[House Report 116-107]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress    }                                     {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                     {     116-107

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



 
   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2020

                                _______
                                

  June 6, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

           Mr. Bishop, from the Committee on Appropriations, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 3164]

    The Committee on Appropriations submits the following 
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2020.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Title I--Agricultural Programs...................................     3
Title II--Farm Production and Conservation Programs..............    40
Title III--Rural Development Programs............................    47
Title IV--Domestic Food Programs.................................    60
Title V--Foreign Assistance and Related Programs.................    67
Title VI--Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration......    70
Title VII--General Provisions....................................    86

                                OVERVIEW

    The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee has 
jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
except for the Forest Service, the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the 
Farm Credit Administration (FCA).
    The Subcommittee's responsibility covers a diverse group of 
agencies responsible for such things as promoting the 
production of a plentiful food supply; assisting farmers and 
ranchers across the country with sound production practices; 
improving the quality of life and vitality of communities in 
rural America; assisting people in the U.S. and abroad with 
nutritional needs; supporting research and development in 
agriculture to improve productivity and stability; overseeing 
commodity markets that provide confidence for businesses, 
traders, investors, and the public; supporting a safe food 
supply; and ensuring safe and effective drugs and medical 
devices. The activities of these agencies impact Americans 
every day of the year.
    The fiscal year 2020 discretionary spending in this bill 
totals $24,310,000,000, which is $1,000,000,000 above the 
fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $5,111,351,000 above the 
President's budget request for fiscal year 2020.
    The funding levels provided in this appropriations bill 
continue to demonstrate how seriously this Committee takes its 
responsibility to fund the highest priority programs and 
activities to serve the American people.

                         Oversight and Hearings

    The Subcommittee held eight hearings related to the 
responsibilities of the Subcommittee and key agriculture 
issues. The hearings were:
          1. Food and Drug Administration Status of 
        Operations--February 27, 2019
          2. USDA Inspector General--March 12, 2019
          3. Member Day--March 26, 2019
          4. USDA's Proposed Relocation of the Economic 
        Research Service and the National Institute of Food and 
        Agriculture--March 27, 2019
          5. The Rural Economy--April 2, 2019
          6. Food and Drug Administration FY 2020 Budget 
        Request--April 3, 2019
          7. USDA FY 2020 Budget Request--April 9, 2019
          8. Economic Opportunities for Farmers through 
        Sustainable Agricultural Practices--April 10, 2019
    Performance Measures.--The Committee directs USDA and FDA 
to comply with title 31 of the United States Code, including 
the development of their organizational priority goals and 
outcomes such as performance outcome measures, output measures, 
efficiency measures, and customer service measures. The 
Committee directs them to brief the Committee on the 
implementation plan for measures within 60 days of enactment of 
the Act.
    In this report, ``the Committees'' refers to the Committees 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate.

                                TITLE I


                         AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS


                   Processing, Research and Marketing


                        Office of the Secretary


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $46,603,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        41,373,000
Provided in the bill..................................        45,112,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        -1,491,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +3,739,000
 

    The following table reflects the amount provided by the 
Committee for each office and activity:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Committee
                                          FY 2019    FY 2020
                                          enacted    estimate  provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Secretary................     $5,051     $4,850     $4,850
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural           800        800          0
 Development...........................
Office of Homeland Security............      1,496      1,448      1,448
Office of Partnerships and Public            4,711      1,672      6,211
 Engagement............................
Office of the Assistant Secretary for          875        875        875
 Administration........................
Departmental Administration............     22,301     21,376     21,376
Office of the Assistant Secretary for        3,869      3,091      3,091
 Congressional Relations and
 Intergovernmental Affairs.............
Office of Communications...............      7,500      7,261      7,261
                                        --------------------------------
    Total, Office of the Secretary.....    $46,603    $41,373    $45,112
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Secretary, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $45,112,000.
    The Committee accepts the President's proposed reductions 
for the Immediate Office of the Secretary, the Office of 
Homeland Security, Departmental Administration, the Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations and 
Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Office of Communications.
    The Committee adopts the President's proposed funding level 
for the Assistant Secretary for Administration.
    The Committee provides an increase of $1,500,000 over the 
2019 enacted level for the Office of Partnerships and Public 
Engagement (OPPE) and rejects the reductions proposed in the 
budget request. The Committee strongly supports the Outreach 
and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Veterans 
program. This funding is in addition to the $15,000,000 in 
mandatory funds available in 2020. In a separate provision in 
Title VII, an additional $10,000,000 for the Farm Opportunities 
Training and Outreach Program is provided. OPPE is directed to 
use not more than five percent of this sum for administrative 
costs.
    Adapting to a changing climate.--The Committee directs USDA 
to conduct a survey on current programs that aid farmers in 
mitigating and adapting to the effects of the changing climate, 
including programs that support carbon sequestration in the 
soil, and identify opportunities to expand this work.
    Advertising expenditures.--The Committee believes that, as 
the largest advertiser in the United States, the federal 
government should work to ensure fair access to its advertising 
contracts for small disadvantaged businesses and businesses 
owned by minorities and women. The Committee directs USDA to 
include the following information in a report to the Committee 
60 days after enactment of this Act: expenditures for fiscal 
year 2019 and expected expenditures for fiscal year 2020 and 
2021, respectively, for (1) all contracts for advertising 
services; and (2) contracts for the advertising services of 
socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns 
(as defined in section 8(a)(4) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 637(a)(4)), and women- and minority-owned businesses.
    Agroterrorism.--The United States enjoys a safe, plentiful, 
and inexpensive food supply. The Committee views domestic food 
production as a priority for national security. The Committee 
directs the Secretary to explore USDA's laboratory and response 
capacity to address the threat of agroterrorism, and how 
national response plans can better incorporate agroterrorism. 
The Committee encourages the Secretary to coordinate with the 
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS), the Department of the Interior, the 
intelligence agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA), and other agencies to improve response plans, conduct 
vulnerability assessments, and expand monitoring and 
surveillance for agroterrorism. The Committee also encourages 
the Secretary to focus on bolstering tracking systems for 
agricultural products, laboratory networks, and border 
inspection training.
    Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 
Farmers.--The Committee urges the Secretary to measure the 
effectiveness of USDA's recruitment and outreach plans for the 
increasing number of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 
Pacific Islander farmers. The Committee directs the Department 
to make available required resources in additional Asian 
American and Pacific Islander languages to reduce any cultural 
or linguistic barriers for these farmers.
    CCC Report.--The Committee directs the Secretary to provide 
a report on November 15, 2019, and May 18, 2020, on planned 
uses of funding under the authorities of Section 4 and Section 
11 of the CCC Charter Act.
    Census of Agriculture.--The Committee is aware that urban 
agriculture is a rapidly growing sector of the U.S. 
agricultural economy and that there is a need to understand 
emerging agricultural production. The Committee directs the 
Department to collect data on urban, indoor, and emerging 
agricultural production, such as community gardens, rooftop 
farms, greenhouses and indoor farms, in the 2022 Census of 
Agriculture. The Committee expects the Department to provide 
resources for this work in its annual budget request to 
Congress when it begins planning for the 2022 census.
    Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Obligations and 
Commitments.--The Secretary is directed to notify the 
Committees in writing 15 days prior to the obligation or 
commitment of any emergency funds from the CCC.
    Communication from USDA.--A collaborative working 
relationship between the Committee and USDA is necessary to 
ensure efficient and effective implementation of Congress' 
funding decisions. USDA is directed to ensure that the 
Committee is notified of major changes to existing policies and 
any significant developments in its operations, before 
providing non-governmental stakeholders such information, 
before making the changes public and before implementing them.
    Design-Build.--The Committee encourages the Department to 
use the design-build method of project delivery when 
appropriate.
    Distribution of Farm Subsidies.--The Committee directs the 
Department to provide to the Committees not later than 180 days 
after the enactment of this Act a report on the distribution of 
farm subsidies, low interest loans, and cost-share conservation 
programs and its impact on minority-owned farms.
    ERS/NIFA relocation.--On August 8, 2018, the Secretary sent 
the Committees a letter notifying them that he was planning to 
move the Economic Research Service (ERS), and the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture outside of the greater 
Washington, D.C., area. Seven days later, without waiting the 
statutorily-required 30 days after notification, in violation 
of the reprogramming rules in P.L. 116-6, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2019, the Secretary published a Federal 
Register notice that the Department was seeking expressions of 
interest from parties interested in housing the two agencies. 
At no point in this process, however, has USDA solicited public 
comment on this proposal. Since then, it has moved forward, 
despite the clearly expressed opposition of many members of the 
House and Senate. It failed to comply with the direction of the 
conferees on the 2019 Act to submit all cost benefits for the 
move and a detailed analysis of any research benefits of a 
relocation. It has flatly refused numerous requests from this 
Committee and other members of Congress to provide the initial 
cost benefit analysis that preceded the decision to go ahead 
with the proposal. These agencies' mission is to achieve the 
best science through research that advances U.S. agriculture 
and our understanding of the agricultural economy. The 
Committee believes that the Department's proposal puts that 
mission at risk and the Committee has therefore included bill 
language to prevent it.
    Flexibility in Loan and Loan Guarantee Levels.--The bill 
includes language to exceed by up to 25 percent the limitation 
on loan and loan guarantee levels without budget authority upon 
written notification to the Committees on Appropriations.
    GAO Report on Credit Service to Socially Disadvantaged 
Farmers and Ranchers.--Section 5416 of the 2018 Farm Bill 
mandated a GAO study of the access of socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers to credit. That report is expected to be 
released this summer. The Committee looks forward to reviewing 
the report and assessing the need for further work on this 
issue.
    Grain Export Inspection.--The Committee is aware of the 
ongoing contract negotiations between West Coast grain terminal 
operators and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union 
and recognizes the importance of reaching an agreement that 
works for both parties, as a failure to reach an agreement 
could result in an interruption in grain terminal service that 
would negatively impact the nation's grain exports. Therefore, 
the Committee urges all parties to continue negotiating in good 
faith to ensure an equitable outcome that protects worker 
rights and benefits is expeditiously reached. The Committee 
strongly discourages USDA from requiring its grain inspectors 
to cross a picket line.
    Health Care Access for Farmers.--The Department of 
Agriculture shall conduct a study on access to affordable, ACA-
compliant, high-quality health care for individuals and their 
families who are self-employed on small, locally-owned and 
family-owned businesses in rural communities. The report should 
include recommendations for increasing access to health 
insurance options for those individuals. The Department should 
submit the report to the Committee 270 days after enactment of 
this Act.
    International Food Security Technical Assistance.--The 
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 recognized the challenge of 
global hunger and the need to improve the delivery of 
assistance to meet immediate food security requirements and to 
improve nutritional standards for underserved populations. 
Section 3308 of that Act authorized USDA agencies, including 
the Food Nutrition and Consumer Services among other relevant 
agencies, to provide technical assistance to international 
entities and organizations that develop and improve food and 
nutrition safety net systems. The Committee notes the trend of 
worsening food insecurity and the growing instability that may 
result and urges the Secretary to prioritize the implementation 
of this provision. The Committee expects a report on the 
progress of this effort within 90 days of enactment.
    Loan and Grant Programs.--The Committee directs that if an 
estimate of loan activity for any program funded in Titles II 
and III of this bill indicates that a limitation on authority 
to make commitments for a fiscal year will be reached before 
the end of that fiscal year, or in any event when 75 percent of 
the authority to make commitments has been utilized, the 
Secretary shall promptly notify the Committees through OBPA. 
The Committee directs the Department, through OBPA, to provide 
quarterly reports to the Committees on the status of 
obligations and funds availability for the loan and grant 
programs provided in this bill.
    Moving ERS to the Office of the Chief Economist.--On August 
8, 2018, the Secretary notified the Committees that he planned 
to move ERS from the Under Secretary for Research, Education 
and Economics (REE) to the Office of the Chief Economist, which 
is part of the Office of the Secretary. The Under Secretary of 
REE also serves as USDA's chief scientist. By law, he or she is 
charged with overseeing all issues involving scientific 
integrity within the Department. In fact, the Chief Scientist 
is actually empowered to oppose any efforts to politicize 
science. The Chief Economist has no such role or power. Keeping 
ERS within a mission area that is solely devoted to research 
ensures it will continue to be seen as a first-class, 
independent research entity. Putting it under the Office of the 
Secretary puts that at jeopardy. The Committee opposes the 
proposal and has included bill language to prevent it.
    Native American Foods.--Native American tribes suffer among 
the highest rates of diabetes in the United States. Traditional 
Native American diets have been shown to be culturally relevant 
and protective against metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The 
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) has 
increased the variety of traditional foods offered in the 
program. The Committee directs USDA to develop programs in 
conjunction with Indian Tribal Organizations to restore food 
ecosystems and revive traditional foods based on dietary 
preferences of Native American populations. USDA shall continue 
to collaborate with FDPIR agencies on recommendations for food 
package changes, with the goal of further increasing the amount 
and variety of traditional and locally or regionally grown food 
items offered through the program.
    Native Plant Use Preference.--The Committee continues to 
support the use of locally adapted native plant materials in 
the undertaking of land management activity on Federal lands 
under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, 
including in maintenance and in restoration in response to 
degradation caused by human activity or natural events (such as 
fire, flood, or infestation). The Committee directs that it be 
the policy of the USDA that preference shall be made, to the 
extent practicable, for the use of locally adapted native plant 
materials in these cases.
    Office for Civil Rights.--The Committee requests a report 
from the Secretary on how the Office intends to manage and 
avoid recurrent backlogs in cases, including both those 
involving USDA programs and those involving USDA employees. The 
report is due by December 31, 2019.
    Pay Costs.--The Committee does not include funding for a 
civilian pay increase across the Department. Should the 
President provide a civilian pay increase for fiscal year 2020, 
it is assumed that the cost of such a pay increase will be 
absorbed within existing appropriations for fiscal year 2020.
    Rural Broadband.--The Committee continues to support the 
Re-Connect program to increase access to broadband connectivity 
in unserved rural communities. The Committee continues to 
direct the Department to target grants and loans issued to 
areas of the country with the largest broadband coverage gaps. 
These projects should utilize technology that will maximize 
coverage of broadband with the most benefit to taxpayers and 
the rural communities served. Technologies to consider should 
include, but are not limited to, fiber, cable modem, fixed 
wireless, and television white space. The bill includes funding 
for broadband deployment through the Broadband Loan program, 
Community Connect grant program, Distance Learning and 
Telemedicine program and an additional $550,000,000 for the Re-
Connect program.
    Rural Health Liaison.--The Committee directs the Department 
to designate a Rural Health Liaison in the Office of the 
Secretary no later than 90 days after the enactment of this 
Act. The Office of the Secretary shall work in conjunction with 
the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy under HHS to ensure 
that the duties of the Rural Health Liaison enumerated in 
Section 12409 of the Agriculture Improvement Act are carried 
out effectively.
    Rural Poverty.--In their fiscal year 2016 bills, both the 
House and Senate Appropriations Committees directed USDA to 
produce a detailed plan setting forth all USDA resources 
available to combat rural poverty. The report was due on April 
16, 2016, and more than three years later, it has not been 
received. The Committee will consider penalizing the Department 
if it has not received the report before the conference on this 
bill begins.
    Status of House and Senate Report Language.--The Department 
is directed to include in its fiscal year 2021 Congressional 
Justification, as a single exhibit, a table listing all 
deliverables, with a column for due dates if applicable. The 
Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) is directed to 
provide updates on the status of House and Senate reports upon 
request from the Committees.
    USDA-owned Vehicles.--The Committee has included revised 
bill language related to the number of vehicles the Department 
owns, similar to that proposed by the administration. However, 
the Committee was troubled to learn that USDA's concern about 
the previous language was that it limited the Department to a 
specific number of vehicles, which USDA was completely unable 
to certify. The Committee requests a report from the Department 
within 60 days after enactment of this Act that describes how 
it plans to better manage its vehicle fleet.

                          Executive Operations


                     OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $21,286,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        18,513,000
Provided in the bill..................................        21,013,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................          -273,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +2,500,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Chief Economist, the Committee 
provides the budget request of $21,013,000.
    Drought.--The Committee provides $2,500,000 to support the 
work of the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC). The 
increase will provide 24/7 backup of NDMC weekly field data and 
build capacity to respond to the increasing number of drought-
related research and operations requests to NDMC by U.S. 
regional climate hubs.

                     OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $15,222,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        13,474,000
Provided in the bill..................................        15,222,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +1,748,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Committee 
provides the fiscal year 2019 enacted level of $15,222,000.

                 OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $9,525,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         8,199,000
Provided in the bill..................................         9,525,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +1,326,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, the 
Committee provides the fiscal year 2019 enacted level of 
$9,525,000.

                Office of the Chief Information Officer


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $55,630,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       101,400,000
Provided in the bill..................................       101,400,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +45,770,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $101,400,000.

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $6,028,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        13,500,000
Provided in the bill..................................         6,028,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        -7,472,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $6,028,000.
    The Committee provides no funds for the New Pay Initiative. 
The five sentences devoted to this in the budget justification 
do not provide sufficient justification for the requested 
increase of $7,500,000 for the Initiative.

           Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $901,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           800,000
Provided in the bill..................................           901,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................          +101,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 
the Committee provides the fiscal year 2019 enacted level of 
$901,000.

                         Office of Civil Rights


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $24,206,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        21,228,000
Provided in the bill..................................        24,206,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +2,978,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Civil Rights, the Committee provides the 
fiscal year 2019 enacted level of $24,206,000.

                  Agriculture Buildings and Facilities


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $59,967,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       331,114,000
Provided in the bill..................................       331,114,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................      +271,147,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Agriculture Buildings and Facilities, the Committee 
provides the requested level of $331,114,000. The Committee 
provides the full request because it strongly supports USDA's 
``One Neighborhood'' proposal to renovate USDA headquarters 
buildings. Along with renovation of the George Washington 
Carver facility in Beltsville, MD, USDA will have greatly 
expanded capacity in the National Capital Region (NCR). This 
will end what USDA itself says are its ``high vacancy rates'' 
in the NCR.

                     Hazardous Materials Management


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $3,503,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         3,290,000
Provided in the bill..................................         5,288,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +1,785,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +1,998,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Hazardous Materials Management, the Committee provides 
$5,288,000. The Committee rejects the reduction to the program 
proposed in the budget and provides an increase of $1,988,000 
for additional remediation work.

                      Office of Inspector General


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $98,208,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        98,208,000
Provided in the bill..................................        98,208,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Committee 
provides the fiscal year 2019 enacted level of $98,208,000.
    Animal fighting.--The Committee is very concerned about 
illegal animal fighting activity. The OIG is encouraged to 
increase its efforts to enforce the laws under USDA's 
jurisdiction against animal fighting and to investigate 
promptly any evidence of such illegal activity. The Committee 
also encourages the OIG to audit USDA enforcement of the Animal 
Welfare Act, the Horse Protection Act, and the Humane Methods 
of Slaughter Act to help improve compliance with these 
important laws.

                     Office of the General Counsel


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $45,146,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        41,242,000
Provided in the bill..................................        41,242,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        -3,904,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the General Counsel, the Committee 
provides the budget request of $41,242,000.

                            Office of Ethics


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $4,136,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         2,752,000
Provided in the bill..................................         4,136,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +1,384,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Ethics, the Committee provides the 2019 
enacted level of $4,136,000.

  Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $800,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           800,000
Provided in the bill..................................           800,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, 
Education, and Economics, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $800,000.
    Antimicrobial Resistance Research Strategy.--The Committee 
has provided additional resources to ARS and NIFA that may be 
used to strengthen USDA's ability to support an expanded focus 
on animal science and antibiotic stewardship. The Committee 
encourages USDA to build on the work of the Presidential 
Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and 
directs USDA to develop a strategic approach that coordinates 
all antimicrobial resistance projects in the REE mission area. 
The Department should explore coordinating with agencies and 
offices in HHS. USDA should also consider establishing a 
public-private partnership framework with HHS (including the 
Centers for Disease Control), industry, and land-grant 
universities with relevant expertise in states with significant 
livestock production to support applied research, education, 
and outreach to address antimicrobial-resistant animal and 
human pathogens.
    Enhancing Entrepreneurship at USDA.--While USDA deploys 
significant investments to drive agricultural innovation and 
enhance community vitality, the Committee believes that USDA 
could more effectively support entrepreneurship in rural 
communities by bolstering creative partnerships that connect 
entrepreneurs in the agricultural ecosystem. The Committee 
directs ARS and NIFA to work together and brief the Committee 
on USDA efforts that enhance and encourage entrepreneurship 
across rural America. The brief shall include a discussion of 
how ongoing agricultural entrepreneurship, extension, and 4-H 
and other youth agriculture programs at land-grant universities 
help to increase visibility and viability of agricultural 
entrepreneurship in rural America; an examination of barriers 
to commercialization of USDA-funded research; and an evaluation 
of USDA regulations that inhibit rural entrepreneurship.
    Leveraging Plant Genome Information.--The Committee 
recognizes the potential impact that variable weather, 
environments, and production systems can have on the yield and 
quantity of maize and the need for greater prediction of plant 
performance under variable growing conditions. The Committee 
encourages USDA to support research that leverages plant 
genomic information with phenotypic and environmental data 
through an interdisciplinary framework, resulting in an 
understanding of plant processes that affect productivity and 
the ability to predict plant performance.
    National Data Repository for Intelligent Agricultural 
Production, Health, and Security.--The food and agriculture 
sector in the United States is entering a new era with a 
proliferation of available data resulting in unprecedented 
opportunities for modeling, forecasting, and analytics that are 
already changing other sectors of the American economy. The 
Committee encourages USDA to explore developing a national data 
repository for intelligent agricultural production, health, and 
security. The Committee directs USDA to provide to the 
Committee a brief that explores how to develop a roadmap for 
policies that enable large-scale aggregation of agricultural 
production data while preserving competitive advantage for 
individual farmers, ranchers, producers, and processors. As 
part of the brief, USDA should identify leading land-grant 
universities with capacity to lead this effort and identify a 
consortium of universities to partner in defining potential 
goals, resource needs, and expected outcomes and benefits of 
this national repository.
    Pollinators and Colony Health Research.--The Committee 
recognizes that Colony Collapse Disorder and related colony 
health issues are a significant concern to beekeepers, honey 
producers, farmers, researchers, policymakers, and the public. 
It directs the Department to continue to focus on the 
challenges facing pollinators. The bill includes funding for a 
pollinator research coordinator as authorized by the 2018 Farm 
Bill.
    Potato Research.--The Committee supports research efforts 
to combat crop-threatening pest and disease pressures, 
including the potato cyst nematode. The Committee also 
recognizes the importance of research initiatives to identify 
and improve desired traits for new potato varieties and directs 
the Department to continue working with universities, industry 
and potato growers on these projects.
    Poultry Technology Research.--The Committee understands 
that the U.S. poultry industry is the most efficient in the 
world. However, with expected global growth in demand and 
competition, technological advances in broiler production are 
critical to increasing production and profitability. The 
Committee supports cooperative research that contributes to 
increased efficiencies in housing, equipment, energy and 
environmental controls tailored to meet the long-term needs of 
the industry.
    Screening Technologies.--The Committee encourages the 
development of technologies that will provide rapid, portable, 
and facile screening of food fish species at port sites and 
wholesale and retail centers.
    Vector Control.--The Committee encourages USDA to support 
research, including the work done through the Biotechnology 
Risk Assessment Research Grants program, to develop innovative 
vector control technologies targeted to combatting Zika-
carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitos. The Committee is aware that 
vaccine development takes time, pesticide use has a variety of 
limitations, and human health effects and treatment will be a 
challenge for years to come. Therefore, the Committee urges 
USDA to utilize pest management programs and partner 
organizations to conduct research to develop and test effective 
repellents, create new molecular pesticide technologies that 
prevent mosquitoes from reproducing, and explore natural 
product remedies to deter pests.

                       Economic Research Service


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $86,757,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        60,500,000
Provided in the bill..................................        87,757,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................         +1,000,00
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +27,257,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Economic Research Service (ERS), the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $87,757,000. The Committee 
strongly disagrees with USDA's proposal to relocate ERS and 
provides no funding for relocation activities. In addition, the 
Committee does not concur with the request to significantly 
reduce ERS' research activities.
    Recovering Value from Animal Waste.--The Committee is 
interested in understanding the potential cost savings that may 
arise from more efficiently processing and managing animal 
waste. The Committee directs ERS to provide a report to the 
Committee not later than 1 year after the enactment of this Act 
on potential opportunities to recover greater value for farmers 
from animal waste. The report shall include a discussion of the 
following: 1) direct and indirect financial revenue 
opportunities; 2) the potential value of i) on-farm reuse of 
products such as fertilizer application to cropland; ii) 
remanufactured products; iii) energy recovery; 3) potential tax 
credits; 4) nutrient recovery; 5) grants and loan incentives; 
and 6) other sources of revenue. An optimum value model should 
be described. The Committee expects the report to address the 
feasibility of recovering value from animal waste, the emerging 
technologies and tools available, and physical and economic 
factors to be considered, and identify potential federal 
programs which could provide incentives and adoption. The 
Committee provides ERS $1,000,000 to conduct the report.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $174,517,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       163,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................       180,794,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +6,277,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +17,794,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 
the Committee provides an appropriation of $180,794,000, of 
which $45,300,000 is for the Census of Agriculture. The 
Committee does not accept any proposed eliminations or 
reductions of ongoing activities, including in-season forecasts 
for non-citrus fruit and tree nut crops such as pecans. The 
Committee provides $2,000,000 to expand the Farm Labor Survey.
    Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Initiative.--The Committee 
appreciates the continued focus on broadband access for rural 
communities. The Committee provides the requested $2,000,000 
for this initiative and directs NASS to coordinate their 
collection efforts in partnership with USDA's Rural Development 
Programs to ensure no duplication of efforts occurs.
    Antibiotic Resistance Efforts.--The Committee includes an 
additional $2,000,000 to strengthen NASS activities in support 
of the National Animal Health Monitoring System commodity 
studies and the Agricultural Resource Management Survey. This 
additional funding will help expand USDA knowledge and 
understanding of antibiotic use practices and the emergency of 
resistance.
    Chemical Use Data.--The Committee encourages NASS to 
continue funding the collection and analysis of chemical use 
data as well as practices such as integrated pest management. 
In addition, the Committee directs NASS to continue collecting 
Fruit Chemical Use data and Vegetable Chemical Use data in 
alternating years.
    Commercial Floriculture Crops Report.--USDA is directed to 
complete the Commercial Floriculture Crops Report.
    Commodity Survey Staffing.--The Committee directs NASS to 
explore the feasibility of reestablishing a physical presence 
in Puerto Rico and provide a briefing to the Committee not 
later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act.
    Organic Agriculture Survey.--The Committee includes the 
requested funding to conduct the Organic Agriculture Survey. 
The Committee notes that the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS), ERS, and NASS are each involved in data collection or 
reporting on organics. The Department is directed to brief the 
Committees on its data collection and reporting efforts on 
organic agriculture, its plan for continuing these efforts in 
the future, and how these efforts are coordinated across the 
Department not later than 60 days after the enactment of this 
Act.

                     Agricultural Research Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................    $1,303,266,000
2020 budget estimate..................................     1,203,491,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,347,516,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +44,250,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +144,025,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Salaries and Expenses of the Agricultural Research 
Service (ARS), the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$1,347,516,000.
    The Committee recognizes that many research goals 
constitute a moving target and research objectives may change 
from year to year. The Committee is interested in understanding 
what research programs ARS has determined are mature and what 
research programs are the highest priority of the agency. The 
Committee directs ARS to provide a brief to the Committee on 
its ongoing efforts to assess and prioritize research across 
all its ongoing programs. This will help the Committee direct 
resources to the most impactful programs in the future. The 
Committee does not accept the President's budget request 
regarding the reduction or termination of extramural research 
and expects that extramural research be funded at no less than 
the fiscal year 2019 levels. In addition, the Committee does 
not accept the proposed termination of research programs or 
closure of research locations.
    Agricultural Research Facilities.--The Committee directs 
ARS to explore ways in which its labs could be better utilized, 
in cooperation with non-profits, consortiums, and land grant 
universities, to achieve new scientific goals that benefit the 
nation's food and agriculture system. In addition, the 
Committee encourages ARS to work with the entities listed above 
to develop a smart agriculture industry technology roadmap. 
This research strategy can help guide the future development of 
technology in the agriculture industry and maintain U.S. 
leadership.
    Alfalfa Research.--The Committee supports an additional 
$1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level for research into 
alfalfa seed and forage systems, which hold the potential to 
maximize crop yields, increase milk production, and improve 
genetics.
    Animal Research.--The Committee continues to monitor 
closely the compliance by ARS animal research facilities with 
the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act. The Committee notes 
that ARS has not yet submitted the single report discussing all 
the violations found by APHIS to date that was mandated in the 
2019 Act and that the first quarterly report since the 2019 Act 
was enacted failed to include any discussion of violations 
found by APHIS and specific actions taken. Thus, the Committee 
directs ARS to revise the mandated report accordingly.
    Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan.--The Committee 
supports the research goals of USDA's Antimicrobial Resistance 
Action Plan to examine the role of nutritional alternative/feed 
additives containing bioactives and prebiotics as alternatives 
to increase antibiotic use. This may lead to reduced antibiotic 
use and boost immune responses in livestock. The Committee 
directs ARS to provide an update on their role in this effort 
in its fiscal year 2021 budget request.
    Areawide Integrated Pest Management.--The Committee 
supports ARS' efforts on areawide integrated pest management 
and encourages continued efforts to design and implement 
programs across the country.
    Big Data.--The Committee supports ARS' ongoing efforts to 
maximize knowledge extracted from large data sets. The 
Committee is interested in the development of long-term, 
durable solutions for the information challenges involving Big 
Data.
    Biological Collections.--The Committee supports the 
biological collection activities of ARS and its importance to 
the scientific mission of ARS.
    Bovine Pleuropneumonia.--The Committee is concerned about 
the potential harm to the cattle industry from contagious 
bovine pleuropneumonia and provides $1,000,000 to partner with 
academia to develop improved diagnostic tests and vaccines for 
this harmful disease.
    Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).--The Committee 
supports research aimed at defining BSE inheritance patterns, 
environmental triggers for BSE susceptibility and/or 
resistance, and development of preclinical disease testing 
methods and strategies.
    Cattle Fever Ticks.--The Committee provides not less than 
$8,000,000 for cattle fever tick critical research needs. The 
Committee directs ARS to coordinate development of its long-
term cattle fever tick research program with APHIS efforts 
under the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program.
    Cercospora Leaf Spot Disease.--The Committee is concerned 
about the prevalence of the cercospora leaf spot, a destructive 
disease that impacts sugar beet production and results in 
significant losses in root yield and sugar content. The 
Committee supports the work being done by ARS and its continued 
efforts to develop management solutions to combat cercospora 
leaf spot disease.
    Citrus Greening Disease Research.--The Committee commends 
ARS' research efforts on citrus greening disease and encourages 
the agency to continue working to develop methods to reduce 
transmission and enhance immunity in citrus trees and to work 
with industry, universities, growers, and other partners to 
develop effective control mechanisms. The Committee also 
encourages ARS to coordinate its efforts with the Huanglongbing 
Multi-Agency Coordination group (HLB MAC).
    Coffee Plant Health Initiative.--The Committee supports the 
research goals of the Coffee Plant Health Initiative.
    Cranberry Research.--The Committee is supportive of the 
multi-university cranberry and blueberry research programs 
operated in partnership with the ARS, and provides an 
additional $750,000 above the 2019 level for the purchase of 
equipment and the hiring of additional scientists to meet 
research needs in disease prevention, pesticide reduction, and 
water conservation.
    Energy-Water Nexus.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of the Energy-Water Nexus, and as part of that 
effort, encourages USDA to work with the Department of Energy 
(DOE) to identify research collaborations to develop safe, 
affordable, deployable, energy- and water-efficient 
technologies for food production platforms that support non-
traditional water use. The Committee directs ARS to work with 
NIFA and DOE on this initiative and provide to the Committee 
not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act a 
report listing ongoing research collaborations between ARS and 
DOE, including its National Laboratories.
    Genetic Oat Research.--The Committee recognizes the 
potential genetic oat research has to improve disease 
resistance (especially rusts and viruses), genetics, increase 
yields, and develop crop rotation systems that include oats, 
which will enhance the value of oats and provide benefits to 
producers and consumers. The Committee provides an additional 
$500,000 above the 2019 level to research oat germplasm, 
genomics, phonemics, disease resistance, and enhanced yield.
    Germplasm Enhancement of Maize.--The Committee provides an 
additional $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level in 
support of germplasm enhancement of maize projects and 
encourages continued cooperation between ARS and industry.
    Greenhouse Technology Research.--The Committee recognizes 
the importance of advancing greenhouse technology and exploring 
its capabilities to address the energy and water challenges 
inherent in four-season production systems, beginning in food 
insecure communities across the country. The Committee 
encourages ARS to work with DOE on greenhouse technology 
research that explores how to integrate ongoing research 
projects at the various DOE National Labs to develop 
affordable, deployable, and energy and water-efficient food 
production platforms for undernourished regions of the country. 
By working together, ARS and DOE can bring their respective 
strengths and resources to designing the most desirable, low-
cost, and efficient production system. The Committee provides 
an additional $500,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level in 
continued support of this effort.
    Healthy Soil-Healthy Food-Healthy People.--The Committee 
supports efforts within ARS to encourage the study of enhanced 
food nutritional quality through the Healthy Soil-Healthy Food-
Healthy People initiative.
    Hops Research.--The Committee recognizes that the U.S. hops 
industry has experienced unprecedented expansion due to the 
brewing industry's economic growth over the past decade. To 
sustain this growth, new varieties of hops are needed to 
prevent disease and expand production throughout the country. 
The Committee strongly supports ARS' ongoing research in hops 
genomics and pathology, and maintains increases from previous 
years.
    Horticultural Research and Education.--The Committee 
recognizes the U.S. National Arboretum as a prominent research 
body staffed with highly skilled and dedicated scientists with 
a history of scientific discovery in environmental 
horticulture. The Committee encourages continued support of the 
Arboretum as its research and academic programs not only work 
towards developing new approaches in detecting and treating 
plant disease, but also the ability to connect people with 
plants in a unique and serene environment that enhances the 
public understanding of agricultural plant sciences.
    Human Nutrition Research.--The Committee directs ARS to 
provide to the Committee not later than 180 days after the 
enactment of this Act a report on the connection between how to 
advance science, policy, and practice for how healthier food 
enhances overall health, reduces obesity and related co-
morbidity, and could lower health care costs.
    Livestock Protection.--The Committee recognizes the 
challenges caused by infectious disease problems arising from 
wildlife-domestic animal agriculture interactions, particularly 
between domestic sheep and wild bighorn sheep. Researchers have 
recently produced an experimental vaccine to protect bighorn 
populations from disease, but much work is still required. The 
Committee encourages ARS to pursue work to determine the role 
of domestic sheep in causing die-offs of bighorn sheep from 
respiratory disease and develop methods to reduce transmission 
and enhance immunity in domestic and bighorn sheep.
    Long-Term Agro-ecosystem Research.--The Committee provides 
an additional $1,000,000 above fiscal year 2019 for the Long-
Term Agro-ecosystem Research (LTAR) network. The Committee 
encourages ARS to fully utilize all the LTAR sites.
    Lower Mississippi River Basin.--The Committee recognizes 
the groundwater problems in the Lower Mississippi River Basin 
and encourages ARS, in collaboration with university research, 
extension scientists and local stakeholders, to identify gaps 
in water management research and focus efforts on the 
development of conservation and irrigation techniques to reduce 
water usage in agriculture production while maintaining crop 
quality and yield.
    Macadamia Tree Health Initiative.--The Committee provides 
an additional $500,000 above fiscal year 2019 to support 
implementation of the Macadamia Tree Health Initiative.
    Marine Aquaculture Seedstock.--The Committee is concerned 
that vital seedstock to support the development of aquaculture 
in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will be sourced from 
foreign aquaculture producers. Domestic on-land recirculating 
aquaculture systems and offshore aquaculture are highly capable 
of producing a steady supply of marine fish seedstock to 
support new offshore and aquaculture industries. This includes 
broodstock acquisition and care, spawning, larval culture 
techniques, and juvenile rearing. The Committee provides an 
additional $500,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level for the 
development effort of aquaculture technology that will ensure a 
steady supply of warm water marine fish seedstock for economic 
growth of the U.S. aquaculture industry.
    National Agricultural Library.--The Committee encourages 
ARS to maintain a focus on agricultural-related legal issues 
within the National Agricultural Library. The Committee notes 
that as the agriculture sector faces increasing financial 
stress, there is a necessity that agriculture-related legal 
issues be addressed on an increasingly frequent basis. Further, 
agriculture-related legal issues are increasingly complex, and 
the impact of these legal issues continues to broaden in scope. 
The Committee recommends that the National Agricultural Library 
play an important role in assisting all stakeholders with 
understanding these issues.
    National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).--The 
Committee notes that NBAF is approaching construction 
completion and that there are remaining transition and 
operational capability actions necessary before full 
operational capability can occur. While the Committee 
understands the current research programs at APHIS and ARS that 
will be moved into NBAF once the full transition from the Plum 
Island Animal Disease Center is complete, the Committee is not 
yet aware of how USDA will fill out the rest of NBAF with other 
ongoing or new research activities and any associated outyear 
costs. Therefore, USDA shall submit to the Committees a ten-
year strategic plan that describes the annual projected 
research and operations costs associated with full utilization 
of the NBAF facility. The plan should include a discussion of 
how USDA will utilize all available lab space, what ongoing 
research programs will grow, future research priorities that 
will be housed in NBAF, and the associated annual costs of each 
activity.
    National Soil Dynamics Laboratory.--The Committee directs 
the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory to conduct research and 
development of technologies to recover phosphorous from manure, 
transform manure into secondary byproducts and find 
alternative, environmentally safe and economical usages of 
manure. The research may also explore environmentally safe 
methods and appropriate rates of manure application for growing 
crops and vegetables and the development of alternative 
feedstock for livestock by raising aquatic zooplankton on 
manure wastewater.
    New Cotton Virus.--The Committee encourages ARS to 
coordinate with APHIS, academic partners, and industry to 
conduct research to establish biomarkers, research resistant 
seed varieties, and to develop virus taxonomy and extension 
management strategies pertaining to aphid control and general 
cotton management for cotton viruses transmitted by the cotton 
aphid.
    Pickled Vegetables.--The Committee supports ARS' ongoing 
research efforts on pickled vegetables.
    Regional Hubs.--The Committee supports the role of USDA's 
Climate Hubs and how they supplement ongoing work at ARS. The 
Committee directs ARS to provide a briefing on these ongoing 
efforts and planned activities in future years.
    Roseau Cane.--The Committee continues to direct ARS to work 
with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and 
stakeholders to develop an integrated management program for 
control of the scale insect pest infestation that is destroying 
Roseau cane in the Mississippi River's Delta region along the 
Gulf of Mexico.
    Sclerotinia Initiative.--The Committee is aware of the 
importance of controlling Sclerotinia in sunflowers, soybeans, 
canola, edible beans, peanuts, peas, lentils, and chickpeas and 
encourages ARS to continue its support of this initiative.
    Shellfish Research.--The Committee includes an additional 
$500,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level to support additional 
shellfish genetics research staff positions.
    Small Fruits Research.--The Committee supports the tri-
state research efforts on the development of small fruits and 
grapes in the Pacific Northwest. This research is critical to 
ensuring continued economic and environmentally-sustainable 
production for these crops.
    Small Grain Genomics.--The Committee supports research on 
small grain genomics to address national genomic and breeding 
needs for U.S. crops to keep small grains and feed as viable 
crops and continue their substantial contributions to the 
agricultural economy. The Committee provides an additional 
$1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level for this research.
    Soft Wheat Falling Numbers Test Research.--The Committee 
recognizes the emerging crisis surrounding wheat starch 
degradation, as detected by the Hagberg-Perten Falling Numbers 
Test, and encourages ARS to continue researching the accuracy 
of the test and the environmental, storage, and generic 
conditions leading to this quality loss.
    Spittle Bug.--The Committee encourages ARS to coordinate 
research efforts with NIFA and APHIS to address the impact of 
the spittle bug.
    Sugarcane Research Program.--The Committee provides an 
additional $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level to the 
Sugarcane Research Program to support breeding and pathology 
research for the development of high-yielding, biotic and 
abiotic stress resistant cultivars resistant to emerging pests 
and diseases that threaten the sugarcane industry.
    Tropical and Subtropical Research.--The Committee 
encourages ARS to explore research aimed at supporting tropical 
and subtropical crops and how this research would fit into 
ongoing activities.
    Turfgrass Research.--The Committee provides an additional 
$3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level to conduct research 
on new grasses that require less water, fertilizer, and other 
inputs; genomic sequencing of grasses to identify drought, 
heat, and pest resistance; maximizing the amount of carbon 
captured by turfgrass systems and reducing carbon output 
through enhanced maintenance systems; and enhancing turfgrass 
contributions as a foundation for landscape enhancements.
    U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES).--The Committee 
recognizes the unique and valuable contributions the USSES 
makes toward increasing the production efficiency of sheep and 
improving sustainable rangeland ecosystems. The Committee also 
recognizes a unique opportunity to expand other research 
initiatives. The Committee encourages ARS to work with various 
stakeholders regarding efforts to propose mission improvements 
for the USSES.
    U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab (USWBS).--The Committee 
recognizes the importance of the research carried out through 
the USWBS Initiative. Fusarium head blight is a major threat to 
agriculture, inflicting substantial yield and quality losses 
throughout the U.S. The Committee provides an additional 
$2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level in support of the 
USWBS Initiative.
    Vacant Positions.--The Committee notes that there are still 
numerous vacant positions at ARS laboratories across the 
nation. The Committee directs ARS to fill vacant positions in 
order to optimize the utilization of ARS laboratory space and 
ensure that research goals can be continually met. Further, the 
Committee encourages ARS to fill these vacancies with permanent 
employees.
    Water Quality.--The Committee supports ARS's continued 
efforts to research alternatives to land application of animal 
manures in watersheds where over-application is harming fresh 
water drinking supplies. The Committee also supports ARS 
efforts to identify alternative collection and processing 
options for manure to remove toxic elements and yield usable 
material.
    Whitefly.--The Committee recognizes that whiteflies are an 
emerging pest as a result of developing resistance to many 
pesticides making chemical control difficult and climate 
variability resulting in warmer winters and lower seasonal die 
off. The Committee remains concerned with the whitefly, Bemisia 
tabaci, epidemic which is severely impacting vegetable and 
cotton production in the Southeast United States.
    Wildfire Smoke Taint Research on Winegrapes.--The Committee 
supports research to identify the compounds responsible for 
smoke taint, establish science-based threshold levels of smoke 
compounds that cause smoke taint, develop mitigation methods to 
reduce or eliminate smoke taint, and study compounds that can 
act as a barrier between the grapes and smoke compounds. The 
Committee provides $1,500,000 in support of these research 
efforts.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $381,200,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        50,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................        50,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................      -331,200,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and 
Facilities, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$50,000,000 for deferred maintenance priorities of existing 
facilities.

               National Institute of Food and Agriculture


                   RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $927,649,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       974,715,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,033,007,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................      +105,358,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +58,292,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Research and Education Activities, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $1,033,007,000. The Committee 
strongly opposes USDA's proposal to relocate NIFA and provides 
no funding for such relocation activities.
    Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards.--The Committee 
continues to direct that not less than 15 percent of the 
competitive research grant funds be used for USDA's agriculture 
research enhancement awards program, including USDA-EPSCoR, in 
accordance with 7 U.S.C. 450i.
    Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).--The 
Committee strongly supports the AFRI program. The Committee 
notes that projects that characterize protein functionality 
from crops to assess their sustainability for use as 
alternatives to conventional animal products are eligible for 
competitive awards in the AFRI program. In addition, the 
Committee also notes that research into plant-based protein-
rich foods for human consumption is also eligible. The 
Committee supports the continued research goals of the AFRI 
program.
    Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.--The Committee 
recognizes the potential that the fields of agroecology and 
food systems have to increase food security, food self-
sufficiency, sustainable economic development, public health, 
and weather resiliency. The Committee supports research focused 
on agroecology and sustainable food systems and encourages NIFA 
to explore strategic partnerships, interdisciplinary 
educational programming, applied research, policy analysis, 
outreach, and scholarships in these fields as part of its 
ongoing research efforts.
    Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems.--The Committee 
notes that research into alfalfa seed and alfalfa forage 
systems holds the potential to increase yields, increase milk 
production, and improve genetics. The Committee supports this 
research and its continued focus on enhancing existing breeding 
programs that can improve yields, harvesting, water 
conservation, and environmental benefits.
    Blockchain Food Traceability.--The Committee notes the 
potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize the 
practice of food traceability, tracking food products from 
origin through every point of contact on the journey to the 
consumer. The Committee is interested in how blockchain 
technology can be utilized to accurately trace food and 
mitigate the risks associated with food contaminated outbreaks 
and to develop effective strategies for controls. The Committee 
encourages NIFA to coordinate research to reduce the risk of 
foodborne illness through the application of blockchain 
technology.
    Childhood Obesity.--The Committee recognizes that NIFA has 
supported important and effective programs that address 
childhood obesity in remote areas and among native and 
underserved populations. The Committee encourages NIFA to 
continue funding these programs to address childhood obesity 
prevention and community health promotion in remote areas and 
among native and underserved populations.
    Citrus Disease Research Program.--The 2014 Farm Bill 
established the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension 
Program, which is intended to discover and develop tools for 
early detection, control, and eradication of diseases and pests 
that threaten domestic citrus production and processing. The 
2018 Farm Bill reauthorized this program and established the 
Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund to 
provide $25,000,000 per year in mandatory funding for the 
program. The Committee believes research projects funded under 
this authority should be prioritized based on the critical 
threat of citrus greening and encourages NIFA, to the maximum 
extent practicable, to follow the recommendations of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Advisory Board's citrus disease subcommittee and to collaborate 
with the HLB MAC group.
    Crop Degradation.--The Committee is aware of crop 
degradation issues harming agricultural producers. For example, 
starch degradation in Pacific Northwest soft white wheat crops 
led to significant value losses for producers in late 2016. The 
Committee encourages NIFA to conduct research through AFRI into 
soft white wheat crop quality loss to mitigate its impact on 
producers.
    Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.--The Committee 
supports the goals of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance 
Network and includes an increase in funds for the program's 
second year of operation.
    Grants for Insular Areas.--The Committee recognizes NIFA 
efforts to strengthen capacity at land-grant institutions in 
the U.S. territories in the areas of instruction, distance 
education, facilities and equipment, and research. The 
Committee emphasizes the importance of continuing the support 
for these institutions and provides an increase to help address 
plant disease and invasive species priorities in the 
territories.
    Grants Promoting K-12 Agriculture Education.--The Committee 
directs USDA to continue to prioritize projects that include a 
component of connecting stakeholders and employers to students, 
teachers, and schools to facilitate collaboration and 
communication and to ensure stakeholders are connected to 
students, especially in urban areas.
    Livestock and Poultry Waste Research.--The Committee 
recognizes the benefits of improved methods of managing animal 
waste in livestock and poultry production and encourages NIFA 
to support research and development of innovative technologies, 
particularly those that are operationally and economically 
feasible and have a high probability of widespread 
implementation.
    Multifaceted Tools for Controlling Harmful Algal Blooms and 
Huanglongbing.--The Committee encourages NIFA to continue 
research into the use of potent antimicrobials through the use 
of environmentally-friendly integrated nano-delivery systems 
for the purpose of controlling both harmful algal blooms and 
Huanglongbing.
    Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
and Hispanic Serving Institutions.--The Committee encourages 
NIFA to continue to support biotechnology by promoting research 
at the land-grant colleges and universities, including the 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic 
Serving Institutions, and directs NIFA to encourage 
partnerships among those universities and industry. The 
Committee directs NIFA to brief the Committee not later than 
180 days after the enactment of this Act on its efforts.
    Sensor Technologies.--The Committee encourages NIFA to work 
cooperatively with non-profit institutions, consortia, and 
land-grant universities to conduct research on advanced sensor 
manufacturing techniques to improve the agricultural industry.
    Specialty Crop Research Initiative.--The Committee 
recognizes the importance of the Specialty Crop Research 
Initiative (SCRI) in addressing the needs of the specialty crop 
industry through research and extension activities. The 
Committee encourages NIFA to address winter production, season 
extension, and high tunnel vegetable production as part of 
ongoing SCRI activities.
    Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE).--The 
Committee notes that energy efficiency is an integral part of 
sustainable agriculture. The Committee encourages USDA to 
explore how ongoing programs at land grant universities can 
complement energy efficiency operations at farms. The SARE 
program can serve as an important connection between land grant 
universities and farmers and ranchers. The Committee directs 
USDA to provide a briefing not later than 180 days after the 
enactment of this Act on the potential for the SARE program to 
assist agricultural producers in carbon neutral agricultural 
practices.
    Sustainable Agricultural Systems.--The Committee encourages 
NIFA to continue the Sustainable Agricultural Systems program 
and emphasize, among its priorities and goals, the reduction of 
bacterial contamination and the increase of nutrition research 
to inform agricultural systems from production to user.
    Urban Agriculture.--The Committee notes that urban 
agriculture can be a viable solution to support healthier 
dietary options and improve the overall health of residents in 
urban communities. The Committee encourages NIFA to create 
partnerships and linkages to assist urban agricultural 
production in food insecure and nutrient short communities 
across the nation. In addition, the Committee also encourages 
NIFA to continue to serve as a resource for urban and rural 
farmers to enable collaborations on market production.
    The following table reflects the amounts provided by the 
Committee:

                  NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  2019       2020     Committee
              Program/Activity                         Authorization            enacted    estimate   provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatch Act...................................  7 U.S.C. 361a-i................   $259,000   $243,238     $265,000
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act...  16 U.S.C. 582a through a-7.....     36,000     28,867       38,000
Research at 1890 Institutions (Evans-Allen    7 U.S.C. 3222..................     58,000     53,817       67,000
 Program).
Payments to the 1994 Institutions...........  7 U.S.C. 301 note..............      3,439      3,416        4,000
Education Grants for 1890 Institutions......  7 U.S.C. 3152(b)...............     19,336     18,710       23,009
Scholarships at 1890 Institutions...........  7 U.S.C. 3222a.................      - - -      - - -       10,000
Competitive Facility Modernization Grants...  7 U.S.C. 390-390d..............      - - -     50,000        - - -
Education Grants for Hispanic-Serving         7 U.S.C. 3241..................      9,219      9,156       20,000
 Institutions.
Education Grants for Alaska Native and        7 U.S.C. 3156..................      3,194      - - -        4,000
 Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions.
Research Grants for 1994 Institutions.......  7 U.S.C. 301 note..............      3,801      1,789        3,801
Capacity Building for Non-Land-Grant          7 U.S.C. 3319i.................      5,000      - - -        5,000
 Colleges of Agriculture.
Grants for Insular Areas....................  7 U.S.C. 3222b-2, 3362 and 3363      2,000      - - -        2,700
Competitive Program for Native Alaskans,        .............................      - - -      5,000        - - -
 Native Hawaiians, and Insular Area
 Institutions.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative....  7 U.S.C. 450i(b)...............    415,000    500,000      460,000
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment..........  7 U.S.C. 3151a.................      8,000      4,991        9,000
Veterinary Services Grant Program...........  7 U.S.C. 3151b.................      3,000      - - -        3,000
Continuing Animal Health and Disease          7 U.S.C. 3195..................      4,000      - - -        4,000
 Research Program.
Supplemental and Alternative Crops..........  7 U.S.C. 3319d.................      1,000      - - -        1,000
Multicultural Scholars, Graduate Fellowship   7 U.S.C. 3152(b)...............      9,000      - - -        9,000
 and Institution Challenge Grants.
Secondary and 2-year Post-Secondary           7 U.S.C. 3152(j)...............        900      - - -          900
 Education.
Aquaculture Centers.........................  7 U.S.C. 3322..................      5,000      - - -        5,000
Sustainable Agriculture Research and          7 U.S.C. 5811, 5812, 5831, and      37,000     19,009       45,000
 Education.                                    5832.
Farm Business Management....................  7 U.S.C. 5925f.................      2,000      - - -        2,250
Sun Grant Program...........................  7 U.S.C. 8114..................      3,000      - - -        3,000
Research Equipment Grants...................  7 U.S.C. 3310a.................      - - -      - - -        5,000
Alfalfa and Forage Research Program.........  7 U.S.C. 5925..................      3,000      - - -        5,000
Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4)...........  7 U.S.C. 450i(c)...............     11,913      - - -       12,000
Special Research Grants:....................  7 U.S.C. 450i(c)...............
    Global Change/UV Monitoring.............    .............................      1,405      - - -        1,405
    Potato Research.........................  7 U.S.C. 450i(c)...............      2,750      - - -        3,250
    Aquaculture Research....................  7 U.S.C. 450i(c)...............      2,000      - - -        2,000
                                                                              ----------------------------------
        Total, Special Research Grants......    .............................      6,155      - - -        6,655
Necessary Expenses of Research and Education
 Activities:
    Grants Management Systems...............    .............................      7,830      7,424        7,830
    Federal Administration--Other Necessary     .............................     11,862     29,298       11,862
     Expenses.
                                                                              ----------------------------------
        Total, Necessary Expenses...........    .............................     19,692     36,722       19,692
                                                                              ==================================
            Total, Research and Education       .............................   $927,649   $974,715   $1,033,007
             Activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................     ($11,880,000)
2020 budget estimate..................................      (11,857,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (11,880,000)
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................           +23,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund, the 
Committee provides $11,880,000.

                          EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $505,692,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       415,274,000
Provided in the bill..................................       541,086,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +35,394,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +125,812,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Extension Activities, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $541,086,000.
    Rural Health and Safety Education Programs.--The opioid 
abuse epidemic is one of the greatest threats facing rural 
America today, and the Committee supports all efforts to 
address this problem through improved health and safety 
education and outreach. The Committee provides an increase of 
$500,000 for Rural Health and Safety Education Programs to 
combat opioid abuse in rural communities.
    The following table reflects the amounts provided by the 
Committee:

                        NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Committee
               Program/Activity                          Authorization            FY 2019    FY 2020
                                                                                  enacted    estimate  provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(b) and (c)          7 U.S.C. 343(b) and (c) and        $315,000   $299,430   $325,000
 programs and Cooperative Extension.            208(c) of P.L. 93-471.
Extension Services at 1890 Institutions......  7 U.S.C. 3221...................     48,620     47,310     57,000
Extension Services at 1994 Institutions......  7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)..............      6,446      4,416      8,000
Facility Improvements at 1890 Institutions...  7 U.S.C. 3222b..................     19,730      - - -     23,529
Renewable Resources Extension Act............  16 U.S.C. 1671 et. seq..........      4,060      - - -      4,060
Rural Health and Safety Education Programs...  7 U.S.C. 2662(i)................      3,000      2,000      3,500
Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database         7 U.S.C. 7642...................      2,500      - - -      2,500
 Program.
Women and Minorities in STEM Fields..........  7 U.S.C. 5925...................        400      - - -        400
Food Safety Outreach Program.................  7 U.S.C. 7625...................      8,000      4,000     10,000
Food and Ag Service Learning.................  7 U.S.C. 7633...................      1,000      - - -      2,000
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.....  7 U.S.C. 5936...................      2,000      - - -     10,000
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(d):...............  7 U.S.C. 343(d).................
    Food and Nutrition Education.............  ................................     69,000     55,100     69,000
    Farm Safety and Youth Farm Safety          ................................      4,610      - - -      4,610
     Education Programs.
    New Technologies for Agricultural          ................................      1,550      - - -      1,550
     Extension.
    Children, Youth, and Families at Risk....  ................................      8,395      - - -      8,395
    Federally Recognized Tribes Extension      ................................      3,039      3,018      3,200
     Program.
                                                                                --------------------------------
        Total, Section 3(d)..................  ................................     86,594     58,118     86,755
Necessary Expenses of Extension Activities:..  ................................  .........  .........  .........
    Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom........  7 U.S.C. 3152(j)................        552      - - -        552
    Federal Administration--Other Necessary    ................................      7,790      - - -      7,790
     Expenses for Extension Activities.
                                                                                --------------------------------
        Total, Necessary Expenses............  ................................      8,342      - - -      8,342
                                                                                ================================
            Total, Extension Activities......  ................................   $505,692   $415,274   $541,086
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $38,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         1,697,000
Provided in the bill..................................        40,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +2,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +38,303,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Integrated Activities, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $40,000,000.
    Crop Protection and Pest Management Program.--The Committee 
supports the development and implementation of areawide 
integrated pest management (AIPM) projects. The Committee 
directs NIFA to establish within the Crop Protection and Pest 
Management Program an organizational framework and funding plan 
to implement AIPM projects that are to be planned in 
coordination with ARS, APHIS, and other federal agencies and 
implemented by cross-institutional teams, including farmers, 
ranchers, and land managers, at the local level.
    Food Safety Education.--The Committee supports NIFA's 
ongoing efforts to provide research, education, and extension 
activities to reduce the incidence of foodborne illness and 
provide a safer food supply.
    The following table reflects the amounts provided by the 
Committee.

                         NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Committee
               Program/Activity                          Authorization            FY 2019    FY 2020
                                                                                  enacted    estimate  provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methyl Bromide Transition Program............  7 U.S.C. 7626...................     $2,000     $- - -     $2,000
Organic Transition Program...................  7 U.S.C. 7626...................      6,000      - - -      8,000
Regional Rural Development Centers...........  7 U.S.C. 450i(c)................      2,000      1,697      2,000
Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative......  7 U.S.C. 3351...................      8,000      - - -      8,000
Crop Protection/Pest Management Program......  7 U.S.C. 7626...................     20,000      - - -     20,000
                                                                                --------------------------------
    Total, Integrated Activities.............  ................................     38,000      1,697     40,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $901,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           800,000
Provided in the bill..................................           800,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................          -101,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and 
Regulatory Programs, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$800,000.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................    $1,011,136,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       981,893,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,034,011,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +22,875,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +52,118,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 
Salaries and Expenses, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $1,034,011,000.
    The Committee provides increases for the following 
programs: $8,500,000 for Cattle Health; $3,000,000 for Equine, 
Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health; $2,000,000 for Veterinary 
Biologics; $4,200,000 for Veterinary Diagnostics; $1,000,000 
for Zoonotic Disease Management; $1,000,000 for Field Crop and 
Rangeland Ecosystems Pests; $295,000 for Horse Protection; 
$1,000,000 for Plant Protection Methods Development; $1,380,000 
for Wildlife Damage Management; and $500,000 for Specialty Crop 
Pests.
    Within the amount included for Specialty Crop Pests, the 
Committee includes $63,640,000 for fruit fly exclusion and 
detection; $61,000,000 for citrus health, including $3,000,000 
for the Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination efforts; 
$21,100,000 for the glassy-winged sharpshooter; $6,318,000 for 
the pale cyst nematode; $6,500,000 for the light brown apple 
moth; $6,600,000 for the European grapevine moth; and 
$12,000,000 for spotted lanternfly.
    The following table reflects the amounts provided by the 
Committee:

                                             (Dollars in Thousands)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      FY 2019         FY 2020        Committee
                                                                      enacted        estimate        provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animal Health Technical Services................................         $37,857         $44,857         $37,857
Aquatic Animal Health...........................................           2,253           2,253           2,253
Avian Health....................................................          62,840          62,840          62,840
Cattle Health...................................................          96,500          96,500         105,000
Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health.......................          20,800          16,500          23,800
National Veterinary Stockpile...................................           5,725           5,725           5,725
Swine Health....................................................          24,800          19,753          24,800
Veterinary Biologics............................................          16,417          16,417          18,417
Veterinary Diagnostics..........................................          50,140          49,230          54,340
Zoonotic Disease Management.....................................          16,523          15,744          17,523
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Animal Health.....................................         333,855         329,819         352,555
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (Appropriated)...............          32,330          31,330          32,330
Cotton Pests....................................................          11,520           7,000          11,520
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests.........................          11,826           7,809          12,826
Pest Detection..................................................          27,446          27,446          27,446
Plant Protection Methods Development............................          20,686          20,686          21,686
Specialty Crop Pests............................................         186,013         176,843         186,513
Tree & Wood Pests...............................................          60,000          56,000          60,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Plant Health......................................         349,821         327,114         352,321
Wildlife Damage Management......................................         108,376         108,376         109,756
Wildlife Services Methods Development...........................          18,856          18,856          18,856
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Wildlife Services.................................         127,232         127,232         128,612
Animal & Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement....................          16,224          16,224          16,224
Biotechnology Regulatory Services...............................          18,875          18,875          18,875
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Regulatory Services...............................          35,099          35,099          35,099
Contingency Fund................................................             470             470             470
Emergency Preparedness & Response...............................          40,966          40,966          40,966
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Emergency Management..............................          41,436          41,436          41,436
Agriculture Import/Export.......................................          15,599          15,599          15,599
Overseas Technical & Trade Operations...........................          24,115          22,115          24,115
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Safe Trade........................................          39,714          37,714          39,714
Animal Welfare..................................................          31,310          30,810          31,310
Horse Protection................................................             705             705           1,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Animal Welfare....................................          32,015          31,515          32,310
APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure.....................           4,251           4,251           4,251
Physical/Operational Security...................................           5,146           5,146           5,146
Rent and DHS Payments...........................................          42,567          42,567          42,567
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Agency Management.................................          51,964          51,964          51,964
                                                                 ===============================================
        Total, APHIS S&E Direct Appropriation...................      $1,011,136        $981,893      $1,034,011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Agriculture Quarantine Inspections.--The Committee 
recognizes that prevention of infestations of pests and 
diseases is much more cost effective than subsequent control or 
eradication. This is an important Federal responsibility and 
the Committee provides $32,330,000 for the agricultural 
quarantine inspections (AQI) function, including pre-departure 
and interline inspections. The Committee does not adopt the 
President's proposal to move to a user fee system.
    Animal Care Program.--The Committee is deeply concerned by 
how the Animal Care program is being managed. In particular, it 
has employed mechanisms such as ``teachable moments'' to avoid 
documenting violations of the laws it enforces. To address 
these concerns, the Committee directs Animal Care to 
immediately require all its inspectors to cite every observed 
violation at any visit to a regulated entity.
    Animal Surveillance.--The Committee supports efforts to 
advance the development of improved animal surveillance 
practices that may lead to reduced and tailored antibiotic use 
and improved immune responses in livestock. The Committee 
encourages USDA to partner with organizations to continue to 
monitor animals, and collect and maintain information relevant 
to public health and livestock-management practices.
    Antimicrobial Resistance.--The Committee supports efforts 
to address potential gaps in farm-specific antimicrobial 
resistance data. At the same time, the agency is reminded that 
any information collected on-farm should be done through the 
National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), keeping 
respondents anonymous and ensuring that all information 
collected is protected from release or distribution in a manner 
that could identify an individual respondent.
    Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB).--Within the amount provided 
for Tree and Wood Pests, the Committee maintains funding and 
cost share rates for ALB at the 2019 level.
    Biological Control Program.--The Committee provides an 
increase of $1,000,000 for the Biological Control Program 
within Plant Protection Methods Development to continue efforts 
to suppress pest populations.
    Cattle Health.--The Committee provides an increase of 
$8,500,000 for Cattle Health to continue to fund related to 
eradication of fever ticks for livestock and wildlife hosts 
including but not limited to research, data management, 
infrastructure, and treatment. The Committee is concerned that 
the cattle fever tick quarantine area is expanding despite 
efforts to constrain their spread. To prevent movement of 
livestock and game animals outside of the quarantined or high-
risk premises, the Committee encourages APHIS to use available 
funds for a cost-share program for the construction and repair 
of livestock or game fencing on private lands. The Committee 
directs USDA, in conjunction with State Animal Health 
Commissions, to develop a strategy to exclude wildlife from 
areas at highest risk of tick spread and identify areas that 
qualify for funds within these areas. APHIS is requested to 
submit a report to the Committee on its efforts within 60 days 
of the date of enactment of this Act.
    The Committee also notes that there are large dense stands 
of non-native carrizo cane occupy the banks and floodplains of 
the Rio Grande River, providing favorable habitat for 
agriculturally-damaging cattle fever ticks and threatening 
water supplies for agriculture due to its high evapo-
transpiration capacity. The Committee understands APHIS has 
been working with ARS on biological controls and has received 
funds from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for 
mechanical controls. The Committee provides $5,000,000 for 
APHIS to continue to coordinate with ARS, CBP, Department of 
the Interior, the International Boundary and Water Commission, 
the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, and other 
stakeholders on control efforts. The Committee directs APHIS to 
provide a report on the performance of this program within 60 
days of the enactment of this Act.
    Center for Plant Health Science and Technology 
Laboratory.--The Committee is concerned about the major threat 
to pistachios, almonds, and walnuts from the navel orangeworm. 
The annual loss caused by this pest is in excess of 
$500,000,000. The Committee directs APHIS to develop a cost 
estimate for the creation of a pilot program involving the 
navel orangeworm rearing and sterile insect technology. This 
pilot program would mirror the work conducted by APHIS at this 
facility which led to the eradication of the pink bollworm. The 
Committee directs APHIS to provide the Committees with the 
estimate no later than 90 days after enactment.
    Center for Veterinary Biologics.--The Committee provides an 
increase of $2,000,000 for facility improvements and additional 
staff at the Center for Veterinary Biologics.
    Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).--Funding is continued in 
Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health for the national, 
voluntary Herd Certification Program (HCP) and regulations for 
the interstate movement of farmed or captive deer, elk, and 
moose. The cervid industry continues to participate in the 
agency's HCP, which supports the domestic and international 
marketability of U.S. cervid herds. Funds are to be used for a 
combination of surveillance, research, and indemnification for 
culling herds where CWD infection has been found. Currently the 
only reliable test is a brain biopsy. The agency is encouraged 
to utilize resources to help speed up the development of a live 
test for CWD that would greatly decrease the need for 
indemnity. The Committee encourages APHIS to maintain its 
commitment to the HCP and the cervid industry, and directs the 
agency to spend no less than $7,000,000 for cervid health 
activities. Within the funds provided, the agency should 
consider indemnity payments if warranted.
    The Committee is concerned about the impacts of chronic 
wasting disease on free-ranging deer, and the potential threats 
of the disease on the future of free-ranging deer populations, 
hunting and rural economies. Of the amount for cervid health 
activities, $3,000,000 is provided for appropriate assistance 
to state wildlife agencies, including conducting CWD 
surveillance and field programs, to assess and minimize the 
impacts of CWD on free-ranging deer.
    The Committee also supports continued efforts under 
Wildlife Services Methods Development to research the 
predominant pathways and mechanisms of the transmission of 
chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed 
populations of cervids in North America, including identifying 
significant gaps in the current scientific knowledge regarding 
transmission pathways. In carrying out this research APHIS may 
consult, partner, or contract with the ARS, the U.S. Geological 
Survey, the National Academy of Sciences, and other public and 
private entities.
    Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP).--CHRP is a national 
effort to protect the U.S. industry from the ravages of 
invasive pests and diseases. These funds are designed to 
partner with state departments of agriculture and industry 
groups to address the challenges of citrus pests and diseases. 
In addition to the funds provided in this account, the 
Committee encourages APHIS to utilize the funds available in 
the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention 
Programs account to the greatest extent possible in an attempt 
to sustain the economic viability of the citrus industry.
    Cogongrass.--The Committee continues to provide $2,000,000 
for APHIS to partner with state departments of agriculture and 
forestry commissions in states considered to be the epicenter 
of infestations, to assist with control and treatment of 
cogongrass in order to slow the advancing front of this 
invasive plant-pest species and its impact on forest 
productivity, wildlife habitat, and private landowners.
    Cotton Pests.--The bill maintains funding for the joint 
Cotton Pests Program at the 2019 level. Given the eradication 
of the pink bollworm, all resources in the joint cotton pests 
program can now be dedicated to the eradication of the boll 
weevil, thus effectively increasing funding for this pest by 
almost $4,000,000. The Committee encourages APHIS and the 
cotton industry to make every effort to ensure the boll weevil 
does not re-infest areas of the U.S. where it has been 
successfully eradicated. The Boll Weevil Eradication Program, 
an outstanding example of a public-private partnership, has 
successfully eradicated the boll weevil from all U.S. cotton-
producing regions except for the extreme lower parts of Texas 
in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) bordering Tamaulipas, 
Mexico. Growers in the LRGV, with assistance from APHIS and the 
support of the entire industry, continue to conduct an active 
program to eradicate the boll weevil. The LRGV serves as the 
barrier between boll weevil infested areas of Mexico and boll 
weevil-free areas of the United States.
    Disease Surveillance.--Recognizing the importance of 
disease surveillance among APHIS-inspected animals, the 
Committee encourages APHIS to continue to explore partnerships 
with veterinary medicine programs to establish a formal disease 
surveillance network.
    Emergency Outbreaks.--The Committee continues to include 
specific language relating to the availability of funds to 
address emergencies related to the arrest and eradication of 
contagious or infectious diseases or pests of animals, poultry 
or plants. The Committee expects the Secretary to continue to 
use the authority provided in this bill to transfer funds from 
the CCC for the arrest and eradication of animal and plant 
pests and diseases that threaten American agriculture. By 
providing funds in this account, the Committee is enhancing, 
not replacing, the use of CCC funding for emergency outbreaks.
    Emergency Preparedness and Response.--The Committee 
continues to provide funding for the Animal Care Program to 
coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the 
National Response Plan and to support state and local 
governments' efforts to plan for protection of people with 
animals and incorporate lessons learned from previous 
disasters.
    Fresh Produce Pest Identification.--The Committee is aware 
that when a local identifier cannot identify a plant pest or 
pathogen found within produce at a Port of Entry, the specimen 
is sent to a USDA national specialist in one of three offices 
on the East Coast. This may cause fresh produce to wait up to 
five days for an insect identification. The Committee directs 
APHIS to use the appropriate resources to expedite 
identifications and reduce the wait time for fresh produce. The 
Committee directs the agency to submit a report to the 
Committees on Appropriations on its efforts within 60 days of 
enactment.
    Fruit Fly Facility.--The Committee understands that APHIS 
is undertaking a review of the facility needs of the 
Mediterranean Fruit Fly Preventive Release Program located at 
the Los Alamitos National Guard Air Force Base and requests a 
report upon completion of the review.
    Green Coffee Imports.--The Committee encourages APHIS to 
complete a trial program for allowing the import of green 
coffee beans into Puerto Rico by the end of fiscal year 2020 
and move to a decision as expeditiously as possible on a 
rulemaking regarding the import of green coffee beans into 
Puerto Rico.
    HLB MAC Group.--The Committee recognizes the significant 
economic impact of this disease on the citrus industry, which 
is especially acute in Florida and a growing concern in both 
Texas and California. The Committee also understands that 
growers are requesting the right to try treatments that have 
begun to show success in early stages of testing. The Committee 
encourages the HLB MAC group to explore and identify new 
methods to expedite the delivery of promising treatments 
directly to willing growers, regardless of the phase of 
observation the treatment is at within the research pipeline. 
Finally, the Committee expects any funds which are redirected 
from existing HLB MAC projects be repurposed to other priority 
HLB MAC projects that are showing promising results in order to 
ensure these critical funds remain committed to help facilitate 
the design and implementation of the rapid delivery pathway to 
growers.
    Huanglongbing Emergency Response.--The Committee maintains 
the increased funding levels for HLB emergency response within 
the Specialty Crop Pests line item. The Committee encourages 
APHIS to allocate sufficient resources in order to continue 
vital management, control, and associated activities to address 
citrus greening. The disease, for which there is no cure, has 
caused a reduction in citrus production by over 60 percent 
since 2007 in Florida alone. All citrus producing counties in 
Texas are under quarantine, and California has found the Asian 
Citrus Psyllid, the vector of the disease, in some backyard 
trees. The spread of this disease has called into question the 
future of the domestic citrus industry, costing thousands of 
jobs and millions of dollars in lost revenue. The agency is 
encouraged to support priorities and strategies identified by 
the HLB MAC group which will benefit the citrus industry. The 
agency should appropriately allocate resources based on 
critical need and maximum effect to the citrus industry.
    The Committee maintains $3,000,000 from fiscal year 2019 
for citrus health to support priorities and strategies 
identified by the HLB MAC group. The HLB MAC is focused on 
solutions to help the citrus industry, and the cooperative 
nature of federal, state, and industry representatives in this 
group is expected to result in the development of tools and 
techniques to address this devastating disease. The MAC has 
been an effective resource in helping growers explore new 
possible solutions. The agency should appropriately allocate 
resources based on critical need and maximum impact to the 
citrus industry. These citrus health activities directly 
protect citrus production on approximately 765,000 acres in the 
United States worth more than $11 billion in total.
    In and Out Bound Market Access Report.--The Committee 
awaits the report from APHIS on U.S. out-bound and foreign in-
bound agricultural market access.
    Inspection Reports.--The bill provides $31,310,000 for the 
Animal Welfare program in order to ensure that minimum 
standards of care and treatment are provided for certain 
animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported 
commercially, or exhibited to the public. The funding level 
supports the agreement between APHIS and ARS, under which APHIS 
conducts compliance inspections of ARS facilities to ensure 
compliance with the regulations and standards of the Animal 
Welfare Act (AWA). The Committee continues to direct APHIS to 
transmit to the Committees all inspection reports involving ARS 
facilities, including pre-compliance inspections. These 
facilities involve federal funds over which this Committee has 
oversight responsibilities. APHIS is directed to include every 
violation its inspectors find and never to frustrate the 
Committee's oversight activities by using so-called ``teachable 
moments'' or other means of not reporting ARS facility 
violations.
    National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).--The 
laboratories within the NAHLN network are on the frontline for 
detection of newly identified and reemerging animal diseases. 
NAHLN laboratories provide a critical contribution to animal 
and public health. The bill continues to provide funding for 
NAHLN through both APHIS and NIFA at approximately $12,000,000 
and $4,300,000, respectively, resulting in a total investment 
of no less than $16,300,000 for fiscal year 2020. This amount 
is in addition to mandatory funding provided through the 2018 
Farm Bill for Animal Disease Prevention and Management. The 
Committee encourages the Department to provide robust funding 
from the 2018 Farm Bill for NAHLN. These laboratories were 
invaluable during the 2015 outbreak of HPAI, which 
significantly increased testing needs. At the same time, NAHLN 
laboratories must also continue testing for other animal 
diseases of concern.
    National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).--The bill 
provides an increase of $4,200,000 for NBAF as requested. The 
Committee includes additional guidance under ARS.
    National Clean Plant Network (NCPN).--The Committee 
continues to support robust funding for the National Clean 
Plant Network (NCPN). The Committee understands APHIS is 
working with the berries industry and other entities to 
establish a berries clean plant laboratory. Of the funds made 
available for NCPN, appropriate consideration shall be provided 
for equipment purchases and technical support to ensure the 
establishment of a redundant diagnostic and therapy center for 
berries.
    National Honey Bee Disease Survey Report.--The Committee 
continues funding the survey at the 2019 level. Since 2009, a 
national survey of honey bee pests and diseases has been funded 
annually by APHIS along with other federal and non-federal 
partners to document which bee diseases, parasites, or pests of 
honey bees are present and/or likely absent in the U.S. This 
information will help place current and future epidemiological 
studies in context and thus may indirectly help investigations 
of emerging conditions.
    Pacific Ants.--Congress encourages APHIS, ARS, and the 
Forest Service to lead the revision of the Pacific Ants 
Prevention Plan, in collaboration with U.S. and international 
partners. The plan should include (1) research; (2) the 
development of technologies and methodologies for prevention, 
eradication and control of invasive ants; and (3) the 
collaborative implementation of projects to prevent, monitor 
and control invasive ants in affected Pacific islands.
    Pale Cyst Nematode Eradication.--The Committee includes 
funding to maintain resources for the pale cyst nematode 
eradication program at the 2019 level in order to continue with 
successful efforts to eradicate this pest. If left untreated, 
this pest could spread, affecting other crops.
    Protecting Animals with Shelter Grants Program.--The 
Committee provides $2,000,000 for the program. It also directs 
the Secretary of Agriculture to immediately begin 
consultations, and enter into any necessary agreements, to 
establish during fiscal year 2020 the requirements for grant 
application and grant awards, pursuant to section 12502 of the 
2018 Farm Bill, to provide emergency and transitional shelter 
options for domestic violence survivors with companion animals.
    Roseau Cane.--The Committee remains concerned with the 
invasive species-scale insect pest that is destroying Roseau 
cane in the Mississippi River Delta region along the Gulf of 
Mexico. The Committee directs APHIS to continue to work with 
ARS and stakeholders and provide no less than $2,000,000 within 
Field Crop and Rangeland Ecosystems Pests to further develop an 
integrated management program for control of the Roseau cane 
scale insect pest infestation.
    Salmonid Pathogens.--The Committee recognizes that viral 
pathogens pose a significant threat to the cultivation of 
salmonids for hatchery and aquaculture production. The 
Committee is aware that multiple state and federal agencies 
collect information on fish pathogens, but there is currently 
no strategic national approach to sharing, managing, and 
utilizing the data such that it is both accessible and useful 
to private, tribal, state or federal agencies. Therefore, the 
Committee recommends that APHIS actively engage with federal, 
state, tribal, and private stakeholders to establish a 
strategic national approach to study, monitor, and track the 
transmission of such pathogens in order to reduce the threat 
posed to existing salmonid production operations.
    Spotted Lanternfly.--The Committee continues to be 
concerned about the recent Spotted Lanternfly outbreak and 
maintains the increase of $7,000,000 provided for fiscal year 
2019 to support efforts in combatting this pest.
    Wildlife Services.--The Committee provides a total of 
$128,612,000 for Wildlife Damage Management and Wildlife 
Services Methods Development, including continued funding for 
the National Scrapie Eradication Program and the Beaver 
Management Assistance Program. In addition, the Committee 
continues funding provided in prior years and provides APHIS 
authority to obtain aviation assets, including rotary wing 
assets, necessary for mission critical activities such as 
conducting surveillance, controlling, or eradicating 
destructive pests or wildlife.
    The Committee is aware of the economic loss sunflower 
growers can incur due to blackbird infestations, and encourages 
Wildlife Services to do further research into the use of bird 
repellents to minimize blackbird depredation.
    The Committee is aware that Wildlife Services has worked 
with landowners to deploy nonlethal strategies, e.g., fladry, 
electric fencing, and livestock guardian dogs, to reduce 
predator depredation on livestock. The bill provides an 
increase of $1,380,000 for Wildlife Services to hire personnel 
exclusively to: 1) promote and implement nonlethal livestock-
predator conflict deterrence techniques in selected states; and 
2) assist in providing training in these techniques to 
agricultural producers, landowners, and other agency personnel 
in collaboration with the National Wildlife Research Center. 
This would include research on monitoring methods for efficacy 
of non-lethal control methods implemented to reduce predation.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $3,175,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         2,709,000
Provided in the bill..................................         3,175,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................          +466,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Buildings and Facilities of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, the Committee provides $3,175,000.

                     Agricultural Marketing Service


                           MARKETING SERVICES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $159,095,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       115,143,000
Provided in the bill..................................       182,888,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +23,793,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +67,745,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Marketing Services of the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS), the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$182,888,000. This amount includes increases of $500,000 to 
continue the Organic Production and Market Data Initiative and 
$3,906,000 to fund the National Organic Standards program at 
the authorized level of $18,000,000. The bill also includes 
$5,400,000 for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion 
Program authorized under the Local Agriculture Market Program 
(LAMP) in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. This amount 
is in addition to $50,000,000 of mandatory funds available for 
LAMP in fiscal year 2020. The bill maintains the $1,000,000 
increase provided in fiscal year 2019 for the Acer Access and 
Development Program. The bill provides $16,496,000 for the Hemp 
Production Program, as discussed further below. The bill does 
not continue funding for rural infrastructure analyses or dairy 
business innovation initiatives.
    The following table reflects the amounts provided by the 
Committee:

                         (Dollars in Thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Committee
                                          FY 2019     FY2020
                                          enacted    Estimate  provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market News............................    $33,659    $28,927    $33,659
Shell Egg Surveillance.................      2,568      1,930      2,568
Standardization........................      5,118      4,984      5,118
Federal Seed Act Program...............      2,325      2,068      2,325
Country of Origin Labeling.............      4,744      3,752      4,744
Pesticide Data Program.................     15,073     14,971     15,073
National Organic Standards.............     14,094     12,032     18,000
    Organic Production & Market Data     .........  .........        500
     Initiative........................
Transportation & Market Development....     10,175      7,183      9,175
    Farmers Market and Local Food        .........  .........      5,400
     Promotion.........................
National Bioengineered Food Disclosure.      2,000        993      2,000
GSA Rent & DHS Security................      1,277      1,268      1,268
Acer Access and Development............      4,000          0      4,000
Packers & Stockyards...................     23,281     22,975     23,281
Grain Regulatory.......................     20,201          0     20,201
US Warehouse Activities................     10,506     14,060     10,506
International Food Procurement.........      8,574          0      8,574
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives..      1,500          0          0
Hemp Production Program................          0          0     16,496
                                        --------------------------------
    Total Marketing Services...........   $159,095   $115,143   $182,888
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Bioengineered Food Disclosure Regulations.--The Committee 
is concerned that elements of the Bioengineered Food Disclosure 
final rule may lead to uncertainty and confusion among the food 
value chain and in consumer understanding of disclosures 
provided under the final rule. The Committee directs AMS to 
continue to work collaboratively, with the involvement of 
industry stakeholders, to promptly address concerns raised so 
that manufacturers may begin adhering to the rule.
    Farmers Markets.--Farmers markets represent a valuable 
connection between farmers and consumers by offering fresh, 
healthy food while stimulating the local economy. The number of 
farmers markets has increased dramatically over the last 
decades; however, there is a recent disturbing trend in the 
rising number of market closures, especially in rural 
communities. The Committee directs AMS to provide a report 
within 180 days of enactment on the status of the Nation's 
farmers markets in rural areas and actions USDA can take to 
help these markets remain economically viable.
    Hemp Production Program.--The Committee understands that 
USDA is working on implementing the Hemp Production Program as 
authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and encourages the Department 
to use existing resources to issue regulations as soon as 
possible. The bill includes $16,496,000 for implementation 
costs in fiscal year 2020. The Department is directed to 
provide the Committee with frequent status updates on the 
progress of implementation.
    National Organic Program (NOP).--There continues to be 
concern about fraud in the organic program, especially among 
imports. Therefore, the Committee provides an increase of 
$3,906,000 to fund NOP at the authorized level of $18,000,000 
to strengthen enforcement of organic labeling, including a 
continued focus on fraud detection and oversight. AMS is 
directed to continue providing the Committee with timely 
updates on investigations of fraud in organic markets.
    Origin of Livestock Regulations.--The Committee is 
concerned by USDA's delay in issuing final guidance regarding 
the origin of organic livestock. In 2015, USDA issued a 
proposed rule to clarify regulations around the origin of 
livestock while still allowing a one-time transition of a 
conventional herd to organic. While there was widespread 
support from the organic industry, USDA did not issue a final 
rule. This has caused a lack of uniform enforcement by USDA and 
direct economic harm for organic farmers. The bill requires 
USDA to issue a final rule within 180 days of enactment of this 
Act.

                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

 
 
 
2019 limitation.......................................     ($61,227,000)
2020 budget limitation................................      (60,982,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (61,227,000)
Comparison:
    2019 limitation...................................             - - -
    2020 budget limitation............................          +245,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    The Committee provides a limitation of $61,227,000 on 
Administrative Expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service.

    FUNDS FOR STRENGTHENING MARKETS, INCOME, AND SUPPLY (SECTION 32)

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................     ($20,705,000)
2020 budget estimate..................................      (20,705,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (20,705,000)
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Marketing Agreements and Orders Program, the 
Committee provides a transfer from Section 32 funds of 
$20,705,000.
    The following table reflects the status of this fund:

               ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE AND BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD FISCAL YEARS 2019-2020
                                             (Dollars in Thousands)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      FY 2019         FY 2020        Committee
                                                                      enacted        estimate        provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation (30% of Customs Receipts).........................     $10,624,198     $15,123,425     $15,123,425
Less Transfers:
    Food and Nutrition Service..................................      -9,092,218     -13,561,425     -13,561,425
    Commerce Department.........................................        -157,980        -158,000        -158,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Total Transfers.........................................      -9,250,198     -13,719,425     -13,719,425
Budget Authority, Farm Bill.....................................       1,374,000       1,404,000       1,404,000
    Appropriations Temporarily Reduced-Sequestration............         -74,400               0         -72,216
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Budget Authority, Appropriations Act....................       1,299,600       1,404,000       1,331,784
Less Obligations:
    Child Nutrition Programs (Entitlement Commodities)..........         485,000         485,000         485,000
    State Option Contract.......................................           5,000           5,000           5,000
    Removal of Defective Commodities............................           2,500           2,500           2,500
    Disaster Relief.............................................           5,000           5,000           5,000
    Additonal Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Purchases............         206,000         206,000         206,000
    Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program...........................         176,000         180,000         180,000
    Estimated Future Needs......................................         363,542         463,942         391,726
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Total Commodity Procurement.............................       1,243,042       1,347,442       1,275,226
Administrative Funds:
    Commodity Purchase Support..................................          35,853          35,853          35,853
    Marketing Agreements and Orders.............................          20,705          20,705          20,705
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Total, Administrative Funds.............................          56,558          56,558          56,558
                                                                 ===============================================
    Total Obligations...........................................      $1,299,600      $1,404,000      $1,331,784
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Cranberry Purchases.--The Committee remains concerned about 
low cranberry commodity prices and associated farm losses that 
US cranberry producers have incurred over the past three years. 
Retaliatory tariffs in major export markets coupled with high 
yields across major producing areas have negatively impacted 
efforts by the industry and USDA to expand new markets and 
address current pressures on farm income. The Committee 
commends the recent actions taken by USDA in the approval of a 
volume regulation implemented in 2018-19 as well as purchases 
under USDA's trade mitigation program. The Committee expects 
USDA to continue evaluating the cranberry industry's market 
conditions to determine if Section 32 purchases are warranted.

                   PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $1,235,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         1,109,000
Provided in the bill..................................         1,235,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................          +126,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Payments to States and Possessions, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $1,235,000.

        LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES

 
 
 
2019 limitation.......................................     ($55,000,000)
2020 budget limitation................................      (80,000,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (55,000,000)
Comparison:
    2019 limitation...................................             - - -
    2020 budget limitation............................       -25,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    The Committee includes a limitation on inspection and 
weighing services expenses of $55,000,000.

             Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $800,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           800,000
Provided in the bill..................................           800,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $800,000.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................    $1,049,344,000
2020 budget estimate..................................     1,045,320,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,054,344,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +5,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +9,024,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $1,054,344,000.
    The following table reflects the Committee's 
recommendations for fiscal year 2020:

                   FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Inspection....................................          $936,324
Public Health Data Communication Infrastructure System            34,580
International Food Safety and Inspection..............            16,758
State Food Safety and Inspection......................            66,682
                                                       -----------------
    Total, Food Safety and Inspection Service.........        $1,054,344
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Corrosive chemicals.--The Committee remains concerned over 
reports that meat and poultry workers are being harmed by 
corrosive chemicals, such as peroxyacetic acid. The Committee 
urges the USDA, FDA, and EPA to enter into a memorandum of 
understanding concerning plant worker and FSIS employee safety 
and approval of antimicrobials in the meat and poultry 
industry.
    Humane Methods of Slaughter.--FSIS shall ensure that 
inspectors hired with funding previously specified for 
enforcement under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act focus 
their attention on overseeing compliance with humane handling 
rules for live animals as they arrive and are offloaded and 
handled in pens, chutes, and stunning areas, and that all 
inspectors receive robust national training, including on the 
Regulatory Essentials, Humane Animal Tracking System, and 
Public Health Information System. The Committee directs the 
agency to conduct an annual program evaluation for its humane 
handling inspections program that includes document review, 
field staff surveys, and monitoring to assess the degree of 
consistency and objectivity of implementation of the Humane 
Methods of Slaughter Act by all levels of inspection staff.
    Tribally-raised Buffalo and Bison.--The Committee urges 
FSIS to enhance its efforts to work with tribes to set up 
voluntary, fee-for-service programs for the slaughter of 
tribally raised buffalo/bison. In doing so, FSIS should work 
with the Tribal Council and make the Council aware of such 
opportunities as mobile slaughter and any trade associations 
that may be able to assist the tribe in qualifying for 
inspection and starting its operations. In addition, the 
Committee expects a report to the Committee within 90 days of 
enactment on the projected impact to the agency if Congress 
were to determine that buffalo/bison were an amenable species 
under the Federal Meat Inspection Act.

                                TITLE II


               FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS


   Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $901,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           875,000
Provided in the bill..................................           901,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................           +26,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production 
and Conservation (FPAC), the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $901,000.
    Information Technology Briefing.--The Committee directs the 
Under Secretary to provide briefings during fiscal year 2020 on 
the development and combination of information technology 
systems, specifically farm program modernization and the latest 
updates to the farmers.gov website.
    Livestock Indemnity Payments for Adverse Weather.--The 
Committee is aware that millions of farmed animals die each 
year due to the effects of adverse weather. Extreme weather 
events are occurring at increased frequency, putting additional 
livestock at risk. The Committee recognizes the importance of 
disaster planning and encourages the Department to work with 
producers that want to voluntarily develop disaster plans to 
prevent livestock deaths and injuries.

            Farm Production and Conservation Business Center


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $216,350,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       206,530,000
Provided in the bill..................................       206,530,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        -9,820,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center, 
the Committee provides an appropriation of $206,530,000.

                          Farm Service Agency


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Transfer from
                                                           Appropriation     program accounts    Total, FSA S&E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 appropriation.....................................     $1,081,655,000     ($293,522,000)     $1,375,177,000
2020 budget estimate...................................      1,012,008,000      (294,567,000)      1,306,575,000
Provided in the bill...................................      1,122,837,000      (293,522,000)      1,416,359,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation.................................        +41,182,000              - - -        +41,182,000
    2020 budget estimate...............................       +110,829,000         -1,045,000       +109,784,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Salaries and Expenses of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), 
the Committee provides an appropriation of $1,122,837,000 and 
transfers of $293,522,000 for a total program level of 
$1,416,359,000. The Committee accepts the proposed information 
technology savings and provides a net increase of $11,182,000 
for IT improvements.
    Access to Farming Data.--The Committee understands the 
financial burden farmers, especially young, beginning and small 
farmers, face when acquiring software, licenses, and data 
platforms that provide farm-specific information that allows 
them to better manage their land. The Committee encourages the 
Department to help farmers and producers understand emerging 
technologies and data platforms that may work best for them as 
well as referring them to public data that can meet their needs 
as well.
    Farm Ownership Loans.--The Committee encourages the Farm 
Service Agency to prioritize changing the eligibility 
requirements for farm ownership loans in accordance with the 
provisions of Section 5101 of the 2018 Farm Bill.
    FSA Workload Study.--The Committee continues to wait for 
FSA's workload study of FSA county offices as detailed in the 
House Report 114-205. The Committee again includes statutory 
language preventing the closure of these offices.
    Hypoxia Zones.--The Committee recognizes the importance of 
conservation practices that reduce sediment loadings, nutrient 
loadings, and harmful algal blooms. In implementing the Clean 
Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers Initiative, the Secretary is 
encouraged to assist landowners in mitigating hypoxia zones.
    Lending Opportunities.--As the lender of the first 
opportunity, FSA is reminded to continue informing small, 
beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers on lending options 
available to them.
    National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP).--The 
Committee recognizes the value of NAIP in providing enhanced 
ground recognition of agricultural markers. The Committee 
supports the requested information technology increase that 
will improve the program and aid the aerial imagery of up to 20 
states in 2020.
    Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) 
Fairness.--The Committee supports finding a more transparent 
process to calculate county transition yields (T yields) when 
regional or contiguous county data is available. The Committee 
also supports a process of review by the national FSA office 
when a state FSA office decreases the expected yield for a 
county by more than 50 percent in one year, including a review 
of changes that meet the 50 percent threshold during fiscal 
year 2019.
    Small Farms.--The Committee is concerned that a majority of 
financial and technical assistance goes to larger farmers. The 
Department should make every effort to reach smaller farmers 
and directs the Secretary to report to the Committee on 
Appropriations no later than 120 days after enactment on its 
outreach efforts to small farmers, specifically those that 
operate on less than 25 acres, and how the Department meets the 
unique needs of smaller farmers. The report should also include 
resources provided to small farmers and what can be done to 
ensure resources provided by Congress reach these small 
farmers.

                         STATE MEDIATION GRANTS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $3,904,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         3,067,000
Provided in the bill..................................         5,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +1,096,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +1,933,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For State Mediation Grants, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $5,000,000.
    Obligation of funds.--In recent years, the Department has 
not issued any grants in this program until the end of 
December. As a result, the mediation programs must operate for 
the first quarter of the fiscal year without any funding. The 
delay in funding requires some programs to take out loans 
secured by personal assets, reduce or stop pay for staff, or 
turn down new requests for mediation. To the extent possible, 
the Committee strongly encourages USDA to obligate available 
funds within 30 days of enactment.

               GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $6,500,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................         6,500,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +6,500,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $6,500,000.

                        DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       \1\$500,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        \1\500,000
Provided in the bill..................................        \1\500,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 
\1\Current indefinite appropriation.

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Dairy Indemnity Program, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of such sums as may be necessary (estimated to be 
$500,000 in the President's fiscal year 2020 budget request).

           AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

                         ESTIMATED LOAN LEVELS

 
 
 
2019 loan level.......................................    $7,987,668,000
2020 budget estimate..................................     7,674,267,000
Provided in the bill..................................     7,997,801,000
Comparison:
    2019 loan level...................................       +10,133,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +323,534,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund program account, 
the Committee provides a loan level of $7,997,801,000.
    The Committee provides a transfer of $16,081,000 to the 
FPAC Business Center account.
    The following table reflects the loan levels for the 
Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund program account:

                                    AGRICULTURE CREDIT PROGRAMS--LOAN LEVELS
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                        FY 2019 enacted    FY 2020 estimate        provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Loan Programs:
Farm Ownership:
    Direct..........................................          $1,500,000          $1,500,000          $1,500,000
    Unsubsidized Guaranteed.........................           2,750,000           2,750,000           2,750,000
Farm Operating:
    Direct..........................................           1,530,000           1,550,133           1,550,133
    Unsubsidized Guaranteed.........................           1,960,000           1,614,953           1,960,000
Emergency Loans.....................................              37,668              29,181              37,668
Indian Tribe Land Acquisition Loans.................              20,000              20,000              20,000
Conservation Loans:
    Unsubsidized Guaranteed.........................             150,000             150,000             150,000
Indian Highly Fractionated Land.....................              10,000               - - -              10,000
Boll Weevil Eradication.............................              30,000              60,000              20,000
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
        Total.......................................          $7,987,668          $7,674,267          $7,997,801
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                            ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Direct loan       Guaranteed loan     Administrative
                                                            subsidy             subsidy            expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 appropriation..................................             $59,670             $21,168            $317,068
2020 budget estimate................................              58,440              17,280             319,762
Provided in the Bill................................              58,440              20,972             317,068
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation..............................              -1,230                -196               - - -
    2020 budget estimate............................               - - -              +3,692              -2,694
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following table reflects the costs of loan programs 
under credit reform:

            AGRICULTURE CREDIT PROGRAMS--SUBSIDIES AND GRANTS
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2019       FY 2020      Committee
                                   enacted      estimate      provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Loan Subsidies
Farm Operating:
    Direct....................       $59,670       $58,440       $58,440
    Unsubsidized Guaranteed...        21,168        17,280        20,972
Emergency Loans...............         1,567         1,567         2,023
Indian Highly Fractionated             2,134         - - -         2,745
 Land.........................
Boll Weevil Eradication.......         - - -            60            20
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total.................        84,539        77,347        84,200
ACIF Expenses:
    FSA Salaries and Expenses.       290,917       294,114       290,917
    Program Administrative            10,070         9,567        10,070
     Expenses.................
    FPAC Business Center              16,081        16,081        16,081
     Salaries and Expenses....
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total, ACIF Expenses..      $401,607      $397,109      $401,268
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Risk Management Agency


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $58,361,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        56,045,000
Provided in the bill..................................        58,361,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +2,316,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Risk Management Agency, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $58,361,000.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service


                        CONSERVATION OPERATIONS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $819,492,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       755,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................       829,628,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +10,136,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +74,628,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Conservation Operations, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $829,628,000.
    The Committee provides $9,400,000 for the Snow Survey and 
Water Forecasting Program; $9,481,000 for the Plant Materials 
Centers; and $74,987,000 for the Soil Surveys Program. The 
Committee provides $725,926,000 for Conservation Technical 
Assistance. The Committee provides $9,834,000 for the 
farmers.gov Customer Experience Portal program.
    Carbon Markets.--The Committee recognizes that carbon 
markets could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide new 
revenue streams for farmers. The Committee urges the Secretary 
to explore carbon markets for agriculture and develop common, 
science-based methodologies for carbon markets.
    Drought Mitigation.--The Committee is concerned about 
severe and prolonged droughts in the United States. The 
Committee expects the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
(NRCS) to utilize all available flexibility, discretion and 
opportunities to assist producers, irrigators and irrigation 
districts in implementing area-wide plans to address drought 
resiliency and mitigation in a way that maintains strong rural 
and agriculture communities and protects natural resources. 
Priority should be given to supporting the implementation of 
major drought response plans, agreements or programs designed 
to result in conservation of surface water or groundwater.
    Harmful Algal Blooms.--The Committee strongly supports and 
directs funding to NRCS's ongoing work to reduce nutrient 
loading from agricultural sources that can contribute to the 
growth of harmful algal blooms. Funding shall be used for 
targeting of watersheds where harmful algal blooms pose a 
threat and implementing a variety of conservation systems to 
address all transport pathways of phosphorus from agricultural 
land uses. Conservation planning should prioritize fields with 
the highest risk of elevated phosphorus and/or nitrogen losses.
    Monarch Butterfly Populations.--The Committee is aware that 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering listing the 
monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. The 
potential effect of monarchs being listed as threatened or 
endangered would have significant impacts on agriculture in the 
U.S. The Committee directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Secretary of the Interior to work together in coordination with 
the states, and private and nonprofit organizations to develop 
and implement strategies to help protect monarch butterfly 
populations and preserve the natural habitats critical to their 
survival. The Secretaries are directed to report back within 
120 days of the passage of this Act on the status of this plan 
and any other actions the Departments are taking to encourage 
support of monarch conservation by the agricultural community.
    Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.--The 
Committee provides $5,000,000 for this office. Of this amount, 
$1,000,000 is for pilot programs under section 222(d)(2) of 
Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act 
of 1994, as amended by section 12302 of P.L. 115-334.
    Outcomes-Verified Soil Health Program.--The Committee 
understands the importance of soil health programs that promote 
on-farm resilience while increasing farmer profitability. The 
Committee urges the Secretary to establish a voluntary, 
outcomes-verified soil health program within NRCS, allowing 
farmers to enroll and demonstrate that recommended soil health 
benchmarks are being met.
    Resource Conservation and Development Councils (RC&Ds).--
The Committee recognizes RC&Ds have been valuable partners in 
conservation and encourages NRCS to continue working with local 
councils, as appropriate, to ensure conservation programs meet 
local resource needs.
    Sage Grouse Initiative.--The Committee supports NRCS's sage 
grouse conservation efforts. Through the initiative, NRCS 
provides technical and financial assistance to help landowners 
conserve sage grouse habitat on their land. The initiative is 
an integral part of efforts by federal agencies, several 
western states, and private landowners to help preclude the 
listing of the sage grouse as an endangered species.
    State Partnerships.--NRCS appropriately partners with 
States, Territories, and Indian Tribal Organizations to 
implement activities within its charge and has historically 
provided direct resources to states to assist with those 
activities. The Committee understands that many programs 
offered by NRCS are popular and demand is high. To the extent 
possible, the Committee encourages NRCS to ensure the equitable 
allocation of resources between the States, Territories and 
Indian Tribal Organizations. The Committee directs NRCS to 
continue providing data on resources provided to the states in 
the annual budget submission to Congress.
    Three-D Elevation Program (3DEP).--The U.S. Geological 
Survey is leading the 3D Elevation Program, a collaborative 
initiative to systematically collect accurate digital elevation 
data nationwide. The Committee recognizes the positive impact 
of combined resources, such as NRCS's ``Light Detection and 
Ranging Enhanced Soil Survey'' model and similar derived 
datasets, which can enhance conservation efforts, farmland 
management, and mapping of floodplains. The Committee 
encourages the Secretary, to the extent possible, to 
participate in and support 3DEP.

               WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $150,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................       155,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +5,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +155,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $155,000,000.

                    WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $10,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................        12,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +2,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +12,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $12,000,000.

                              CORPORATIONS


                Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund


 
 
 
2019 appropriation.............................       \1\$15,410,629,000
2020 budget estimate...........................         \1\8,936,000,000
Provided in the bill...........................         \1\8,936,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation.........................           -6,474,629,000
    2020 budget estimate.......................                    - - -
 
\1\Current indefinite appropriation

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of such sums as may be 
necessary (estimated to be $8,936,000,000 in the President's 
fiscal year 2020 budget request).

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund


                 REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation.............................       \1\$15,410,000,000
2020 budget estimate...........................        \1\25,553,096,000
Provided in the bill...........................        \1\25,553,096,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation.........................          +10,143,096,000
    2020 budget estimate.......................                   - - -
 
\1\Current indefinite appropriation

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Reimbursement for Net Realized Losses to the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, the Committee provides such sums as may be 
necessary to reimburse for net realized losses sustained but 
not previously reimbursed (estimated to be $25,553,096,000 in 
the President's fiscal year 2020 budget request).

                       HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

                        (LIMITATION ON EXPENSES)

 
 
 
2019 limitation.......................................      ($5,000,000)
2020 budget estimate..................................       (5,000,000)
Provided in the bill..................................       (5,000,000)
Comparison:
    2019 limitation...................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Hazardous Waste Management, the Committee provides a 
limitation of $5,000,000.

                               TITLE III


                       RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS


          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          \1\- - -
2020 budget estimate..................................          \1\- - -
Provided in the bill..................................          $800,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................          +800,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................          +800,000
 
\1\Funded and requested under the Office of the Secretary for the
  Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural 
Development, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$800,000. The Committee reestablishes the Under Secretary of 
Rural Development and does not fund the Assistant to the 
Secretary previously funded under the Office of the Secretary.
    Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA).--
The Committee continues to support ATTRA's work with military 
veterans. The Committee directs the Secretary to submit a 
report not later than 180 days after the date of enactment on 
the number of trainings completed, number of participants and 
pertinent data and performance measures used to measure program 
outcomes for fiscal years 2017-2019.
    Climate Adaptation.--The Committee recognizes that the 
impacts of climate change--including sea level rise and more 
frequent and severe coastal hazards--pose a significant threat 
to infrastructure and economic development opportunities in 
rural communities. Therefore, the Committee encourages Rural 
Development to partner with USDA's Climate Hubs to better 
leverage existing USDA programs to provide resources to 
communities to invest in infrastructure improvements that will 
enhance resilience to future impacts of climate change.
    Community Development.--The Committee is interested in the 
role that broadband connectivity can play in fostering 
community and economic development. The Committee urges USDA 
work collaboratively with communities to identify ways towards 
addressing complex and long-term impediments towards economic 
growth. This may include, but not be limited to, a holistic 
review of how integrating programs, streamlining grant review 
and increasing community participation may more effectively 
address economic development challenges. The review should also 
include the development of metrics that measure economic impact 
across functions such as telehealth, telecommuting, precision 
agriculture and the economic benefit to diverse populations. 
Within 120 days after the date of enactment, the Committee 
directs USDA to report to the Committee on its findings.
    Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI).--HFFI, through 
the National Fund Manager, invests in projects that will 
increase the supply of and demand for healthy foods in 
underserved communities, through loans, grants, and by 
providing technical assistance. In order to improve access to 
healthy food, particularly in rural areas and Tribal 
communities, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 expands 
eligible projects to include healthy food enterprises. These 
food enterprises would include businesses or organizations 
along the food supply chain such as food hubs; food producers, 
distributors, processors, and manufacturers; commercial 
kitchens and food business incubators; mobile markets; and 
other direct to consumer markets.
    High-Cost Universal Service Fund (USF) Recipients with 
Minimum 25/3 Buildout Obligations.--ReConnect funding for 
service areas where High-Cost USF recipients under the CAF-II 
auction have buildout obligations of 25/3 Mbps or greater for 
fixed terrestrial broadband can only be requested by the entity 
that is receiving such USF support. Project sponsors that 
receive USF support in those areas may only apply for funds 
that serve those areas from the 100% loan funding category 
under the ReConnect Program. For purposes of clarification, 
this limitation on eligibility shall only apply to those areas 
(e.g., study areas or census blocks) for which the USF CAF-II 
recipient is subject to a buildout obligation of 25/3 Mbps or 
greater for fixed terrestrial broadband.
    Hub Communities.--The Committee encourages the Department 
to consider the mission and scope of all program applicants, 
including community colleges, hospitals and other regional 
public service entities and their ability to effectively 
address rural depopulation struggles. These entities are often 
located in regional ``hub'' communities larger than the program 
population limits, yet without these critical services many of 
the surrounding smaller towns could not exist and prosper. The 
Committee encourages the Secretary to make grants and loans 
available to these institutions, located in rural areas as 
defined by current law and serve rural areas.
    Persistent Poverty Areas.--The Committee supports targeted 
investments in impoverished areas, particularly in persistent 
poverty counties. To understand how programs funded through the 
Department are serving these areas, the Committee directs the 
Department to submit a report to the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House and Senate on the percentage of 
funds allocated by each rural development program in fiscal 
years 2017, 2018 and 2019 and estimates for fiscal year 2020 
serving individuals living in persistent poverty counties. The 
Department shall submit the report to the Committees within 180 
days of enactment.
    Placemaking Approach to Rural Development and Broadband.--
In order to maximize the efficacy of investment in rural 
communities, the Committee is interested in learning what 
factors determine the greatest level of success for broadband 
resources. The Committee believes that the Department should 
consider how communities can increase the social, cultural, and 
quality of life benefits of broadband beyond the historical 
functional benefits provided to schools, healthcare facilities 
and services, and businesses. The USDA should issue a request 
for proposals to identify a public-private partnership or 
partnerships with expertise and experience working with rural 
communities in ``place-making'' as a way to foster 
simultaneously the adoption of broadband services and the 
creation of greater social and cultural vitality. Selection 
criteria must include geographic and ethnic diversity as well 
as such factors as the revitalization and shaping of future 
town centers, community and county wellbeing and economic 
vitality, and the enhancement of full community participation 
in creating growth strategies. An annual report shall be 
provided to Congress on the accelerators of and impediments to 
success of implementation of broadband, integration of all 
rural development programs and drivers for making a place more 
livable.
    Qualified Opportunity Zones.--The Committee recognizes that 
Qualified Opportunity Zones were created to incentivize greater 
private-sector investments in rural and economically distressed 
communities. Given the critical role that USDA Rural 
Development programs play in supporting economic development 
opportunities in these communities, the Committee encourages 
the Under Secretary for Rural Development to develop strategies 
to leverage existing RD resources to support greater investment 
in communities located in or adjacent to a Qualified 
Opportunity Zone.
    ReConnect Program.--The Committee directs the Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS), following the first round of 
applications to the Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program, to 
convene interested stakeholders including, but not limited to, 
telecommunication companies, rural electric cooperatives and 
utilities, internet service providers and municipalities to 
gather comments and recommendations for improving program 
implementation. The Committee recognizes that this is the first 
round of funding and commends the RUS for efforts to date in 
establishing and administering the program. The Committee also 
recognizes possible unintended consequences and unanticipated 
obstacles may have arisen from the program design to program 
implementation stages. Specifically, the Committee is concerned 
about the lack of access to ReConnect funds for entities other 
than the CAF-II auction recipient in a census block. Currently 
there is no connectivity requirement, such as number of 
households served, for these funds, and therefore many rural 
Americans are still left without broadband access. The 
Committee believes that all Americans should have access to 
reliable and affordable broadband, and urges the USDA to amend 
the ReConnect eligibility requirements in order to better 
provide service to an accurate number of households, grant 
recipients, and census block areas. Given the speed, 
anticipated demand and importance of expanding broadband 
infrastructure in rural areas, it is imperative to have all 
interested stakeholders engaged to make best use of taxpayer 
resources.
    Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP).--The Committee 
supports RESP and the opportunity it provides to launch or 
expand energy efficiency financing programs. The Committee 
urges the Department to conduct outreach to co-ops to build 
awareness of the program.
    Veterinary Care Facilities.--Due to recent decline of and 
urgent need for veterinarians to serve in rural and underserved 
areas, the Committee expects USDA to give high priority to 
animal and veterinary care facilities for receipt of loans and 
grants through Rural Development programs including Community 
Facilities Loan and Grant Programs and the Rural Business 
Service programs.

                           Rural Development


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                          FY 2019  enacted  FY 2020  estimate      provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations.........................................       $236,835,000       $192,343,000       $255,835,000
Transfers from:
    Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account.......        412,254,000        244,249,000        412,254,000
    Rural Community Facilities Program Account.........              - - -        147,591,000              - - -
    Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account........          4,468,000              - - -          4,468,000
    Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loan           33,270,000         38,027,000         33,270,000
     Program Account...................................
    Rural Business Programs............................              - - -          7,035,000              - - -
    Rural Water and Waste Program......................              - - -         18,149,000              - - -
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total, RD Salaries and Expenses................       $686,827,000       $647,394,000       $705,827,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Salaries and Expenses of the Rural Development mission 
area, the Committee provides an appropriation of $255,835,000.
    Rural Development Staffing.--The Committee is concerned by 
the pace of operations at the Rural Development (RD) state 
offices due to reported staffing shortages. With authority over 
sizable financial resources, these programs are uniquely poised 
to provide essential services to and increase the economic 
competitiveness of underserved rural areas. However, the 
Committee is aware that a lack of staff at program offices has 
created a cyclical backlog of applications. Such delays and 
uncertainty deter potential applicants and fundamentally 
undercut the programs potential impact. The Committee includes 
an additional $25,000,0000 for salaries and expenses to support 
4,566 total staff years and directs the Department to increase 
hiring at State offices to fulfill Rural Development's 
commitment towards improving customer service.
    Rural Hospitals.--Many rural hospitals have closed in 
recent years, with many more vulnerable. Rural hospitals are an 
essential pillar of their communities and are necessary to 
create the economic growth that is direly needed in rural 
communities. USDA has the experience and expertise to help 
struggling rural hospitals negotiate, reorganize, and 
revitalize. Providing assistance to strengthen their 
sustainability will protect taxpayer investments and help 
preserve the future of rural health care. Building on the 2018 
Farm Bill Joint Explanatory Statement, the Committee provides 
$1,000,000 to expand technical assistance to vulnerable 
hospitals in the Community Facilities portfolio to protect the 
government funds already expended and preserve access to health 
care in rural communities. In addition, where appropriate, the 
Committee directs the Department to provide technical 
assistance to those hospitals that seek to refinance their debt 
under the new provision for refinancing certain hospital debt 
as authorized by Section 6103 of the 2018 Farm Bill, in order 
to protect the investment of government funds expended for this 
purpose.
    Single Family Direct Home Loans.--The Committee continues 
to provide the resources to meet demand to assist low and very 
low income applicants obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing 
in rural areas.

                         Rural Housing Service


              RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Administrative
                                                             Loan level       Subsidy level         expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Appropriation.....................................        $25,345,500            $88,063           $412,254
2020 Budget Estimate...................................         24,260,000              - - -            244,249
Provided in the Bill...................................         25,373,000            141,727            412,254
Comparison:
    2019 Appropriation.................................            +27,500            +53,664              - - -
    2020 Budget Estimate...............................        +$1,113,000          +$141,727          +$168,005
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account, the 
Committee provides a loan level of $25,373,000,000.
    The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural 
Housing Insurance Fund program account:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   FY 2020          Committee
                                                            FY 2019  enacted      estimate          provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Loans
    Single Family Housing (sec. 502):
        Direct............................................        $1,000,000             - - -        $1,000,000
        Unsubsidized Guaranteed...........................        24,000,000       $24,000,000        24,000,000
    Housing Repair (sec. 504).............................            28,000             - - -            28,000
    Rental Housing (sec. 515).............................            40,000             - - -            45,000
    Multi-family Guaranteed (sec. 538)....................           230,000           250,000           250,000
    Site Development Loans................................             5,000             - - -             5,000
    Credit Sales of Acquired Property.....................            10,000            10,000            10,000
    Self-help Housing Land Development Fund...............             5,000             - - -             5,000
    Farm Labor Housing....................................            27,500             - - -            30,000
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
        Total, Loan Authorization.........................       $25,345,500       $24,260,000       $25,373,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following table reflects the costs of loan programs 
under credit reform:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   FY 2020          Committee
                                                            FY 2019  enacted      estimate          provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account (Loan
 Subsidies and Grants):
    Single Family Housing (sec. 502):
        Direct............................................           $67,700             - - -          $112,900
        Housing Repair (sec. 504).........................             3,419             - - -             4,679
    Rental Housing (sec. 515).............................             9,484             - - -            13,662
    Farm Labor Housing....................................             6,853             - - -             9,363
    Site Development (sec. 524)...........................               176             - - -               546
    Self-Help Land (sec. 523).............................               431             - - -               577
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
        Total, Loan Subsidies.............................            88,063             - - -           141,727
    Farm Labor Housing Grants.............................            10,000             - - -            10,000
RHIF Expenses:
        Administrative Expenses...........................          $412,254          $244,249          $412,254
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................    $1,331,400,000
2020 budget estimate..................................     1,407,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,375,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +43,600,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       -32,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rental Assistance Program, the Committee provides a 
program level of $1,375,000,000. This provides full funding for 
the program and does not include rural vouchers as proposed in 
the budget request.

           MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVITALIZATION PROGRAM ACCOUNT

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $51,500,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................        75,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +23,500,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +75,000,000
 

    For the Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program Account, 
the Committee provides an appropriation of $75,000,000, 
including $35,000,000 for the rural housing voucher program.
    The Committee does not accept the proposal to move the 
voucher and multifamily housing revitalization programs.

                  MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $30,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................        32,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +2,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +32,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Mutual and Self-Help Housing program, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $32,000,000.

                    RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $45,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................        45,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +45,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Housing Assistance Grants program, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $45,000,000, including 
$15,000,000 for rural housing preservation grants.
    The Committee encourages USDA to consider utilizing 
resources to address families or individuals that have 
straight-pipe septic systems or an individual sewage treatment 
system that fail to meet state or federal requirements.

               RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $50,063,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        60,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................        71,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +20,937,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +11,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Community Facilities Program Account, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $71,000,000.
    The Committee continues to take the Rural Development 
administrative expense transfer from the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund (RHIF) and does not accept the proposed transfer 
from the Rural Community Facilities program account.
    Community Facility Loans.--The Committee directs the 
Department to report on the Community Facilities Direct Loan 
and Grant and Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan programs 
portfolio within 180 days of enactment of the bill. The report 
shall include: the credit quality of selected significant loans 
reported by facility type, including educational, and health 
care; a list and description of measures USDA tracks to 
evaluate the effect on communities of projects funded through 
Community Facilities programs and for how long these measures 
are tracked; the number of Community Facilities projects under 
which funding is being used for refinancing and/or acquisition 
in order to improve or prevent loss of service to communities.
    The following table provides the Committee's 
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                          FY 2019  enacted  FY 2020  estimate      provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Levels:
    Community Facility Direct Loans....................       ($2,800,000)       ($2,500,000)       ($2,800,000)
    Community Facility Guaranteed Loans................          (148,287)          (500,000)          (250,000)
Subsidy and Grants:
    Community Facility Guaranteed Loans................              4,285              - - -              - - -
    Community Facility Grants..........................             30,000             50,000             50,000
    Rural Community Development Initiative.............              6,000              - - -              8,000
    Economic Impact Initiative.........................              5,778              - - -              6,000
    Tribal College Grants..............................              4,000             10,000              7,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Rural Community Facilities Program                  $50,063            $60,000            $71,000
         Subsidy and Grants............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service


                     RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $65,040,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        20,500,000
Provided in the bill..................................        67,600,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +2,560,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +47,100,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Business Program Account, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $67,600,000.
    The Committee provides resources to operate programs under 
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS). RBS programs 
complement lending activities of the private sector by 
promoting economic prosperity in rural communities through 
improved access to capital and economic development on a 
regional scale.
    Arts in rural communities.--The Committee recognizes the 
valuable role of the arts in the economic and community 
development of rural communities across the country. In 
providing grants and assistance under this title, Rural 
Development shall continue to support individuals, nonprofits 
and small businesses in the arts through these traditional 
economic development tools, including business incubators, and 
economic development planning and technical assistance.
    The following table provides the Committee's 
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                          FY 2019  enacted  FY 2020  estimate      provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Level:
    Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans.............         ($950,000)        (1,000,000)        (1,200,000)
Subsidy and Grants:
    Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans.............             22,040             20,500             24,600
    Rural Business Development Grants..................             35,000              - - -             35,000
    Delta Regional Authority/Appalachian Regional                    8,000              - - -              8,000
     Commission/ Northern Border Regional Commission...
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Rural Business Program Subsidy and                  $65,040            $20,500            $67,600
         Grants........................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following programs are included in the bill for the 
Rural Business Program account: $500,000 for rural 
transportation technical assistance and $4,000,000 for 
Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, of which $250,000 
is for transportation technical assistance.

              INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM FUND ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Administrative
                                                             Loan level       Subsidy level         expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Appropriation.....................................            $18,889             $4,157             $4,468
2020 Budget Estimate...................................              - - -              - - -              - - -
Provided in the Bill...................................             18,889              5,219              4,468
Comparison:
    2019 Appropriation.................................              - - -             +1,062              - - -
    2020 Budget Estimate...............................            +18,889             +5,219             +4,468
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account, the 
Committee provides for a loan level of $18,889,000.
    For the loan subsidy, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $5,219,000. In addition, the Committee 
provides $4,468,000 for administrative expenses.

            RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $50,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................        50,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +50,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account, 
the Committee provides for a loan level of $50,000,000.

                  RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $29,100,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................        29,800,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................          +700,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +29,800,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Rural Cooperative Development Grants, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $29,800,000. This total includes 
$3,000,000 for a cooperative agreement for the Appropriate 
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas program and $18,000,000 for 
the Value-added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant 
Program under the Local Agriculture Market Program in the 2018 
Farm Bill.
    Cooperatives.--The Committee recognizes the important role 
that cooperatives play in the nation's rural economy and the 
continued need to fund established and successful development 
centers throughout the country.

              RURAL MICRO-ENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $3,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................         6,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +3,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +6,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP), 
the Committee provides an appropriation of $6,000,000. RMAP 
provides loans and grants to non-profit organizations, 
community-based financial institutions, and local economic 
development councils, which in turn provide technical 
assistance services and microloans to rural owner-operated 
small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. These funds 
support the economic development needs of rural communities and 
make up for the end of mandatory Farm Bill funding.

                    RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $335,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................           353,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................           +18,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................          +353,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Energy for America Program, the Committee 
provides a loan level of $10,000,000 and an appropriation of 
$353,000 for the loan subsidy to make loans as authorized by 
section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107).

                        Rural Utilities Service


             RURAL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $548,690,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       527,630,000
Provided in the bill..................................       718,480,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................      +169,790,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +190,850,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $718,480,000. Rural 
areas continue to face immense needs and challenges in 
attaining safe and clean water, and this program provides 
targeted and coordinated support for these communities and is 
essential for the delivery of safe, dependable and affordable 
water and wastewater to rural America. The Committee believes 
this program is complementary, not duplicative, of other 
federal programs and critical in supporting quality of life, 
economic development and health to rural communities.
    Domestic Preference.--The bill includes language specifying 
that RUS' Rural Water and Waste Disposal program account 
projects utilizing iron and steel shall use iron and steel 
products produced in the United States. RUS shall apply the 
Environmental Protection Agency's definition of public water 
systems while implementing the domestic preference provision.
    Open Access Infrastructure.--The Committee is aware that 
public entities have invested in open access fiber 
infrastructure that is facilitating the delivery of high-speed 
broadband services by licensed telecommunications providers, 
including the model pioneered by public port authorities. The 
Committee understands that while particular open access fiber 
projects may be eligible for RUS grants and loans, more 
generally, there exist significant barriers to government 
backing for these types of open access investments. The 
Committee believes RUS programs should support financially-
feasible open access infrastructure projects that meet program 
goals. The Committee urges RUS to ensure the agency's criteria 
and application processes provide for fair consideration of 
open access projects by accounting for the unique structures 
and opportunities such projects present in advancing broadband 
deployment in unserved and underserved communities.
    Sewage Management.--The Committee supports the development 
of a multi-faceted solution to the problem of raw sewage 
discharge in rural communities.
    Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program.--The 
Committee provides $30,000,000 for water and waste technical 
assistance and training grants. Up to $5,000,000 of these 
resources shall be used to support the national apprenticeship/
workforce development program to ensure a future pipeline of 
workers to provide clean and safe water for the public.
    Water Supplies for Very Small Communities.--The Committee 
is aware of concerns that RUS grant programs do not adequately 
help small, disadvantaged, and severely disadvantaged 
communities access the funding and expertise necessary to 
develop sustainable water supplies or otherwise improve their 
wastewater systems, and it directs the agency to focus its 
efforts to assist these communities with predevelopment 
planning to help them address their water supply needs.
    The following table provides the Committee's 
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                        FY 2019 enacted    FY 2020 estimate        provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Levels:
    Water and Waste Direct Loans....................        ($1,400,000)        ($1,200,000)        ($1,400,000)
    Water and Waste Guaranteed Loans................            (50,000)               - - -            (50,000)
Subsidy and Grants:
    Direct Subsidy..................................               - - -              54,720              63,840
    Guaranteed Subsidy..............................                 190               - - -                  70
    Water and Waste Revolving Fund..................               1,000               1,000               1,000
    Water Well System Grants........................               1,500                 993              15,000
    Grants for the Colonias and AK/HI...............              68,000              68,000              70,000
    Water and Waste Technical Assistance Grants.....              30,000              40,000              30,000
    Circuit Rider Program...........................              19,000              19,000              19,570
    Solid Waste Management Grants...................               4,000               4,000               4,000
    High Energy Cost Grants.........................              10,000               - - -               - - -
    Water and Waste Disposal Grants.................             400,000             324,917             500,000
    306A(i)(2) Grants...............................              15,000              15,000              15,000
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Subsidies and Grants.................            $548,690            $527,630            $718,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

                         LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Administrative
                                                          Loan Level         Subsidy level         expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Appropriation..................................          $6,940,000              $1,725             $33,270
2020 Budget Estimate................................           6,190,000               1,933              38,027
Provided in the Bill................................           6,940,000               3,795              33,270
Comparison:
    2019 Appropriation..............................               - - -              +2,070               - - -
    2020 Budget Estimate............................            +750,000              +1,862              -4,757
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans 
Program Account, the Committee provides a loan level of 
$6,940,000,000. In addition, the Committee provides $33,270,000 
for administrative expenses.
    The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural 
Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account:

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2019       FY 2020      Committee
                                   enacted      estimate      provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Authorizations:
Electric:
    Direct, FFB...............    $5,500,000    $5,500,000    $5,500,000
    Guaranteed Underwriting...       750,000         - - -       750,000
                               -----------------------------------------
        Subtotal..............     6,250,000     5,500,000     6,250,000
Telecommunications:
    Direct, Treasury Rate.....       345,000       175,727       345,000
    Direct, FFB...............       345,000       514,273       345,000
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total, Loan               $6,940,000    $6,190,000    $6,940,000
         Authorizations.......
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           BROADBAND PROGRAM

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2019       FY 2020      Committee
                                   enacted      estimate      provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Broadband Program:
    Loan Authorization........       $29,851         - - -       $29,851
    Loan Subsidy..............         5,830         - - -         5,830
    Grants....................        30,000        30,000        50,000
Distance Learning and
 Telemedicine:
    Grants....................        34,000        43,600        50,000
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total, Loan Subsidy          $69,830       $73,600      $105,830
         and Grants...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Broadband Program, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $5,830,000 for a loan authorization level of 
$29,851,000.
    Healthcare and Education Options.--The Committee continues 
to support Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband 
program grants that assist rural communities in connecting to 
the rest of the world and overcoming health disparities that 
effect that population, including addressing the opioid abuse 
epidemic in rural communities. The Committee urges the Under 
Secretary for Rural Development to continue awarding grants 
that support technology upgrades that provide additional 
healthcare access and education through the use of telemedicine 
and expanded services in community health centers through 
partnerships with hub medical centers.
    Indian Country Broadband.--The Committee recognizes the 
persistent digital divide in America and the acute impacts this 
has on educational, health, public safety, and economic 
opportunities in Indian country. The Committee urges the 
Department to explore means to expand high-speed internet 
deployment in Indian country utilizing current programs. 
Specifically, the Committee encourages the USDA to work with 
tribal communities to better understand the unique 
infrastructure challenges they face to ensure that they are not 
held at a competitive disadvantage when competing for these 
resources.

                                TITLE IV


                         DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS


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


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $800,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           800,000
Provided in the bill..................................           800,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, 
and Consumer Services, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $800,000.
    Cross-government Coordination on Nutrition. The committee 
calls on USDA to lead a whole of government approach and create 
a report on responsibilities of each agency and how they will 
coordinate the biochemical, physiologic, nutritional and 
population health effects of government recommendation for 
nutrition and food consumption in America.
    Innovative Technologies.--The Committee looks forward to 
the results of the SNAP online purchasing pilot. The Committee 
recognizes the need for enhanced efficiency in nutrition 
programs and supports FNS as it continues to implement and 
evaluate new technologies.
    Nutrition Education Coordination.--USDA plays an important 
role in offering nutrition education and training through 
programs such as SNAP-Ed, EFNEP and WIC. However, the Committee 
is concerned regarding the lack of communication and 
coordination between the five main nutrition education programs 
(SNAP-Ed, EFNEP, Team Nutrition, WIC and FINI/Gus Schumacher 
Nutrition Incentive Program) at USDA. USDA is directed to 
report to the Committees within 90 days of the enactment of 
this Act on the steps it will take to better coordinate 
nutrition education, utilize experts from CNPP in the Dietary 
Guidelines development, and track program effectiveness across 
each program.
    Public Release of Information.--The Committee directs FNS 
to continue making all policy documents related to the WIC 
program (including, but not limited to, instructions, 
memoranda, guidance, and questions and answers) available to 
the public on the Internet within one week of their release to 
WIC state administrators.
    Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).--The 
Committee recognizes the success of the SFMNP, with over 
800,000 low-income seniors able to benefit from 19,449 farmers 
at 3,641 farmers' markets as well as 2,541 roadside stands and 
94 community supported agriculture programs in FY 2017. The 
Committee encourages USDA to improve eligible participants' 
awareness of the SFMNP through education and outreach efforts. 
The Committee is critically aware of the need for SFMNP in low 
income communities. The Committee directs FNS to research the 
backlog of states requesting SFMNP funding and to deliver their 
findings to the Committees within 180 days of enactment.
    Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).--The 
Committee is aware of the challenges people face when 
transitioning out of incarceration, including finding 
employment. Access to nutrition assistance is critical to 
successfully reentering society as it offers temporary 
assistance to ex-offenders as they search for stable 
employment. The Committee directs the Department to research 
and report ways states especially those who have lifted or 
modified the SNAP drug felony ban--can best serve this 
population, such as but not limited to: pre-release 
applications for SNAP and employment and training programs for 
this population. The Committee directs the Department to share 
those findings in a report with the Appropriations Committees 
and disseminate those best practices to state agencies no later 
than 180 days after enactment of this act. Such findings should 
also be made available online for the public to utilize.
    WIC Realignment.--The Committee is concerned with the 
proposed realignment of state WIC agencies within FNS regional 
offices, which could have unintended consequences on resource 
distribution and multi-state projects. The Committee urges FNS 
to reach out to stakeholders and requests a briefing within 60 
days of enactment on how the realignment is proceeding and how 
state and Indian Tribal Organizations' concerns are being 
addressed.

                       Food and Nutrition Service


                        CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................   $23,140,781,000
2020 budget estimate..................................    23,943,216,000
Provided in the bill..................................    24,040,885,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................      +900,104,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................       +97,669,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Child Nutrition Programs, the Committee provides 
$24,040,885,000 which includes $35,000,000 for school meals 
equipment grants, $50,000,000 for the Summer Electronic 
Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children Demonstration, and 
$1,000,000 for technical assistance related to sodium.
    Cost of School Meals.--The Committee is interested in 
understanding the cost of school meals in Guam, American Samoa, 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands. The Committee directs FNS to include 
all territories, including those that receive block grants, in 
any studies it does on the Child Nutrition Programs.
    Food Waste.--Food waste also remains a concern in the 
school meals program. Schools should have the ability to serve 
leftover, compliant foods in a quick, timely manner in 
accordance with food safety requirements. The Committee urges 
USDA to consider implementing flexibilities in allowing schools 
to utilize these foods in a more efficient manner.
    Length of School Meals.--The Committee is aware that 
providing adequate time to eat healthy school meals increases 
the consumption of fruits and vegetables and minimizes food 
waste. The Committee encourages the Department, in 
collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, to develop 
best practices to ensure school schedules provide students 
adequate time to eat healthy school meals.
    School Breakfast Expansion Grants.--The Committee is 
concerned that while participation in the School Breakfast 
Program is increasing, many children who are eligible for the 
School Breakfast Program are not participating. Therefore, the 
Committee provides $10,000,000 for grants for expansion of the 
School Breakfast Program, of which $1,000,000 is dedicated to 
the U.S. territories.
    School Nutrition Standards.--The Committee directs the 
Department to publish on its website data on the compliance of 
school food authorities with respect to the nutritional 
requirements under section 9(f) of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act. The data reported should include the 
total number of school food authorities in each state, the 
number of school food authorities in compliance with the 
requirements, and the percentage of school food authorities in 
compliance with the requirements by state.
    Sodium Reduction.-- The Committee recognizes the need for 
additional support for schools to meet the sodium-reduction 
targets and, of the funds made available for Team Nutrition, 
provides $1,000,000 for technical assistance. Within one year 
of enactment, the Committees requests a report on the use of 
the funds to provide schools with technical assistance, 
training resources, and mentoring to meet the sodium-reduction 
targets. Further, the Committee requests information on USDA's 
plans to update the sodium-reduction targets consistent with 
the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations on 
sodium. The Committee strongly encourages USDA to work with 
industry and other stakeholders to ensure there that there are 
a wide variety of lower-sodium options on the market from which 
schools can procure.
    Summer EBT.--The Committee recognizes the benefits the 
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program has had on 
reducing childhood hunger. The Committee provides increased 
funding to serve more children and directs the Department to 
expand the Summer EBT program into new areas while also 
continuing to serve areas that have received such funding in 
prior years. Additionally, the Committee is aware that the 
Summer EBT evaluation suggests greater barriers for 
participation, redemption and exhaustion of benefits and higher 
administrative costs in the Summer EBT WIC model than in the 
Summer EBT SNAP model. Therefore, the Committee encourages the 
Secretary to prioritize Summer EBT projects through the SNAP 
model.
    Training for School Food Service Personnel.--The Committee 
recognizes the value of webinars, conference calls, and online 
courses in expanding the reach of trainings for school food 
service personnel. For any in-person trainings for school food 
service personnel, all efforts should be made to ensure those 
trainings are held during normal working hours. In the event 
such training is scheduled outside working hours, all efforts 
should be made to inform food service personnel of the 
necessity of the training; the committee also encourages the 
Department to work with states on compensation for personnel 
participating in such training programs under such 
circumstances.
    Yogurt.--The Committee is aware that after soliciting 
Requests for Information on the food crediting system for the 
school lunch and breakfast programs, FNS decided to maintain 
the current crediting standard for strained, high-protein 
yogurt. The Committee encourages the Secretary to continue 
evaluating how strained, high-protein yogurt is credited based 
on the best available science. The Committee also requests a 
briefing from the Department, within 180 days of enactment, to 
better understand food crediting in the Child Nutrition 
programs, particularly how decisions are made regarding 
products containing high protein.
    The following table reflects the Committee recommendations 
for the child nutrition programs:

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Child Nutrition Programs:
    School Lunch Program.............................        $12,726,216
    School Breakfast Program.........................          4,929,291
    Child and Adult Care Food Program................          3,839,675
    Summer Food Service Program......................            551,928
    Special Milk Program.............................              7,185
    State Administrative Expenses....................            315,130
    Commodity Procurement............................          1,472,629
    Food Safety Education............................              2,929
    Coordinated Review...............................             10,000
    Computer Support and Processing..................             12,124
    Training and Technical Assistance................             33,935
    CNP Studies and Evaluations......................             21,639
    CN Payment Accuracy..............................             11,203
    Farm to School Team..............................              3,997
    Team Nutrition...................................             16,504
    Healthier U.S. Schools Challenge.................              1,500
    School Meals Equipment Grants....................             35,000
    Summer EBT Demonstration.........................             50,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total........................................        $24,040,885
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................    $6,075,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................     5,750,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................     6,000,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       -75,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +250,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $6,000,000,000. The Committee provides $70,000,000 for the 
breastfeeding peer counselor program and $14,000,000 for 
infrastructure. The Committee encourages FNS to support 
innovative technologies that can improve rural and urban 
participants' access to lactation consultants particularly 
outside of normal WIC clinic business hours.
    USDA data shows that WIC participation rates have decreased 
steadily since fiscal year 2010. The President's budget request 
includes a projection of an average monthly participation rate 
of 6.6 million women, infants, and children for fiscal year 
2020.
    USDA is estimating recovery and carryover funds to be 
higher than average. Furthermore, the Secretary has a WIC 
contingency reserve fund as a safety net to meet unexpected 
demand. With lower participation rates, higher carryover funds, 
and an ample reserve fund, the Committee provides funding that 
will ensure all eligible participants will be served.
    The Committee will continue to monitor WIC participation, 
carryover funds, and food costs and take additional action as 
necessary to ensure that funding provided in fiscal year 2020 
remains sufficient to serve all eligible applicants.
    Breastfeeding Rates.--The Committee is interested in 
understanding how to improve breastfeeding rates, especially as 
higher rates have been linked to lower childhood obesity. The 
Committee also recognizes that there are many barriers to 
breastfeeding as detailed in CDC's 2018 Breastfeeding Report 
Card. Each year, FNS awards some state agencies bonus awards 
for their successful efforts in promoting and supporting 
breastfeeding among WIC participants. The Committee directs FNS 
to review the work of awardees from previous years to look for 
commonalities and trends. FNS should develop a report, within 
180 days of enactment, that summarizes these best practices. 
This report should include a summary of the factors that 
prevent or impede breastfeeding and recommendations on how they 
can be addressed.
    Zika Outreach and Education.--The Committee encourages the 
Department to continue its education and outreach efforts 
through the WIC program to provide pregnant women with the 
information they need to prevent Zika.

               SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................   $73,476,921,000
2020 budget estimate..................................    69,069,910,000
Provided in the bill..................................    71,093,908,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................    -2,383,013,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................    +2,023,998,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the 
Committee provides $71,093,908,000. The total amount includes 
$5,000,000,000 for a contingency reserve to be used only in the 
amount necessary.
    College Hunger.--The Committee is concerned that SNAP-
eligible students who are food-insecure lack proper clarity and 
information about resources available to them. Therefore, the 
Committee directs the Food and Nutrition Service to make 
information available on its website regarding student SNAP 
eligibility requirements easier to understand and more 
accessible. The Committee further directs FNS regional offices 
to collect and review information about existing SNAP 
flexibilities and examples of approaches state SNAP agencies 
are taking to assist eligible college students to access SNAP 
benefits and share such information with state SNAP agencies. 
It also encourages the Secretary to work with the Department of 
Education to share these best practices with higher education 
institutions. The Committee directs FNS to provide a briefing 
to the Committee on Appropriations on its plan for executing 
these items no later than 90 days after enactment.
    Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) 
Demonstration Project for Tribal Organizations.--The Committee 
supports FDPIR and the ability of tribal organizations to enter 
into 638 self-determination contracts for the procurement of 
FDPIR foods, which would promote tribal sovereignty and allow 
tailoring of this vital program to meet specific tribal 
cultural and local needs. The Committee provides $3,000,000 for 
the 638 Tribal Self Governance Demonstration Program for Tribal 
Organizations as described in Section 4003 of P.L. 115-334. 
Additionally, the Committee encourages the Secretary to review 
Department-wide nutrition programs, with the full participation 
of Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to consider ways in 
which more Native foods can be incorporated into these programs 
where possible and the possibility of allowing tribes to 
provide input into federal nutritional guidance that reflects 
unique Indian tribal needs.
    Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) Study.--The Committee 
supports ongoing efforts by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to 
shift NAP to SNAP. The Committee recognizes this will require 
Puerto Rico to build additional capacity to operate SNAP 
according to federal rules. The Committee provides $5 million 
(of which no less than $1 million shall be made available to 
Puerto Rico to support the process) to develop a report to 
Congress that updates the administrative, operational, and 
program integrity parts of chapter IV of the 2010 report 
``Implementing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 
Puerto Rico: A Feasibility Study'' and includes a detailed plan 
with specific steps and timelines for USDA and the Commonwealth 
to address and remedy identified gaps. The Secretary is to 
report the results to the Committees no later than September 
30, 2020. In addition, the Committee provides $2 million for 
the Commonwealth to fund a preliminary planning process 
regarding technology requirements and costs to operate SNAP and 
requests the Commonwealth to provide a report to the Committees 
on its efforts no later than September 30, 2020.
    Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) Transparency.--The 
Committee recognizes the importance of transparency and data 
availability for Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program 
(NAP). The Committee directs the Secretary to publish 
information regarding monthly enrollment, issuance data and the 
Commonwealth's State Plan of Operations for NAP on the 
Department's web site. The Committee further directs the 
Secretary, acting through the Center for Nutrition Policy and 
Promotion, to measure the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in 
Puerto Rico. The Department is directed to report to the 
Committee no later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on 
the status of the Department's efforts to achieve greater 
transparency to Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program.
    The following table reflects the Committee recommendations 
for SNAP:

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Account:
    Benefits.........................................        $57,496,374
    Contingency Reserve..............................          5,000,000
Administrative Costs:
    State Administrative Costs.......................          4,965,651
    Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant             441,000
     Program.........................................
    Employment and Training..........................            513,694
    Mandatory Other Program Costs....................            213,289
    Discretionary Other Program Costs................                998
                                                      ------------------
        Administrative Subtotal......................          6,134,632
    Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico (NAP).......          1,959,136
    American Samoa...................................              7,868
    Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.            153,000
    TEFAP Commodities................................            320,750
    Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.....             12,148
    Community Food Project...........................              5,000
    Program Access...................................              5,000
                                                      ------------------
        Subtotal.....................................          2,442,954
                                                      ------------------
            Total....................................        $71,093,908
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $322,139,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        55,471,000
Provided in the bill..................................       344,248,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +22,109,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +288,777,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    The Committee provides an appropriation of $344,248,000 for 
the Commodity Assistance Program. The recommended funding level 
for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program is $245,000,000. 
The Committee recognizes the importance of the CSFP, which 
improves the health of low-income elderly persons at least 60 
years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious 
foods. The amount provided fully funds expected caseload.
    The Committee recommendation maintains the 2019 levels of 
$18,548,000 for the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, 
$79,630,000 for administrative funding for The Emergency Food 
Assistance Program (TEFAP) and $1,070,000 for the Food 
Donations Programs for Pacific Island Assistance.
    TEFAP Handling and Distribution Costs.--In addition to 
grant funds supporting commodity handling and distribution 
costs, the bill permits states to use up to 15 percent of the 
funds provided for purchasing TEFAP commodities to help with 
the costs of storing, transporting, and distributing 
commodities. The Committee expects state agencies to consult 
with their emergency feeding organizations on the need for the 
conversion of such funds.

                   NUTRITION PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $164,688,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       152,041,000
Provided in the bill..................................       154,041,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       -10,647,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +2,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Nutrition Programs Administration, the Committee 
provides $154,041,000, including $2,000,000 to continue the 
Congressional Hunger Center Fellows Program.

                                TITLE V


                FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS


   Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Affairs


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $875,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           875,000
Provided in the bill..................................           875,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign 
Agricultural Affairs, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $875,000.
    The Committee supports expanding the utilization of various 
modalities, including vouchers, monetary transfers, and locally 
and regionally procured assistance, in addition to in-kind 
contributions from the United States, in order to address 
hunger and assist those in emergency situations around the 
globe with the most appropriate, efficient, and timely means 
available.

                      Office of Codex Alimentarius


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $3,976,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         4,775,000
Provided in the bill..................................         4,775,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................          +799,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Codex Alimentarius, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $4,775,000.

                      Foreign Agricultural Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Transfer from
                                                           Appropriation       export loan           Total
                                                                                 account
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 appropriation.....................................       $213,890,000         $6,382,000       $220,272,000
2020 budget estimate...................................        192,824,000          6,063,000        198,887,000
Provided in the bill...................................        215,513,000          6,382,000        221,895,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation.................................         +1,623,000              - - -         +1,623,000
    2020 budget estimate...............................        +22,689,000           +319,000        +23,008,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $215,513,000 and a transfer of 
$6,382,000, for a total appropriation of $221,895,000.
    The Committee provides increases in funding for 
International Cooperative Administrative Support Services, 
Capital Security Cost Sharing, locally employed staff, and 
biotech programs. The Committee does not maintain the 2019 
increase for the Country Strategy Support Fund.
    Farmer-to-Farmer.--The Committee is interested in improving 
the efficacy of dollars that serve to improve local food 
production around the world through the Global Food Security 
Act and the Feed the Future Initiative. International food 
security is beneficial for reducing poverty and risk of 
conflict and can also serve to increase the buying power of 
American goods and services. The John Ogonowski and Doug 
Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer program (Farmer-to-Farmer) is a 
program that brings American ingenuity to our investment in 
local food production. The Committee is interested in a 
stronger coordination between USAID and USDA for Farmer-to-
Farmer. The Committee is interested in USAID ensuring that 
recommendations from USDA are considered in identifying the 
Country Coordinators for Feed the Future priority countries. 
Coordinators should develop a clear strategy for determining 
what expertise is needed to accelerate success and overcome 
obstacles that impede more effective local food production. 
This should also include a pull strategy for Farmer-to-Farmer 
volunteers, which is defined as requiring the country/program 
to locally define what expertise is needed based on insights 
from the field rather than from the central office. The efforts 
of the partnership with USAID should be strengthened by a 
stronger relationship with USDA, by incorporating working 
groups in Washington. In addition, USAID should seek the 
expertise of USDA in developing streamlined metrics for 
assessment of program effectiveness, including measures in 
addition to child stunting such as geocentric yield analysis. 
The Committee is interested in USAID seeking recommendations 
from USDA for maximizing the efficacy of Farmer-to-Farmer and 
for developing a demonstration in a select few Feed the Future 
countries. The Committee notes that last year's House Report 
directed USDA to enhance its participation in the Farmer-to-
Farmer program by expanding the role of the agricultural 
officer in Target Countries, which are determined in accordance 
with the Global Food Security Act. The Committee notes that the 
agricultural officer can help improve the Farmer-to-Farmer 
program by determining what expertise is needed to overcome 
obstacles that impede local food production and incorporating 
insights from the field. The Committee directs that the USDA 
agricultural officer continue to work with USAID staff to 
achieve the food security goals of Farmer-to-Farmer. The 
Committee directs USDA to provide a briefing to the Committee 
on these efforts and how USDA can help maximize the efficacy of 
Farmer-to-Farmer. In addition, the Committee directs USAID to 
coordinate with USDA on incorporating the role of the 
agricultural officer to maximize the efficacy of the Farmer-to-
Farmer program.
    International Agricultural Education Fellowship.--The 
Committee provides $1,000,000 for this program as authorized in 
the 2018 Farm Bill. The Committee is interested in exploring 
how this program can supplement ongoing efforts at the Foreign 
Agricultural Service. Prior to issuing any funding awards, the 
Committee directs USDA to brief the Committees on how the 
International Agricultural Education Fellowship program will 
work in collaboration with other ongoing Foreign Agricultural 
Service programs to achieve USDA's goals.
    U.S.-Central America, Mexico Cooperation.--The Committee 
directs FAS to work with its counterparts in Central America 
and Mexico to develop agricultural working groups focused on 
improving the efficiency of the agricultural inspection process 
and agricultural trade facilitation issues. In addition, FAS 
shall use existing programs for academic exchanges in 
agriculture-related fields of study in this region. The 
Committee directs FAS to brief the Committees on its efforts 
not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act.

  FOOD FOR PEACE TITLE I DIRECT CREDIT AND FOOD FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM 
                                ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................          $142,000
2020 budget estimate..................................           135,000
Provided in the bill..................................           142,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................            +7,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For administrative expenses to carry out the credit program 
of Food for Peace Title I, Food for Peace Act, and the Food for 
Progress Act, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$142,000.

                     Food for Peace Title II Grants


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................    $1,500,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................     1,850,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................      +350,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................    +1,850,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Food for Peace Title II grants, the Committee provides 
$1,850,000,000, of which $365,000,000 is for non-emergency 
assistance.

  MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION 
                             PROGRAM GRANTS

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $210,255,000
2020 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................       235,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +24,745,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................      +235,000,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and 
Child Nutrition Program Grants, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $235,000,000.

              COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT (LOANS)

                    CREDIT GUARANTEE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................        $8,845,000
2020 budget estimate..................................         6,381,000
Provided in the bill..................................         8,845,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................        +2,464,000
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For administrative expenses of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation Export Loans Credit Guarantee Program Account, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $8,845,000.

                                TITLE VI


           RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION


                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


                      Food and Drug Administration


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Total, FDA
                               Appropriation    User fees        S&E
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Appropriation...........     $3,068,678    $2,516,287    $5,584,965
2020 Budget Estimate.........      3,239,524     2,594,418     5,833,942
Provided in the bill.........      3,253,939     2,594,418     5,848,357
Comparison:
    2019 Appropriation.......       +185,261       +78,131      +263,392
    2020 Budget Estimate.....        +14,415         - - -       +14,415
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee provides an appropriation of $3,253,939,000 
in new budget authority for the FDA. In addition, the Committee 
recommends the following user fee amounts: $1,062,367,000--
prescription drugs; $219,527,000--medical devices; 
$511,682,000--human generic drugs; $39,618,000--biosimilar 
biologicals; $30,524,000--animal drugs; $18,700,000--animal 
generic drugs; and $712,000,000--tobacco products. The 
combination of new budget authority and definite user fees 
provides the FDA with a total discretionary salaries and 
expenses level of $5,848,357,000. This total does not include 
permanent, indefinite user fees for: the Mammography Quality 
Standards Act; Export Certification; Priority Review Vouchers 
for Pediatric Disease; Food and Feed Recall; Food Reinspection; 
Voluntary Qualified Importer Program; the Third Party Auditor 
Program; and Outsourcing Facilities.
    The Committee recommendation includes a net increase of 
$185,261,000, including the full requested level for the 
following programs or initiatives: Medical Countermeasures 
Initiatives, Integrated Pathogen Reduction of the Blood Supply, 
Office of Laboratory Safety, Compounding, and Promoting 
Innovation and Emerging Technology While Maintaining Product 
Safety. In addition, the Transform Medical Device Safety, 
Cybersecurity, Review, and Innovation initiative is funded at 
the fiscal year 2019 level.
    The Committee does not accept proposed funding reductions 
for: foreign high-risk Inspections; the produce safety 
cooperative agreement funds with states; the Critical Path 
Initiative; and compounding bulk drug substances.
    The Committee recommendation does not include proposed user 
fees that are not authorized. It includes an appropriation for 
Over-the-Counter Monograph fees, contingent upon authorization.
    The Committee does not include funding for a civilian pay 
increase across the agency. Should the President provide a 
civilian pay increase for fiscal year 2020, it is assumed that 
the cost of such a pay increase will be absorbed within 
existing appropriations for fiscal year 2020.
    Animal Food Ingredients.--Animal food ingredients are 
reviewed and approved by the Center for Veterinary Medicine and 
is responsible for ensuring the safety of ingredients as they 
enter the marketplace for either food animal production or for 
pets. The Committee is concerned about the time associated with 
the ingredient review and approval process. To address this 
concern, the Committee includes an additional $2,000,000 to 
address reviews to enable innovation and address challenges and 
opportunities in the animal industry.
    Antimicrobial Drug Use.--In recent years, FDA has expanded 
antimicrobial drug sales and distribution reporting under 
Section 105 of the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2008 in 
an effort to further enhance FDA's understanding of 
antimicrobial drug use in food-producing animals. The Committee 
firmly believes that efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance 
must take into consideration animal health and welfare, which 
in turn affect human health and food safety. The Committee 
supports the collection and reporting of accurate and validated 
data of antimicrobial drug use for food-producing animals, but 
is concerned that this reporting of antimicrobial sales and 
distribution data is being inappropriately equated to actual 
antimicrobial use data. The Committee acknowledges that the FDA 
sales and distribution summary report notes this same concern 
and cautions against using sales data as a proxy for actual 
drug use. The Committee also acknowledges the efforts of the 
FDA to collect actual antimicrobial use information through the 
establishment of cooperative agreements to collect use 
information for feedlot and dairy cattle, swine, chickens and 
turkeys. Therefore, the Committee encourages FDA to continue to 
seek alternative methods to better identify and reduce 
inappropriate antimicrobial drug uses. The Committee recognizes 
that not all antimicrobial drugs used in animal agriculture are 
involved in the potential for developing resistance mechanisms 
relevant to animal or human health. The Committee acknowledges 
FDA's recent revisions of the sales and distribution summary 
report to more clearly differentiate medically important 
antimicrobials from those that are not medically important. 
However, the Committee encourages the Agency to continue to 
consider additional updates to the format of the annual summary 
report, based on stakeholder input, that will help to further 
differentiate medically important antimicrobial drugs from 
those that are not considered medically important and that are 
not relevant to the development of antimicrobial resistance 
mechanisms.
    Automated Compounding.--The Committee encourages FDA to 
review policies, regulations, and guidance to incorporate and 
incentivize the use of automation technology to enhance safety, 
improve accuracy, and facilitate compliance in drug 
compounding.
    Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Blood Collection.--
The Committee notes that FDA revised its draft guidance 
document on Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Blood 
Collection Establishments and Transfusion Services in December 
2018. The Committee appreciates FDA's continued efforts to 
expeditiously publish a final guidance document.
    Blood Donor Procedures.--The Committee requests FDA 
continue to evaluate the current blood donation deferral policy 
and consider alternative procedures that would maintain the 
current level of safety and reduce the risk of HIV transmission 
through blood and blood components. The Committee is aware that 
in 2019 the inter-agency Transfusion Transmissible Infections 
Monitoring System (TTIMS) will assess prevalence, incidence, 
and risk factors for HIV infection among both first-time and 
repeat donors and assess time trends that may be associated 
with policy changes such as the current 12-month deferral. The 
Committee encourages FDA to work with the National Heart, Lung 
and Blood Institute to analyze the TTIMS data to fully 
understand the risk factors that might expose a potential donor 
to blood-borne illness and adjust deferment questions if 
warranted.
    Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Trials.--The Committee is 
aware of the remarkable promise of cancer immunotherapy and 
encouraged by the FDA's recent approval of new treatments that 
harness this approach to fighting cancer. More than 1,500 
immuno-oncology clinical trials are in some stage of 
development. As more patients turn to immune-based treatments, 
and more clinical trials are conducted to evaluate them, 
understanding how to recognize and manage the side effects of 
cancer immunotherapies will become increasingly important. 
Currently, however, standard parameters for reporting cancer 
immunotherapy-related adverse events in clinical trials are 
lacking, and this makes comparisons and management across 
studies challenging. The Committee, therefore, urges the FDA to 
work with the research community and the pharmaceutical 
industry to develop standardized templates for reporting 
toxicities in cancer immunotherapy clinical trials.
    Cannabidiol Regulatory Pathway.--The Committee is concerned 
about the proliferation of foods and dietary supplements 
marketed in violation of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act 
(FFDCA), including products containing cannabis and cannabis-
derived ingredients. Non-FFDCA-compliant products pose 
potential health and safety risks to consumers through 
unsubstantiated and misleading claims such as treating a wide-
range of life-threatening diseases and conditions; excessive 
cannabidiol (CBD) concentrations that can result in harmful 
drug-drug interactions, somnolence, and elevated transaminases 
or liver toxicity; and the presence of significant levels of 
intoxicating compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinols (THC). The 
2018 Farm Bill expressly preserves FDA's public health 
authority to take appropriate actions regarding cannabis, 
including hemp and its derivatives. The Committee recognizes 
the FDA is considering a public regulatory process to evaluate 
the appropriateness, and possible parameters, of a regulatory 
pathway that would permit CBD in certain foods and dietary 
supplements. The Committee expects the FDA to assert its 
commitment to identifying lawful federal regulatory pathways 
for CBD foods and dietary supplements if such pathways are 
consistent with protection of the public health. Such pathways 
may include necessary public health and safety parameters that 
will protect the public health, such as labeling requirements 
and limits on CBD or other cannibis-derived ingredients in 
products, based upon anticipated total exposure levels. The 
Committee also expects the FDA to preserve the integrity of its 
drug development and approval processes, which ensures that 
products marketed for drug uses have undergone a rigorous 
scientific validation process demonstrating quality, safety and 
efficacy. It is also imperative that any FDA regulation of 
foods and dietary supplements containing CBD or other cannibis-
derived ingredients preserve incentives to invest in robust 
clinical study of cannabis, so its therapeutic value can be 
more fully understood.
    Canned Tuna.--The Committee is concerned that FDA has not 
revised the standard of identity for canned tuna to adopt the 
drained weight fill of container standard despite having 
received two citizens petitions, as far back as 1994. FDA is 
directed to provide an update on the status of its review of 
the citizen petitions related to the standard of identity for 
canned tuna within 90 days.
    Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Centers of 
Excellence.--The Committee is aware of the important 
contribution of the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition's Centers of Excellence (COEs) program in supporting 
critical basic research as well as facilitating the 
implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The 
Committee encourages the Agency to continue to fully utilize 
the COEs to accomplish these goals, and instructs that it 
embrace its level of support for FDA Food Safety Modernization 
Act activities.
    Center for Veterinary Medicine Guidance Documents.--The FDA 
Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) recently updated its list 
of guidance topics to include possible new topics for 
consideration as well as revisions to existing CVM guidance 
documents. Additionally, the CVM 5-year Strategic Plan for 
Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings, released in 
September 2018, will require FDA guidance documents to direct 
the implementation of the stated goals. The Committee 
encourages FDA to seek input from relevant industry 
stakeholders and appropriate scientific experts who can assist 
FDA in the development of and any revision to guidance 
documents as well as for FDA to seek advice with these industry 
stakeholders on the best course for future guidance 
implementation.
    Chronic Pain.--Management of chronic pain often requires 
both non-pharmacological treatment as well as medicines. 
However, the current pharmacological options do not meet the 
needs of all patients, and additional treatments are needed. 
The Committee directs FDA to provide a brief on the progress of 
the development and advancement of non-opioid chronic pain 
therapies.
    Compounding Center of Excellence.--The Committee supports 
the development of the Compounding Center of Excellence, which 
expands engagement with outsourcing facilities regarding good 
manufacturing practices, thereby helping these facilities 
adhere to the quality standards needed to protect patient 
health and support sector growth in small, underserved 
communities. The Committee encourages FDA to make concerted 
efforts to advise small compounders on how best to navigate 
regulations concerning distributing and dispensing practices, 
so these businesses may continue to adequately service local 
communities and individual patient needs.
    Continuous Manufacturing Initiative.--The Committee 
encourages FDA to explore partnering with existing non-profit 
entities with demonstrated capacity and experience on advanced 
manufacturing technologies to lower pharmaceutical costs.
    Corneal Crosslinking.--The Committee is aware that medical 
devices for the treatment of keratoconus are still being sold 
to U.S. physicians by multiple manufacturers for use in human 
patients without proper FDA authorization. The Committee is 
concerned that as many as 25% of all patients receiving corneal 
crosslinking procedures are put at risk by these non-approved 
devices. The Committee encourages FDA to investigate the 
manufacturers of these non-FDA approved devices, with specific 
regard to their marketing practices and medical claims, and to 
prohibit the utilization of non-FDA approved devices being used 
for corneal crosslinking procedures.
    Cosmetics Funding.--The Committee is concerned that FDA's 
current authority and resources to oversee cosmetics and 
personal care products are inadequate to properly ensure the 
safety of cosmetics products. The Committee directs FDA to 
brief the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act on 
the staffing and budget resources it would need to improve its 
oversight of cosmetics, including whether the agency believes 
user fees would help to improve such oversight. The Committee 
provides an additional $4,000,000 for the Office of Cosmetics 
and Colors, within the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition, to increase staffing and improve cosmetics safety 
oversight.
    Cosmetics Public Education.--The Committee is concerned 
about the dangers of known carcinogens that may be found in 
cosmetic products. The Committee urges the FDA to use a variety 
of communications tools to educate the public on the dangers of 
products for which a company fails to comply with a recall 
requested by the FDA.
    Cosmetic Safety.--The Committee strongly encourages FDA to 
continue taking steps towards ensuring the safety of cosmetics 
and continue to work with stakeholders and Congress to 
modernize the regulatory framework for cosmetics. The Committee 
requests a report within 180 days after enactment of this Act 
on what it would take for FDA to establish Good Manufacturing 
Practices for cosmetics, as a way to further ensure cosmetic 
safety.
    Critical Path Initiative.--Innovation in the development of 
new medicines and other therapies can be enhanced by enabling 
FDA to focus on specific program areas such as those outlined 
in FDA's Critical Path Initiative and its Regulatory Science 
objectives. These types of programs, which FDA often 
accomplishes through public-private partnerships, expand the 
knowledge base for those developing medical products and those 
conducting regulatory review.
    Dairy Standard of Identity.--The Committee is pleased that 
the FDA has begun a deliberative process to review how it will 
enforce the standards of identity for dairy products. The 
Committee continues to hear concerns with the labeling of 
certain foods and beverages as dairy products when the products 
are plant-based rather than derived from an animal. As such, 
the Committee urges the FDA to continue its work toward 
ultimately enforcing standards of identity for dairy products.
    Dairy Standard of Identity for Certain Products.--The 
Committee understands that, as part of FDA's Nutrition 
Innovation Strategy and its review of the standards of identity 
for dairy products, the agency is considering modifications to 
its standards of identity based on changes in food technology 
and nutritional science. To promote this objective, the 
Committee directs the FDA to consult and meet with members of 
the dairy industry to discuss the need for a standard of 
identity for dairy products that do not contain the A1 beta 
casein protein.
    Dietary Supplements.--Within the increases provided for the 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the Committee 
provides an additional $3,000,000 for the Office of Dietary 
Supplement Programs (ODSP). More than half of Americans take at 
least one dietary supplement each day, with use particularly 
prevalent among older persons and in children. The Committee 
applauds FDA's inspection of and enforcement actions against 
manufacturers of dietary supplement products that contain 
ingredients that are potentially harmful or otherwise 
noncompliant with the law, but recognizes more resources are 
needed to regulate products that are contaminated either 
intentionally or unintentionally with inherently unsafe 
ingredients, including active pharmaceutical ingredients. The 
Committee has been pleased with the interagency collaborations 
and urges FDA to continue working with the Department of 
Justice to remove illegal dietary supplements from the market. 
The Committee directs these increased resources toward 
enforcement of DSHEA, including inspection and enforcement 
activities.
    Drug Compounding and Revised Draft MOU.--The Committee 
appreciates the revisions made to the new draft MOU for human 
compounding, released in September 2018 by the FDA. The 
Committee encourages FDA, before the revised draft is 
finalized, FDA to work with stakeholders, including state 
boards of pharmacy, with the goal of having most, if not all, 
states supporting the MOU.
    Drug Compounding Pharmacist on Pharmacy Compounding 
Advisory Committee.--The Committee recognizes that the Pharmacy 
Compounding Advisory Committee established under the Drug 
Quality and Security Act (DQSA) needs to adequately represent 
the interests and needs of providers and patients who use and 
depend on compounded medications. Compounding is often 
practiced in community settings. It is therefore vital that 
voting members of PCAC have a thorough understanding of 
compounding in a community setting in order to appropriately 
advise FDA. The Committee encourages FDA to appoint qualified 
voting members with recent, actual, and diverse experience in 
the preparation, prescribing, and use of compounded 
medications.
    DQSA Implementation.--The Committee is aware of concerns 
about FDA's implementation of the DQSA as it relates to USP 
dietary supplement monographs. The Committee directs FDA to 
provide a briefing the Committee on this issue.
    Drug Supply Chain Security Act.--The Committee is aware 
that the FDA is more than three years late in meeting its 
statutory obligation to establish a Federal licensing standard 
for third-party logistics providers and wholesale distributors. 
Congress mandated FDA complete this effort by 2015 under the 
Drug Supply Chain Security Act. This provision was intended to 
set federal standards to govern licensing for all third-party 
logistics providers and wholesale distributors, helping to 
strengthen FDA's and states' ability to ensure the security of 
the drug supply chain. The Committee directs the FDA to issue 
its proposed rule-making to fulfill this requirement without 
delay.
    Epinephrine Auto Injector Shortage.--The Committee is 
concerned by the national shortage of epinephrine auto 
injectors, which pose a serious threat to those at risk of 
allergic reactions. The Committee is encouraged by FDA's 
actions to address availability of these drugs, both by 
approving a new generic and safely extending the expiration 
dates for existing medications. The Committee urges FDA to 
aggressively combat this drug shortage to ensure epinephrine 
auto injectors are readily available to meet the growing number 
of prescriptions.
    Electrical Stimulation Devices.--The Committee is concerned 
about the delay in issuing a final rule prohibiting the use of 
electrical stimulation devices on persons with intellectual and 
developmental disabilities, especially in light of the agency's 
statement that ``these products present an unreasonable and 
substantial risk to public health.'' Given this risk, the 
Committee directs the agency to issue the final rule no later 
than December 31, 2019, consistent with the Spring 2019 Unified 
Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.
    FDA Partnerships under FSMA.--The purpose of FSMA is to 
reform the nation's food safety laws to ensure a safe public 
food supply. As FDA continues implementation of FSMA, the 
Committee encourages FDA to work in partnership with existing 
government food safety programs through MOUs to verify 
compliance with FSMA rules once they are finalized as a way to 
eliminate duplication of activities under the law.
    FDARA Section 902 Reports.--The Committee appreciates FDA's 
adherence to Section 902 of the FDA Reauthorization Act which 
requires an annual report on inspections. The Committee 
requests that FDA provide it with a separate report on the 
median time, following a request from staff of the FDA 
reviewing an application to the beginning of the inspection, 
that lists the median time for generic drugs and new drugs 
separately.
    Food Additives.--There are more than 10,000 additives to 
preserve or modify the taste, appearance and nutrients in food. 
The Committee is concerned about potential effects of food 
additives on children and requests a report on the effects of 
direct and indirect food additives currently listed as 
generally recognized as safe on the behavioral health of 
children.
    Food Contact Notification User Fees.--The funds made 
available by this Act include sufficient monies to fund the 
Food and Drug Administration's Food Contact Notification 
Program and shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of 21 
U.S.C. 348(h)(5)(A).
    Food Facility Inspections.--The Committee is aware of the 
September 2017 Office of Inspector General (OIG) report that 
outlined deficiencies in FDA's inspections of domestic food 
facilities. The Committee is concerned that the overall number 
of domestic food facilities that FDA inspected since the 
passage of FSMA has decreased from a high of about 19,000 
facilities in 2011 to 16,000 facilities in 2015, the most 
recent year for which data is available. The Committee notes 
that FDA has failed to provide Congress with mandated Food 
Safety Modernization Act annual reports with data on foreign 
and domestic food facility inspections, inspections of food 
imports, and the status of FDA foreign offices for the last six 
consecutive fiscal years. The FDA is urged to finalize these 
delayed reports and submit them to Congress within 180 days.
    Food Safety and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 
Funding.--The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a 
report in January 2019 entitled ``Food Safety and Nutrition: 
FDA Can Build on Existing Efforts to Measure Progress and 
Implement Key Activities.'' The report documents spending and 
shows a steady increase in spending for food safety. A majority 
of this spending relates to activities surrounding FSMA 
development and implementation activities. FSMA implementation 
places additional requirements on state governments and private 
stakeholders, and therefore urges the FDA to provide sufficient 
resources to state and non-profit education and inspection 
programs to address these needs.
    Foodborne Illness.--Reducing incidents of foodborne illness 
is an important public health goal. The Committee believes that 
coordinated and targeted resources are required to 
appropriately assess and combat the public health risks of 
foodborne pathogens. The Committee is aware that FDA is in the 
process of finalizing guidance regarding Listeria monocytogenes 
(Lm) in foods under its jurisdiction. Reducing the incidence of 
listeriosis is an important public health goal and the 
Committee supports efforts to accomplish this objective. The 
Committee urges FDA to define not ready-to-eat foods in 
guidance in a manner that aligns with the approach of USDA's 
FSIS and is protective of public health and is science-based, 
practical, and achievable. The Committee also urges FDA to 
consider all available information relevant to the risk of 
listeriosis, including available exposure models, outbreak 
data, dose-response models, and existing risk assessments, in 
finalizing compliance policy guidance that would establish any 
final action level of Lm in ready-to-eat foods, and to make 
sure that the guidance is protective of public health, science-
based, practical, and achievable. Additionally, the Committee 
continues its direction that FDA, in consultation with NIFA, 
work to coordinate ongoing and future research grant programs 
addressing foodborne pathogens to ensure that NIFA grant 
programs address FDA research priorities, and directs USDA to 
report back to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of 
this Act on its progress toward this goal.
    Foreign High-Risk Inspection.--The Committee maintains 
funding for foreign high-risk inspections to allow FDA to 
continue efforts to develop and utilize a targeted, risk-based, 
and efficient inspection model that incorporates commercially 
available information, including onsite facility verification, 
about all foreign establishments for the purpose of regulatory 
compliance and surveillance of manufacturing quality management 
practices. FDA is directed to provide the Committees with an 
update on these efforts, including estimated efficiencies and 
concerns and plans to continue or expand this effort in the 
future.
    Generic Competition.--The Committee recognizes the 
important role generic drug competition plays in the U.S. 
healthcare marketplace. The Committee supports ongoing efforts 
at FDA facilitating the approval of safe and effective generic 
drugs, including the agency's efforts in approving competitive 
generic therapies, and providing product-specific guidance to 
facilitate the approval of generic drugs, including complex 
generic drugs. The Committee recognizes the record-breaking 
number of generic approvals in 2018 and encourages FDA to 
continue its efforts to ensure appropriate generic drug 
competition in the marketplace.
    Generic Harmonization.--The Committee supports FDA's 
efforts to harmonize scientific and technical standards for 
generic applications with other nations to reduce regulatory 
burden and incentivize competition. The Committee also supports 
efforts to facilitate the international harmonization of drug 
manufacturing facility standards and mutual recognition of 
international inspections, which can help improve standards for 
the pharmaceutical supply chain worldwide. The Committee 
requests FDA brief the Committee within 90 days of the 
enactment of this Act on the steps the agency has taken on 
these efforts, which foreign regulators are being consulted, 
and approximate timelines by which the agency expects to 
implement changes.
    Glass Packaging.--The Committee urges FDA to continue to 
work with glass packaging suppliers and pharmaceutical 
manufacturers to evaluate and promote streamlined approval 
requirements designed to expedite the adoption and use of 
innovative glass packaging technologies with the capacity to 
improve product quality, reduce product recalls, reduce drug 
shortages, and protect public health. Such streamlined approval 
requirements should address stability testing and other 
relevant types of data to be submitted in support of product 
approval.
    Homeopathic Draft Guidance.--The Committee urges FDA to 
consider the views of patients in finalizing its draft 
guidance.
    Imported seafood safety.--As FDA noted in its February 2019 
report, ``FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food,'' 94 
percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. is now imported. One of 
FDA's major responsibilities is to protect consumers from the 
risks of imports, which have been increasing by 5 to 10 percent 
per year for the last decade. It is also FDA's policy to ensure 
that all products regulated by the agency must meet the same 
requirements, whether imported or domestic. While it is 
encouraging that FDA uses various regulatory methods to ensure 
the safety of imported seafood, such as the Foreign Supplier 
Verification Program, the Import Certification Program, and new 
FSMA regulations and tools, the best source of knowledge is the 
physical examination of the product itself. Due to the dramatic 
increase in imported seafood, the Committee provides a one-time 
increase of $5,000,000 to conduct a pilot using Machine 
Learning to develop a screening model for imported seafood 
shipments. This would include physical examination of imported 
seafood covering both chemical and microbiological samples and 
representative of product and import regions. FDA is directed 
to report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriation 
on the results of the pilot as well as recommendations on how 
the Agency may improve upon the safety of such imports, if 
warranted.
    Local Port Cooperation.--The Committee directs the FDA to 
work with local governments at high volume ports of entry to 
explore activities which reduce the risk of food borne 
illnesses and enhance the capacity of local officials in 
dealing with food borne threats. FDA is requested to report 
back to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act 
on its efforts.
    Lower-Cost Insulin Products and Transition to the Biologics 
Price Competition and Innovation Act Approval Pathway.--To 
ensure patient access to lower-cost insulin, the Committee 
urges FDA to undertake the following measures: (1) ensure any 
pending application for a proposed insulin product with a goal 
date prior to March 23, 2020 is reviewed in accordance with the 
``Program for Enhanced Review Transparency and Communication 
for NME NDAs and Original BLAs'' (``the Program''), (2) work to 
identify and promote efficiencies in the review of any 
application submitted under the Public Health Service Act for a 
proposed insulin product that previously was submitted under 
the FFDCA with a goal date prior to March 23, 2020, and that 
failed to meet the requirements for final approval under the 
FFDCA by March 23, 2020, and (3) act quickly to evaluate 
stakeholder feedback and recommendations from its May 13, 2019 
public meeting on the future of insulin biosimilars.
    Mammography Exam Reports.--In November 2011, the National 
Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee approved a 
change to the mammogram patient report and physician report to 
include information regarding an individual's breast density, 
yet this process has not been completed. The Committee 
continues to urge the FDA to implement this change in an 
expedited manner and to brief the Committees on the status of 
this change.
    Menu Labeling Education Campaign.--The Committee supports 
the goals of the Nutrition Innovation Strategy for an 
educational campaign for consumers surrounding both menu 
labeling and the updated Nutrition Facts panel and includes 
$2,000,000 to support this activity.
    Naloxone to Treat Over-usage of Opioids.--United States 
public health agencies have appropriately highlighted the risk 
of overdose from doses of opioids greater than 90 morphine 
milligram equivalents (MME) per day. Also concerning are the 
hundreds of millions of prescriptions each year of immediate 
release (IR) lower MME opioids such as hydrocodone and 
oxycodone. These opioids are commonly associated with abuse and 
are a common pathway to addiction and also present a risk of 
overdose. Some states have begun to limit the prescribing of 
these IR opioids. An additional consideration might be to 
assess the benefit of co-prescribing naloxone with IR and 
extended release (ER) opioids. Prescribers including dentists 
and other primary care providers have an opportunity to become 
more attuned to the risks of all opioids through the 
consideration of co-prescribing naloxone with each opioid 
prescription. The Committee encourages FDA to develop a 
strategy to test this hypothesis and assess the benefit for 
enacting such a policy as a national strategy.
    National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System 
(NARMS).--The Committee provides an additional $2,000,000 for 
NARMS, a national public health surveillance system that tracks 
changes in the antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria 
found in people, meats, and food animals in the United States.
    Non-Human Primates.--The Committee commends the FDA for its 
work to reduce research on non-human primates and relocate non-
human primates no longer needed in research to sanctuary. The 
Committee directs the FDA to deliver a report within 12 months 
of enactment of this Act that outlines a strategy, including a 
detailed timeline, for the reduction and replacement of non-
human primates in FDA intramural testing and research with 
suitable alternative models. The report should also detail 
plans for the relocation of non-human primates no longer needed 
in FDA research to appropriate sanctuaries.
    Nutrient Value of Fish During Pregnancy.--In light of the 
directive included in section 773 of Division B of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6), the Agency 
shall continue coordinating with the Environmental Protection 
Agency to reissue the final fish consumption advice for 
pregnant women provided in the notice of availability entitled 
``Advice About Eating Fish, From the Environmental Protection 
Agency and Food and Drug Administration; Revised Fish Advice; 
Availability'' (82 Fed. Reg. 6571 (January 19, 2017)). The 
reissuance of this advice will assist pregnant women in making 
informed decisions on fish consumption during pregnancy, 
especially as it relates to the positive cognitive development 
of the child.
    Office Use Compounding.--The Committee continues to hear 
concerns that FDA has implemented and enforced the DQSA through 
guidance for industry documents rather than through the notice 
and comment rulemaking procedure called for by the underlying 
statute and the Administrative Procedures Act. The Committee 
requests a briefing from FDA on this issue.
    Olive Oil Standards of Identity.--Because of the 
substantial interest in and consumption of olive oil throughout 
the United States, driven in part by the significant 
scientifically-confirmed health benefits of these oils, and the 
fact that the United States has become a globally-important 
producer of olive oils, especially extra virgin olive oil, the 
Committee directs FDA to establish a separate U.S. Standard of 
Identity for different grades of olive oil (e.g. extra virgin, 
virgin, and refined) and olive-pomace oils. As the Committee is 
particularly concerned with the number of different oil state 
standards for olive oils in the U.S., it is important to 
determine if establishing a uniform set of the standards would 
better inform and protect consumers. FDA is directed to consult 
and meet with domestic producers and importers of olive oil to 
develop a science-based Standard of Identity for extra virgin 
olive oil and olive oil to ensure the integrity of these 
products for U.S. consumers.
    Opioid Abuse.--The abuse, misuse, and diversion of opioid 
painkillers continue to drive an epidemic in the United States. 
The CDC indicates that one American loses his or her battle 
with addiction every twelve and a half minutes. The Committee 
continues to be pleased that, with the Opioids Action Plan, 
Opioid Policy Steering Committee, and several significant 
regulatory actions, FDA is doing its part to help stem the tide 
of abuse. The use of opioids as first-line therapies for any 
form of pain has led to over-prescribing, and the CDC has made 
clear that clinicians should consider opioid therapy only if 
expected benefits for both pain and function are anticipated to 
outweigh the risks to the patient. The Committee hopes that FDA 
will continue to support the development of alternative and 
non-addictive alternatives to opioid analgesics and, when 
opioids are medically necessary, will continue to incentivize 
development and use of abuse-deterrent formulations. The 
Committee notes that every patient's treatment regimen should 
be tailored by his or her doctor to his or her unique needs. 
The federal government, therefore, should promote the full 
suite of available treatment options, including abstinence-
based models and non-opioid medications. Finally, the Committee 
continues to be supportive of naloxone distribution among 
trained, licensed healthcare professionals and emergency 
responders. When considering the appropriateness of providing 
naloxone over-the-counter, the Committee urges the FDA to 
ensure that the administration of naloxone serves as a point of 
intervention to spur an honest conversation between the patient 
and his doctor about addiction and treatment.
    OTC Acetaminophen Dosing Information for Children.--The 
Committee is concerned that the lack of dosing information for 
children ages six months to two years may lead to dosing 
errors, adverse events, and inadequate treatment of fever and 
pain. The FDA is urged to update the monograph label for 
acetaminophen to include weight-based dosing instructions for 
children ages six months to two years and provide to the 
Committee not later than 180 days after the enactment of this 
Act a report on why action has not been taken based on the 
recommendation of two of its advisory committees.
    Patient Experience in Drug Reviews.--The Committee is aware 
the FDA is implementing policies to promote public access to 
information about how patient experience information factored 
into the review of approved products. The Committee supports 
this step forward and encourages FDA to continue refining the 
instrument and ways to improve its visibility. The Committee 
also requests that FDA consider ways to include patient-
experience information in relevant labeling and accompanying 
documentation to inform patient/provider decision making and 
payer determinations.
    Patient-Focused Drug Development Initiative.--The Committee 
supports the goals of the Patient-Focused Drug Development 
Initiative. The Committee notes that alopecia areata is 
included in this initiative.
    Pediatric Devices.--The Committee is aware of the success 
of the FDA's Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) and the Center 
for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH) interest in 
developing a collaborative community related to pediatric 
devices. However, the Committee is concerned the CDRH does not 
have the necessary resources to properly leverage the benefits 
of the PDC program and a collaborative community. Therefore, 
the Committee provides an increase of $1,000,000 for the PDC 
program to improve infrastructure for conducting pediatric 
device trials and the planning of a related Pediatric Device 
collaborative community.
    Pediatric IBD.--The Committee commends FDA for convening a 
workshop in November 2018 to examine barriers to drug 
development for pediatric IBD, including clinical trials, and 
recognizes the work done so far to identify the variables that 
impede trial participation. To advance this work, the Committee 
strongly encourages FDA to partner with stakeholders including 
patient advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers, and 
industry to establish a working group to develop a plan for 
reducing barriers to pediatric IBD clinical trial participation 
and drug development.
    Pentobarbital in Pet Food.--The Committee is aware that pet 
food containing any level of pentobarbital is a violation of 
the FFDCA. Still, pet food products containing pentobarbital 
managed to reach consumer shelves and affect the lives of pets 
before being recalled. Lethargy, seizure, and death are only a 
few of the side effects pet owners grapple with should their 
pet become ill due to pet food pentobarbital contamination. FDA 
is directed to report to the Committees on their findings of 
any current FDA studies of pet food pentobarbital 
contaminations and what FDA is doing to reduce contamination 
risks.
    Pesticide Residues in Imported Human Food.--The Committee 
is concerned that imported human food continues to have higher 
pesticide violation rates than domestically produced food. The 
Committee recognizes that identifying a high violation rate for 
an imported commodity attests to FDA's sampling design. 
However, such differences between domestic and import violation 
rates are concerning. The Committee directs FDA to analyze data 
in preparation of its next annual report to assess whether 
giving special attention to certain imported products with 
significantly higher rates of violations compared to domestic 
products would change the planning of the pesticide sampling 
plan for future years.
    Pet Food Imports.--The Committee appreciates the 
significant investigational effort over the past several years 
into reported pet illnesses associated with jerky pet treats. 
The Committee awaits the final summary paper detailing FDA work 
on jerky pet treats.
    Rare Cancer Therapeutics.--FDA's Oncology Center of 
Excellence was formed to streamline the development of cancer 
therapies. It creates a unified and collaborative scientific 
environment to advance the development and regulation of 
oncology products for cancer patients. However, there continues 
to be a significant development gap for rare cancer therapies. 
Therefore, the Committee includes an additional $5,000,000 to 
address gaps in the system, streamline resources, accelerate 
the development of rare cancer therapies and advance the field 
of cancer research overall, mirroring the efforts of the 
National Cancer Institute's Developmental Therapeutics Program. 
FDA is directed to build lines of communications and processes 
between these two agencies in order to expedite review of rare 
cancer therapies.
    Real World Evidence.--In the 21st Century Cures Act, 
Congress expressed support for the use of real-world evidence 
and directed FDA to create a comprehensive plan for how to 
advance efforts for its use in regulatory decision making. 
Congress commends FDA on the progress it has made on this 
initiative thus far and urges continued focus on expansion of 
the use of real-world evidence. Real-world evidence has many 
uses, including identifying real-time opioid prescribing 
patterns across the country, creating proactive drug safety 
monitoring and patient safety regimes, helping to interpret and 
complement the clinical trial process, and allowing for less 
costly and quicker drug development. Congress hopes to see 
continued advances at FDA in this important area and 
appropriate use of real-world Evidence, particularly in 
regulatory decision making.
    Sesame.--The Committee is concerned with the growing 
prevalence and severity of sesame allergies and commends the 
FDA for issuing a request for information on adding sesame to 
the list of major allergens. The Committee requests a report 
within 90 days of enactment on the status of the review of the 
data received under the request for information. The report 
shall include a timeline of when comments will be fully 
reviewed, recommendations and conclusions based on this review, 
and a detailed plan of action on proposed rulemaking.
    Standard of Identity Activities for Foods.--Of the amount 
provided for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 
the Committee provides an increase of $3,000,000 for the Office 
of Nutrition and Food Labeling to prioritize efforts regarding 
standards of identity and related product labeling.
    Sunscreen Ingredients.--The Committee continues to track 
the actions of the FDA related to sunscreen ingredients. The 
Committee recognizes the agency's efforts in generating and 
posting consumer and public health resources regarding health 
benefits of sunscreen use. The Committee urges FDA to clarify 
its messaging concerning currently marketed sunscreen 
ingredients to ensure the continued use of sunscreens. In 
addition, the Committee encourages FDA to work with 
stakeholders.
    Systems for Investigations, Recalls, Compliance and 
Enforcement (SIRCE) Investment.--The Committee understands that 
the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) is undergoing an effort 
to replace aging and segmented data systems through the SIRCE 
contract. The Committee directs ORA to report back on the 
status of SIRCE investments and, whenever practicable, to 
ensure that funding for technology systems support the 
establishment of an interoperable, comprehensive program.
    The Real Cost.--The Committee supports FDA's ``The Real 
Cost'' youth e-cigarette prevention campaign which to date has 
been directed at youth ages 12-17, and directs the FDA to 
explore expanding the advertising to the general public.
    Traceability of food.--The Committee is aware that FDA has 
not put forward a comprehensive food-traceability system. The 
Committee directs FDA to work with stakeholders on a wide-scale 
traceability system that could help companies and government 
agencies more rapidly access data crucial to tracking foods 
implicated in disease outbreaks and subject to recalls.
    Track and Trace.--Public Law 111-31 required FDA to 
implement a national track and trace system on the manufacture 
and flow of tobacco products to ensure compliance with tobacco 
product standards and disrupt illicit trade and counterfeiting. 
FDA has yet to fully meet this requirement. The Committee 
directs FDA to provide not later than 180 days after the 
enactment of this Act a report on the status of track and trace 
rulemaking as it applies to tobacco products, including ENDS 
and nicotine components.
    Unapproved Stem Cell Products.--The Committee appreciates 
the enforcement actions against clinics for marketing 
unapproved stem cell products. The Committee encourages the FDA 
to continue prioritizing enforcement actions against businesses 
that illicitly market unapproved products to patients and to 
continue to coordinate with the Federal Trade Commission to 
optimize its enforcement and consumer education activities.
    Youth E-cigarette Use.--The Committee is troubled by the 
dramatic increase in youth e-cigarette use and notes that 
flavors are the most common reason youth use e-cigarettes. The 
Committee urges FDA to expedite the pre-market review of e-
cigarettes and other newly deemed tobacco products that were on 
the market as of August 8, 2016 and to remove from the market 
any deemed tobacco product introduced after August 8, 2016 that 
has not undergone a pre-market review.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $11,788,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        11,788,000
Provided in the bill..................................        11,788,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................             - - -
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Buildings and Facilities of the Food and Drug 
Administration, the Committee provides $11,788,000.

                   FDA INNOVATION ACCOUNT, CURES ACT

 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................       $70,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................        75,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................        75,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................        +5,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the FDA Innovation Account as authorized in the 21st 
Century Cures Act, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$75,000,000.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES


                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission


 
 
 
2019 appropriation....................................      $268,000,000
2020 budget estimate..................................       315,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................       315,000,000
Comparison:
    2019 appropriation................................       +47,000,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $315,000,000, of which 
$57,000,000 is for the purchase of IT and $3,386,000 is for the 
Inspector General.
    Aluminum.--The Committee is aware of concerns about pricing 
by aluminum end users. It is the CFTC's mission to protect 
market users and the public from fraud, manipulation, and 
abusive practices related to the sale of commodity and 
financial futures and options, and to foster open, competitive, 
and financially sound futures and options markets. The 
Committee therefore requests that the CFTC report back no later 
than 90 days after enactment of the bill on the state of the 
aluminum futures markets.
    Cross-Border Harmonization.--The Committee strongly 
encourages the CFTC to work with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC) to harmonize the definition of a ``U.S. 
person.'' Currently, the definition of a ``U.S. person'' 
differs between the two agencies, which can result in 
operational challenges and potentially different regulatory 
treatment of entities transacting in otherwise similar 
instruments. Global firms face significant costs and burdens if 
the CFTC's and SEC's regulatory approaches produce different 
outcomes regarding whether an entity or transaction would be 
subject to the Dodd-Frank Act. Derivatives transactions for 
swaps and security-based swaps that are traded typically by the 
same trading desk or desks should not be analyzed differently. 
The Committee urges these agencies to work together in an 
expeditious manner toward a consistent definition of a U.S. 
person.
    Virtual Currency Monitoring.--The advent of virtual 
currency markets has presented several new challenges for the 
Commission in its efforts to carry out its mission. Each 
virtual currency derivatives contract currently ties its price 
in some way, through various settlement processes, to prices of 
virtual currency on certain cash market platforms. This 
underlying virtual currency cash market is relatively nascent, 
and the platforms operating in the cash market remain largely 
unregulated, with the Commission having only limited 
enforcement authority over the cash market. Those features of 
the underlying cash market platforms have led the Commission to 
note multiple risks to the markets. Therefore, the Committee 
encourages the Commission's ongoing efforts, in coordination 
with other financial regulators such as the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, to continue monitoring virtual currencies, 
including Bitcoin futures contracts, and to detect, 
investigate, and prosecute fraud and manipulation in these 
markets. The Commission is directed to prepare a report on how 
to better protect virtual currency investors and promote 
American competitiveness in this evolving global marketplace. 
This report should include, but is not limited to, a discussion 
of how to protect investors against fraud and manipulation 
involving virtual currency. This report is to be made available 
on the Commission website within 270 days of the date of 
enactment of this Act.

                       Farm Credit Administration


                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

 
 
 
2019 limitation.......................................     ($74,600,000)
2020 budget estimate..................................      (76,000,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (76,000,000)
Comparison:
    2019 limitation...................................        +1,400,000
    2020 budget estimate..............................             - - -
 

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the limitation on the expenses of the Farm Credit 
Administration (FCA), the Committee provides $76,000,000.
    Public/private partnerships.--The Committee recognizes the 
value of public/private partnerships in financing rural 
community facilities and other similar projects, as well as the 
role the Farm Credit System (FCS) can play in expanding these 
partnerships. The Committee also recognizes that the Farm 
Credit Act of 1971, as amended, provides authority for FCS 
institutions to make investments in vital rural community 
facilities and supports improving the Farm Credit 
Administration's current process of approving these 
investments. To help the Committee consider ways it can 
encourage these partnerships, the Farm Credit Administration is 
directed to report back to the Committee within 120 days of the 
date of enactment of this Act on the current ways in which the 
FCS participates in these partnerships and on options to 
enhance and expand FCS's lending and investment opportunities 
to increase these partnerships and investment projects in rural 
America.

                               TITLE VII


                           GENERAL PROVISIONS


             (INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

    The following general provisions are included in the bill:
    Section 701.--The bill includes language regarding motor 
vehicles.
    Section 702.--The bill includes language regarding the 
Working Capital Fund of the Department of Agriculture.
    Section 703.--The bill includes language limiting funding 
provided in the bill to one year unless otherwise specified.
    Section 704.--The bill includes language regarding 
nonprofit institutions.
    Section 705.--The bill includes language regarding Rural 
Development programs.
    Section 706.--The bill includes language regarding 
information technology systems.
    Section 707.--The bill includes language regarding fund 
availability.
    Section 708.--The bill includes language regarding Rural 
Utilities Service program eligibility.
    Section 709.--The bill includes language regarding funds 
for information technology expenses.
    Section 710.--The bill includes language prohibiting first-
class airline travel.
    Section 711.--The bill includes language regarding the 
availability of certain funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation.
    Section 712.--The bill includes language regarding funding 
for advisory committees.
    Section 713.--The bill includes language regarding IT 
system regulations.
    Section 714.--The bill includes language regarding Section 
32 activities.
    Section 715.--The bill includes language regarding user fee 
proposals without offsets.
    Section 716.--The bill includes language regarding the 
reprogramming of funds for USDA.
    Section 717.--The bill includes language regarding the 
reprogramming of funds and notification requirements for FDA 
and CFTC.
    Section 718.--The bill includes language regarding fees for 
the guaranteed business and industry loan program.
    Section 719.--The bill includes language regarding the 
appropriations hearing process.
    Section 720.--The bill includes language regarding 
government-sponsored news stories.
    Section 721.--The bill includes language regarding details 
and assignments of Department of Agriculture employees.
    Section 722.--The bill includes language regarding 
eligibility for Rural Development programs.
    Section 723.--The bill includes language requiring spend 
plans.
    Section 724.--The bill includes language regarding certain 
USDA balances.
    Section 725.--The bill includes language regarding rural 
housing loans.
    Section 726.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
loan programs.
    Section 727.--The bill includes language regarding the 
Working Capital Fund.
    Section 728.--The bill includes language regarding SNAP 
variety.
    Section 729.--The bill includes language regarding housing 
loan programs.
    Section 730.--The bill includes language regarding consumer 
information.
    Section 731.--The bill includes language regarding FDA 
regulations.
    Section 732.--The bill includes language regarding Food for 
Peace.
    Section 733.--The bill includes language regarding Rural 
Development energy program.
    Section 734.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
regulations.
    Section 735.--The bill includes language regarding FDA 
regulations.
    Section 736.--The bill includes language regarding animal 
welfare.
    Section 737.--The bill includes language regarding United 
States iron and steel products.
    Section 738.--The bill includes language regarding 
lobbying.
    Section 739.--The bill includes language regarding poultry 
products.
    Section 740.--The bill includes language regarding certain 
inspection activities.
    Section 741.--The bill includes language regarding Rural 
Development programs.
    Section 742.--The bill includes language regarding poultry 
products.
    Section 743.--The bill includes language regarding child 
nutrition programs.
    Section 744.--The bill includes language regarding low-
income communities.
    Section 745.--The bill includes language regarding citrus 
greening.
    Section 746.--The bill includes language regarding grape 
varietals.
    Section 747.--The bill includes language regarding school 
lunch programs.
    Section 748.--The bill includes language regarding rural 
broadband.
    Section 749.--The bill includes language regarding the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
    Section 750.--The bill includes language regarding school 
breakfast programs.
    Section 751.--The bill includes language regarding FDA 
regulations.
    Section 752.--The bill includes language regarding Centers 
of Excellence.
    Section 753.--The bill includes language regarding 
assistance to rural hospitals.
    Section 754.--The bill includes language regarding disaster 
assistance.
    Section 755.--The bill includes language regarding certain 
USDA balances.
    Section 756.--The bill includes language regarding the 
organic program.
    Section 757.--The bill includes language regarding 
demonstration projects for Tribes.
    Section 758.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
agencies.
    Section 759.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
agencies.
    Section 760.--The bill includes language regarding animal 
welfare.
    Section 761.--The bill includes language regarding 
fellowships.
    Section 762.--The bill includes language regarding certain 
research programs.
    Section 763.--The bill includes language regarding the 
school breakfast programs.
    Section 764.--The bill includes language regarding farm 
ownership.
    Section 765.--The bill includes language regarding Rural 
Development loans.
    Section 766.--The bill includes language regarding research 
facilities.
    Section 767.--The bill includes language regarding research 
programs.
    Section 768.--The bill includes language regarding urban 
agriculture.
    Section 769.--The bill includes language regarding food 
loss.
    Section 770.--The bill includes language regarding 
nutrition programs.
    Section 771.--The bill includes language regarding 
pollinator research.
    Section 772.--The bill includes language regarding training 
and outreach.
    Section 773.--The bill includes language regarding 
assistance to Tribal students.
    Section 774.--The bill includes language regarding research 
programs.
    Section 775.--The bill includes language regarding farm 
loans.
    Section 776.--The bill includes language regarding a 
Nutrition Assistance Program study.
    Section 777.--The bill includes language regarding micro-
grants for food security.
    Section 778.--The bill includes language regarding gene 
editing.
    Section 779.--The bill includes language regarding swine 
inspections.
    Section 780.--The bill includes language regarding Job 
Corps Civilian Conservation Centers.

              HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS


                          Full Committee Votes

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of 
the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call 
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with 
the names of those voting for and those against, are printed 
below:

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of 
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure 
authorizes funding:
    The Committee on Appropriations considers program 
performance, including a program's success in developing and 
attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing 
funding recommendations.

                          Program Duplication

    No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a 
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of 
another Federal program, a program that was included in any 
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program 
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance.

                           Transfers of Funds

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following list includes the 
transfers of unexpended balances included in the accompanying 
bill:
    1. Office of the Secretary.--The bill allows funds within 
the account to be transferred among the offices included in the 
account.
    2. Departmental Administration.--The bill requires 
reimbursement for expenses related to certain hearings.
    3. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional 
Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs.--The bill allows a 
portion of the funds appropriated to the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary to be transferred to agencies.
    4. Hazardous Materials Management.--The bill allows the 
funds appropriated to the Department for hazardous materials 
management to be transferred to agencies of the Department as 
required.
    5. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--Authority 
is included to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer 
from other appropriations or funds of the Department such sums 
as may be necessary to combat emergency outbreaks of certain 
diseases of animals, plants, and poultry.
    6. Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply.--
The bill limits the transfer of section 32 funds to purposes 
specified in the bill.
    7. Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business 
Center.--The bill allows certain funds to be merged with the 
salaries and expenses account for the FPAC Business Center.
    8. Farm Service Agency Salaries and Expenses.--The bill 
provides that funds provided to other accounts in the agency 
may be advanced to and merged with the salaries and expenses 
account of the Farm Service Agency.
    9. Dairy Indemnity Program.--The bill authorizes the 
transfer of funds to the Commodity Credit Corporation, by 
reference.
    10. Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account.--
The bill provides funds to be transferred to the Farm Service 
Agency and to the FPAC Business Center and for certain funds to 
be transferred within the account.
    11. Commodity Credit Corporation.--The bill includes 
language allowing certain funds to be transferred to the 
Foreign Agricultural Service for information resource 
management activities.
    12. Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account, 
Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account, and Rural 
Electrification and Telecommunications Program Account.--The 
bill provides funds in this account shall be transferred to the 
Rural Development Salaries and Expenses account.
    13. Child Nutrition Programs.--The bill includes authority 
to transfer section 32 funds to these programs.
    14. Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and Expenses.--
The bill allows for the transfer of funds from the Commodity 
Credit Corporation Export Loan Program Account.
    15. Food for Peace Title I Direct Credit and Food for 
Progress Program Account.--The bill allows funds to be 
transferred to the Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses 
account.
    16. Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program.--The 
bill provides for transfer of funds to the Foreign Agricultural 
Service and to the Farm Service Agency for overhead expenses 
associated with credit reform.
    17. Food and Drug Administration, Salaries and Expenses.--
The bill allows funds to be transferred among certain 
activities.
    18. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Innovation Account, 
Cures Act.--The bill allows funds to be transferred from the 
21st Century Cures Act to the Food and Drug Administration, 
Salaries and Expenses account.
    19. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.--The bill allows 
certain funds to be transferred to a no-year account in the 
Treasury.
    20. General Provisions.--Section 702 of the bill allows 
unobligated balances of discretionary funds to be transferred 
to the Working Capital Fund. Section 767 of the bill allows 
funding transfers to USDA for certain research programs.

                              Rescissions

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following lists the rescissions 
of unexpended balances included in the accompanying bill:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Program or activity                         Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USDA FNS (prior year balances).......................       $800,000,000
USDA NIFA (prior year balances)......................          5,830,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending Items

    Neither the bill nor this report contain any congressional 
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as 
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

          Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3(e) (Ramseyer Rule)

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change 
is proposed is shown in roman):

              RICHARD B. RUSSELL NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
               NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

  Sec. 9. (a)(1)(A) Lunches served by schools participating in 
the school lunch program under this Act shall meet minimum 
nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary on the 
basis of tested nutritional research, except that the minimum 
nutritional requirements--
          (i) shall not be construed to prohibit the 
        substitution of foods to accommodate the medical or 
        other special dietary needs of individual students; and
          (ii) shall, at a minimum, be based on the weekly 
        average of the nutrient content of school lunches.
  (B) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and 
training, including technical assistance and training in the 
preparation of lower-fat versions of foods commonly used in the 
school lunch program under this Act, to schools participating 
in the school lunch program to assist the schools in complying 
with the nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) and in providing appropriate meals 
to children with medically certified special dietary needs. The 
Secretary shall provide additional technical assistance to 
schools that are having difficulty maintaining compliance with 
the requirements.
          (2) Fluid milk.--
                  (A) In general.--Lunches served by schools 
                participating in the school lunch program under 
                this Act--
                          (i) shall offer students a variety of 
                        fluid milk. Such milk shall be 
                        consistent with the most recent Dietary 
                        Guidelines for Americans published 
                        under section 301 of the National 
                        Nutrition Monitoring and Related 
                        Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341);
                          (ii) may offer students flavored and 
                        unflavored fluid milk and lactose-free 
                        fluid milk; and
                          (iii) shall provide a substitute for 
                        fluid milk for students whose 
                        disability restricts their diet, on 
                        receipt of a written statement from a 
                        licensed physician that identifies the 
                        disability that restricts the student's 
                        diet and that specifies the substitute 
                        for fluid milk.
                  (B) Substitutes.--
                          (i) Standards for substitution.--A 
                        school may substitute for the fluid 
                        milk provided under subparagraph (A), a 
                        nondairy beverage that is nutritionally 
                        equivalent to fluid milk and meets 
                        nutritional standards established by 
                        the Secretary (which shall, among other 
                        requirements to be determined by the 
                        Secretary, include fortification of 
                        calcium, protein, vitamin A, and 
                        vitamin D to levels found in cow's 
                        milk) for students who cannot consume 
                        fluid milk because of a medical or 
                        other special dietary need other than a 
                        disability described in subparagraph 
                        (A)(iii).
                          (ii) Notice.--The substitutions may 
                        be made if the school notifies the 
                        State agency that the school is 
                        implementing a variation allowed under 
                        this subparagraph, and if the 
                        substitution is requested by written 
                        statement of a medical authority or by 
                        a student's parent or legal guardian 
                        that identifies the medical or other 
                        special dietary need that restricts the 
                        student's diet, except that the school 
                        shall not be required to provide 
                        beverages other than beverages the 
                        school has identified as acceptable 
                        substitutes.
                          (iii) Excess expenses borne by school 
                        food authority.--Expenses incurred in 
                        providing substitutions under this 
                        subparagraph that are in excess of 
                        expenses covered by reimbursements 
                        under this Act shall be paid by the 
                        school food authority.
                  (C) Restrictions on sale of milk 
                prohibited.--A school that participates in the 
                school lunch program under this Act shall not 
                directly or indirectly restrict the sale or 
                marketing of fluid milk products by the school 
                (or by a person approved by the school) at any 
                time or any place--
                          (i) on the school premises; or
                          (ii) at any school-sponsored event.
  (3) Students in senior high schools that participate in the 
school lunch program under this Act (and, when approved by the 
local school district or nonprofit private schools, students in 
any other grade level) shall not be required to accept offered 
foods they do not intend to consume, and any such failure to 
accept offered foods shall not affect the full charge to the 
student for a lunch meeting the requirements of this subsection 
or the amount of payments made under this Act to any such 
school for such lunch.
          (4) Provision of information.--
                  (A) Guidance.--Prior to the beginning of the 
                school year beginning July 2004, the Secretary 
                shall issue guidance to States and school food 
                authorities to increase the consumption of 
                foods and food ingredients that are recommended 
                for increased serving consumption in the most 
                recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
                published under section 301 of the National 
                Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act 
                of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341).
                  (B) Rules.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
                Secretary shall promulgate rules, based on the 
                most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 
                that reflect specific recommendations, 
                expressed in serving recommendations, for 
                increased consumption of foods and food 
                ingredients offered in school nutrition 
                programs under this Act and the Child Nutrition 
                Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).
                  (C) Procurement and processing of food 
                service products and commodities.--The 
                Secretary shall--
                          (i) identify, develop, and 
                        disseminate to State departments of 
                        agriculture and education, school food 
                        authorities, local educational 
                        agencies, and local processing 
                        entities, model product specifications 
                        and practices for foods offered in 
                        school nutrition programs under this 
                        Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                        (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) to ensure that 
                        the foods reflect the most recent 
                        Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
                        published under section 301 of the 
                        National Nutrition Monitoring and 
                        Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
                        5341);
                          (ii) not later than 1 year after the 
                        date of enactment of this 
                        subparagraph--
                                  (I) carry out a study to 
                                analyze the quantity and 
                                quality of nutritional 
                                information available to school 
                                food authorities about food 
                                service products and 
                                commodities; and
                                  (II) submit to Congress a 
                                report on the results of the 
                                study that contains such 
                                legislative recommendations as 
                                the Secretary considers 
                                necessary to ensure that school 
                                food authorities have access to 
                                the nutritional information 
                                needed for menu planning and 
                                compliance assessments; and
                          (iii) to the maximum extent 
                        practicable, in purchasing and 
                        processing commodities for use in 
                        school nutrition programs under this 
                        Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                        (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), purchase the 
                        widest variety of healthful foods that 
                        reflect the most recent Dietary 
                        Guidelines for Americans.
          (5) Water.--Schools participating in the school lunch 
        program under this Act shall make available to children 
        free of charge, as nutritionally appropriate, potable 
        water for consumption in the place where meals are 
        served during meal service.
  (b)(1)(A) Not later than June 1 of each fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall prescribe income guidelines for determining 
eligibility for free and reduced price lunches during the 12-
month period beginning July 1 of such fiscal year and ending 
June 30 of the following fiscal year. The income guidelines for 
determining eligibility for free lunches shall be 130 percent 
of the applicable family size income levels contained in the 
nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of 
Management and Budget, as adjusted annually in accordance with 
subparagraph (B). The income guidelines for determining 
eligibility for reduced price lunches for any school year shall 
be 185 percent of the applicable family size income levels 
contained in the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed 
by the Office of Management and Budget, as adjusted annually in 
accordance with subparagraph (B). The Office of Management and 
Budget guidelines shall be revised at annual intervals, or at 
any shorter interval deemed feasible and desirable.
  (B) The revision required by subparagraph (A) of this 
paragraph shall be made by multiplying--
          (i) the official poverty line (as defined by the 
        Office of Management and Budget); by
          (ii) the percentage change in the Consumer Price 
        Index during the annual or other interval immediately 
        preceding the time at which the adjustment is made.
Revisions under this subparagraph shall be made not more than 
30 days after the date on which the consumer price index data 
required to compute the adjustment becomes available.
  (2)(A) Following the determination by the Secretary under 
paragraph (1) of this subsection of the income eligibility 
guidelines for each school year, each State educational agency 
shall announce the income eligibility guidelines, by family 
size, to be used by schools in the State in making 
determinations of eligibility for free and reduced price 
lunches. Local school authorities shall, each year, publicly 
announce the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced 
price lunches on or before the opening of school.
          (B) Applications and descriptive material.--
                  (i) In general.--Applications for free and 
                reduced price lunches, in such form as the 
                Secretary may prescribe or approve, and any 
                descriptive material, shall be distributed to 
                the parents or guardians of children in 
                attendance at the school, and shall contain 
                only the family size income levels for reduced 
                price meal eligibility with the explanation 
                that households with incomes less than or equal 
                to these values would be eligible for free or 
                reduced price lunches.
                  (ii) Income eligibility guidelines.--Forms 
                and descriptive material distributed in 
                accordance with clause (i) may not contain the 
                income eligibility guidelines for free lunches.
                  (iii) Contents of descriptive material.--
                          (I) In general.--Descriptive material 
                        distributed in accordance with clause 
                        (i) shall contain a notification that--
                                  (aa) participants in the 
                                programs listed in subclause 
                                (II) may be eligible for free 
                                or reduced price meals; and
                                  (bb) documentation may be 
                                requested for verification of 
                                eligibility for free or reduced 
                                price meals.
                          (II) Programs.--The programs referred 
                        to in subclause (I)(aa) are--
                                  (aa) the special supplemental 
                                nutrition program for women, 
                                infants, and children 
                                established by section 17 of 
                                the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1786);
                                  (bb) the supplemental 
                                nutrition assistance program 
                                established under the Food and 
                                Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
                                2011 et seq.);
                                  (cc) the food distribution 
                                program on Indian reservations 
                                established under section 4(b) 
                                of the Food and Nutrition Act 
                                of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)); and
                                  (dd) a State program funded 
                                under the program of block 
                                grants to States for temporary 
                                assistance for needy families 
                                established under part A of 
                                title IV of the Social Security 
                                Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
          (3) Household applications.--
                  (A) Definition of household application.--In 
                this paragraph, the term ``household 
                application'' means an application for a child 
                of a household to receive free or reduced price 
                school lunches under this Act, or free or 
                reduced price school breakfasts under the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), 
                for which an eligibility determination is made 
                other than under paragraph (4) or (5).
                  (B) Eligibility determination.--
                          (i) In general.--An eligibility 
                        determination shall be made on the 
                        basis of a complete household 
                        application executed by an adult member 
                        of the household or in accordance with 
                        guidance issued by the Secretary.
                          (ii) Electronic signatures and 
                        applications.--A household application 
                        may be executed using an electronic 
                        signature if--
                                  (I) the application is 
                                submitted electronically; and
                                  (II) the electronic 
                                application filing system meets 
                                confidentiality standards 
                                established by the Secretary.
                  (C) Children in household.--
                          (i) In general.--The household 
                        application shall identify the names of 
                        each child in the household for whom 
                        meal benefits are requested.
                          (ii) Separate applications.--A State 
                        educational agency or local educational 
                        agency may not request a separate 
                        application for each child in the 
                        household that attends schools under 
                        the same local educational agency.
                  (D) Verification of sample.--
                          (i) Definitions.--In this 
                        subparagraph:
                                  (I) Error prone 
                                application.--The term ``error 
                                prone application'' means an 
                                approved household application 
                                that--
                                          (aa) indicates 
                                        monthly income that is 
                                        within $100, or an 
                                        annual income that is 
                                        within $1,200, of the 
                                        income eligibility 
                                        limitation for free or 
                                        reduced price meals; or
                                          (bb) in lieu of the 
                                        criteria established 
                                        under item (aa), meets 
                                        criteria established by 
                                        the Secretary.
                                  (II) Non-response rate.--The 
                                term ``non-response rate'' 
                                means (in accordance with 
                                guidelines established by the 
                                Secretary) the percentage of 
                                approved household applications 
                                for which verification 
                                information has not been 
                                obtained by a local educational 
                                agency after attempted 
                                verification under 
                                subparagraphs (F) and (G).
                          (ii) Verification of sample.--Each 
                        school year, a local educational agency 
                        shall verify eligibility of the 
                        children in a sample of household 
                        applications approved for the school 
                        year by the local educational agency, 
                        as determined by the Secretary in 
                        accordance with this subsection.
                          (iii) Sample size.--Except as 
                        otherwise provided in this paragraph, 
                        the sample for a local educational 
                        agency for a school year shall equal 
                        the lesser of--
                                  (I) 3 percent of all 
                                applications approved by the 
                                local educational agency for 
                                the school year, as of October 
                                1 of the school year, selected 
                                from error prone applications; 
                                or
                                  (II) 3,000 error prone 
                                applications approved by the 
                                local educational agency for 
                                the school year, as of October 
                                1 of the school year.
                          (iv) Alternative sample size.--
                                  (I) In general.--If the 
                                conditions described in 
                                subclause (IV) are met, the 
                                verification sample size for a 
                                local educational agency shall 
                                be the sample size described in 
                                subclause (II) or (III), as 
                                determined by the local 
                                educational agency.
                                  (II)  3,000/3 percent 
                                option.--The sample size 
                                described in this subclause 
                                shall be the lesser of 3,000, 
                                or 3 percent of, applications 
                                selected at random from 
                                applications approved by the 
                                local educational agency for 
                                the school year, as of October 
                                1 of the school year.
                                  (III)  1,000/1 percent plus 
                                option.--
                                          (aa) In general.--The 
                                        sample size described 
                                        in this subclause shall 
                                        be the sum of--
                                                  (AA) the 
                                                lesser of 
                                                1,000, or 1 
                                                percent of, all 
                                                applications 
                                                approved by the 
                                                local 
                                                educational 
                                                agency for the 
                                                school year, as 
                                                of October 1 of 
                                                the school 
                                                year, selected 
                                                from error 
                                                prone 
                                                applications; 
                                                and
                                                  (BB) the 
                                                lesser of 500, 
                                                or \1/2\ of 1 
                                                percent of, 
                                                applications 
                                                approved by the 
                                                local 
                                                educational 
                                                agency for the 
                                                school year, as 
                                                of October 1 of 
                                                the school 
                                                year, that 
                                                provide a case 
                                                number (in lieu 
                                                of income 
                                                information) 
                                                showing 
                                                participation 
                                                in a program 
                                                described in 
                                                item (bb) 
                                                selected from 
                                                those approved 
                                                applications 
                                                that provide a 
                                                case number (in 
                                                lieu of income 
                                                information) 
                                                verifying the 
                                                participation.
                                          (bb) Programs.--The 
                                        programs described in 
                                        this item are--
                                                  (AA) the 
                                                supplemental 
                                                nutrition 
                                                assistance 
                                                program 
                                                established 
                                                under the Food 
                                                and Nutrition 
                                                Act of 2008 (7 
                                                U.S.C. 2011 et 
                                                seq.);
                                                  (BB) the food 
                                                distribution 
                                                program on 
                                                Indian 
                                                reservations 
                                                established 
                                                under section 
                                                4(b) of the 
                                                Food and 
                                                Nutrition Act 
                                                of 2008 (7 
                                                U.S.C. 
                                                2013(b)); and
                                                  (CC) a State 
                                                program funded 
                                                under the 
                                                program of 
                                                block grants to 
                                                States for 
                                                temporary 
                                                assistance for 
                                                needy families 
                                                established 
                                                under part A of 
                                                title IV of the 
                                                Social Security 
                                                Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                                601 et seq.) 
                                                that the 
                                                Secretary 
                                                determines 
                                                complies with 
                                                standards 
                                                established by 
                                                the Secretary 
                                                that ensure 
                                                that the 
                                                standards under 
                                                the State 
                                                program are 
                                                comparable to 
                                                or more 
                                                restrictive 
                                                than those in 
                                                effect on June 
                                                1, 1995.
                                  (IV) Conditions.--The 
                                conditions referred to in 
                                subclause (I) shall be met for 
                                a local educational agency for 
                                a school year if--
                                          (aa) the nonresponse 
                                        rate for the local 
                                        educational agency for 
                                        the preceding school 
                                        year is less than 20 
                                        percent; or
                                          (bb) the local 
                                        educational agency has 
                                        more than 20,000 
                                        children approved by 
                                        application by the 
                                        local educational 
                                        agency as eligible for 
                                        free or reduced price 
                                        meals for the school 
                                        year, as of October 1 
                                        of the school year, 
                                        and--
                                                  (AA) the 
                                                nonresponse 
                                                rate for the 
                                                preceding 
                                                school year is 
                                                at least 10 
                                                percent below 
                                                the nonresponse 
                                                rate for the 
                                                second 
                                                preceding 
                                                school year; or
                                                  (BB) in the 
                                                case of the 
                                                school year 
                                                beginning July 
                                                2005, the local 
                                                educational 
                                                agency attempts 
                                                to verify all 
                                                approved 
                                                household 
                                                applications 
                                                selected for 
                                                verification 
                                                through use of 
                                                public agency 
                                                records from at 
                                                least 2 of the 
                                                programs or 
                                                sources of 
                                                information 
                                                described in 
                                                subparagraph 
                                                (F)(i).
                          (v) Additional selected 
                        applications.--A sample for a local 
                        educational agency for a school year 
                        under clauses (iii) and (iv)(III)(AA) 
                        shall include the number of additional 
                        randomly selected approved household 
                        applications that are required to 
                        comply with the sample size 
                        requirements in those clauses.
                  (E) Preliminary review.--
                          (i) Review for accuracy.--
                                  (I) In general.--Prior to 
                                conducting any other 
                                verification activity for 
                                approved household applications 
                                selected for verification, the 
                                local educational agency shall 
                                ensure that the initial 
                                eligibility determination for 
                                each approved household 
                                application is reviewed for 
                                accuracy by an individual other 
                                than the individual making the 
                                initial eligibility 
                                determination, unless otherwise 
                                determined by the Secretary.
                                  (II) Waiver.--The 
                                requirements of subclause (I) 
                                shall be waived for a local 
                                educational agency if the local 
                                educational agency is using a 
                                technology-based solution that 
                                demonstrates a high level of 
                                accuracy, to the satisfaction 
                                of the Secretary, in processing 
                                an initial eligibility 
                                determination in accordance 
                                with the income eligibility 
                                guidelines of the school lunch 
                                program.
                          (ii) Correct eligibility 
                        determination.--If the review indicates 
                        that the initial eligibility 
                        determination is correct, the local 
                        educational agency shall verify the 
                        approved household application.
                          (iii) Incorrect eligibility 
                        determination.--If the review indicates 
                        that the initial eligibility 
                        determination is incorrect, the local 
                        educational agency shall (as determined 
                        by the Secretary)--
                                  (I) correct the eligibility 
                                status of the household;
                                  (II) notify the household of 
                                the change;
                                  (III) in any case in which 
                                the review indicates that the 
                                household is not eligible for 
                                free or reduced-price meals, 
                                notify the household of the 
                                reason for the ineligibility 
                                and that the household may 
                                reapply with income 
                                documentation for free or 
                                reduced-price meals; and
                                  (IV) in any case in which the 
                                review indicates that the 
                                household is eligible for free 
                                or reduced-price meals, verify 
                                the approved household 
                                application.
                  (F) Direct verification.--
                          (i) In general.--Subject to clauses 
                        (ii) and (iii), to verify eligibility 
                        for free or reduced price meals for 
                        approved household applications 
                        selected for verification, the local 
                        educational agency may (in accordance 
                        with criteria established by the 
                        Secretary) first obtain and use income 
                        and program participation information 
                        from a public agency administering--
                                  (I) the supplemental 
                                nutrition assistance program 
                                established under the Food and 
                                Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
                                2011 et seq.);
                                  (II) the food distribution 
                                program on Indian reservations 
                                established under section 4(b) 
                                of the Food and Nutrition Act 
                                of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b));
                                  (III) the temporary 
                                assistance for needy families 
                                program funded under part A of 
                                title IV of the Social Security 
                                Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                                  (IV) the State medicaid 
                                program under title XIX of the 
                                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                1396 et seq.); or
                                  (V) a similar income-tested 
                                program or other source of 
                                information, as determined by 
                                the Secretary.
                          (ii) Free meals.--Public agency 
                        records that may be obtained and used 
                        under clause (i) to verify eligibility 
                        for free meals for approved household 
                        applications selected for verification 
                        shall include the most recent available 
                        information (other than information 
                        reflecting program participation or 
                        income before the 180-day period ending 
                        on the date of application for free 
                        meals) that is relied on to 
                        administer--
                                  (I) a program or source of 
                                information described in clause 
                                (i) (other than clause 
                                (i)(IV)); or
                                  (II) the State plan for 
                                medical assistance under title 
                                XIX of the Social Security Act 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) in--
                                          (aa) a State in which 
                                        the income eligibility 
                                        limit applied under 
                                        section 1902(l)(2)(C) 
                                        of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                        1396a(l)(2)(C)) is not 
                                        more than 133 percent 
                                        of the official poverty 
                                        line described in 
                                        section 1902(l)(2)(A) 
                                        of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                        1396a(l)(2)(A)); or
                                          (bb) a State that 
                                        otherwise identifies 
                                        households that have 
                                        income that is not more 
                                        than 133 percent of the 
                                        official poverty line 
                                        described in section 
                                        1902(l)(2)(A) of that 
                                        Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                        1396a(l)(2)(A)).
                          (iii) Reduced price meals.--Public 
                        agency records that may be obtained and 
                        used under clause (i) to verify 
                        eligibility for reduced price meals for 
                        approved household applications 
                        selected for verification shall include 
                        the most recent available information 
                        (other than information reflecting 
                        program participation or income before 
                        the 180-day period ending on the date 
                        of application for reduced price meals) 
                        that is relied on to administer--
                                  (I) a program or source of 
                                information described in clause 
                                (i) (other than clause 
                                (i)(IV)); or
                                  (II) the State plan for 
                                medical assistance under title 
                                XIX of the Social Security Act 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) in--
                                          (aa) a State in which 
                                        the income eligibility 
                                        limit applied under 
                                        section 1902(l)(2)(C) 
                                        of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                        1396a(l)(2)(C)) is not 
                                        more than 185 percent 
                                        of the official poverty 
                                        line described in 
                                        section 1902(l)(2)(A) 
                                        of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                        1396a(l)(2)(A)); or
                                          (bb) a State that 
                                        otherwise identifies 
                                        households that have 
                                        income that is not more 
                                        than 185 percent of the 
                                        official poverty line 
                                        described in section 
                                        1902(l)(2)(A) of that 
                                        Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                        1396a(l)(2)(A)).
                          (iv) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 
                        years after the date of enactment of 
                        this subparagraph, the Secretary shall 
                        complete an evaluation of--
                                  (I) the effectiveness of 
                                direct verification carried out 
                                under this subparagraph in 
                                decreasing the portion of the 
                                verification sample that must 
                                be verified under subparagraph 
                                (G) while ensuring that 
                                adequate verification 
                                information is obtained; and
                                  (II) the feasibility of 
                                direct verification by State 
                                agencies and local educational 
                                agencies.
                          (v) Expanded use of direct 
                        verification.--If the Secretary 
                        determines that direct verification 
                        significantly decreases the portion of 
                        the verification sample that must be 
                        verified under subparagraph (G), while 
                        ensuring that adequate verification 
                        information is obtained, and can be 
                        conducted by most State agencies and 
                        local educational agencies, the 
                        Secretary may require a State agency or 
                        local educational agency to implement 
                        direct verification through 1 or more 
                        of the programs described in clause 
                        (i), as determined by the Secretary, 
                        unless the State agency or local 
                        educational agency demonstrates (under 
                        criteria established by the Secretary) 
                        that the State agency or local 
                        educational agency lacks the capacity 
                        to conduct, or is unable to implement, 
                        direct verification.
                  (G) Household verification.--
                          (i) In general.--If an approved 
                        household application is not verified 
                        through the use of public agency 
                        records, a local educational agency 
                        shall provide to the household written 
                        notice that--
                                  (I) the approved household 
                                application has been selected 
                                for verification; and
                                  (II) the household is 
                                required to submit verification 
                                information to confirm 
                                eligibility for free or reduced 
                                price meals.
                          (ii) Phone number.--The written 
                        notice in clause (i) shall include a 
                        toll-free phone number that parents and 
                        legal guardians in households selected 
                        for verification can call for 
                        assistance with the verification 
                        process.
                          (iii) Followup activities.--If a 
                        household does not respond to a 
                        verification request, a local 
                        educational agency shall make at least 
                        1 attempt to obtain the necessary 
                        verification from the household in 
                        accordance with guidelines and 
                        regulations promulgated by the 
                        Secretary.
                          (iv) Contract authority for school 
                        food authorities.--A local educational 
                        agency may contract (under standards 
                        established by the Secretary) with a 
                        third party to assist the local 
                        educational agency in carrying out 
                        clause (iii).
                  (H) Verification deadline.--
                          (i) General deadline.--
                                  (I) In general.--Subject to 
                                subclause (II), not later than 
                                November 15 of each school 
                                year, a local educational 
                                agency shall complete the 
                                verification activities 
                                required for the school year 
                                (including followup 
                                activities).
                                  (II) Extension.--Under 
                                criteria established by the 
                                Secretary, a State may extend 
                                the deadline established under 
                                subclause (I) for a school year 
                                for a local educational agency 
                                to December 15 of the school 
                                year.
                          (ii) Eligibility changes.--Based on 
                        the verification activities, the local 
                        educational agency shall make 
                        appropriate modifications to the 
                        eligibility determinations made for 
                        household applications in accordance 
                        with criteria established by the 
                        Secretary.
                  (I) Local conditions.--In the case of a 
                natural disaster, civil disorder, strike, or 
                other local condition (as determined by the 
                Secretary), the Secretary may substitute 
                alternatives for--
                          (i) the sample size and sample 
                        selection criteria established under 
                        subparagraph (D); and
                          (ii) the verification deadline 
                        established under subparagraph (H).
                  (J) Individual review.--In accordance with 
                criteria established by the Secretary, the 
                local educational agency may, on individual 
                review--
                          (i) decline to verify no more than 5 
                        percent of approved household 
                        applications selected under 
                        subparagraph (D); and
                          (ii) replace the approved household 
                        applications with other approved 
                        household applications to be verified.
                  (K) Feasibility study.--
                          (i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        conduct a study of the feasibility of 
                        using computer technology (including 
                        data mining) to reduce--
                                  (I) overcertification errors 
                                in the school lunch program 
                                under this Act;
                                  (II) waste, fraud, and abuse 
                                in connection with this 
                                paragraph; and
                                  (III) errors, waste, fraud, 
                                and abuse in other nutrition 
                                programs, as determined to be 
                                appropriate by the Secretary.
                          (ii) Report.--Not later than 180 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this 
                        paragraph, the Secretary shall submit 
                        to the Committee on Education and the 
                        Workforce of the House of 
                        Representatives and the Committee on 
                        Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
                        the Senate a report describing--
                                  (I) the results of the 
                                feasibility study conducted 
                                under this subsection;
                                  (II) how a computer system 
                                using technology described in 
                                clause (i) could be 
                                implemented;
                                  (III) a plan for 
                                implementation; and
                                  (IV) proposed legislation, if 
                                necessary, to implement the 
                                system.
          (4) Direct certification for children in supplemental 
        nutrition assistance program households.--
                  (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (D), 
                each State agency shall enter into an agreement 
                with the State agency conducting eligibility 
                determinations for the supplemental nutrition 
                assistance program established under the Food 
                and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
                seq.).
                  (B) Procedures.--Subject to paragraph (6), 
                the agreement shall establish procedures under 
                which a child who is a member of a household 
                receiving assistance under the supplemental 
                nutrition assistance program shall be certified 
                as eligible for free lunches under this Act and 
                free breakfasts under the Child Nutrition Act 
                of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), without 
                further application.
                  (C) Certification.--Subject to paragraph (6), 
                under the agreement, the local educational 
                agency conducting eligibility determinations 
                for a school lunch program under this Act and a 
                school breakfast program under the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) 
                shall certify a child who is a member of a 
                household receiving assistance under the 
                supplemental nutrition assistance program as 
                eligible for free lunches under this Act and 
                free breakfasts under the Child Nutrition Act 
                of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), without 
                further application.
                  (D) Applicability.--This paragraph applies 
                to--
                          (i) in the case of the school year 
                        beginning July 2006, a school district 
                        that had an enrollment of 25,000 
                        students or more in the preceding 
                        school year;
                          (ii) in the case of the school year 
                        beginning July 2007, a school district 
                        that had an enrollment of 10,000 
                        students or more in the preceding 
                        school year; and
                          (iii) in the case of the school year 
                        beginning July 2008 and each subsequent 
                        school year, each local educational 
                        agency.
                  (E) Performance awards.--
                          (i) In general.--Effective for each 
                        of the school years beginning July 1, 
                        2011, July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, 
                        the Secretary shall offer performance 
                        awards to States to encourage the 
                        States to ensure that all children 
                        eligible for direct certification under 
                        this paragraph are certified in 
                        accordance with this paragraph.
                          (ii) Requirements.--For each school 
                        year described in clause (i), the 
                        Secretary shall--
                                  (I) consider State data from 
                                the prior school year, 
                                including estimates contained 
                                in the report required under 
                                section 4301 of the Food, 
                                Conservation, and Energy Act of 
                                2008 (42 U.S.C. 1758a); and
                                  (II) make performance awards 
                                to not more than 15 States that 
                                demonstrate, as determined by 
                                the Secretary--
                                          (aa) outstanding 
                                        performance; and
                                          (bb) substantial 
                                        improvement.
                          (iii) Use of funds.--A State agency 
                        that receives a performance award under 
                        clause (i)--
                                  (I) shall treat the funds as 
                                program income; and
                                  (II) may transfer the funds 
                                to school food authorities for 
                                use in carrying out the 
                                program.
                          (iv) Funding.--
                                  (I) In general.--On October 
                                1, 2011, and each subsequent 
                                October 1 through October 1, 
                                2013, out of any funds in the 
                                Treasury not otherwise 
                                appropriated, the Secretary of 
                                the Treasury shall transfer to 
                                the Secretary--
                                          (aa) $2,000,000 to 
                                        carry out clause 
                                        (ii)(II)(aa); and
                                          (bb) $2,000,000 to 
                                        carry out clause 
                                        (ii)(II)(bb).
                                  (II) Receipt and 
                                acceptance.--The Secretary 
                                shall be entitled to receive, 
                                shall accept, and shall use to 
                                carry out this clause the funds 
                                transferred under subclause 
                                (I), without further 
                                appropriation.
                          (v) Payments not subject to judicial 
                        review.--A determination by the 
                        Secretary whether, and in what amount, 
                        to make a performance award under this 
                        subparagraph shall not be subject to 
                        administrative or judicial review.
                  (F) Continuous improvement plans.--
                          (i) Definition of required 
                        percentage.--In this subparagraph, the 
                        term ``required percentage'' means--
                                  (I) for the school year 
                                beginning July 1, 2011, 80 
                                percent;
                                  (II) for the school year 
                                beginning July 1, 2012, 90 
                                percent; and
                                  (III) for the school year 
                                beginning July 1, 2013, and 
                                each school year thereafter, 95 
                                percent.
                          (ii) Requirements.--Each school year, 
                        the Secretary shall--
                                  (I) identify, using data from 
                                the prior year, including 
                                estimates contained in the 
                                report required under section 
                                4301 of the Food, Conservation, 
                                and Energy Act of 2008 (42 
                                U.S.C. 1758a), States that 
                                directly certify less than the 
                                required percentage of the 
                                total number of children in the 
                                State who are eligible for 
                                direct certification under this 
                                paragraph;
                                  (II) require the States 
                                identified under subclause (I) 
                                to implement a continuous 
                                improvement plan to fully meet 
                                the requirements of this 
                                paragraph, which shall include 
                                a plan to improve direct 
                                certification for the following 
                                school year; and
                                  (III) assist the States 
                                identified under subclause (I) 
                                to develop and implement a 
                                continuous improvement plan in 
                                accordance with subclause (II).
                          (iii) Failure to meet performance 
                        standard.--
                                  (I) In general.--A State that 
                                is required to develop and 
                                implement a continuous 
                                improvement plan under clause 
                                (ii)(II) shall be required to 
                                submit the continuous 
                                improvement plan to the 
                                Secretary, for the approval of 
                                the Secretary.
                                  (II) Requirements.--At a 
                                minimum, a continuous 
                                improvement plan under 
                                subclause (I) shall include--
                                          (aa) specific 
                                        measures that the State 
                                        will use to identify 
                                        more children who are 
                                        eligible for direct 
                                        certification, 
                                        including improvements 
                                        or modifications to 
                                        technology, information 
                                        systems, or databases;
                                          (bb) a timeline for 
                                        the State to implement 
                                        those measures; and
                                          (cc) goals for the 
                                        State to improve direct 
                                        certification results.
                  (G) Without further application.--
                          (i) In general.--In this paragraph, 
                        the term ``without further 
                        application'' means that no action is 
                        required by the household of the child.
                          (ii) Clarification.--A requirement 
                        that a household return a letter 
                        notifying the household of eligibility 
                        for direct certification or eligibility 
                        for free school meals does not meet the 
                        requirements of clause (i).
          (5) Discretionary certification.--Subject to 
        paragraph (6), any local educational agency may certify 
        any child as eligible for free lunches or breakfasts, 
        without further application, by directly communicating 
        with the appropriate State or local agency to obtain 
        documentation of the status of the child as--
                  (A) a member of a family that is receiving 
                assistance under the temporary assistance for 
                needy families program funded under part A of 
                title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                601 et seq.) that the Secretary determines 
                complies with standards established by the 
                Secretary that ensure that the standards under 
                the State program are comparable to or more 
                restrictive than those in effect on June 1, 
                1995;
                  (B) a homeless child or youth (defined as 1 
                of the individuals described in section 725(2) 
                of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2));
                  (C) served by the runaway and homeless youth 
                grant program established under the Runaway and 
                Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.);
                  (D) a migratory child (as defined in section 
                1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6399)); or
                  (E)(i) a foster child whose care and 
                placement is the responsibility of an agency 
                that administers a State plan under part B or E 
                of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 621 et seq.); or
                  (ii) a foster child who a court has placed 
                with a caretaker household.
          (6) Use or disclosure of information.--
                  (A) In general.--The use or disclosure of any 
                information obtained from an application for 
                free or reduced price meals, or from a State or 
                local agency referred to in paragraph (3)(F), 
                (4), or (5), shall be limited to--
                          (i) a person directly connected with 
                        the administration or enforcement of 
                        this Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 
                        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) 
                        (including a regulation promulgated 
                        under either Act);
                          (ii) a person directly connected with 
                        the administration or enforcement of--
                                  (I) a Federal education 
                                program;
                                  (II) a State health or 
                                education program administered 
                                by the State or local 
                                educational agency (other than 
                                a program carried out under 
                                title XIX or XXI of the Social 
                                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et 
                                seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et 
                                seq.)); or
                                  (III) a Federal, State, or 
                                local means-tested nutrition 
                                program with eligibility 
                                standards comparable to the 
                                school lunch program under this 
                                Act;
                          (iii)(I) the Comptroller General of 
                        the United States for audit and 
                        examination authorized by any other 
                        provision of law; and
                          (II) notwithstanding any other 
                        provision of law, a Federal, State, or 
                        local law enforcement official for the 
                        purpose of investigating an alleged 
                        violation of any program covered by 
                        this paragraph or paragraph (3)(F), 
                        (4), or (5);
                          (iv) a person directly connected with 
                        the administration of the State 
                        medicaid program under title XIX of the 
                        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et 
                        seq.) or the State children's health 
                        insurance program under title XXI of 
                        that Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.) 
                        solely for the purposes of--
                                  (I) identifying children 
                                eligible for benefits under, 
                                and enrolling children in, 
                                those programs, except that 
                                this subclause shall apply only 
                                to the extent that the State 
                                and the local educational 
                                agency or school food authority 
                                so elect; and
                                  (II) verifying the 
                                eligibility of children for 
                                programs under this Act or the 
                                Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
                                U.S.C. 1771 et seq.); and
                          (v) a third party contractor 
                        described in paragraph (3)(G)(iv).
                  (B) Limitation on information provided.--
                Information provided under clause (ii) or (v) 
                of subparagraph (A) shall be limited to the 
                income eligibility status of the child for whom 
                application for free or reduced price meal 
                benefits is made or for whom eligibility 
                information is provided under paragraph (3)(F), 
                (4), or (5), unless the consent of the parent 
                or guardian of the child for whom application 
                for benefits was made is obtained.
                  (C) Criminal penalty.--A person described in 
                subparagraph (A) who publishes, divulges, 
                discloses, or makes known in any manner, or to 
                any extent not authorized by Federal law 
                (including a regulation), any information 
                obtained under this subsection shall be fined 
                not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more 
                than 1 year, or both.
                  (D) Requirements for waiver of 
                confidentiality.--A State that elects to 
                exercise the option described in subparagraph 
                (A)(iv)(I) shall ensure that any local 
                educational agency or school food authority 
                acting in accordance with that option--
                          (i) has a written agreement with 1 or 
                        more State or local agencies 
                        administering health programs for 
                        children under titles XIX and XXI of 
                        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 
                        et seq. and 1397aa et seq.) that 
                        requires the health agencies to use the 
                        information obtained under subparagraph 
                        (A) to seek to enroll children in those 
                        health programs; and
                          (ii)(I) notifies each household, the 
                        information of which shall be disclosed 
                        under subparagraph (A), that the 
                        information disclosed will be used only 
                        to enroll children in health programs 
                        referred to in subparagraph (A)(iv); 
                        and
                          (II) provides each parent or guardian 
                        of a child in the household with an 
                        opportunity to elect not to have the 
                        information disclosed.
                  (E) Use of disclosed information.--A person 
                to which information is disclosed under 
                subparagraph (A)(iv)(I) shall use or disclose 
                the information only as necessary for the 
                purpose of enrolling children in health 
                programs referred to in subparagraph (A)(iv).
          (7) Free and reduced price policy statement.--
                  (A) In general.--After the initial 
                submission, a local educational agency shall 
                not be required to submit a free and reduced 
                price policy statement to a State educational 
                agency under this Act unless there is a 
                substantive change in the free and reduced 
                price policy of the local educational agency.
                  (B) Routine change.--A routine change in the 
                policy of a local educational agency (such as 
                an annual adjustment of the income eligibility 
                guidelines for free and reduced price meals) 
                shall not be sufficient cause for requiring the 
                local educational agency to submit a policy 
                statement.
          (8) Communications.--
                  (A) In general.--Any communication with a 
                household under this subsection or subsection 
                (d) shall be in an understandable and uniform 
                format and, to the maximum extent practicable, 
                in a language that parents and legal guardians 
                can understand.
                  (B) Electronic availability.--In addition to 
                the distribution of applications and 
                descriptive material in paper form as provided 
                for in this paragraph, the applications and 
                material may be made available electronically 
                via the Internet.
          (9) Eligibility for free and reduced price lunches.--
                  (A) Free lunches.--Any child who is a member 
                of a household whose income, at the time the 
                application is submitted, is at an annual rate 
                which does not exceed the applicable family 
                size income level of the income eligibility 
                guidelines for free lunches, as determined 
                under paragraph (1), shall be served a free 
                lunch.
                  (B) Reduced price lunches.--
                          (i) In general.--Any child who is a 
                        member of a household whose income, at 
                        the time the application is submitted, 
                        is at an annual rate greater than the 
                        applicable family size income level of 
                        the income eligibility guidelines for 
                        free lunches, as determined under 
                        paragraph (1), but less than or equal 
                        to the applicable family size income 
                        level of the income eligibility 
                        guidelines for reduced price lunches, 
                        as determined under paragraph (1), 
                        shall be served a reduced price lunch.
                          (ii) Maximum price.--The price 
                        charged for a reduced price lunch shall 
                        not exceed 40 cents.
                  (C) Duration.--Except as otherwise specified 
                in paragraph (3)(E), (3)(H)(ii), and section 
                11(a), eligibility for free or reduced price 
                meals for any school year shall remain in 
                effect--
                          (i) beginning on the date of 
                        eligibility approval for the current 
                        school year; and
                          (ii) ending on a date during the 
                        subsequent school year determined by 
                        the Secretary.
  (10) No physical segregation of or other discrimination 
against any child eligible for a free lunch or a reduced price 
lunch under this subsection shall be made by the school nor 
shall there be any overt identification of any child by special 
tokens or tickets, announced or published list of names, or by 
other means.
  (11) Any child who has a parent or guardian who (A) is 
responsible for the principal support of such child and (B) is 
unemployed shall be served a free or reduced price lunch, 
respectively, during any period (i) in which such child's 
parent or guardian continues to be unemployed and (ii) the 
income of the child's parents or guardians during such period 
of unemployment falls within the income eligibility criteria 
for free lunches or reduced price lunches, respectively, based 
on the current rate of income of such parents or guardians. 
Local educational agencies shall publicly announce that such 
children are eligible for free or reduced price lunch, and 
shall make determinations with respect to the status of any 
parent or guardian of any child under clauses (A) and (B) of 
the preceding sentence on the basis of a statement executed in 
such form as the Secretary may prescribe by such parent or 
guardian. No physical segregation of, or other discrimination 
against, any child eligible for a free or reduced price lunch 
under this paragraph shall be made by the school nor shall 
there be any overt identification of any such child by special 
tokens or tickets, announced or published lists of names, or by 
any other means.
  (12)(A) A child shall be considered automatically eligible 
for a free lunch and breakfast under this Act and the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), respectively, 
without further application or eligibility determination, if 
the child is--
          (i) a member of a household receiving assistance 
        under the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
        authorized under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
        U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
          (ii) a member of a family (under the State program 
        funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)) that the Secretary 
        determines complies with standards established by the 
        Secretary that ensure that the standards under the 
        State program are comparable to or more restrictive 
        than those in effect on June 1, 1995;
          (iii) enrolled as a participant in a Head Start 
        program authorized under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
        9831 et seq.), on the basis of a determination that the 
        child meets the eligibility criteria prescribed under 
        section 645(a)(1)(B) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
        9840(a)(1)(B));
                  (iv) a homeless child or youth (defined as 1 
                of the individuals described in section 725(2) 
                of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)));
                  (v) served by the runaway and homeless youth 
                grant program established under the Runaway and 
                Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.);
                  (vi) a migratory child (as defined in section 
                1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6399)); or
                  (vii)(I) a foster child whose care and 
                placement is the responsibility of an agency 
                that administers a State plan under part B or E 
                of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 621 et seq.); or
                          (II) a foster child who a court has 
                        placed with a caretaker household.
  (B) Proof of receipt of supplemental nutrition assistance 
program benefits or assistance under the State program funded 
under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
601 et seq.) that the Secretary determines complies with 
standards established by the Secretary that ensure that the 
standards under the State program are comparable to or more 
restrictive than those in effect on June 1, 1995, or of 
enrollment or participation in a Head Start program on the 
basis described in subparagraph (A)(iii), shall be sufficient 
to satisfy any verification requirement imposed under this 
subsection.
          (13) Exclusion of certain military housing 
        allowances.--The amount of a basic allowance provided 
        under section 403 of title 37, United States Code, on 
        behalf of a member of a uniformed service for housing 
        that is acquired or constructed under subchapter IV of 
        chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, or any 
        related provision of law, shall not be considered to be 
        income for the purpose of determining the eligibility 
        of a child who is a member of the household of the 
        member of a uniformed service for free or reduced price 
        lunches under this Act.
          (14) Combat pay.--
                  (A) Definition of combat pay.--In this 
                paragraph, the term ``combat pay'' means any 
                additional payment under chapter 5 of title 37, 
                United States Code, or otherwise designated by 
                the Secretary to be appropriate for exclusion 
                under this paragraph, that is received by or 
                from a member of the United States Armed Forces 
                deployed to a designated combat zone, if the 
                additional pay--
                          (i) is the result of deployment to or 
                        service in a combat zone; and
                          (ii) was not received immediately 
                        prior to serving in a combat zone.
                  (B) Exclusion.--Combat pay shall not be 
                considered to be income for the purpose of 
                determining the eligibility for free or reduced 
                price meals of a child who is a member of the 
                household of a member of the United States 
                Armed Forces.
          (15) Direct certification for children receiving 
        medicaid benefits.--
                  (A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                          (i) Eligible child.--The term 
                        ``eligible child'' means a child--
                                  (I)(aa) who is eligible for 
                                and receiving medical 
                                assistance under the Medicaid 
                                program; and
                                  (bb) who is a member of a 
                                family with an income as 
                                measured by the Medicaid 
                                program before the application 
                                of any expense, block, or other 
                                income disregard, that does not 
                                exceed 133 percent of the 
                                poverty line (as defined in 
                                section 673(2) of the Community 
                                Services Block Grant Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 9902(2), including any 
                                revision required by such 
                                section)) applicable to a 
                                family of the size used for 
                                purposes of determining 
                                eligibility for the Medicaid 
                                program; or
                                  (II) who is a member of a 
                                household (as that term is 
                                defined in section 245.2 of 
                                title 7, Code of Federal 
                                Regulations (or successor 
                                regulations) with a child 
                                described in subclause (I).
                          (ii) Medicaid program.--The term 
                        ``Medicaid program'' means the program 
                        of medical assistance established under 
                        title XIX of the Social Security Act 
                        (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
                  (B) Demonstration project.--
                          (i) In general.--The Secretary, 
                        acting through the Administrator of the 
                        Food and Nutrition Service and in 
                        cooperation with selected State 
                        agencies, shall conduct a demonstration 
                        project in selected local educational 
                        agencies to determine whether direct 
                        certification of eligible children is 
                        an effective method of certifying 
                        children for free lunches and 
                        breakfasts under section 9(b)(1)(A) of 
                        this Act and section 4(e)(1)(A) of the 
                        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                        1773(e)(1)(A)).
                          (ii) Scope of project.--The Secretary 
                        shall carry out the demonstration 
                        project under this subparagraph--
                                  (I) for the school year 
                                beginning July 1, 2012, in 
                                selected local educational 
                                agencies that collectively 
                                serve 2.5 percent of students 
                                certified for free and reduced 
                                price meals nationwide, based 
                                on the most recent available 
                                data;
                                  (II) for the school year 
                                beginning July 1, 2013, in 
                                selected local educational 
                                agencies that collectively 
                                serve 5 percent of students 
                                certified for free and reduced 
                                price meals nationwide, based 
                                on the most recent available 
                                data; and
                                  (III) for the school year 
                                beginning July 1, 2014, and 
                                each subsequent school year, in 
                                selected local educational 
                                agencies that collectively 
                                serve 10 percent of students 
                                certified for free and reduced 
                                price meals nationwide, based 
                                on the most recent available 
                                data.
                          (iii) Purposes of the project.--At a 
                        minimum, the purposes of the 
                        demonstration project shall be--
                                  (I) to determine the 
                                potential of direct 
                                certification with the Medicaid 
                                program to reach children who 
                                are eligible for free meals but 
                                not certified to receive the 
                                meals;
                                  (II) to determine the 
                                potential of direct 
                                certification with the Medicaid 
                                program to directly certify 
                                children who are enrolled for 
                                free meals based on a household 
                                application; and
                                  (III) to provide an estimate 
                                of the effect on Federal costs 
                                and on participation in the 
                                school lunch program under this 
                                Act and the school breakfast 
                                program established by section 
                                4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 
                                1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) of direct 
                                certification with the Medicaid 
                                program.
                          (iv) Cost estimate.--For each of 2 
                        school years of the demonstration 
                        project, the Secretary shall estimate 
                        the cost of the direct certification of 
                        eligible children for free school meals 
                        through data derived from--
                                  (I) the school meal programs 
                                authorized under this Act and 
                                the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.);
                                  (II) the Medicaid program; 
                                and
                                  (III) interviews with a 
                                statistically representative 
                                sample of households.
                  (C) Agreement.--
                          (i) In general.--Not later than July 
                        1 of the first school year during which 
                        a State agency will participate in the 
                        demonstration project, the State agency 
                        shall enter into an agreement with the 
                        1 or more State agencies conducting 
                        eligibility determinations for the 
                        Medicaid program.
                          (ii) Without further application.--
                        Subject to paragraph (6), the agreement 
                        described in subparagraph (D) shall 
                        establish procedures under which an 
                        eligible child shall be certified for 
                        free lunches under this Act and free 
                        breakfasts under section 4 of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), 
                        without further application (as defined 
                        in paragraph (4)(G)).
                  (D) Certification.--For the school year 
                beginning on July 1, 2012, and each subsequent 
                school year, subject to paragraph (6), the 
                local educational agencies participating in the 
                demonstration project shall certify an eligible 
                child as eligible for free lunches under this 
                Act and free breakfasts under the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), 
                without further application (as defined in 
                paragraph (4)(G)).
                  (E) Site selection.--
                          (i) In general.--To be eligible to 
                        participate in the demonstration 
                        project under this subsection, a State 
                        agency shall submit to the Secretary an 
                        application at such time, in such 
                        manner, and containing such information 
                        as the Secretary may require.
                          (ii) Considerations.--In selecting 
                        States and local educational agencies 
                        for participation in the demonstration 
                        project, the Secretary may take into 
                        consideration such factors as the 
                        Secretary considers to be appropriate, 
                        which may include--
                                  (I) the rate of direct 
                                certification;
                                  (II) the share of individuals 
                                who are eligible for benefits 
                                under the supplemental 
                                nutrition assistance program 
                                established under the Food and 
                                Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
                                2011 et seq.) who participate 
                                in the program, as determined 
                                by the Secretary;
                                  (III) the income eligibility 
                                limit for the Medicaid program;
                                  (IV) the feasibility of 
                                matching data between local 
                                educational agencies and the 
                                Medicaid program;
                                  (V) the socioeconomic profile 
                                of the State or local 
                                educational agencies; and
                                  (VI) the willingness of the 
                                State and local educational 
                                agencies to comply with the 
                                requirements of the 
                                demonstration project.
                  (F) Access to data.--For purposes of 
                conducting the demonstration project under this 
                paragraph, the Secretary shall have access to--
                          (i) educational and other records of 
                        State and local educational and other 
                        agencies and institutions receiving 
                        funding or providing benefits for 1 or 
                        more programs authorized under this Act 
                        or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
                        U.S.C. 1771 et seq.); and
                          (ii) income and program participation 
                        information from public agencies 
                        administering the Medicaid program.
                  (G) Report to congress.--
                          (i) In general.--Not later than 
                        October 1, 2014, the Secretary shall 
                        submit to the Committee on Education 
                        and Labor of the House of 
                        Representatives and the Committee on 
                        Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
                        the Senate, an interim report that 
                        describes the results of the 
                        demonstration project required under 
                        this paragraph.
                          (ii) Final report.--Not later than 
                        October 1, 2015, the Secretary shall 
                        submit a final report to the committees 
                        described in clause (i).
                  (H) Funding.--
                          (i) In general.--On October 1, 2010, 
                        out of any funds in the Treasury not 
                        otherwise appropriated, the Secretary 
                        of the Treasury shall transfer to the 
                        Secretary to carry out subparagraph (G) 
                        $5,000,000, to remain available until 
                        expended.
                          (ii) Receipt and acceptance.--The 
                        Secretary shall be entitled to receive, 
                        shall accept, and shall use to carry 
                        out subparagraph (G) the funds 
                        transferred under clause (i), without 
                        further appropriation.
  (c) School lunch programs under this Act shall be operated on 
a nonprofit basis. Commodities purchased under the authority of 
section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, may be donated by the 
Secretary to schools, in accordance with the needs as 
determined by local school authorities, for utilization in the 
school lunch program under this Act as well as to other schools 
carrying out nonprofit school lunch programs and institutions 
authorized to receive such commodities. The requirements of 
this section relating to the service of meals without cost or 
at a reduced cost shall apply to the lunch program of any 
school utilizing commodities donated under any provision of 
law.
  (d)(1) The Secretary shall require as a condition of 
eligibility for receipt of free or reduced price lunches that 
the member of the household who executes the application 
furnish the last 4 digits of the social security account number 
of the parent or guardian who is the primary wage earner 
responsible for the care of the child for whom the application 
is made, or that of another appropriate adult member of the 
child's household, as determined by the Secretary.
  (2) No member of a household may be provided a free or 
reduced price lunch under this Act unless--
          (A) appropriate documentation relating to the income 
        of such household (as prescribed by the Secretary) has 
        been provided to the appropriate local educational 
        agency so that the local educational agency may 
        calculate the total income of such household;
          (B) documentation showing that the household is 
        participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance 
        program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 has 
        been provided to the appropriate local educational 
        agency;
          (C) documentation has been provided to the 
        appropriate local educational agency showing that the 
        family is receiving assistance under the State program 
        funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security 
        Act that the Secretary determines complies with 
        standards established by the Secretary that ensure that 
        the standards under the State program are comparable to 
        or more restrictive than those in effect on June 1, 
        1995;
          (D) documentation has been provided to the 
        appropriate local educational agency showing that the 
        child meets the criteria specified in clauses (iv) or 
        (v) of subsection (b)(12)(A);
          (E) documentation has been provided to the 
        appropriate local educational agency showing the status 
        of the child as a migratory child (as defined in 
        section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6399));
          (F)(i) documentation has been provided to the 
        appropriate local educational agency showing the status 
        of the child as a foster child whose care and placement 
        is the responsibility of an agency that administers a 
        State plan under part B or E of title IV of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.); or
                  (ii) documentation has been provided to the 
                appropriate local educational agency showing 
                the status of the child as a foster child who a 
                court has placed with a caretaker household; or
          (G) documentation has been provided to the 
        appropriate local educational agency showing the status 
        of the child as an eligible child (as defined in 
        subsection (b)(15)(A)).
  (e) A school or school food authority participating in a 
program under this Act may not contract with a food service 
company to provide a la carte food service unless the company 
agrees to offer free, reduced price, and full-price 
reimbursable meals to all eligible children.
  (f) Nutritional Requirements.--
          (1) In general.--Schools that are participating in 
        the school lunch program or school breakfast program 
        shall serve lunches and breakfasts that--
                  (A) are consistent with the goals of the most 
                recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
                published under section 301 of the National 
                Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act 
                of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341); and
                  (B) consider the nutrient needs of children 
                who may be at risk for inadequate food intake 
                and food insecurity.
  (2) To assist schools in meeting the requirements of this 
subsection, the Secretary--
          (A) shall--
                  (i) develop, and provide to schools, 
                standardized recipes, menu cycles, and food 
                product specification and preparation 
                techniques; and
                  (ii) provide to schools information regarding 
                nutrient standard menu planning, assisted 
                nutrient standard menu planning, and food-based 
                menu systems; and
          (B) may provide to schools information regarding 
        other approaches, as determined by the Secretary.
  (3) Use of any reasonable approach.--
          (A) In general.--A school food service authority may 
        use any reasonable approach, within guidelines 
        established by the Secretary in a timely manner, to 
        meet the requirements of this subsection, including--
                  (i) using the school nutrition meal pattern 
                in effect for the 1994-1995 school year; and
                  (ii) using any of the approaches described in 
                paragraph (3).
          (B) Nutrient analysis.--The Secretary may not require 
        a school to conduct or use a nutrient analysis to meet 
        the requirements of this subsection.
          (4) Waiver of requirement for weighted averages for 
        nutrient analysis.--During the period ending on 
        September 30, 2010, the Secretary shall not require the 
        use of weighted averages for nutrient analysis of menu 
        items and foods offered or served as part of a meal 
        offered or served under the school lunch program under 
        this Act or the school breakfast program under section 
        4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
  (g) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
subsection, the Secretary shall provide a notification to 
Congress that justifies the need for production records 
required under section 210.10(b) of title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and describes how the Secretary has reduced 
paperwork relating to the school lunch and school breakfast 
programs.
  (h) Food Safety.--
          (1) In general.--A school participating in the school 
        lunch program under this Act or the school breakfast 
        program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 
        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) shall--
                  (A) at least twice during each school year, 
                obtain a food safety inspection conducted by a 
                State or local governmental agency responsible 
                for food safety inspections;
                  (B) post in a publicly visible location a 
                report on the most recent inspection conducted 
                under subparagraph (A); and
                  (C) on request, provide a copy of the report 
                to a member of the public.
          (2) State and local government inspections.--Nothing 
        in paragraph (1) prevents any State or local government 
        from adopting or enforcing any requirement for more 
        frequent food safety inspections of schools.
          (3) Audits and reports by states.--[For fiscal year 
        2019] For fiscal years 2020 and 2021, each State shall 
        annually--
                  (A) audit food safety inspections of schools 
                conducted under paragraphs (1) and (2); and
                  (B) submit to the Secretary a report of the 
                results of the audit.
          (4) Audit by the secretary.--[For fiscal year 2019] 
        For fiscal years 2020 and 2021, the Secretary shall 
        annually audit State reports of food safety inspections 
        of schools submitted under paragraph (3).
          (5) School food safety program.--
                  (A) In general.--Each school food authority 
                shall implement a school food safety program, 
                in the preparation and service of each meal 
                served to children, that complies with any 
                hazard analysis and critical control point 
                system established by the Secretary.
                  (B) Applicability.--Subparagraph (A) shall 
                apply to any facility or part of a facility in 
                which food is stored, prepared, or served for 
                the purposes of the school nutrition programs 
                under this Act or section 4 of the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
  (i) Single Permanent Agreement Between State Agency and 
School Food Authority; Common Claims Form.--
          (1) In general.--If a single State agency administers 
        any combination of the school lunch program under this 
        Act, the school breakfast program under section 4 of 
        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), the 
        summer food service program for children under section 
        13 of this Act, or the child and adult care food 
        program under section 17 of this Act, the agency 
        shall--
                  (A) require each school food authority to 
                submit to the State agency a single agreement 
                with respect to the operation by the authority 
                of the programs administered by the State 
                agency; and
                  (B) use a common claims form with respect to 
                meals and supplements served under the programs 
                administered by the State agency.
          (2) Additional requirement.--The agreement described 
        in paragraph (1)(A) shall be a permanent agreement that 
        may be amended as necessary.
  (j) Purchases of Locally Produced Foods.--The Secretary 
shall--
          (1) encourage institutions receiving funds under this 
        Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 
        et seq.) to purchase unprocessed agricultural products, 
        both locally grown and locally raised, to the maximum 
        extent practicable and appropriate;
          (2) advise institutions participating in a program 
        described in paragraph (1) of the policy described in 
        that paragraph and paragraph (3) and post information 
        concerning the policy on the website maintained by the 
        Secretary; and
          (3) allow institutions receiving funds under this Act 
        and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et 
        seq.), including the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit 
        and Vegetable Program, to use a geographic preference 
        for the procurement of unprocessed agricultural 
        products, both locally grown and locally raised.
  (k) Information on the School Nutrition Environment.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                  (A) establish requirements for local 
                educational agencies participating in the 
                school lunch program under this Act and the 
                school breakfast program established by section 
                4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1773) to report information about the school 
                nutrition environment, for all schools under 
                the jurisdiction of the local educational 
                agencies, to the Secretary and to the public in 
                the State on a periodic basis; and
                  (B) provide training and technical assistance 
                to States and local educational agencies on the 
                assessment and reporting of the school 
                nutrition environment, including the use of any 
                assessment materials developed by the 
                Secretary.
          (2) Requirements.--In establishing the requirements 
        for reporting on the school nutrition environment under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                  (A) include information pertaining to food 
                safety inspections, local wellness policies, 
                meal program participation, the nutritional 
                quality of program meals, and other information 
                as determined by the Secretary; and
                  (B) ensure that information is made available 
                to the public by local educational agencies in 
                an accessible, easily understood manner in 
                accordance with guidelines established by the 
                Secretary.
          (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
        subsection such sums as are necessary for each of 
        fiscal years 2011 through 2015.
  (l) Food Donation Program.--
          (1) In general.--Each school and local educational 
        agency participating in the school lunch program under 
        this Act may donate any food not consumed under such 
        program to eligible local food banks or charitable 
        organizations.
          (2) Guidance.--
                  (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days 
                after the date of the enactment of this 
                subsection, the Secretary shall develop and 
                publish guidance to schools and local 
                educational agencies participating in the 
                school lunch program under this Act to assist 
                such schools and local educational agencies in 
                donating food under this subsection.
                  (B) Updates.--The Secretary shall update such 
                guidance as necessary.
          (3) Liability.--Any school or local educational 
        agency making donations pursuant to this subsection 
        shall be exempt from civil and criminal liability to 
        the extent provided under the Bill Emerson Good 
        Samaritan Food Donation Act (42 U.S.C. 1791).
          (4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``eligible local food banks or charitable 
        organizations'' means any food bank or charitable 
        organization which is exempt from tax under section 
        501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 
        U.S.C. 501(c)(3)).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 26. INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract 
with a nongovernmental organization described in subsection (b) 
to establish and maintain a clearinghouse to provide 
information to nongovernmental groups located throughout the 
United States that assist low-income individuals or communities 
regarding food assistance, self-help activities to aid 
individuals in becoming self-reliant, and other activities that 
empower low-income individuals or communities to improve the 
lives of low-income individuals and reduce reliance on Federal, 
State, or local governmental agencies for food or other 
assistance.
  (b) Nongovernmental Organization.--The nongovernmental 
organization referred to in subsection (a) shall be selected on 
a competitive basis and shall--
          (1) be experienced in the gathering of first-hand 
        information in all the States through onsite visits to 
        grassroots organizations in each State that fight 
        hunger and poverty or that assist individuals in 
        becoming self-reliant;
          (2) be experienced in the establishment of a 
        clearinghouse similar to the clearinghouse described in 
        subsection (a);
          (3) agree to contribute in-kind resources towards the 
        establishment and maintenance of the clearinghouse and 
        agree to provide clearinghouse information, free of 
        charge, to the Secretary, States, counties, cities, 
        antihunger groups, and grassroots organizations that 
        assist individuals in becoming self-sufficient and 
        self-reliant;
          (4) be sponsored by an organization, or be an 
        organization, that--
                  (A) has helped combat hunger for at least 10 
                years;
                  (B) is committed to reinvesting in the United 
                States; and
                  (C) is knowledgeable regarding Federal 
                nutrition programs;
          (5) be experienced in communicating the purpose of 
        the clearinghouse through the media, including the 
        radio and print media, and be able to provide access to 
        the clearinghouse information through computer or 
        telecommunications technology, as well as through the 
        mails; and
          (6) be able to provide examples, advice, and guidance 
        to States, counties, cities, communities, antihunger 
        groups, and local organizations regarding means of 
        assisting individuals and communities to reduce 
        reliance on government programs, reduce hunger, improve 
        nutrition, and otherwise assist low-income individuals 
        and communities become more self-sufficient.
  (c) Audits.--The Secretary shall establish fair and 
reasonable auditing procedures regarding the expenditures of 
funds to carry out this section.
  (d) Funding.--Out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to the 
Secretary to provide to the organization selected under this 
section, to establish and maintain the information 
clearinghouse, $200,000 for each of fiscal years 1995 and 1996, 
$150,000 for fiscal year 1997, $100,000 for fiscal year 1998, 
$166,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2004, and 
$250,000 for each of fiscal years [2010 through 2019] 2010 
through 2021. The Secretary shall be entitled to receive the 
funds and shall accept the funds, without further 
appropriation.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                   RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ACT OF 1936


TITLE I

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 2. GENERAL AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

  (a) Loans.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this 
Act as the ``Secretary'') is authorized and empowered to make 
loans, or refinance loans [made by the Secretary] made or 
guaranteed by the Secretary under this Act, in the several 
States and Territories of the United States for rural 
electrification and for the purpose of furnishing and improving 
electric and telephone service in rural areas, as provided in 
this Act, and for the purpose of assisting electric borrowers 
to implement demand side management, energy efficiency and 
conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable 
energy systems.
  (b) Investigations and Reports.--The Secretary may make, or 
cause to be made, studies, investigations, and reports 
regarding matters, including financial, technological, and 
regulatory matters, affecting the condition and progress of 
electric, telecommunications, and economic development in rural 
areas, and publish and disseminate information with respect to 
the matters.
  (c) Technical Assistance.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall enter 
into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Energy 
under which the Secretary of Energy shall provide technical 
assistance to the Rural Utilities Service on loans to be made 
under subsection (a) of this section and section 4(a).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


               Changes in the Application of Existing Law

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following statements are 
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the 
accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the 
application of existing law.
    The bill includes a number of provisions which place 
limitations on the use of funds in the bill or change existing 
limitations and that might, under some circumstances, be 
construed as changing the application of existing law:
    1. Office of the Secretary.--Language is included to limit 
the amount of funds for official reception and representation 
expenses, as determined by the Secretary.
    2. Departmental Administration.--Language is included to 
reimburse the agency for travel expenses incident to the 
holding of hearings.
    3. Economic Research Service.--Language is included to 
prohibit the use of funds to relocate the Economic Research 
Service outside the National Capital Region.
    4. Agricultural Research Service.--Language is included 
that allows the Agricultural Research Service to grant 
easements at the Beltsville, MD, agricultural research center 
and to grant easements at any facility for the construction of 
a research facility for use by the agency.
    5. Agricultural Research Service.--Language is included to 
limit the amount of funds that may be obligated to support the 
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.
    6. National Institute of Food and Agriculture.--Language is 
included to prohibit the use of funds to relocate the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture outside the National Capital 
Region.
    7. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--The bill 
includes language regarding state matching funds and the 
brucellosis control program through state cost sharing.
    Language is included to allow APHIS to recoup expenses 
incurred from providing technical assistance goods, or services 
to non-APHIS personnel, and to allow transfers of funds for 
agricultural emergencies.
    Language is included to limit the amount of funds for 
representational allowances.
    Language is included to limit the amount of funds that may 
be obligated to support the National Bio and Agro-Defense 
Facility.
    8. Agricultural Marketing Service, Limitation on 
Administrative Expenses.--The bill includes language to allow 
AMS to exceed the limitation on administrative expenses by 10 
percent with notification to the Appropriations Committees.
    9. Agricultural Marketing Service, Inspection and Weighing 
Services.--The bill includes authority to exceed the limitation 
on inspection and weighing services by 10 percent with 
notification to the Appropriations Committees.
    10. Food Safety and Inspection Service.--Language is 
included to limit the amount of funds for representational 
allowances.
    11. Dairy Indemnity Program.--Language is included by 
reference that allows the Secretary to utilize the services of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of making 
dairy indemnity payments.
    12. Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account.--
Language is included that deems the pink bollworm a boll weevil 
for the purposes of administering the boll weevil loan program.
    13. Risk Management Agency.--Language is included to limit 
the amount of funds for official reception and representation 
expenses.
    14. Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.--Language is 
included to provide for the reimbursement appropriation. 
Language is also included to allow certain funds transferred 
from the Commodity Credit Corporation to be used for 
information resource management. In addition, language is 
included which limits the amount of funds that can be spent on 
operation and maintenance costs of CCC hazardous waste sites.
    15. Rural Development Salaries and Expenses.--Language is 
included to allow funds to be used for advertising and 
promotional activities.
    16. Rental Assistance Program.--Language is included that 
provides that agreements entered into during the current fiscal 
year be funded for a one-year period. Language also is included 
to renew contracts once during any 12-month period.
    17. Office of Codex Alimentarius.--Language is included to 
limit the amount of funds for official reception and 
representation expenses.
    18. Foreign Agricultural Service.--Language is included to 
enable the agency to use funds received by an advance or by 
reimbursement to carry out its activities.
    19. McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and 
Child Nutrition Program Grants.--Language is included to 
specify the amount of funds available to purchase commodities 
described by subsection 3107(a)(2) of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002.
    20. Food and Drug Administration, Salaries and Expenses.--
Language is included to limit the amount of funds for official 
reception and representation expenses and to limit the usage of 
certain user fees.
    21. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.--Language is 
included to limit the amount of funds for official reception 
and representation expenses. Language is also included to allow 
the Commission to record prior year lease obligations.
    22. Farm Credit Administration.--The bill includes 
authority to exceed the limitation on assessments by 10 percent 
with notification to the Appropriations Committees.
    23. General Provisions.--
    Section 701.--The bill includes language regarding limits 
on motor vehicles.
    Section 702.--The bill includes language regarding changes 
to the Working Capital Fund of the Department of Agriculture 
and the National Finance Center.
    Section 703.--The bill includes language limiting funding 
provided in the bill to one year unless otherwise specified.
    Section 704.--This provision provides that none of the 
funds in this Act may be made available to pay indirect costs 
charged against competitive agricultural research, education, 
or extension grants awarded by the National Institute of Food 
and Agriculture in excess of 10 percent of total direct costs.
    Section 705.--This provision allows funds made available in 
the current fiscal year for the Rural Development Loan Fund 
program account; the Rural Electrification and 
Telecommunications Loans program account; and the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund program account to remain available until 
expended to disburse obligations.
    Section 706.--Language is included that requires approval 
of the Chief Information Officer and the concurrence of the 
Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board for 
acquisition of new information technology systems or 
significant upgrades, and that prohibits the transfer of funds 
to the Office of the Chief Information Officer without the 
notification and prior approval of the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.
    Section 707.--Language is included regarding the 
availability of funds for certain conservation programs.
    Section 708.--Language is included regarding certain Rural 
Utilities Service Programs.
    Section 709.--Language is included that allows unobligated 
balances of the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development 
mission areas to be used for information technology purposes.
    Section 710.--Language is included regarding the 
prohibition of first-class travel by the employees of agencies 
funded in this Act.
    Section 711.--Language is included regarding the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation.
    Section 712.--Language is included that limits the amount 
of spending for USDA advisory committees.
    Section 713.--The bill includes language regarding computer 
networks.
    Section 714.--The bill includes language regarding Section 
32 activities.
    Section 715.--Language is included that prohibits funds 
from being used to prepare a budget submission to Congress that 
assumes reductions from the previous year's budget due to user 
fee proposals unless the submission also identifies spending 
reductions which should occur if the user fees are not enacted.
    Section 716.--The bill includes language regarding the 
reprogramming of funds by USDA.
    Section 717.--The bill includes language regarding the 
reprogramming of funds and notification requirements for FDA 
and CFTC.
    Section 718.--The bill includes language regarding fees for 
the guaranteed business and industry loan program.
    Section 719.--This provision prohibits the Department of 
Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration from 
transmitting or making available to any non-Department of 
Agriculture or non-Department of Health and Human Services 
employee questions or responses to questions that are a result 
of information requested for the appropriations hearing 
process.
    Section 720.--The bill includes language regarding 
government-sponsored news stories.
    Section 721.--This provision includes language regarding 
the detailing of any employee of the Department of Agriculture 
within that department.
    Section 722.--The bill includes language regarding 
eligibility for Rural Development programs.
    Section 723.--The bill includes language requiring spend 
plans.
    Section 724.--The bill includes a rescission of unobligated 
balances.
    Section 725.--The bill includes language regarding rural 
housing loans.
    Section 726.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
loan programs.
    Section 727.--The bill includes language regarding the 
Working Capital Fund.
    Section 728.--The bill includes language regarding SNAP 
variety requirements.
    Section 729.--The bill includes language regarding housing 
loan programs.
    Section 730.--The bill includes language regarding consumer 
information.
    Section 731.--The bill includes language regarding FDA 
regulations.
    Section 732.--The bill includes language regarding Food for 
Peace.
    Section 733.--The bill includes language regarding a Rural 
Development energy program.
    Section 734.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
regulations.
    Section 735.--The bill includes language regarding FDA 
regulations.
    Section 736.--The bill includes language regarding animal 
welfare.
    Section 737.--The bill includes language regarding United 
States iron and steel products.
    Section 738.--The bill includes language regarding 
lobbying.
    Section 739.--The bill includes language regarding poultry 
products.
    Section 740.--The bill includes language regarding certain 
inspection activities.
    Section 741.--The bill includes language regarding Rural 
Development programs.
    Section 742.--The bill includes language regarding poultry 
products.
    Section 743.--The bill includes language regarding child 
nutrition programs.
    Section 744.--The bill includes language regarding the 
Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
    Section 745.--The bill includes language regarding citrus 
greening.
    Section 746.--The bill includes language regarding grape 
varietals.
    Section 747.--The bill includes language regarding school 
lunch programs.
    Section 748.--The bill includes language regarding rural 
broadband.
    Section 749.--The bill includes language regarding the 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
    Section 750.--The bill includes language regarding school 
breakfast programs.
    Section 751.--The bill includes language regarding FDA 
regulations.
    Section 752.--The bill includes language regarding Centers 
of Excellence.
    Section 753.--The bill includes language regarding 
assistance to rural hospitals.
    Section 754.--The bill provides funding for grants under 
section 12502 of P.L. 115-334.
    Section 755.--The bill rescinds certain USDA balances.
    Section 756.--The bill includes language regarding the 
organic program.
    Section 757.--The bill includes language regarding 
demonstration projects for tribal organizations.
    Section 758.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
agencies.
    Section 759.--The bill includes language regarding USDA 
agencies.
    Section 760.--The bill includes language regarding animal 
welfare.
    Section 762.--The bill includes language regarding matching 
funds for certain research programs.
    Section 763.--The bill includes language regarding the 
school breakfast programs.
    Section 765.--The bill includes language regarding Rural 
Development loans.
    Section 766.--The bill includes language regarding research 
facilities.
    Section 767.--The bill includes language regarding research 
programs.
    Section 769.--The bill includes language regarding food 
loss.
    Section 770.--The bill includes language regarding 
nutrition programs.
    Section 771.--The bill includes language regarding 
pollinator research.
    Section 778.--The bill includes language regarding gene 
editing.
    Section 779.--The bill includes language regarding swine 
inspections.
    Section 780.--The bill includes language regarding Job 
Corps Civilian Conservation Centers.

                  Appropriations Not Authorized By Law

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following table lists the 
appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not 
authorized by law for the period concerned:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Appropriation in
           Agency/Program                Last year of      Authorization       last year of    Appropriations in
                                        authorization          level          authorization        this bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFTC................................               2013          Such sums       $205,000,000       $315,000,000
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program...               2015          Such sums         16,548,000         18,548,000
State Administrative Expenses.......               2015          Such sums        263,686,000        315,130,000
Summer Food Service Program.........               2015          Such sums        495,521,000        551,928,000
WIC.................................               2015          Such sums      6,623,000,000      6,000,000,000
Multi-Family Revitalization Program.               2016          Such sums         41,400,000         75,000,000
Broadband Telecommunications Grants.               2016          Such sums         34,500,000         50,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 Comparison With the Budget Resolution

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares 
the levels of new budget authority provided in the bill with 
the appropriate allocation under section 302(b) of the Budget 
Act:

                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        302 (b) Allocation                   This Bill
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Budget                          Budget
                                                     Authority        Outlays        Authority        Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with Committee
 allocations to its subcommittees: Subcommittee
 on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
 Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
    Discretionary...............................          24,310          22,900       24,310\1\          22,787
    Mandatory...................................         104,784          97,151      104,784\1\          97,151
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from pnor-year budget authority.
NOTE--The amounts in this report do not include $75,000,000 in discretionary budget authority and $64,000,000 in
  associated outlays provided for the purposes specified in the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255)
  Pursuant to title I of that act, such funding does not count for the purposes of the Congressional Budget Act
  of 1974 or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985,
1AIn addition, the amounts in this report do not include $8,000,000 in discretionary budget authority, and
  $1,848,000,000 in discretionary outlays from funding provided by the Additional Supplemental Appropnations for
  Disaster Relief Act, 2019, that was designated as being for emergency requirements pursuant to section 251 of
  the Balanced Budget Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 Consistent with the
  Congressional Budget Act of 1974, in the House of Representatives such amounts do not count against the
  Committee's allocation

                      Five-Year Outlay Projections

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(B) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table contains 
five-year projections associated with the budget authority 
provided in the accompanying bill as provided to the Committee 
by the Congressional Budget Office:

                        [In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outlays Projection of outlays associated with the
 recommendation:
    2020\1\..........................................            102,992
    2021.............................................              6,986
    2022.............................................              1,661
    2023.............................................                866
    2024 and future years............................                582
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

               Assistance to State and Local Governments

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(C) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Congressional Budget 
Office has provided the following estimates of the amounts of 
financial assistance to State and local governments is as 
follows:

                        [In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Budget  Authority       Outlays
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial assistance to State and           40,171/1/             24,463
 local governments for 2020.......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

                           Committee Hearings

    For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 
116th Congress--
    The following hearings were used to develop or consider the 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020:
    The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Subcommittee) 
held an oversight hearing on February 27, 2019, entitled ``Food 
and Drug Administration--Status of Operations''. The 
Subcommittee received testimony from:
           Scott Gottlieb, MD, Commissioner, Food and 
        Drug Administration
    The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on March 12, 
2019, entitled ``USDA Office of Inspector General.'' The 
Subcommittee received testimony from:
           Phyllis Fong, Inspector General, USDA
           Gil Harden, Assistant Inspector General, 
        USDA
           Ann Coffey, Assistant Inspector General, 
        USDA
    The Subcommittee held a hearing on March 26, 2019, entitled 
``Member Day.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from:
           The Honorable Neal P. Dunn, Member of 
        Congress
           The Honorable Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon, 
        Member of Congress
           The Honorable Shelia Jackson Lee, Member of 
        Congress
           The Honorable James P. McGovern, Member of 
        Congress
           The Honorable Bill Posey, Member of Congress
           The Honorable Glenn Thompson, Member of 
        Congress
    The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on March 27, 
2019, entitled ``USDA's Proposed Relocation of the Economic 
Research Service and the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from:
           Kristi J. Boswell, Senior Advisor to the 
        Secretary of Agriculture, USDA
           Gale A. Buchanan, Ph.D., former Under 
        Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA
           Katherine Smith Evans, Ph.D., for 
        Administrator for the Economic Research Service, USDA
           John E. Lee, Jr., Ph.D., for Administrator 
        for the Economic Research Service, USDA
           Catherine E. Woteki, Ph.D., former Under 
        Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA
    The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on April 2, 
2019, entitled ``The Rural Economy''. The Subcommittee received 
testimony from:
           Jeffery S. Hall, Board Chairman, Farm Credit 
        System Insurance Corporation
           Rod Hebrink, President and CEO, Compeer Farm 
        Credit, Sun Prairie, WI
           Mark Jensen, President and CEO, FCS of 
        America/Frontier Farm Credit, Omaha, NE
           Paxton Poitevint, President and CEO, 
        Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, Bainbridge, GA
           Dallas P. Tonsager, Chairman and Chief 
        Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration
    The Subcommittee held a budget hearing on April 3, 2019, 
entitled ``Food and Drug Administration Budget Request for FY 
2020''. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
           Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner, Food and 
        Drug Administration
    The Subcommittee held a budget hearing on April 9, 2019, 
entitled ``Department of Agriculture Budget Request for Fiscal 
Year 2020''. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
           The Honorable Sonny Perdue, Secretary, U.S. 
        Department of Agriculture
           Ms. Erica Navarro, Budget Officer, U.S. 
        Department of Agriculture
    The Subcommittee held a hearing on April 10, 2019, entitled 
``Economic Opportunities for Farmers through Sustainable 
Agricultural Practices''. The Subcommittee received testimony 
from:
           Kevin Norton, Acting Associate Chief, 
        Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
           Nate Powell-Palm, Certified Organic Farmer, 
        Montana
           Jason Weller, Senior Director of 
        Sustainability, Land O' Lakes SUSTAIN, Minnesota

              Comparative Statement of Budgetary Resources

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


                             MINORITY VIEWS

    We appreciate the collegial and collaborative efforts of 
Subcommittee Chair, Sanford Bishop, and the Full Committee 
Chair, Nita Lowey, in producing an Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations bill that addresses priorities of Members on 
both sides of the aisle. We have policy differences with the 
Majority in a limited number of circumstances, and a divergence 
in views over the level of funding necessary to address the 
critical needs of this bill, but we can and will continue to 
work together in a bipartisan, collaborative manner as the 
process moves forward.
    We are most pleased by the continuation of the Republicans' 
previous commitment to work with the private sector in 
rebuilding or building the economic vitality of rural America 
through a $3,400,000,000 investment in critical infrastructure 
and business programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA). The Majority includes report language to encourage the 
USDA to consider the broader social benefits when the 
Department seeks applications for the $680,000,000 of broadband 
resources in this bill. It is very important that we measure 
the impact of broadband in how it affects the ecosystem of 
livability. Not just more wires, but livability from enhanced 
telehealth, telecommuting, and precision agriculture, and other 
applications to make broadband an effective infrastructure 
investment.
    We are also pleased to see an increase of $185,000,000 for 
the Food and Drug Administration. Between investments in fiscal 
year 2019 and investments in this bill, the agency will receive 
an increase of $27,000,000 to help expedite the approval of 
safe and effective generic drugs, increase competition, lower 
drug prices, and lessen the financial burden on the American 
consumer. The Majority also provided other agreed upon 
increases for the safety of new, innovative medical devices 
that will improve public health and allow U.S. businesses to 
remain competitive in this field. Lastly, we agree with 
investments in food safety by lessening the burden on our state 
health departments. These resources support our states who are 
the ones who often apply the FDA's high standard for production 
of foods across the country.
    We are deeply concerned that the Majority party passed ten 
of twelve appropriations bills out of Committee without first 
reaching a bipartisan, bicameral agreement with the Senate and 
the Administration. This bill is $1,000,000,000 above the 
fiscal year 2019 enacted level. No doubt there are critical 
programs in this bill deserving of strong Congressional 
support, but that sentiment in no way negates the need for an 
over-arching plan for fiscal responsibility. The House 
Democrats' budget framework would raise the discretionary 
spending caps and put the Federal government on track to add to 
the national debt, which is already above $22,000,000,000,000 
and rising. We fear this is setting us up for a scenario that 
could end in a year-long continuing resolution at best--or 
another protracted government shutdown at worst.
    In addition to overall funding concerns, Republican Members 
of the Committee were disappointed by several policy 
provisions. Some of the provisions encourage violation of 
federal law or Congressional intent, at a minimum. For example, 
the Majority included language under the heading of the Office 
of the Secretary relating to Grain Export Inspection. The 
language ``strongly discourages USDA from requiring its grain 
inspectors to cross a picket line''. Such language is 
irresponsible when the Grain Inspections Act clearly obligates 
inspectors to conduct inspections unless the Secretary were to 
waive the requirement for safety reasons. Using USDA inspectors 
in a labor dispute and interfering with the export sales of 
U.S. product during an already turbulent international trade 
environment is completely unnecessary.
    We are also disappointed to see language inserted 
throughout the bill that ties the hands of the Administration 
in many ways. The bill restricts the abilities of a Cabinet 
Secretary to reorganize agencies and transfer and reprogram 
funds. These changes will hinder the administration's ability 
to improve operational efficiencies and respond quickly to 
changing resource needs. Such constraints are unreasonable, and 
we believe are being done purely to limit the ability of an 
Administration from an opposing political party to fulfill its 
responsibilities.
    Starting with the fiscal year 2016 Omnibus appropriation 
act, the Committee acted to prevent any emerging science that 
would allow for the clinical germline gene editing. As of 
today, this prohibition is accepted by nearly every nation in 
the world due to known and unknown risks. Recognizing the 
bipartisan concern about the absence of this provision, the 
Committee wisely accepted the amendment by Republican 
Representative Robert Aderholt to restore this prohibition 
until the broader international community of public health 
experts can understand the science, ethics, and reason 
associated with this research and determine ways to reduce 
risks to the lives of future individuals and society. The 
agreement on this amendment represented a shining moment for 
the Committee as we came together for the good of all humanity.
    Despite our disagreements over the issues discussed above, 
we appreciate the Majority's willingness to address Member 
priorities in the bill and report and to include Minority 
Committee Members in the development of the bill. The 
Subcommittee has a long-standing tradition of bipartisanship, 
and we will continue to work in good faith with our colleagues 
as we proceed through the appropriations process. By working 
together, we can best address the needs of our rural 
communities, the safety of our food supply and medical 
products, the soundness of our commodity markets, and the 
strength of our Nation's farmers, ranchers, and producers who 
serve as the foundation of America's prosperity, stability, and 
economic vitality. We are fortunate to have such a diverse and 
plentiful food supply that is made possible through hard work 
and the programs in this bill that assist farmers and ranchers 
across the country and the world.
                                           Kay Granger.

                                  [all]