Advancement Program be 
designated for an agri-tourism program.
      The conference agreement includes special grant funding 
for water and waste disposal assistance under the RCAP for 
Federally recognized Native American Tribes. This provision is 
intended to help overcome a problem in extremely impoverished 
areas where communities may not otherwise be eligible for RCAP 
water and waste disposal assistance programs due to an in 
ability to meet loan repayment requirements. The conferees note 
that many Native American Tribes are able to meet the more 
stringent requirements of the normal RCAP programs and they are 
expected to apply for assistance from funds other than those 
specifically provided by this special provision.
      The conference agreement provides $3,500,000 for the 
Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) program. The conferees 
direct the Department to use its transfer authority under the 
RCAP to add additional funds for the RBOG program as needed. 
The conferees direct the Department to use RBOG funds for 
regional economic plan activities on behalf of local 
governments and their designees. Of the funds provided for the 
RBOG program, the conferees direct the Department to use 
$1,000,000 for communities designated by the Secretary of 
Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnerships.
      The conferees are aware of the acute need for resources 
to link rural education and medical facilities in upstate New 
York with urban centers, and are concerned that no applications 
from this area were funded in fiscal year 1999. The conferees 
are also concerned that special consideration was not given to 
applications from Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) 
communities nationwide. The conferees urge the Department to 
give consideration to applications from upstate New York and 
REAP communities nationwide in fiscal year 2000.

                         Rural Housing Service

              rural housing insurance fund program account

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy 
$181,560,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$4,589,737,000) for activities under the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund Program Account instead of $204,083,000 
(providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$4,832,687,000) as proposed by the House and $182,185,000 
(providing for an estimated program level of $4,594,694,000) as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes a set aside of 
$11,180,000 for empowerment zones, enterprise communities and 
communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural 
Economic Area Partnership Zones.
      The following table reflects the conference agreement:

Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account:
    Loan authorizations:
        Single family (sec. 502)........................ (1,100,000,000)
            Unsubsidized guaranteed..................... (3,200,000,000)
        Housing repair (sec. 504).......................    (32,396,000)
        Farm labor (sec. 514)...........................    (25,001,000)
        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...............     (7,503,000)
        Self-help housing land development fund.........     (5,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
            Total, Loan authorizations.................. (4,589,373,000)
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Loan subsidies:
    Single family (sec. 502)............................      93,830,000
        Unsubsidized guaranteed.........................      19,520,000
    Housing repair (sec. 504)...........................       9,900,000
    Multi-family housing guarantees (sec. 538)..........         480,000
    Farm labor (sec. 514)...............................      11,308,000
    Rental housing (sec. 515)...........................      45,363,000
    Site loans (sec. 524)...............................           4,000
    Credit sales of acquired property...................         874,000
    Self-help housing land development fund.............         281,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
        Total, Loan subsidies...........................     181,560,000
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
RHIF administration expenses (transfer to RHS)..........     375,879,000
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
        Total, Rural Housing Insurance Fund.............     197,439,000
            (Loan authorization)........................ (4,589,373,000)

      The conference agreement adopts House bill language 
allowing the transfer of up to $7,000,000 to the ``Outreach for 
Socially Disadvantaged Farmers'' program. The Senate bill had 
no similar provision.

                       rental assistance program

      The conference agreement provides $640,000,000 for rental 
assistance as proposed by the Senate instead of $583,400,000 as 
proposed by the House.

                  Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants

      The conference agreement provides $28,000,000 for Mutual 
and Self-Help Housing Grants as proposed by the House instead 
of $26,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes a set aside of 
$1,000,000 for empowerment zones, enterprise communities and 
communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural 
Economic Area Partnership Zones.

                    rural housing assistance grants

      The conference agreement provides $45,000,000 for Rural 
Housing Assistance Grants instead of $50,000,000 as proposed by 
the House and $41,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes a set aside of 
$1,200,000 for empowerment zones, enterprise communities and 
communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as Rural 
Economic Area Partnership Zones as proposed by the Senate 
instead of $3,250,000 as proposed by the House.

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement provides $61,979,000 for 
salaries and expenses as proposed by the House instead of 
$60,978,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement 
also provides for a transfer of $375,879,000 from the Rural 
Housing Insurance Fund as proposed by the Senate. The total 
provided for salaries and expenses of the Rural Housing Service 
is $437,858,000 as proposed by the House instead of 
$421,763,000 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 as proposed by the House. The 
Senate 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 
$38,256,000) for the Rural Development Loan Fund Program 
Account as proposed by the Senate instead of $22,799,000 
(providing for an estimated loan program level of $52,495,000) 
as proposed by the House.
      The conference agreement includes a set aside of 
$3,216,000 for loan subsidies for empowerment zones, enterprise 
communities and communities designated by the Secretary of 
Agriculture as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones as 
proposed by the Senate instead of $4,343,000 as proposed by the 
House.
      The conference agreement does not adopt Senate bill 
language requiring the Department of Agriculture to propose a 
revised regulation on fees charged to lenders on guaranteed 
business and industry loans. The House bill had no similar 
provision.

                  rural cooperative development grants

      The conference agreement provides a total of $6,000,000 
for rural cooperative development grants as proposed by the 
House instead of $5,500,000 as proposed by the Senate. Both 
House and Senate bills provide $1,500,000 from the total amount 
available for cooperative agreements for the appropriate 
technology transfer for rural areas program. The conference 
agreement provides $500,000 for cooperative research agreements 
instead of $1,500,000 as proposed by the House. The Senate bill 
had no similar provision.
      The conference agreement adopts Senate bill language 
providing that at least 25 percent of the total amount 
appropriated shall be made available to cooperatives or 
associations of cooperatives that assist small, minority 
producers.
      The conferees direct the Department to consider a 
proposal from the primary national swine commodity organization 
representing the pork producers to conduct an in-depth 
feasibility study and economic analysis of forming national 
pork producer-owned cooperatives.

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement provides a direct appropriation 
of $24,612,000 for salaries and expenses of the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service as proposed by the House instead of 
$25,680,000 as proposed by the Senate.

  Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation 
                             Revolving Fund

      The conference agreement does not provide funding for the 
Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization 
Corporation Revolving Fund. The Senate bill provided $3,500,000 
for this account.

                        Rural Utilities Service

   rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account

      The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
$15,132,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$2,611,500,000) for activities under the Rural Electrification 
and Telecommunications Loans Program Account instead of 
$15,132,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$2,411,500,000) as proposed by the House and $14,679,000 
(providing for an estimated program level of $1,561,500,000) 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%.................................   (121,500,000)
            Telecommunications 5%.......................    (75,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
              Subtotal..................................   (196,500,000)
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
        Treasury rates: Telecommunications..............   (300,000,000)
        Muni-rate: Electric.............................   (295,000,000)
        FFB loans:
            Electric, regular........................... (1,700,000,000)
            Telecommunications..........................   (120,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
              Subtotal.................................. (1,820,000,000)
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
              Total, Loan authorizations................ (2,611,500,000)
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
    Loan subsidies:
        Direct loans:
            Electric 5%.................................       1,095,000
            Telecommunications 5%.......................         840,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
              Subtotal..................................       1,935,000
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
        Treasury rates: Telecommunications..............       2,370,000
        Muni-rate: Electric.............................      10,827,000
        FFB loans: Electric, regular....................
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
RETLP administrative expenses (transfer to RUS).........      31,046,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
Total, Rural Electrification and Telecommunications 
    Loans Program Account...............................      46,178,000
    (Loan authorization)................................   2,611,500,000

        The conference report adopts Senate bill language that 
appropriates separate subsidies for the cost of direct loans, 
cost of municipal rate loans and cost of money for rural 
telecommunications loans. The House bill proposed two aggregate 
subsidy amounts for the cost of rural electric and 
telecommunications loans.

                  rural telephone bank program account

        The conference agreement provides a total subsidy of 
$3,290,000 (providing for an estimated loan program level of 
$175,000,000) for the Rural Telephone Bank Program Account as 
proposed by the House instead of $2,961,000 (providing for an 
estimated loan program level of $157,509,000) as proposed by 
the Senate.

               distance learning and telemedicine program

        The conference agreement provides $20,700,000 for the 
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program instead of 
$16,700,000 as proposed by the House and $13,200,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement also provides 
that $20,000,000 of the total amount shall be available for 
grants under this program instead of $16,000,000 as proposed by 
the House and $12,500,000 as proposed by the Senate. Both House 
and Senate bills provide a subsidy of $700,000 from the total 
amount available, which provides for an estimated loan level of 
$200,000,000.
        The conferees are aware of the acute need for resources 
to link rural education and medical facilities in upstate New 
York with urban centers, and are concerned that no applications 
from this area were funded in fiscal year 1999. The conferees 
are also concerned that special consideration was not given to 
applications from Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) 
communities in the state. The conferees urge the Department to 
give consideration to applications from upstate New York and 
REAP communities in fiscal year 2000.
        The conferees support continued funding from the 
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program for the Community 
Hospital TeleHealth Consortium demonstration project to improve 
health services for medically underserved areas in Louisiana 
and Mississippi.

                         salaries and expenses

        The conference agreement provides a total appropriation 
of $68,153,000 for salaries and expenses of the Rural Utilities 
Service as proposed by the House instead of $65,982,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.

                    TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

                       Food and Nutrition Service

                        child nutrition programs

        The conference agreement provides a total of 
$9,554,028,000 for Child Nutrition Programs instead of 
$9,547,028,000 as proposed by the House and $9,560,028,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Included in this amount is an 
appropriated amount of $4,611,829,000; an amount transferred 
from section 32 of $4,935,199,000; and $7,000,000 for the 
school breakfast pilot project instead of $13,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate and no funds as proposed by the House.
        The conference agreement provides the following for 
Child Nutrition Programs:

Child Nutrition Programs:
    School lunch program................................  $5,480,010,000
    School breakfast program............................   1,421,789,000
    Child and adult care food program...................   1,769,766,000
    Summer food service program.........................     314,946,000
    Special milk program................................      17,551,000
    State administrative expenses.......................     120,104,000
    Commodity procurement and support...................     406,499,000
    School meals initiative.............................      10,000,000
    School breakfast pilot..............................       7,000,000
    Coordinated review effort...........................       4,363,000
    Food safety education...............................       2,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................  $9,554,028,000

        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 the National Food 
Service Management Institute cooperative agreement, $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 $4,032,000,000 for 
the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, 
and Children (WIC) instead of $4,005,000,000 as proposed by the 
House and $4,038,107,000 as proposed by the Senate.
        The conferees clarify that it is not the intent of the 
final proviso under the WIC heading to preclude WIC from 
providing immunization screening, referral and assessment 
services.
        The conferees are aware that the Department is 
considering changes in the food package to the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children 
(WIC). One of those proposals involves potential exceptions to 
the current sugar cap for the WIC food package. The sugar cap 
is an issue that has been studied many times, always with the 
same conclusion. The consensus from the studies, nutritionists, 
State WIC directors, sugar commodity associations and dentists 
is that no exceptions to the sugar cap should be made. 
Accordingly, the conferees direct that the Department make no 
exceptions to the sugar cap.

                           food stamp program

        The conference agreement provides $21,071,751,000 for 
the Food Stamp Program instead of $21,577,444,000 as proposed 
by the House and $21,563,744,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
Included in this amount is a contingency reserve of 
$100,000,000; $1,268,000,000 for nutrition assistance to Puerto 
Rico; and $98,000,000 for TEFAP. The amount includes a downward 
re-estimate, as reflected in the Mid-Session Review.

                      commodity assistance program

        The conference agreement provides $133,300,000 for the 
Commodity Assistance Program instead of $151,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and $131,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. Included in the amount is $45,000,000 for 
administration of TEFAP. The conferees note that there is a 
$7,700,000 carryover from fiscal year 1999 in this account for 
the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and have adjusted the 
appropriation accordingly to maintain a $96,000,000 program 
level in fiscal year 2000.
        The conferees note that there is a pattern of 
continuing unexpended balances for the Commodity Supplemental 
Food Program that could be used to respond to requests for new 
or expanded programs. Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Texas, and 
Vermont all are in a position to begin new programs. The 
conferees expect the Department to work closely with these 
applicants, and to take such action as may be necessary later 
in fiscal year 2000 to effectively utilize the dollars 
available to maximize participation of these states.

                      food program administration

        The conference agreement provides $111,561,000 for Food 
Program Administration as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$108,561,000 as proposed by theHouse. Included in this amount 
is an increase of $3,000,000 for program and financial integrity 
advancement.

            TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

         Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager

      The conference agreement provides $113,469,000 for the 
Foreign Agricultural Service and General Sales Manager instead 
of $142,274,000 as proposed by the House and $140,469,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      Included in the total amount provided is a direct 
appropriation of $109,203,000 instead of $137,768,000 as 
proposed by the House and $136,203,000 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 instead of 
$3,413,000 from the Export Loan Program and $1,093,000 from the 
P.L. 480 program account as proposed by the House.
      The conference agreement does not include a Senate bill 
provision prohibiting funds in this account from being used to 
promote the sale of alcohol beverages, including wine. The 
House bill had no similar provision.
      The conference agreement does not include a Senate bill 
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 
statement of managers accompanying the fiscal years 1998 and 
1999 appropriations Act conference report. The conferees expect 
such a plan to be submitted with the fiscal year 2001 
President's Budget.
      The conference agreement deletes House report language 
which expects that no appropriated funds will be used to pay 
for travel and other expenses of non-U.S. Government employees 
participating in the Reverse Trade Mission Program. The Senate 
report had no similar language. The conference agreement does 
not approve the funding requested in the budget to create this 
new program.
      The conference agreement maintains the fiscal year 1999 
level of funding for the Cochran Fellowship Program.
      The conferees recognize the potential for beneficial 
impact for both farmers and recipients from the monetization of 
commodity sales in international assistance efforts. The 
conferees direct the Foreign Agricultural Service, with the 
assistance of the Economic Research Service and other 
appropriate USDA agencies, to develop a study demonstrating the 
short and long-term effects of monetization. The FAS is to 
report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees prior 
to the fiscal year 2001 hearings the design, scope and 
objectives of this study, together with a schedule for its 
completion.
      The conference agreement provides $500,000 for 
administrative expenses associated with the management of the 
Foreign Market Development/Cooperator 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...................................     176,000,000
            Direct loans................................     155,000,000
            Ocean freight differential..................      21,000,000
    Title II--Commodities for disposition abroad:
        Program level...................................     800,000,000
        Appropriation...................................     800,000,000
    Title III--Commodity grants:
        Program level...................................               0
        Appropriation...................................               0
    Loan subsidies......................................     127,813,000
    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...................................     976,000,000
        Appropriation...................................     950,663,000

      The conference agreement adopts Senate bill language 
which appropriates funds for P.L. 480 program accounts and 
ocean freight under one heading. The House bill appropriated 
funds for these activities under separate headings.
      The conferees note that on September 14, 1999, the 
Department of Agriculture reported that the Title I and Title 
II programs had considerable unobligated balances to be carried 
over to fiscal year 2000: for the Title I subsidy, $98,674,000; 
for the Title I ocean freight differential, $8,217,000; and for 
the Title II program, $71,076,000. The conferees direct the 
Department to work with the U.S. Agency for International 
Development and report to the Committees on Appropriations of 
the House and Senate by February 15, 2000, on the reasons for 
these large unobligated balances. The conferees also note that 
food aid efforts can be further strengthened through use of the 
Section 416 program as was the case with the $725,000,000 
program for Russia.
      The conferees find that abundant agricultural production 
and low commodity prices in the United States come at a time 
when developing countries are unable to meet basic nutritional 
needs due to low production, natural disasters and civil war. 
The conferees note that authority exists to help stabilize the 
domestic farm economy and provide food aid donations to places 
in need such as Kosvo, the Middle East, the newly independent 
states, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Turkey and 
Macedonia.
      The conferees believe that the following measures should 
be considered:
            Commodities held in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian 
        Trust be increased to the authorized maximum of 400,000 
        metric tons;
            Monetization of commodities be carried out as a 
        development tool;
            All existing authorities be used to assure domestic 
        surpluses are available for the needy overseas;
            The Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency 
        for International Development (USAID) process proposals 
        for food assistance in timely fashion;
            USAID increase non-emergency humanitarian food aid 
        wherever possible and allow flexibility to use 
        monetization to address local development needs;
            The Department of Treasury more aggressively pursue 
        forgiveness of PL 480 debt for highly indebted poor 
        countries;
            Export sanctions on food and medicines be removed 
        consistent with U.S. foreign policy; and
            The U.S. Government maximize participation in 
        multilateral food assistance programs.

       commodity credit corporation export loans program account

      The conference agreement provides $3,820,000 for 
administrative expenses of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
Export Loans Program Account as proposed by the Senate instead 
of $4,085,000 as proposed by the House.

      TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement includes a direct appropriation 
of $1,040,638,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Food and 
Drug Administration, instead of $1,052,950,000 as proposed by 
the House and $1,035,538,000 as proposed by the Senate, and 
provides specific amounts for programs, centers, offices, and 
operational costs as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes technical changes to 
drug, mammography, and export certification user fee language 
as proposed by the House.
      The conference agreement provides that fees derived from 
applications received during fiscal year 2000 shall be subject 
to the fiscal year 2000 limitation as proposed by the Senate. 
The House had no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes a prohibition on the 
development, establishment, and operation of any program of 
user fees authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701 as proposed by the 
Senate. The House has no similar provision.
      The conferees direct FDA to submit a report within 180 
days of the date of enactment of this Act on the effects of 
reducing illegal tobacco sales to minors and the effect on 
compliance through the use of automated identification systems.
      The conference agreement includes an increase of 
$28,000,000 in budget authority for premarket application 
market review as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement provides $500,000 for clinical 
pharmacology grants awarded competitively.
      The conference agreement provides $100,000 for the Waste-
Management and Research Consortium, as proposed by the House.
      The conferees are aware that intravenous immune globulin 
(IVIG), a lifesaving treatment for patients with primary immune 
deficiency diseases, has been in severe shortage in the United 
States since November 1997. Given the serious public health 
problems caused by this shortage, the conferees encourage the 
FDA to continue to work with the primary immune deficiency 
community and the plasma industry to help increase the supply 
of IVIG in the United States. In addition, the conferees 
request a report from the FDA by March 1, 2000, outlining what 
action it has taken since the beginning of the shortage and 
what action it plans to take to respond to this public health 
crisis.
      The conferees note that the Food and Drug Administration 
has received a food additive petition requesting approval for 
the use of irradiation on ready-to-eat meats and poultry, and 
fruits and vegetables. The conferees are aware of the important 
food safety benefits associated with the petition, and strongly 
urge the agency to act expeditiously to propose a rule in 
response to the petition. The FDA should propose such a rule 
within six months after the receipt of the petition and issue a 
final rule within twelve months of receipt of the petition.
      The conferees note their expectation that FDA publish a 
proposed rule no later than June 1, 1999, 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 note that the FDA has failed to meet the June 1, 
1999, deadline for publication of this proposed rule. The 
conferees remain concerned that several petitions for approval 
of new sunscreen active ingredients based on foreign marketing 
experience have languished at the FDA for years, some as far 
back as 1980. Meanwhile, skin cancer has become a growing and 
pervasive public health problem among American citizens, with 
an estimated one million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed in 
the U.S. each year. The FDA published an Advance Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking in 1996, but in three years since its 
publication the Agency has yet to advance from the initial 
stage of administrative review of the proposal. Therefore, the 
conferees direct the agency to act in an expeditious manner to 
propose a rule, but in no case shall the FDA propose such a 
rule later than sixty days after enactment of this Act, nor 
shall the agency finalize such a rule later than twelve months 
after enactment of this Act.
      The conference agreement includes an increase of 
$30,000,000 for the Food Safety Initiative, distributed as 
follows:

Foods:
    Center..............................................      $9,000,000
    Field Activities....................................      16,900,000
Animal Drugs and Feeds:
    Center..............................................       3,600,000
    Field Activities....................................               0
NCTR....................................................         500,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................      30,000,000

                        buildings and facilities

      The conference agreement provides $11,350,000 for Food 
and Drug Administration Building and Facilities instead of 
$31,750,000 as proposed by the House and $8,350,000 as proposed 
by the Senate.
      The conference agreement includes $3,000,000 for 
construction at the Arkansas Regional Laboratory.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

      The conference agreement provides $63,000,000 for the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission instead of $65,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and $61,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The conference agreement provides $1,000 of the total 
appropriated for official reception and representation expenses 
as proposed by the Senate instead of $2,000 as proposed by the 
House. The conference agreement also makes permanent authority 
for the Commission to charge reasonable user fees for 
Commission-sponsored events and symposia.

                       Farm Credit Administration

                 limitation of administrative expenses

      The conference agreement places a limitation of 
$35,800,000 on the expenses of the Farm Credit Administration 
as proposed by the House. The Senate bill had no similar 
provision.
      The conferees note that the Farm Credit System Insurance 
Fund has achieved the secure base amount established in the 
Farm Credit Act. The fund has been capitalized through the 
payment of premiums that are ultimately paid by the farmers, 
ranchers, and cooperatives that borrow from Farm Credit 
institutions. The conferees expect the Farm Credit System 
Insurance Corporation to adhere to the intent of the Farm 
Credit Act and eliminate premiums when the insurance fund meets 
or exceeds the statutory secure base amount.

                     TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

      House and Senate Section 705.--The conference agreement 
includes technical changes to language (Section 705) proposed 
by the House and the Senate which makes new obligational 
authority for certain programs and activities available until 
expended.
      House Section 709.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 709) proposed by the House providing that 
commodities acquired by the Department in connection with 
Commodity Credit Corporation and section 32 price support may 
be used, as authorized by law, to provide commodities to 
individuals in cases of hardship.
      House Section 711 and Senate Section 710.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 711) proposed by the 
Senate that caps indirect costs charged against competitive 
Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension grant awards.
      House Section 716 and Senate Section 715.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 716) proposed by the House 
that authorizes the use of cooperative agreements for the food 
safety activities of the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
      House Section 717 and Senate Section 716.--The conference 
agreement substitutes new language (Section 717) for a general 
provision proposed by both the House and Senate regarding 
cooperative agreements of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service. This modification is needed as a result of a recent 
opinion/ruling of the Office of General Counsel that the 
existing language does not carryout its intended purpose. The 
conferees expect rulings and opinions of the Department's Office of 
General Counsel to apply uniformly to all agencies of the Department.
      House Section 725 and Senate Section 724.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 725) proposed by the 
Senate that prohibits the use of funds to pay the salaries and 
expenses of personnel to carry out the transfer or obligation 
of fiscal year 2000 funds for the Fund for Rural America.
      House Section 727 and Senate Section 726.--The conference 
agreement includes language (Section 727) proposed by the 
Senate that makes permanent the limitation on contract payments 
for wild rice.
      House Section 728 and Senate Section 727.--The conference 
agreement includes a limitation (Section 728) of 150,000 acres 
on Wetland Reserve Program enrollment instead of 120,000 acres 
proposed by the House and 180,000 acres proposed by the Senate.
      House and Senate Section 729.--The conference agreement 
(Section 729) prohibits the use of funds to carry out the 
Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems as proposed 
by the House. The Senate proposed a limitation of $50,000,000.
      House and Senate Section 730.--The conference agreement 
(Section 730) makes permanent the definition of rural areas for 
certain business programs as proposed by the Senate.
      Senate Section 733.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 733) proposed by the Senate prohibiting the 
use of funds to close or relocate certain FDA offices.
      Senate Section 734.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 734) proposed by the Senate prohibiting the 
use of funds to carry out certain activities unless the 
Secretary of Agriculture inspects and certifies agricultural 
processing equipment and imposes a fee for those activities.
      House Section 735 and Senate Section 737.--The conference 
agreement (Section 737) includes language proposed by the 
Senate.
      House Section 736(a) and Senate Section 728.--The 
conference agreement (Section 738) limits the emergency food 
assistance program to $98,000,000 instead of $99,000,000 
proposed by the House and $97,000,000 proposed by the Senate.
      House Section 737.--The conference agreement (Section 
739) prohibits the use of funds for certain activities 
implementing the Kyoto Protocol proposed by the House.
      House Section 738.--The conference agreement does not 
include language limiting the importation of meat and poultry.
      House Section 739.--The conference agreement does not 
include language regarding the Buy American Act. This language 
is contained in permanent law, and the conferees expect this 
language to be complied with.
      House Section 740.--The conference agreement does not 
include language regarding the purchase of American-made 
equipment and products. This language is contained in permanent 
law, and the conferees expect this language to be complied 
with.
      House Section 741.--The conference agreement does not 
include language regarding ``Made in America'' labeling 
violations. This language is now contained in permanent law, 
and the conferees expect this language to be complied with.
      House Section 742.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the House prohibiting the use of 
funds by FDA for the testing, development, or approval of 
certain drugs.
      House Section 743.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the House further reducing 
appropriations provided for certain accounts. This matter was 
addressed in the funding levels for each account rather than as 
a general provision.
      Senate Section 738.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 740) proposed by the Senate providing FSA 
county office employees with Federal civil service status for 
certain purposes.
      Senate Section 739.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 741) proposed by the Senate prohibiting the 
use of funds to transfer or convey federal lands and facilities 
at Fort Reno, Oklahoma, without the specific authorization of 
Congress.
      Senate Section 740.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 742) proposed by the Senate directing the 
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to settle 
claims associated with the Chuquatonchee Water Project in 
Mississippi.
      Senate Section 741.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 743) proposed by the Senate regarding a mail 
inspection pilot program in Hawaii.
      Senate Section 742.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 744) proposed by the Senate providing 
authority for guaranteed lines of credit for health care 
facilities to address Y2K computer conversion.
      Senate Section 743.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 745) requiring the Secretary of Agriculture 
to compensate wheat producers and handlers for losses due to 
karnal bunt.
      House Section 736(b) and Senate Section 744.--The 
conference agreement (Section 746) provides $2,000,000 for 
hunger fellowships instead of $1,000,000 as proposed by the 
House and $3,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Senate Section 745.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 747) providing $250,000 for the program 
authorized under section 388 of the FAIR Act solely for New 
Hampshire.
      Senate Section 746.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 748) proposed by the Senate amending the 
Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce the Department of 
Labor's approval time for processing farmworkers' applications 
for legal H-2A workers.
      Senate Section 747.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 749) proposed by the Senate to provide for 
successorship relating to certain bargaining units and 
exclusive representatives.
      Senate Section 748.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate for emergency and 
market loss assistance, and sanctions. The conference agreement 
addresses these issues in Title VIII.
      Senate Section 749.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding methyl tertiary 
butyl ether (MTBE). The conferees understand that recent 
studies have determined that leaking storage facilities have 
contributed to the detection of MTBE in groundwater. Further, 
the conferees support the development of alternative uses for 
agricultural products, including the use of ethanol in 
reformulated gasoline. The conferees expect the committees of 
jurisdiction of the House of Representatives and the Senate to 
carefully examine these issues to determine what, if any, 
action is warranted by the Congress.
      Section 750.--The conference agreement includes language 
(Section 750) that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
made available by this Act shall be used to implement a Support 
Services Bureau of similar organization.
      Senate Section 750.--The conference agreement (Section 
751) includes limitations on the awarding of contracts through 
the HUBZone program established by section 31 of the Small 
Business Act, to avoid subcontracting for the commodity being 
procured of if the awards would involve more than 50 percent of 
the dollar amount of the tender. In addition, the price 
evaluation preference provided under the HUBZone program may 
not exceed 5 percent in contracts for commodities made 
available by this Act. The conferees are concerned that the 
potential costs of the HUBZone program may diminish the 
effective program level of certain accounts such as title II of 
P.L. 480, and accordingly call to the attention of the 
Secretary the Compliance in Contracting Act of 1984 
(specifically 41 U.S.C. 253(b)), to exclude particular sources 
from participating in full and open competition on a tender if 
it is found that a firm has received such a large market share 
as to jeopardize USDA's vendor base, or if necessary, to 
restrain program costs. The conferees emphasize that these 
limitations allow contracting officers to exclude particular 
firms as needed, not to exclude classes of businesses such as 
all HUBZone firms.
      Senate Section 751.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding inadvertent 
planting of dry beans on contract acres. 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. The Secretary is urged to exercise reasonable 
treatment of producers in order to avoid harmful consequences.
      Senate Section 752.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 752) proposed by the Senate redesignating the 
National School Lunch Act as the ``Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act''.
      Senate Section 753.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 753) proposed by the Senate clarifying the 
membership of a commission.
      Senate Section 754.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding an action plan 
on food safety. The conferees request the President to include 
in the fiscal year 2001 budget request funding to implement a 
United States Action Plan on Food Security.
      Senate Section 755.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding apple farmers. 
The conferees are aware of financial hardships facing apple 
farmers, and direct the Farm Service Agency to review all 
programs that assist apple growers, review the limits currently 
set on operating loan programs used by apple growers to 
determine whether the current limits are insufficient to cover 
operating costs, and to report its findings to the Committees 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate not later than January 1, 2000.
      Senate Section 756.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 754) proposed by the Senate designating the 
``Harry K. Dupree'' Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research 
Center.
      Senate Section 757.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 755) to add Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio to 
existing law regarding cross-county tobacco leasing and to 
provide for the release of marketing information to State 
trusts or similar organizations.
      Senate Section 758.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 756) proposed by the Senate that makes the 
city of Berlin, New Hampshire eligible for a rural utilities 
grant or loan during fiscal year 2000.
      Senate Section 759.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 757) proposed by the Senate regarding 
cranberry marketing orders.
      Senate Section 760.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 758) proposed by the Senate to include native 
villages in Alaska under section 16(a) of the Food Stamp Act.
      Senate Section 761.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding periodic review 
of food packages. The conferees expect the Secretary of 
Agriculture to periodically review the food packages listed at 
7 C.F.R. 246.10(c) (1996) and consider including additional 
nutritious foods for women, infants and children.
      Senate Section 762.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 759) proposed by the Senate regarding 
education grants to Alaska Native Serving Institutions and 
Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
      Senate Section 763.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate providing minimum 
Smith-Lever allocations for certain states.
      Senate Section 764.--The conference agreement does not 
include language proposed by the Senate providing minimum Hatch 
Act allocations for certain states.
      Senate Section 765.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding timely FDA 
testing of imported food. The conferees expect FDA, to the 
maximum extent possible, to ensure timely testing of produce 
imports by conducting survey tests at the USDA or FDA 
laboratory closest to the port of entry so that testing results 
are provided within 24 hours of collection.
      Senate Section 766.--The conference agreement includes 
language (Section 760) that effective October 1, 1999, the 
price of milk paid by a handler at a plant operating in Clark 
County, Nevada shall not be subject to the Agricultural 
Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.
      Senate Section 767.--The conference agreement does not 
include Sense of the Senate language regarding World Trade 
Organization negotiations. The conferees expect that members of 
the World Trade Organization should undertake multilateral 
negotiations to eliminate policies and programs that distort 
world markets for agricultural commodities.
      Section 761.--The conference agreement makes the city of 
Olean, New York eligible for grants and loans administered by 
the Rural Utilities Service.
      Section 762.--The conference agreement makes the 
municipality of Carolina, Puerto Rico eligible for grants and 
loans administered by the Rural Utilities Service.
      Section 763.--The conference agreement makes technical 
corrections to the Food Security Act of 1985.
      Section 764.--The conference agreement provides that none 
of the funds made available by this Act shall be used to 
implement FSA Notice CRP-338.
      The conference agreement allows for the enrollment of 
certain lands in the conservation reserve program for which a 
federally cost-shared conservation practice may have previously 
been installed. The conference agreement requires a reduction 
in federal rental payments for such lands by an amount equal to 
the remaining value of the federal costs already incurred. This 
action is necessary to avoid the double payment for an ongoing 
conservation practice.
      Section 765.--The conference agreement provides that none 
of the funds made available by this Act shall be used to 
implement FSA Notice CRP-327.
      The conference agreement includes language which provides 
for certain commercial hunting activities on conservation 
reserve program lands. The conferees note inclusion of a 
requirement of strict compliance of program guidelines to 
ensure protection of environmental benefits and wildlife 
habitat. The House and Senate included no similar provision.
      Section 766.--The conference agreement includes language 
designating the ``George E. Brown, Jr., Salinity Laboratory''.
      Section 767.--The conference agreement includes technical 
changes to title 18 of the United States Code.
      Section 768.--The conference agreement includes a 
provision that maximum income limits established for single 
family housing in the high cost areas of Alaska shall be 150 
percent of the state metropolitan income level for Alaska.
      Section 769.--The conference agreement includes a general 
provision relating to the conservation reserve program that 
will allow the Secretary to approve not more than 6 projects in 
which harvests may occur for the recovery of biomass used in 
energy production. No similar provision was included in the 
House or Senate bill.

      TITLE VIII--EMERGENCY AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS

      The conference agreement includes a new title (Title 
VIII) providing market loss payments and other disaster 
assistance to producers of 1999 crops. The Senate had proposed 
similar provisions in section 748. The House bill contained no 
similar provisions.
      Section 801.--The conference agreement includes 
$1,200,000,000 in assistance to producers who have incurred 
losses for crops harvested or intended to be planted or 
harvested in 1999, which reflects an estimated need as stated 
by the Department of Agricultural prior to Hurricane Floyd. 
While funds provided by this Act shall be available for damage 
caused by Hurricane Floyd, the conferees note that only 
preliminary estimates for Hurricane Floyd are available and it 
is understood that additional resources may be needed to fully 
address all natural disaster losses in 1999. The conferees 
expect the Department to forward complete damage estimates to 
the Appropriations Committee of the House and Senate as soon as 
practicable. The Secretary may make assistance available for 
losses in quantity, quality or severe economic losses due to 
damaging weather or related conditions. The conferees note that 
the statement of managers accompanying the conference agreement 
on H.R. 1141, dated May 14, 1999, called on the administration 
to submit requests for supplemental appropriations for disaster 
assistance for agricultural producers. Subsequently, other 
Members of Congress made similar requests to the 
administration. To date, no request has been transmitted to the 
Congress for any disaster assistance to producers. The 
conferees understand that recent weather events and those yet 
to occur in 1999 may affect the need for crop loss assistance. 
The conferees continue to invite requests for supplemental 
funds to address these needs.
      Similar to provisions included in P.L. 105-277, this Act 
grants broad authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to 
create and implement a crop loss assistance program, However, 
the conferees note that the Department took seven months to 
make payments to producers for 1998 losses. Such delays in 
delivering 1999 payments are unacceptable. If necessary to 
avoid delay in delivering payments, the Department should 
consider developing a method by which preliminary payments may 
be made to producers to allow at least minimal payments to be 
made expeditiously while avoiding depletion of funds before all 
producers receive assistance. Further, it is expected that 
final payments will be made before January 31, 2000.
      The conferees note significant losses in the 1999 crops 
of fruits and vegetables, particularly capsicums, valencia 
oranges, and apples. The conferees expected the Secretary to 
ensure fair and equitable treatment of these producers when 
allocating disaster assistance. In particular, the conferees 
expect the Secretary to compensate producers for both quantity 
and quality losses, as authorized by section 801(c) of this 
Act.
      The conferees are aware of losses suffered by California 
citrus growers during a freeze in late 1998 totaling at least 
$90 million. Because the crop was for harvest in 1999, the 
Department of Agriculture determined that these producers were 
ineligible for assistance provided in P.L. 105-277. The 
conferees expect the Secretary to identify adequate funds 
provided in this title to address these needs.
      The conferees note that the Department has failed to 
implement statutory provisions making producers who obtained 
non-federally reinsured crop insurance eligible under certain 
circumstances for the multi-year disaster assistance provided 
in P.L. 105-277. Similarly, the Department has failed to 
provide assistance as directed to 1997 producers of apples in 
New York. The conferees do not view favorably the Department's 
disregard of directives issued by the Congress. The conferees 
expect the Department to comply with both statutory and other 
guidance provided by the Congress in addressing the needs of 
these and all producers.
      The conferees note that the price received for cottonseed 
is far below historical averages. The conferees also note that 
in many areas, revenues from cottonseed sales offset the cost 
of ginning. Given these depressed prices, the conferees expect 
the Secretary to consider additional assistance to cotton 
producers through direct payments or other means to help 
alleviate the problems caused by those unusually low prices.
      The conferees direct the Department to provide, from the 
amounts appropriated in this title, compensation to Michigan 
peach producers who purchased a crop insurance policy for the 
1999 fresh market peaches crop under the adjusted price 
election and pricing methodology established by the Risk 
Management Agency for the 2000 crop year.
      Sections 801 and 805.--Section 801 of the conference 
agreement provides $1,200,000,000 for agricultural losses to 
crops and livestock in 1999 and an additional $325 million is 
provided in section 805 specifically for livestock and dairy. 
Of these amounts, the conferees expect the Secretary to 
identify no less than $200 million in order to provide direct 
grant assistance to livestock producers who have suffered 
economic losses in 1999 in counties in which a Secretarial or 
Presidential drought declaration has been issued. The conferees 
note that in some states, such as West Virginia, all or most 
counties have received such a designation. Net farm income is 
low due to forced liquidations and increased costs for feed, 
transportation, and herd maintenance, severely affecting local 
rural economies. Producers are also faced with high costs of 
restoring pasture lands in the immediate future and the 
Secretary is encouraged to exercise authorities of EC-7 of the 
Emergency Conservation Program to assist affected producers 
toward recovery. The conferees stress the importance of 
providing assistance to livestock producers at a level 
commensurate with the relief provided for crop losses and 
further note that additional funds may be available for other 
livestock-related disaster losses.
      Section 802.--To ensure timely delivery of market loss 
payments to eligible producers and owners, the conferees urge 
the Secretary to make the payments available under the same 
terms and conditions as the 1999 contract payments. However, 
any market loss payments made under authority of this 
legislation shall not be treated as a contract (AMTA) payment 
for purposes of section 115 of Title I of the Federal 
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, or section 
1001, paragraphs (1) through (4) of the Food Security Act of 
1985. Further, it should not be necessary to require eligible 
owners and operators to file new contracts or redesignate 
shares in order to receive market loss payments.
      Section 803.--The conferees expect the Secretary to 
utilize all funds collected and not yet transferred to the 
Treasury under the peanut marketing assessment from producers 
and first handlers to offset expected losses in area quota 
pools for the 1999 peanut marketing year as authorized under 
Section 155(d) of Public Law 104-127.
      The conferees recognize that the timing of payments made 
under this section is critically important to peanut producers 
and intend for the Secretary to expedite such payments. With 
producers and acreage information readily available from the 
Farm Service Agency, the conferees expect the Secretary to make 
payments to peanut producers based on projected yields for the 
1999 crop year. By using projected yields, the conferees expect 
the Secretary to ensure that payments are made to producers as 
soon as practicable and, in any case, within 60 days from the 
enactment of this legislation.
      Section 805.--The conferees note the significant losses 
of feed for livestock producers. The Department shall insure 
that a portion of the $325,000,000 in assistance provided under 
this sectionis provided in the form of Livestock Feed 
Assistance.
      Further, from the total amount provided under section 
805, no less than $125,000,000 is to be made available for 
losses suffered by dairy producers.
      Producers impacted by natural and economic disasters 
deserve to be treated as equally as possible. The conferees are 
aware that many livestock producers faced a payment limitation 
this past year of $40,000, while grain producers had a limit of 
$80,000. Payment methods that provide more assistance to one 
group of producers than another should be avoided whenever 
possible. With the administration of this new disaster program, 
the conferees strongly urge the Department to provide livestock 
producers with assistance equivalent to that of grain 
producers.
      Section 806.--The conferees intend that the reinstatement 
of the Step-2 program for upland cotton be implemented with 
respect to sales for exports and domestic purchases by domestic 
textile mills beginning October 1, 1999. Any agreement entered 
into with participants in the Step-2 program should cover sales 
occurring between October 1, 1999 and the date of enactment of 
this Act in order to ensure that the program is effective with 
the beginning of fiscal year 2000.
      Section 811.--Authority is provided under this section to 
allow the Department of Agriculture to make production 
flexibility contract payments on or after October 1 of each 
remaining contract year. The conferees intend that these 
payments be made in a timely manner to alleviate cash flow 
problems. However, the conferees expect the Department to work 
to notify all program participants of the availability of these 
advance payments to allow them ample time to take action to 
avoid payments to producers who will not be leasing a property 
for that contract year.
      Section 813.--The conferees are concerned about an 
inequity in loan deficiency payments (LDP's) made to producers 
of feed grains. Currently, producers of corn may receive LDP's 
on their crops of corn for silage, but producers of grain 
sorghum whose crops are ensiled or baled as hay fodder are 
ineligible for LDP's on those crops. This inequity occurs even 
though grain sorghum for silage or hay has the same intended 
and actual use as corn silage. In this regard, the conferees 
expect the Department of Agriculture to make LDP's to eligible 
producers of grain sorghum in the same manner and, as 
appropriate, to the same extent as corn producers for the 1999 
and subsequent crop years.
      The conferees also are concerned about producers who 
graze their wheat crops and are unable to receive LDP's for the 
value of those crops. The conferees expect the Department of 
Agriculture to make LDP's on the 2000 and subsequent crops of 
wheat that are grazed.
      The conferees are concerned that repayment rates for 
marketing loans for durum wheat do not adequately reflect the 
unique quality discounts that are assessed against this class 
of wheat. Further, the conferees understand that the present 
method for calculating these repayments unfairly presumes a 
high quality for durum, which is not imposed on other classes 
of wheat. The conferees direct the Department to revise the 
repayment rates for the 1999 crop of durum wheat at a rate per 
bushel equal to the market value of the quality subclass 
immediately above sample grade for durum wheat, less any 
applicable discounts, to correct this inequity.
      In implementing the marketing assistance loan program for 
minor oilseeds, the conferees understand the Department has 
established separate loan programs for oil-type and confection 
sunflower seed that do not accurately reflect market 
relationships. The conferees are concerned that this 
implementation disadvantages confection-type sunflower seed 
growers and threatens the domestic confection industry when 
oil-type sunflower seed prices are below marketing loan levels. 
The conferees understand under these circumstances grower 
contracts are offered at levels unrepresentative of world 
market prices, presenting the opportunity for foreign 
competitors to contract for and export confection products at 
levels that undercut U.S. access to traditional foreign markets 
by the domestic industry. The conferees direct the Department 
to revise implementation of the marketing assistance loan 
program for confection sunflower seed, to determine the level 
at which a loan may be repaid for confection seed using solely 
the market price for oil-type sunflower seed.
      Section 814.--The conference agreement includes 
$400,000,000 to provide agricultural producers with a premium 
discount toward the purchase of crop insurance for the 2000 
crop year. The conferees intend and fully expect this premium 
discount to apply toward the purchase of crop insurance for all 
crops grown in the 2000 crop year, including all crops for 
which a fall sales closing date applies.
      The conferees note there is no statutory sales closing 
date for fall-planted crops. Accordingly, should the existence 
of an early sales closing date create an obstacle toward the 
provision of a premium discount for producers who plant a fall 
crop, the Secretary can remove that obstacle by 
administratively extending the sales closing date. Second, the 
conferees note that a discount was provided for all crops in 
the 1999 crop year, including for all crops for which a 1998 
fall sales closing date applied, even though the Secretary did 
not announce the discount until January 8, 1999. With no 
statutory obstacles in the way and in view of last year's 
precedent, the conferees fully expect the Secretary to provide 
producers of fall planted crops with the benefit of a premium 
discount toward the purchase of crop insurance.
      Section 822.--The conference agreement provides 
additional funding of up to $56,000,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Farm Service Agency for additional 
administrative costs incurred in the delivery of the assistance 
provided under this title.

                                TITLE IX

      The conference agreement includes legislation reported by 
the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry (S. 
Rpt. 106-168) requiring certain processors to report the price 
paid for livestock.

                   CONFERENCE TOTAL--WITH COMPARISONS

      The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
fiscal year 2000 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
with comparisons to the fiscal year 1999 amount, the 2000 
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 2000 
follow:

                        [In thousands of dollars]

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1999...     $61,127,644
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal 
    year 2000...........................................      66,883,182
House bill, fiscal year 2000............................      60,736,572
Senate bill, fiscal year 2000...........................      68,358,618
Conference agreement, fiscal year 2000..................      69,017,125
Conference agreement compared with:
        New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 
          1999..........................................      +7,889,481
        Budget estimates of new (obligational) 
          authority, fiscal year 2000...................      +2,133,943
        House bill, fiscal year 2000....................      +8,280,553
        Senate bill, fiscal year 2000...................        +658,507

                                   Joe Skeen,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Jack Kingston,
                                   Henry Bonilla,
                                   Tom Latham,
                                   Jo Ann Emerson,
                                   Bill Young,
                                   Sam Farr,
                                   Allen Boyd,
                                   David R. Obey,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Thad Cochran,
                                   Christopher S. Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Mitch McConnell,
                                   Conrad Burns,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   Dianne Feinstein,
                                   Robert Byrd,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                
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