House Report 117-82 - AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2022

[House Report 117-82]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 117-82

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

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2022

_______

July 2, 2021.--Commmitted to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______

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

R E P O R T

together with

MINORITY VIEWS

[To accompany H.R. 4356]

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 2022.

CONTENTS

Page
Title I--Agricultural Programs................................... 3
Title II--Farm Production and Conservation Programs.............. 49
Title III--Rural Development Programs............................ 62
Title IV--Domestic Food Programs................................. 78
Title V--Foreign Assistance and Related Programs................. 86
Title VI--Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration...... 89
Title VII--General Provisions.................................... 107

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 issues that impact Americans every day of
the year.
The fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending in this bill
totals $26,550,000,000, $2,851,000,000 above the fiscal year
2021 enacted level and $297,000,000 below the President's
budget request for fiscal year 2022.
In this report, ``the Committees'' refers to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Senate.
The Subcommittee held eight hearings related to the
agencies it funds. Those hearings were:
1. USDA Inspector General--February 25, 2021
2. FDA's Foreign Inspection Program--March 9, 2021
3. The Rural Economy--March 24, 2021
4. The U.S. Department of Agriculture--The Year
Ahead--April 14, 2021
5. Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services--April 20,
2021
6. USDA Rural Development Mission Area--May 6, 2021
7. USDA Research, Education and Economics Mission
Area--May 12, 2021
8. Member Day--May 18, 2021
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 each
department and agency to include the following information in
its fiscal year 2023 budget justification: expenditures for
fiscal year 2021 and expected expenditures for fiscal years
2022 and 2023 for (1) all contracts for advertising services;
and (2) contracts for the advertising services of socially and
economically disadvantaged small businesses 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.
Foundations of Evidence-Based Policymaking Act and OPEN
Government Data Act.--The Committee directs USDA to inform the
Committee on the implementation of the Foundations of Evidence-
Based Policymaking Act of 2018 and the OPEN Government Data Act
(P.L. 115-435) and the progress being made across USDA agencies
to comply with this legislation.
Training Programs.--The Committee notes that the Commerce,
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022
directs the Attorney General to continue efforts to implement
training programs to cover the use of force and de-escalation,
racial profiling, implicit bias, and procedural justice, to
include training on the duty of Federal law enforcement
officers to intervene in cases where another law enforcement
officer is using excessive force, and make such training a
requirement for Federal law enforcement officers. The Committee
further notes that several Departments and agencies funded by
this Act employ Federal law enforcement officers and are
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers partner organizations.
The Committee directs such Departments and agencies to adopt
and follow the training programs implemented by the Attorney
General, and to make such training a requirement for its
Federal law enforcement officers. The Committee further directs
such Departments and agencies to brief the Committees on their
efforts relating to training no later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act.
In addition, the Committee directs such Departments and
agencies, to the extent that such Departments and agencies have
not already done so, to submit their use of force data to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)'s National Use of Force
Data Collection database. The Committee further directs such
Departments and agencies to brief the Committees no later than
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act on their
current efforts to tabulate and submit their use of force data
to the FBI.
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 looks forward to receiving the briefing requested in
House Report 116-107.

TITLE I

AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

Processing, Research and Marketing

Office of the Secretary

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $46,998,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 86,773,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 64,755,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +17,757,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -22,018,000

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

[Dollars in thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2021 FY 2022 Committee
enacted estimate provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Secretary................ 5,101 14,801 10,203
Office of Homeland Security............ 1,324 13,429 4,749
Office of Tribal Relations............. - - - 2,860 2,860
Office of Partnerships and Public 7,002 13,294 9,294
Engagement............................
Office of the Assistant Secretary for 881 1,399 1,649
Administration........................
Departmental Administration............ 21,440 26,001 24,036
Office of the Assistant Secretary for 3,908 4,480 4,480
Congressional Relations and
Intergovernmental Affairs.............
Office of Communications............... 7,342 10,509 7,484
--------------------------------
Total, Office of the Secretary..... 46,998 86,773 64,755
------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Secretary, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $64,755,000.
Similar to prior years, the Committee does not include
direct funding for activities that are currently funded through
other resources such as the Working Capital Fund or that have
historically been funded through other means.
The Committee provides a total of $2,860,000 for the Office
of Tribal Relations, including an increase of $1,845,000 for
additional staff.
The Committee provides $9,294,000 for the Office of
Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), including an
increase of $750,000 for additional staff. The Committee
strongly supports the Outreach and Assistance for Socially
Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and
Ranchers program and provides an increase of $2,500,000 for
grants to aid in increasing the accessibility of USDA programs
to underserved constituents, specifically assistance to
underrepresented and underserved producers, agricultural
workers, and communities. OPPE is directed to use not more than
five percent of this sum for administrative costs. In addition,
the bill provides $5,000,000 for the Farming Opportunities
Training and Outreach Program as authorized by the 2018 Farm
Bill. This funding is in addition to the $40,000,000 in total
mandatory funds available in 2022.
The Committee provides an increase of $2,254,000 for
Departmental Administration for additional staff.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
(AAPI) Participation. The Committee urges the Secretary to
draft and implement a plan to collect disaggregated data on the
numbers of AAPI farmers applying to and participating in the
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and
Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers program, as well as
the percentage of AAPI farmers benefiting from loan forgiveness
as part of the American Rescue Plan, and to submit a report to
the Committee within 250 days of the enactment of this Act.
California Drought Assistance.--In California, many regions
of the state have been deemed to be in severe, extreme, or
exceptional drought condition. On March 5, 2021, the Secretary
designated 50 counties in California as primary natural
disaster areas due to a recent drought. The Committee endorses
the objective process used by USDA in the Secretarial drought
designation and encourages the Secretary to use emergency and
non-emergency authorities already in law to the maximum extent
possible to assist these agricultural producers during the
ongoing drought. The Secretary is also encouraged to use his
authorities to assist agricultural producers experiencing
similar conditions elsewhere in the country.
Climate Change Funding.--The Committee provides a total of
$347,400,000 for various offices and agencies to support USDA's
efforts in addressing the climate change crisis, specifically
on how it affects American farmers and rural communities.
Funding is provided for new investments across USDA to focus on
climate change research and assessment; measurement and
monitoring; greenhouse gas emissions mitigation; carbon
sequestration; and clean energy technologies. Given that these
are new initiatives, the Committee awaits a carefully developed
and articulated plan with more specificities than available in
the budget and looks forward to working with USDA on this
issue.
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Report.--The Committee
directs the Secretary to provide a report on November 15, 2021,
and May 15, 2022, on planned uses of funding under the
authorities of Section 4 and Section 11 of the CCC Charter Act.
CCC Obligations and Commitments.--The Secretary is directed
to notify the Committees in writing 15 days prior to any
announcement on the use of funds from the CCC or 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.
COVID-19 and Farmworkers.--The living and working
conditions of farmworkers make them extremely vulnerable to
COVID-19 exposure and illness. The Committee directs the
Secretary to ensure that funding provided for COVID-19
addresses the extreme needs in farmworker communities.
Customer Service.--The Committee continues to support
efforts to improve customer service in accordance with
Executive Order 13571. The Committee directs the Secretary to
develop standards to improve customer service and incorporate
the standards into the performance plans required under 31
U.S.C. 1115 and to update the Committee of its efforts in this
regard.
Emissions Reduction Plan.--The Committee directed USDA to
submit a report not later than 180 days after the enactment of
the fiscal year 2021 bill outlining its plans to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The Committee looks forward to
receiving the report.
ERS/NIFA Move.--It has been almost exactly two years since
the previous Secretary announced his decision to relocate the
Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture (NIFA) outside the greater Washington,
D.C. area. Despite objections from the Committee, members of
the House and Senate, numerous current and former staff of both
agencies, and stakeholders who depend on the information and
support provided by each agency, the Department relocated both
agencies, starting in the summer of 2019. One of the stated
reasons for the move was to improve the Department's ability to
attract and retain highly qualified staff. At the time of the
relocation announcement, both ERS and NIFA each had close to
300 employees. Today, the total number of employees for each
agency is still below 75 percent of total capacity. ERS and
NIFA remain shells of their former selves and the loss of
institutional knowledge each agency has suffered will take
years to overcome. The Committee urges the Secretary in the
strongest possible terms to take whatever actions are necessary
to restore these agencies to their full employment levels.
Explanatory Notes.--The Committee appreciates the
Department's work to restore the Explanatory Notes to the same
format as they had been presented prior to fiscal year 2021 and
directs that this format be maintained for fiscal year 2023 and
beyond.
Grain Terminals.--The Committee notes 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. A failure to reach an agreement could result in an
interruption in grain terminal service that would negatively
impact the nation's grain exports. The Committee urges all
parties to continue negotiating in good faith to ensure an
equitable outcome for both grain terminal operators and their
workers is expeditiously reached.
Hemp.--The Committee is concerned that the level of
allowable THC content in hemp may be arbitrary and pose a
burden on hemp producers that is not supported by science. The
Committee directs USDA to work with the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) to study and report to Congress on whether
there is scientific basis for the current limit of .3% THC in
hemp and suggest alternative levels if necessary.
The 2018 Farm Bill included a provision that restricted
participation in legalized hemp production of any individual
convicted of a drug-related felony for 10 years after their
date of conviction, unless they are part of a hemp pilot
program authorized by the 2014 farm bill. This drug felony ban
will disproportionately impact communities of color and create
another barrier to entry in the hemp industry to populations
targeted by past drug policies. The Committee directs USDA to
identify barriers to entry for communities of color and provide
recommendations on how to ensure communities of color have
equal access and opportunity to participate in the hemp
industry.
Hemp Extract Regulation.--The Committee is concerned about
the inconsistencies in the regulation of the production of hemp
by USDA and DEA. Congress vested primary regulatory authority
in USDA and expects other regulatory actions to align with it.
Congress intentionally expanded the definition of hemp to
include derivatives, extracts and cannabinoids in an effort to
avoid the criminalization of hemp processing. Committee
understands that in-process hemp extract may temporarily exceed
the delta-9 THC concentration of 0.3% before being packaged and
sold as a finished product for consumption. Therefore the
Committee directs USDA to coordinate directly with the DEA to
present the industry with guidance and information on in-
process extracted material.
Linking Food and Health.--The Committee understands that
many chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma,
arthritis and inflammatory diseases, and maternal health and
child development can be managed cost effectively by improved
nutrition. The Committee understands that the Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) five-year plan includes work on how
culturally appropriate, food-based solutions can improve health
outcomes and save money. The Committee encourages USDA to keep
working closely with the Department of Health and Human
Services on these issues.
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 the
Office of Budget and Program Analysis (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.
Military Service.--The Committee is concerned that 71% of
Americans between the ages of 17 to 24 are ineligible for
military service because of obesity, mental and other physical
health issues, or substance abuse. The Committee recognizes
that federal support for childhood nutrition, food security,
physical education, mental and physical health, and substance
abuse prevention will benefit all Americans, including those
Americans who intend to serve in the Armed Forces. The
Committee encourages the Secretary to work with the Secretaries
of Defense and HHS to help assist in communicating nutritional
standards to state local, and tribal government for children
attending early childhood programs and K-12 schools.
National Finance Center.--The National Finance Center (NFC)
is the largest designated Federal Government Payroll Shared
Service Provider and it provides integrated payroll and
personnel services for over 640,000 Federal employees. To
ensure that thousands of Federal employees' pay and human
resources services are not interrupted or adversely impacted by
major organizational changes, the Committee maintains the
requirements under current law relating to NFC payroll and
shared services operations, missions, personnel, and functions.
The Committee also directs USDA to provide quarterly reports on
full-time equivalent (FTE) levels for each of the current NFC
divisions, operations, and functions, as well as each of the
Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and Office of the
Chief Information Officer (OCIO) divisions, operations, and
functions currently co-located with the NFC. The reports also
are to include a detailed breakdown of the FTEs for each and
any of these same divisions, functions, or operations for the
NFC and the co-located OCFO and OCIO functions compared to
those during fiscal year 2017 and 2018.
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 USDA, 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 continues to direct that it be the policy of USDA
that preference shall be given, to the extent practicable, to
the use of locally adapted native plant materials in these
cases.
New Initiatives.--The Committee requests USDA, no later
than 120 days after enactment, to submit an execution plan for
each new initiative funded in this Act. This strategy should
include, but is not limited to, the steps necessary to make
funding available, the timeline thereof, targeted
beneficiaries, and expected results. The Committee requests
quarterly reports on these initiatives until the initiative has
been fully implemented.
Notification Requirements.--The Committee reminds the
Department that the Committee uses the definitions for
transfer, reprogramming, and program, project, and activity as
defined by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). As noted
in the 2021 Joint Explanatory Statement, a program, project, or
activity (PPA) is an element within a budget account. PPAs are
identified by reference to include the most specific level of
budget items identified in the Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act, 2021,
accompanying Committee reports, explanatory statements, and
budget justifications. The Committee notes that the most
specific level of budget items in the USDA budget
justifications is not limited to tables titled ``Project
Statement''.
Pacific Ants.--The Committee requests APHIS, ARS, and the
Forest Service to provide a report, within 90 days of enactment
of this Act, on the Biosecurity Plan for Invasive Ants in the
Pacific. The report should describe components of the plan
related to (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.
Pay Costs.--The Committee provides the requested pay cost
and FERS costs for all offices and agencies of USDA funded in
this bill.
Protecting Animals with Shelter Grants Program.--The
Committee provides $3,000,000 for the program. It directs the
Secretary of Agriculture to continue coordinating with other
federal agencies to efficiently implement the grant program for
providing emergency and transitional shelter options for
domestic violence survivors with companion animals.
Spending Plans.--The bill continues a provision in Title
VII that requires USDA to submit spending plans to the
Committee within 30 days of enactment. Previous versions of
these plans have not included adequate details that would be
useful for Committee oversight. The Committee requests that the
USDA spending plans include for each program, project, or
activity: (1) a comparison between the congressional budget
justification funding levels, the most recent congressional
directives or approved funding levels, and the funding levels
proposed by the department or agency; and (2) a clear, concise,
and informative description/justification. The Committee
reminds USDA of notification requirements, also included in
Title VII, for all applicable changes.
Status of House and Senate Report Language.--The Department
is directed to include in its fiscal year 2023 Congressional
Justification, as a single exhibit, a table listing all
deliverables, with a column for due dates if applicable. OBPA
is directed to provide updates on the status of House and
Senate reports upon request from the Committees.
USDA-owned Vehicles.--The Committee continues to await the
report requested in the fiscal year 2020 report on how the
Department plans to better manage its vehicle fleet.

Executive Operations

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST

2021 appropriation.................................... $24,192,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 31,050,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 26,399,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +2,207,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -4,651,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Chief Economist, the Committee
provides $26,399,000, including $500,000 for the food loss
coordinator position. The Committee maintains the base funding
for the National Drought Mitigation Center in the amount of
$3,800,000, including the increase of $500,0000 appropriated in
fiscal year 2021 for the National Drought Monitor.
While there has been significant effort to raise public
awareness surrounding food loss and waste, there has been less
focus on recommending solutions that can be easily implemented
by consumers. The Committee recommends that USDA enter into a
public-private partnership, similar to the Partnership for Food
Safety Education, to provide consumer-facing outreach on food
loss and waste and prevention strategies.

OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

2021 appropriation.................................... $15,394,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 16,173,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 16,173,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +779,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Committee
provides $16,173,000.

OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS

2021 appropriation.................................... $9,629,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 12,760,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 12,760,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +3,131,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, the
Committee provides $12,760,000.

Office of the Chief Information Officer

2021 appropriation.................................... $66,814,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 101,001,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 84,746,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +17,932,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -16,255,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $84,746,000, including
an increase of $17,473,000 to fully fund cyber security costs.
In addition, $12,000,000 is provided in Title VII of the bill
for the remaining costs of the Goodfellow move. Similar to
prior years, the Committee does not include direct funding for
activities currently funded through other resources such as the
Working Capital Fund or have historically been funded through
other means.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

2021 appropriation.................................... $6,109,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 7,118,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 7,118,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +1,009,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $7,118,000. The
Committee provides the Department more flexibilities by
expanding the usage of refunds and rebates from purchase cards
as requested. The Committee urges USDA to prioritize small one-
time projects to maximize the impact of limited resources.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

2021 appropriation.................................... $908,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,426,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,426,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +518,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
the Committee provides an appropriation of $1,426,000.

Office of Civil Rights

2021 appropriation.................................... $22,789,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 29,328,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 35,328,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +12,539,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +6,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of Civil Rights, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $35,328,000, which includes an increase of
$6,000,000 over the budget request for the Office's highest
priority needs.

Office of Safety, Security, and Protection

2021 appropriation.................................... $23,218,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 27,034,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 23,306,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +88,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -3,728,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of Safety, Security, and Protection, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $23,306,000. Similar to
prior years, the Committee does not include direct funding for
activities currently funded through other resources such as the
Working Capital Fund or have historically been funded through
other means.

Agriculture Buildings and Facilities

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $108,124,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 133,443,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 180,623,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +72,499,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +47,180,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Agriculture Buildings and Facilities, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $180,623,000. The Committee
strongly supports the One Neighborhood Initiative and maintains
the same funding level as provided since 2020. Including the
2022 amount, a total of $204,600,000 has been provided for this
project. As USDA prepares for the return of employees post
pandemic and develops a plan pursuant to Memorandum 21-25, the
Committee requests an update on the Initiative and future space
needs for the Headquarters Complex.

Hazardous Materials Management

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $6,514,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 6,545,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 8,540,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +2,026,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +1,995,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Hazardous Materials Management, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $8,540,000. The Committee directs the
Hazardous Materials Management Program and the Hazardous Waste
Management Program to coordinate their work to ensure there is
no duplication.

Office of Inspector General

2021 appropriation.................................... $99,912,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 106,309,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 106,309,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +6,397,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of Inspector General, the Committee provides
an appropriation of $106,309,000.
Animal fighting.--The Committee is very concerned about
illegal animal fighting activity. The OIG is encouraged to
increase its efforts to combat this illegal activity and to
investigate animal fighting as soon as it has any evidence of
such illegal activity. The Committee also encourages the OIG to
audit and investigate 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. The OIG is also directed to prioritize completion of the
Horse Protection Act and Animal Care Program Oversight of
Breeders audits.

Office of the General Counsel

2021 appropriation.................................... $45,390,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 60,723,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 60,723,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +15,333,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the General Counsel, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $60,723,000.

Office of Ethics

2021 appropriation.................................... $4,184,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 4,277,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 4,277,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +93,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of Ethics, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $4,277,000.

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

2021 appropriation.................................... $809,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 6,327,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 4,327,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +3,518,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -2,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $4,327,000.
1862, 1890, and 1994 Land Grant Institutions.--The
Committee directs USDA to make every effort to strengthen
partnerships and expand cooperation between 1862, 1890, and
1994 Land Grant institutions, wherever regionally appropriate,
to help close gaps in extension and leverage joint
collaborative efforts.
1890 Capacity Building.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of the 1890s in providing technical assistance and
outreach to underserved farming populations and directs ARS and
NIFA to collaborate with agencies in the Rural Development and
Farm Production and Conservation Mission Areas to help increase
awareness of USDA farm programs and rural development funding
opportunities through 1890 extension programs.
Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority
(AGARDA).--The Committee notes that Section 7132 of the 2018
Farm Bill directed the Office of the Chief Scientist to
complete a strategic plan for AGARDA that demonstrates USDA's
vision for AGARDA. As the Committee awaits this plan, the
Committee provides $2,000,000 for the Office of Under Secretary
for Research, Education, and Economics to further build out the
planning and management structure of AGARDA and hire staff.
Food Prescriptions.--The Committee encourages USDA to work
with local farmers and hospitals/clinics to build or improve on
food prescription programs to better facilitate a patient's
ability to attain a food prescription and fill it with a local
farmer.
Human Health and Soil Health Study.--The Committee provides
$1,000,000 for the Secretary to enter into an agreement with
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
within 60 days of the enactment of this Act to conduct an
analysis of current scientific findings to determine the links
between human health and soil health by reviewing existing
research on the connections between the human microbiome and
soil microbiome and the direct interaction of humans with
soils, identifying linkages between soil management practices
and the nutrient density of foods for human consumption,
determining how to best leverage healthy soil management
practices to maximize benefits and minimize adverse impacts on
human health, and exploring areas for future research. A report
including the study's findings and recommendations shall be
submitted to the Committee not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of this bill.
Next Generation Fertilizers.--The Committee supports
efforts to build on the EPA-USDA Next Gen Fertilizer Challenge
and support further development and evaluation of better
fertilizers, including fertilizers with slow release and
organic components.
Nutritional Value of Food.--As USDA develops a
comprehensive innovation strategy for U.S. agriculture, the
Committee encourages USDA to fund research efforts assessing
the nutritional value of agricultural crops in a changing
climate. In addition, the Committee notes the fiscal year 2021
House report required USDA to create a plan to coordinate
ongoing and future research efforts at ARS and NIFA related to
the effects of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels on the
nutritional value of food through USDA's Agriculture Innovation
Agenda. The Committee looks forward to reviewing this plan.
Public Access to Research.--The Committee commends USDA on
issuing its Implementation Plan to Increase Public Access to
Results of USDA-funded Scientific Research in November of 2014.
However, the Committee notes that there is still no
implementation date. The Committee urges USDA to issue an
implementation date and continue its efforts to fully develop
its plan, and requires an update be included in USDA's fiscal
year 2023 budget request.
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.
Sustainable Farming Transitions.--The Committee supports
USDA efforts to help farmers implement more sustainable or
regenerative farming methods. The Committee encourages USDA to
further help farmers who are interested to understand the
costs, necessary upgrades, viability, and profitability of
these methods.

Economic Research Service

2021 appropriation.................................... $85,476,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 90,594,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 88,594,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +3,118,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -2,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Economic Research Service (ERS), the Committee
provides an appropriation of $88,594,000. The Committee
includes a total increase of $1,118,000 for pay and retirement
contributions and $2,000,000 for ERS to expand data modeling
capabilities to enhance its understanding of the impacts of
climate change on the farm economy and production.
Agricultural Trade Imports.--The Committee directs ERS to
study and report back within 120 days of the enactment of this
Act findings on the top 15 nations, within the last five years,
from which the United States imports agriculture products. The
report shall also include the average wages for farmworkers of
those countries and a discussion, if possible, of health
benefits, safety regulations, and working conditions of their
farm labor per commodity to those found in the U.S.
Benefits of Conservation and Soil Health Practices.--The
Committee notes that the environmental benefits of
participating in voluntary conservation practices such as those
administered by the Farm Service Agency and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service have been studied but the long-
term economic dividends of these practices are not well
understood and may not be readily apparent to those who are
eligible and considering enrollment. The Committee directs ERS
to produce a study on the relationship between conservation and
soil health practices, farm financial health, and crop yield
variability rates. The Committee notes that the fiscal year
2021 House report directed ERS to produce a study on the
relationship between conservation and soil health practices as
they relate to the long-term profitability of farms and crop
yield variability rates and the Committee looks forward to
reviewing the results of the study.
Carbon Sequestration.--The Committee directs ERS to provide
within one year of the enactment of this Act a report on
incentive programs for incentivizing carbon sequestration in
soil through various management practices. The Committee
encourages ERS to consider how alternative policies or programs
would manage the tradeoff between inducing new adopters and
rewarding and sustaining existing adopters of techniques that
sequester soil carbon, regional and geographic differences in
incentive programs, social and behavioral obstacles, and the
differences across program designs.
Continuous Living Cover.--The Committee directs ERS to
produce a study on the relationship between continuous living
cover practices and economic development, which shall include a
discussion of the demand side of continuous living cover
practices and potential markets, and the projected long-term
economic impacts these practices will have on rural economies.
Cover Cropping and Livestock Integration.--The Committee
notes that the fiscal year 2021 House report directed ERS to
produce a study detailing current best practices as well as the
projected long-term economic impacts for farmers and the
Committee looks forward to reviewing the results of the study.
Land Access Report.--The Committee notes ERS is in the
process of finalizing a report on Land Access in response to
Section 12607 of the 2018 Farm Bill. The Committee looks
forward to reviewing the results of this effort.
Soil Health Experts.--The Committee appreciates ERS' recent
efforts to hire staff with expertise in soil health, an area of
continued importance to U.S. farmers and the food and
agriculture industry.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

2021 appropriation.................................... $183,921,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 193,662,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 189,175,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +5,254,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -4,487,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),
the Committee provides an appropriation of $189,175,000, of
which $46,850,000 is for the Census of Agriculture. The
Committee includes a total of $2,191,000 for pay and retirement
contributions and $2,000,000 to expand the existing geospatial
program to provide more information on the impact of critical
weather events. The Committee strongly supports efforts to
contribute to baseline data for climate change tracking.
However, the budget request for this activity did not provide
sufficient information to support the funding. The Committee
requests NASS to better highlight where gaps in the data exist
and how NASS proposes to supplement ongoing efforts. The
Committee expects NASS to continue its ongoing activities at
the frequency levels assumed in fiscal year 2021, including
Acreage, Crop Production and Grain Stocks; Barley acreage and
production estimates; the Bee and Honey Program; the Chemical
Use Data Series; the Floriculture Crops Report; and Fruit and
Vegetable Reports, including in-season forecasts for non-citrus
fruit and tree nut crops such as pecans.
Agri-Tourism Study.--The Committee directs NASS to plan to
conduct as a follow-on study to the census of agriculture
conducted in the calendar year 2022 under section 2 of the
Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (7 U.S.C. 2204g) to collect
additional information on the census related to agritourism,
including information about educational experiences, outdoor
recreation, entertainment and special events, direct sales,
entertainment, accommodations, other as determined by the
Secretary.
Data Collection on Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agricultural
Production.--The Committee directs NASS to continue its
outreach to stakeholders to develop a better understanding of
how to collect more accurate information on urban, indoor, and
emerging agricultural production. The Committee recognizes that
the current census of agriculture definition may not fully
address the landscape and scope of urban agriculture across the
Nation. The new information will be critical to the policy
development and outreach carried out by the Office of Urban
Agriculture and Innovative Production. The Committee requests
NASS to brief the Committee on how this information can be
better addressed in the upcoming Census of Agriculture.
Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land
(TOTAL) Survey.--The Committee notes that the next TOTAL survey
is part of planned NASS activities in the next Census of
Agriculture. The Committee expects the next TOTAL survey to
provide comprehensive data on land ownership, tenure,
landowners' transition plans, and lease agreements available to
beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers to understand the
trends that lead to secure land tenure and thriving farm
businesses. The Committee encourages the program to look at
emerging trends in land acquisition connected to innovations in
farming on small acreage. The Committee also encourages
collaboration with ERS so that new data provided on the
economics of the farm of the future can be better utilized.

Agricultural Research Service

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2021 appropriation.................................... $1,491,784,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,849,590,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,638,046,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +146,262,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -211,544,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Salaries and Expenses of the Agricultural Research
Service (ARS), the Committee provides an appropriation of
$1,638,046,000, including a total increase of $17,806,000 for
pay and retirement contributions.
The Committee expects that extramural and intramural
research will be funded at no less than the fiscal year 2021
levels, unless otherwise specified.
The Committee strongly supports the Administration's
request for ARS to conduct additional research and development
to enhance its capabilities to mitigate the impacts of climate
change on the agricultural sector. Through its numerous
laboratory locations around the country, ARS is uniquely
positioned to develop agricultural solutions to climate change
on a national, regional, and local scale. The Committee
recommends funding for the Administration's clean energy and
climate science goals in targeted areas, as noted below, to
build upon ongoing research activities and lay the groundwork
for innovative approaches in the future.
While the Committee is supportive of the goals of the
Advanced Research Projects Agency--Climate (ARPA-C) proposal,
the budget request lacks an adequate justification of ARS's
role and therefore the Committee includes no funding for ARPA-
C.
1890s Partnerships.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of 1890s Land Grant Institutions and the
collaborative relationships that have developed with ARS
research facilities over the years. The Committee directs ARS
to expand coordination of research efforts with 1890s, wherever
ARS facilities and 1890s are in the same region, to the
greatest extent possible. The Committee notes the longstanding
partnerships that exist where 1862s and ARS facilities are in
the same area and encourages ARS to strengthen similar efforts
with the 1890s.
Advanced Greenhouse Research.--The Committee directs ARS to
consider supporting the development of new advanced greenhouses
at sites that serve ARS scientists who access the facility to
advance their research programs.
Aerial Application.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of aerial application to control crop pests and
diseases and to fertilize and seed crops and forests. Aerial
application is useful not only to ensure overall food safety
and food security, but also to promote public health through
improved mosquito control and public health application
techniques. The ARS Aerial Application Technology Program
conducts innovative research making aerial applications more
efficient, effective, and precise. This program has yielded
more effective public health control programs, as well as
increased efficiencies and greater crop production. Research
for aerial application serves the public interest as a vital
tool for the future.
Agroforestry.--The Committee is aware of the promise of
adoption of systems that would diversify farm enterprises
through productive agroforestry including specialty tree fruit
and nut crops that produce marketable and profitable products.
Alfalfa Research.--The Committee supports research into
alfalfa seed and forage systems, which hold the potential to
maximize crop yields, increase milk production, and improve
genetics.
Alternative Protein Research.--The Committee supports
research focused on the characteristics of animal meat using
plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation (together,
``alternative proteins''). The Committee provides $5,000,000 to
support alternative protein research encompassing all stages of
the production process, including optimizing ingredient
processing techniques and developing new manufacturing methods.
The Committee encourages ARS to collaborate with other relevant
programs, including but not limited to NIFA and the National
Science Foundation.
Ancient Crops.--The Committee recognizes the importance of
crop genetics research conducted at public-private consortia to
enhance yields, fight diseases and pests, adapt to changing
climates, and reduce global food insecurity.
Animal Research.--The Committee directs ARS to ensure that
each of its facilities housing animals is adhering to the
Animal Welfare Act at all times and to submit quarterly reports
that include both all violations found by APHIS during that
quarter and the specific actions that will be taken to prevent
their recurrence.
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. The Committee directs ARS to
coordinate with NIFA and APHIS to provide to the Committee not
later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act a report on
AIPM projects. The report shall include a list of past,
current, and proposed future projects, actual or estimated
costs and benefits for each identified project, and a
discussion of the technology transfer efforts employed to
guarantee long-term adoption of the demonstrated technologies
and best practices.
Applied Epidemiological Research.--The Committee provides
$500,000 to conduct research and develop rapid intervention
strategies and protocols with a focus on applied epidemiology
and countermeasures intended to prevent and mitigate the impact
of diseases that affect food animals. Collaboration with land-
grant universities with expertise in food animal epidemiology
and international trade standards and with close connection
with the livestock and poultry industries is encouraged to
facilitate public-academic partnerships with the ultimate goal
of increasing industry resilience to anticipated threats.
Avocado Lace Bug.--The Committee encourages ARS to
coordinate research efforts with NIFA and APHIS to address the
impact of the avocado lace bug and the Queensland longhorn
beetle.
Barley Pest Initiative.--The Committee provides an
additional $1,500,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level to
strengthen the capacity of the barley research infrastructure
to address major insect, viral, bacterial, and fungal threats
to the production of high-quality barley.
Bovine Pleuropneumonia.--The Committee is concerned about
the potential harm to the cattle industry from contagious
bovine pleuropneumonia and provides $2,000,000 for ARS to
partner with academia to develop improved diagnostic tests and
vaccines for this harmful disease.
Cattle Fever Ticks.--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. Additionally, the Committee encourages ARS
to develop safe and effective compounds to combat cattle fever
ticks.
Clean Energy Research.--The Committee includes $20,000,000
in support of the Administration's clean energy proposals. The
Committee provides $15,000,000 for the Biowaste-stream to
Bioenergy activity proposed as part of the New Products/Product
Quality/Value Added Program and $5,000,000 to develop
feedstocks and new sustainable varieties of sugar and oil crops
activities proposed as part of the Crop Production Program. The
Committee believes these activities represent the most
impactful agricultural research in support of the
Administration's clean energy goals.
Climate Science.--The Committee includes $50,000,000 in
support of the Administration's agricultural climate science
proposals. The Committee provides $8,000,000 for the crop
breeding and high through-put activities proposed as part of
the Crop Production Program; $5,000,000 for alternative
proteins research; $7,000,000 to mitigate climate-related food
safety risks and mycotoxins proposed as part of the Food Safety
Program; and also provides $10,000,000 to strengthen Regional
Climate Hub research teams, $15,000,000 to enhance the LTAR
network, and $5,000,000 towards Center of Excellence efforts
proposed as part of the Environmental Stewardship Program.
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 (HLB MAC) group.
Coffee Plant Health Initiative.--The Committee provides an
additional $500,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level to support
the research goals of the Coffee Plant Health Initiative.
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
to further research collaborations to improve water and soil
quality in/around impaired water resources through advanced
environmental imaging and agricultural waste management
technologies.
Fertilizer Innovation Research.--The Committee supports
research in fertilizer innovations for grain crops to reduce
costs and volume and minimize runoff. The Committee provides an
additional $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level to
support research on new technologies that can produce equal or
higher crop yields, be cost effective, reduce nitrogen losses
in the form of ammonia and nitrogen oxides, and reduce nutrient
losses of nitrogen and phosphate, and new fertilizer production
technologies with reduced waste streams and energy costs. The
Committee encourages ARS to partner with public and land grant
universities in pursuit of these technologies.
Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative (FNRI).--The
Committee recognizes the economic importance of the
floriculture and nursery sector of agriculture and the
industry's need for continued innovation. The Committee
encourages ARS to support the goals of the FNRI to secure a
more efficient and productive floriculture and nursery
industry. The Committee also encourages ARS to work
collaboratively with NIFA on research that includes breeding
programs to increase tolerance from insect pests, diseases, and
other climate change impacts; testing of new organic and non-
organic pesticides; and implementing integrated pest management
and biological control programs.
Food Preservation Research.--The Committee encourages ARS
to coordinate with NIFA, universities, farm associations, non-
profits, and businesses to develop plans for research and
development on food preservation and artificial intelligence
harvesting technologies for specialty crops.
Forest Products Research.--The Committee supports research
on wood quality improvement and improvement in forest products
evaluation standards and valuation techniques.
Fumigant Alternatives Research.--The Committee encourages
ARS to collaborate with NIFA and industry stakeholders to
develop innovative soilborne pest control and eradication
commercial-scale tools to replace fumigants, such as methyl
bromide, metam sodium, metam potassium, and 1,3-
dichloropropene.
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 supports and encourages
ARS to expand existing research focused on oat improvement.
Germplasm Enhancement of Maize.--The Committee continues to
support germplasm enhancement of maize projects and encourages
continued cooperation between existing ARS maize germplasm
programs, industry, and large-scale public sector efforts to
investigate the interaction of maize genome variation and
environments.
Greenhouse Production Research Report.--The Committee
appreciates the work of the Greenhouse Production Research
Group (GPRG) to develop new technologies for controlled
environment agriculture. The Committee asks ARS to review
GPRG's partnerships and ways they can expand local greenhouse
production and new technologies to local entities such as, but
not limited to, botanical gardens. Within 180 days of
enactment, the Committee directs ARS to report back on its
findings and efforts.
Hemp Whole-Genome Bioinformatics.--The Committee provides
$500,000 to conduct genomics and bioinformatics research in
collaboration with capable institutions to elucidate the
genetic control of key production and product quality traits of
the hemp plant. In addition, the Committee also encourages ARS
to partner with institutions already engaged in such research
to conduct hemp genetic improvement research and breeding with
new breeding and editing techniques.
Herbicide Resistance Research.--The Committee provides
$1,000,000 to identify and overcome herbicide resistant
associated weed risks to the crop production pathway. The
Committee supports research to address weed management strongly
affecting the long-term economic sustainability of regional
food systems through research partnerships involving ARS,
research institutions, and stakeholder support.
Histomonas Research.--The Committee encourages ARS to
coordinate development of a Histomonas research program with
intent to develop new prevention and treatment options.
Additionally, the Committee encourages ARS to develop safe and
effective compounds to combat Histomonas. The Committee
provides $1,000,000 to support these efforts.
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 directs ARS to continue to focus on these efforts
to advance new disease-resistant public hop varieties.
Horticultural Trade.--The Committee supports research on
postharvest methyl bromide alternatives as well as postharvest
losses caused by diseases and physiological disorders to ensure
that high-quality, pest-free goods can access markets
effectively and lead to an expansion of trade of U.S. grown
horticultural crops.
Human Nutrition Research.--The Committee notes that
maintenance of health throughout the lifespan along with
prevention of obesity and chronic diseases via food-based
recommendations are the major emphases of human nutrition
research. The Committee encourages ARS to expand research
regarding life stage nutrition and metabolism and the growth,
health promotion, microbiome, disease prevention, diet, and
immune function of the developing child. In addition, the
Committee is aware of the linkages between human nutrition and
underlying health conditions of COVID-19-infected persons. The
Committee recognizes the vital role that research at the
intersection of human nutrition and aging plays in our
understanding of public health. The Committee directs that no
less than the fiscal year 2021 funding level is provided to the
existing human nutrition centers.
Indo-Pacific Invasive Pests.--The Committee encourages ARS
to continue its work with stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific
region to assess options for combatting invasive pests.
Improved Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Imaging Research.--The
Committee understands HABs are a detriment to human and animal
health, aquatic ecosystems, and local economies. The Committee
directs ARS and NRCS to develop plans to apply precise imaging
technologies, such as spectral imaging, for better assessment
and identification of HABs sourcing and nutrient loading.
Within 180 days of enactment, ARS and NRCS shall report back on
current activities and research gaps, including opportunities
for advanced sensor and imaging technology applications to
mitigate losses of agricultural nutrients to surface and ground
water resources.
Industrial Hemp Germplasm.--The Committee recognizes the
increasing demand for industrial hemp for a variety of uses and
its growing importance as a crop for U.S. farmers. The
Committee supports efforts to maintain the hemp germplasm
repository.
Integrated Plant and Animal Production Systems.--The
Committee provides $1,000,000 to conduct research to develop
integrated plant-animal production systems to improve
sustainability for small-scale farms. Research will address the
challenges facing limited-resource growers and livestock
producers through leading-edge genetic, production, and post-
harvest technologies, where applicable.
Little Cherry Disease.--The Committee continues to support
research on little cherry disease and provides $500,000 for
research and testing efforts to reduce the spread of the
disease.
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.
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.
Missouri River Basin Water Resource Management.--The
Committee notes the benefits of research on improving flood
control on the middle and lower Missouri rivers, assessing the
impact on commodity prices of river navigability, evaluating
the probabilities of levee failure and associated damage under
different protection scenarios, and utilizing biophysical
simulation models to evaluate agricultural production, minimize
erosion and pollution runoff while supporting flood control,
navigation, and drinking and cooling water supplies.
National Agricultural Library (NAL).--The Committee
encourages ARS to maintain a focus on agriculture-related legal
issues within NAL. The Committee notes that as the agriculture
sector faces financial stress, there is a necessity that
agriculture-related legal issues be addressed on an
increasingly frequent basis. Further, agriculture-related legal
issues are complex. The Committee recommends that NAL play an
important role in assisting all stakeholders with understanding
these issues. Further, the Committee encourages ARS and NAL to
engage in multi-year cooperative agreements to enhance NAL's
ongoing work.
National Arboretum Public Access.--The Committee is aware
of ongoing efforts to develop a new strategic plan for the
National Arboretum to carry out its missions of research,
education, and public display gardens. The Committee expects
that such plan will address necessary security and safety
enhancements and improve public access to the National
Arboretum. In addition, the Committee directs ARS to explore
entering into agreements with the District of Columbia and
private sector partners to fulfill these public access
improvements.
National Soil Dynamics Laboratory.--The Committee
encourages ARS to research the use of biochar to capture
phosphorous and heavy metals from poultry agricultural fields
in order to sequester the carbon to improve the soil's health
and to reduce pollution to surface and sub-surface waters.
Navel Orangeworm (NOW).--The Committee encourages ARS to
collaborate with APHIS and industry stakeholders on the APHIS
NOW sterile moth pilot program to help reduce NOW moth
populations.
Novel Food Safety Testing.--The Committee notes that ARS
has the ability to provide recommendations for developing
technology to test for food borne pathogens in small meat
packing plants and food preparation businesses. The Committee
is interested in supporting small meat packing plants while
retaining high standards of food safety and inspection. The
Committee encourages ARS to provide a plan for development of
the technology, in the field testing, and digital data sharing
and collection mechanisms between the food preparation location
and labs.
Opportunities for Remote Sensing Soil Organic Carbon
Research.--The Committee supports research into best practices
for measuring the soil carbon deficit on farm, agricultural,
and prairie land though remote sensing including through
satellite technology, drone deployment, and aircraft systems
along with innovative remote sensing techniques. The Committee
encourages ARS to coordinate research efforts with other
relevant federal agencies involved in the remote sensing of
soil organic carbon including, but not limited to, the United
States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
Organic Research.--The Committee directs ARS to develop a
five-year plan for organic food and agriculture research
encompassing all relevant crop, animal, nutrition, and natural
resource national programs.
Pacific Ants.--The Committee directs ARS to provide within
90 days of enactment of this Act a report on its revision of
the Pacific Ants Prevention Plan. These revisions 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.
Peanut Nutrition Research.--The Committee recognizes the
need for more research to identify how peanut consumption
contributes to overall health, wellness, and reduces chronic
disease risk in various groups and across the lifespan. The
Committee encourages research topics to include chronic
diseases, nutrition and wellness across the lifespan, health
disparities, dietary patterns for optimal health, and nutrition
for the future. The Committee provides $1,000,000 to implement
this peanut nutrition research.
Peanut Research.--The Committee provides an additional
$1,500,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level to support research
activities to mitigate aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. The
Committee directs ARS to enhance ongoing collaborations with
land grant institutions to further advance research efforts.
Pecan Genetic Research.--The Committee provides an
additional $1,500,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level to
maintain pecan genetic resources, further characterize pecan
genetic diversity and advance cultivar breeding through novel
genomic approaches that tap into the unique pecan genetic
resources held by ARS.
Pecan Processing Research.--The Committee recognizes the
need for new pecan processing technologies, in particular
pasteurization and cracking/shelling technologies, and the
importance of pasteurization processes for food safety and in
continuing export growth. The Committee provides an additional
$1,500,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level to support pecan
processing research activities to address these issues.
Pest Management Efforts.--The Committee recognizes the
value of ARS in supporting the greenhouse industry with
research on pest management and plant nutrients as well as the
importance of reducing energy costs for greenhouse and
controlled environment agriculture. The Committee directs ARS
to continue work on pest management and plant nutrients and
also to develop plans for controlled environment demonstration
projects aligned with existing ARS technical units focused on
greenhouse agriculture to provide data on savings and
productivity resulting from these projects.
Post-Research Animal Placements.--The Committee commends
ARS on its retirement of cats no longer needed in lab research.
Several other agencies, including the National Institutes of
Health, Food and Drug Administration and Department of Veterans
Affairs have enacted formal policies expressing support for and
facilitating the retirement and adoption of healthy animals
held or used in intramural research when appropriate. Within
180 days of enactment of this Act, the Committee directs ARS to
establish a framework to allow the retirement of dogs and cats,
and other domesticated animals as appropriate, that are no
longer needed in intramural agency research to private homes,
rescues or sanctuaries.
Poultry Research.--The committee provides $1,500,000 to
expand capabilities to respond to highly pathogenic avian
influenza outbreaks and to conduct additional research for
eradication and control.
Rangeland Research.--The Committee provides an additional
$500,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level for rangeland
research.
Reducing Ammonia Nitrogen in Poultry Production.--The
Committee encourages ARS to develop sustainable, cost-effective
technologies to capture ammonia nitrogen while improving the
air quality in chicken houses.
Regenerative and Precision Agriculture for Orchards.--The
Committee directs ARS to compile currently available research
data on the effect of regenerative and precision agriculture on
conserving water, sequestering carbon, increasing soil health,
and minimizing or eliminating chemistries within the context of
applicability to fruit and nut orchards, and to identify data
gaps on the application of these research goals to fruit and
nut orchards. The Committee includes $500,000 to eliminate any
research gaps.
Roseau Cane.--The Committee continues to direct ARS to work
with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 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.
Small Fruits Research.--The Committee provides an
additional $500,000 above the fiscal year 2021 level to improve
the ability to forecast pest and disease spread, implement
precision management strategies, mitigate invasive insects, and
to improve the overall quality of fruit.
Small Grain Genomics.--The Committee supports research on
barley and wheat high throughput genomics and phenotyping and
recognizes its importance in improving crop traits and
developing new cultivars.
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 genetic
conditions leading to this quality loss.
Sorghum.--The Committee recognizes the growing significance
of sorghum due to water conservation traits and increased
utilization and supports further research to initiate gene flow
and pest resistance.
Spittle Bug.--The Committee encourages ARS to coordinate
research efforts with NIFA and APHIS to address the impact of
the spittle bug.
Strawberry Production Research.--The Committee recognizes
that the highly perishable, delicate, and labor-intensive
nature of strawberry production makes this crop an ideal test
bed for innovative automation technologies. The Committee
provides $500,000 to utilize innovative automation technologies
to enhance strawberry production.
Sugar Beet Research.--The Committee encourages ARS to
research the interaction of various, physical biological and
environmental conditions with better sugar beet genetics and
better knowledge of interactions between plants and the
environment.
Sugarcane Research Program.--The Committee supports
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.
Sustainable Aquaculture.--The Committee supports rapid
response research on sustainable marine aquaculture for
coldwater and warmwater production coastal environments, with
special emphasis on workforce education.
Sustainable and Advanced Technology Systems for Poultry
Production.--The Committee encourages ARS to conduct research
to address two of the critical challenges confronting poultry
processing: animal welfare, and water use/water waste/waste
management.
Tropical and Subtropical Research.--The Committee
encourages ARS to continue research on Tropical and Subtropical
crops. The Committee notes this research is critical as the
presence of and destruction by invasive pests such as fruit
flies, coffee berry borer, felted macadamia nut coccid, and
plant viruses and funguses increase and threaten crop security
in the Pacific and insular areas.
U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES).--The Committee
recognizes the unique and valuable contributions the USSES
makes toward increasing production efficiency and improving
sustainable rangeland ecosystems. The Committee is pleased by
the collaboration of a diverse variety of stakeholders on the
use of pastures, monitoring of wildlife interactions, and
studies of mutual interest. The Committee encourages ARS to
engage directly with stakeholders and state and federal
agencies with biological expertise to expand research programs
and urges ARS to continue engaging collaborators to ensure the
station functions as an agricultural research facility while
also evaluating opportunities through a domestic livestock/
wildlife collaboration.
U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab (USWBS).--The Committee
continues to recognize 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.
Warm Water Aquaculture.--The Committee encourages ARS to
conduct research to close the gaps in knowledge regarding co-
infections in catfish in order to help develop effective
prevention measures and to improve the economy of the catfish
industry.
Wheat Genetics Research.--The Committee encourages ARS to
research new wheat varieties to combat persistent issues and
increase yield and quality.
Whitefly.--The Committee recognizes that whiteflies are an
emerging pest as a result of both 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. The Committee
provides an additional $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2021
level in support of these research efforts.
Wildfire Smoke Taint Research on Winegrapes.--The Committee
supports research to identify the compounds responsible for
smoke taint, establish a reliable database of background levels
of smoke taint compounds occurring naturally in wine grapes,
develop mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint,
and study compounds that can act as a barrier between the
grapes and smoke compounds. In addition, the Committee supports
research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and
testing of smoke exposed grapes and smoke affected wines. The
Committee provides an additional $1,500,000 above the fiscal
year 2021 level in support of these research efforts.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

2021 appropriation.................................... $35,700,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 45,405,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 126,505,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +90,805,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +81,100,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

The Committee provides $126,505,000 for Buildings and
Facilities. The Committee specifies the following projects and
amounts to be funded in fiscal year 2022.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

2021 appropriation.................................... $992,642,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,378,416,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,061,309,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +68,667,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -317,107,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Research and Education Activities, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $1,061,309,000.
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. 3157.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).--The
Committee strongly supports AFRI. 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. The Committee recognizes the work
NIFA has done to work with stakeholders to identify knowledge
gaps in alternative protein research. The Committee notes that
research focused on the characteristics of animal meat using
plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation are eligible
for AFRI awards under the Novel Foods and Innovative
Manufacturing Technologies program. In addition, the Committee
notes that projects that use agro-acoustics to manage pests are
eligible for AFRI awards under the Pests and Beneficial Species
Program and projects that focus on researching enhanced rock
weathering to quantify climate benefits, assess any
environmental or health risks, and identify ways to minimize
the environmental impact of silicate rock mining, grinding, and
transport are also eligible for AFRI awards.
Citrus Disease Research Program.--The Emergency Citrus
Disease Research and Extension Program 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 program receives $25,000,000 per year in
mandatory funding from the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
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.
Farm of the Future.--The Committee encourages NIFA, through
its implementation of the Farm of the Future program, to
further integrate applied research in precision agriculture,
smart automation, resilient agricultural practices, applied
socioeconomics, and improved crop varieties from advanced
genomics and phenotyping across varied landscapes and locations
to advance data-driven solutions to increase productivity,
integrate technology, create value added agricultural products,
and enhance connectivity and resilience for thriving rural
communities.
Genome to Phenome.--The Committee recognizes the value of
leading public and land-grant universities with unique high-
throughput phenotyping and greenhouse facilities and expertise
for plant science innovation, root and rhizome innovation, and
food for health. The Committee directs NIFA to use a
competitive process to issue awards in the Genome to Phenome
program and urges additional focus on root stocks that increase
carbon capture and can support grain crop covers. In addition,
the Committee supports the development of tools and datasets
for the analysis of phenotypes that can be used across multiple
livestock and crop species to improve the output and efficiency
of agriculture.
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 to help address plant disease and
invasive species priorities in the territories.
Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP).--The
Committee encourages NIFA to prioritize grants that would
expand program participation among states, tribal nations, SNAP
recipients, vendors, and/or retailers that have not previously
participated in GusNIP, and provide technical assistance to
programs to encourage private and non-government (e.g.,
commodity board/foundation) investment in extending these
benefits, like through retail donations, philanthropic
sponsorship, and other external funding.
Hides and Rendered Products.--Small meatpackers face
numerous challenges, including the loss of value of hides and
of rendered products. The Committee encourages NIFA to consider
research projects that find new value and or markets for hides
and rendered products.
Innovative Dairy Ecosystems.--The Committee recognizes the
innovations and advancements in organic and grass-fed dairy
research. The Committee encourages NIFA to consider research
projects that lead to innovation in nutritional organic and
grass-fed dairy products.
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. The Committee looks forward to receiving a
report from NIFA on next steps to develop a comprehensive
approach to all value chains of manure management to include
energy production, energy credits, nutrient credits, and
mineral supplements, taking into consideration the full range
of livestock production to include cattle, poultry, and swine.
Multifaceted Tools for Controlling Harmful Algal Blooms
(HABs) 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 HABs and
Huanglongbing.
Next Generation Crops to Improve the Agricultural
Economy.--The Committee encourages NIFA to support the
development of new, economically viable crops to improve the
nation's agricultural output and applications.
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.
Soil Health Experts.--The Committee appreciates NIFA's
efforts to hire additional staff with expertise in soil health
to better support expanded efforts in the soil health and
sustainability area and to support more education and outreach
efforts.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI).--The Committee
recognizes the importance of the SCRI in addressing the needs
of the specialty crop industry through research and extension
activities. The Committee encourages NIFA to address tools,
growing techniques, and technology emissions as part of ongoing
SCRI activities.
Tick-Borne Disease Research.--The Committee encourages NIFA
to support research into innovative ways to conduct
surveillance of tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance and
conduct strategies for surveillance and risk communication.
The following table reflects the amounts provided by the
Committee:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Program/Activity Authorization 2021 Enacted 2022 Estimate Provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatch Act............................. 7 U.S.C. 361a-i......... $259,000 $329,380 $265,000
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry 16 U.S.C. 582a through a- 36,000 45,783 38,000
Act. 7.
Research at 1890 Institutions (Evans- 7 U.S.C. 3222........... 73,000 92,837 92,837
Allen Program).
Payments to the 1994 Institutions..... 7 U.S.C. 301 note....... 4,500 4,500 5,500
Education Grants for 1890 Institutions 7 U.S.C. 3152(b)........ 26,000 26,000 28,500
Scholarships at 1890 Institutions..... 7 U.S.C. 3222a.......... 10,000 10,000 10,000
Education Grants for Hispanic-Serving 7 U.S.C. 3241........... 12,500 12,500 20,000
Institutions.
Education Grants for Alaska Native and 7 U.S.C. 3156........... 3,194 3,194 3,500
Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions.
Research Grants for 1994 Institutions. 7 U.S.C. 301 note....... 4,000 4,000 4,500
Capacity Building for Non-Land-Grant 7 U.S.C. 3319i.......... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Colleges of Agriculture.
Grants for Insular Areas.............. 7 U.S.C. 3222b-2, 3362 2,000 2,000 2,000
and 3363.
Agriculture and Food Research 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)........ 435,000 700,000 450,000
Initiative.
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment.... 7 U.S.C. 3151a.......... 8,500 8,500 9,500
Veterinary Services Grant Program..... 7 U.S.C. 3151b.......... 3,000 3,000 3,500
Continuing Animal Health and Disease 7 U.S.C. 3195........... 4,000 4,000 4,000
Research Program.
Supplemental and Alternative Crops.... 7 U.S.C. 3319d.......... 1,000 663 663
Multicultural Scholars, Graduate 7 U.S.C. 3152(b)........ 9,500 9,500 9,500
Fellowship and Institution Challenge
Grants.
Secondary and 2-year Post-Secondary 7 U.S.C. 3152(j)........ 900 900 900
Education.
Aquaculture Centers................... 7 U.S.C. 3322........... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Sustainable Agriculture Research and 7 U.S.C. 5811, 5812, 40,000 60,000 50,000
Education. 5831, and 5832.
Farm Business Management.............. 7 U.S.C. 5925f.......... 2,000 2,000 2,000
Sun Grant Program..................... 7 U.S.C. 8114........... 3,000 3,000 3,000
Research Equipment Grants............. 7 U.S.C. 3310a.......... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Alfalfa and Forage Research Program... 7 U.S.C. 5925........... 3,000 - - - 3,000
Minor Crop Pest Management (IR 4)..... 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)........ 11,913 20,000 14,000
Special Research Grants:.............. 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)........
Global Change/UV Monitoring....... ........................ 1,405 1,405 1,405
Potato Research................... 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)........ 2,750 - - - 2,750
Aquaculture Research.............. 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)........ 2,000 - - - 2,000
Total, Special Research Grants.... ........................ 6,155 1,405 6,155
Necessary Expenses of Research and
Education Activities:.
Grants Management Systems......... ........................ 7,924 7,924 7,924
Federal Administration--Other ........................ 11,556 12,330 12,330
Necessary Expenses.
Total, Necessary Expenses......... ........................ 19,480 20,254 20,254
Total, Research and Education ........................ $992,642 $1,378,416 $1,061,309
Activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND

2021 appropriation.................................... ($11,880,000)
2022 budget estimate.................................. (11,880,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (11,880,000)
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

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

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

2021 appropriation.................................... $538,447,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 538,447,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 553,495,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +15,048,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +15,048,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Extension Activities, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $553,495,000.
1994 Institutions.--The Committee is interested in
expanding the work at 1994 land-grant tribal institutions in
partnership with extension services' scientific and traditional
food production methods, restoring food sovereignty, expanding
tribal land agricultural potential, and building sustainable
healthy food and lifestyle resources. The Committee encourages
tribal colleges, through federal extension program funding, to
improve sustainable agriculture and food production on tribal
lands to improve tribal nutrition.
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.--The Committee
directs NIFA to provide an update on this program in its fiscal
year 2023 budget justification. The report should include a
description of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on NIFA's
ability to provide services, what kinds of programming it was
able to provide, how many people utilized the services, how it
handled outreach to farmers and ranchers, and what its strategy
is for improving outreach and coordination. Lastly, this report
should identify the impact additional funding could have on
expanding programing and outreach for this program.
New Technologies for Agricultural Extension.--The Committee
directs NIFA to engage with stakeholders to determine new
methods to improve technology and training deployments through
the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension program.
Specific focus should be on strengthening the delivery of
outreach and education programs and enhancing technologies such
as telehealth, communications, manufacturing, farming, and the
arts in rural communities.
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. Within available funds, $1,000,000
shall be for competitive external grants for eligible
institutions to support collaborations with academic medical
schools to utilize the extension programs to address children's
wellness, infant mortality, cancer prevention and opioid
addiction in rural areas.
The following table reflects the amounts provided by the
Committee:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2021 FY 2022 Committee
Program/Activity Authorization Enacted Estimate Provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(b) and (c) 7 U.S.C. 343(b) and (c) and $315,000 $315,000 $320,000
programs and Cooperative Extension. 208(c) of P.L. 93-471.
Extension Services at 1890 Institutions... 7 U.S.C. 3221................ 62,000 62,000 67,000
Extension Services at 1994 Institutions... 7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)........... 8,500 8,500 9,500
Facility Improvements at 1890 Institutions 7 U.S.C. 3222b............... 21,500 21,500 25,000
Renewable Resources Extension Act......... 16 U.S.C. 1671 et. seq....... 4,060 4,060 4,060
Rural Health and Safety Education Programs 7 U.S.C. 2662(i)............. 4,000 4,000 5,000
Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database 7 U.S.C. 7642................ 2,500 2,000 3,000
Program.
Women and Minorities in STEM Fields....... 7 U.S.C. 5925................ 400 1,000 1,000
Food Safety Outreach Program.............. 7 U.S.C. 7625................ 10,000 10,000 10,000
Food and Ag Service Learning.............. 7 U.S.C. 7633................ 2,000 2,000 2,000
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.. 7 U.S.C. 5936................ 10,000 10,000 10,000
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(d):............ 7 U.S.C. 343(d)..............
Food and Nutrition Education.......... ............................. 70,000 70,000 70,000
Farm Safety and Youth Farm Safety ............................. 5,000 5,000 5,000
Education Programs.
New Technologies for Agricultural ............................. 3,550 3,002 1,550
Extension.
Children, Youth, and Families at Risk. ............................. 8,395 8,395 8,395
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension ............................. 3,200 3,200 3,200
Program.
Total, Section 3(d)............... ............................. 90,145 89,597 88,145
Necessary Expenses of Extension
Activities:
Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom..... 7 U.S.C. 3152(j)............. 552 1,000 1,000
Federal Administration--Other ............................. 7,790 7,790 7,790
Necessary Expenses for Extension
Activities.
Total, Necessary Expenses......... ............................. 8,342 8,790 8,790
Total, Extension Activities... ............................. $538,447 $538,447 $553,495
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES

2021 appropriation.................................... $39,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 39,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 40,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +1,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +1,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Integrated Activities, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $40,000,000.
The following table reflects the amounts provided by the
Committee:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2021 FY 2022 Committee
Program/Activity Authorization enacted estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methyl Bromide Transition Program... 7 U.S.C. 7626.......... $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
Organic Transition Program.......... 7 U.S.C. 7626.......... 7,000 7,000 8,000
Regional Rural Development Centers.. 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)....... 2,000 2,000 2,000
Food and Agriculture Defense 7 U.S.C. 3351.......... 8,000 8,000 8,000
Initiative.
Crop Protection/Pest Management 7 U.S.C. 7626.......... 20,000 20,000 20,000
Program.
--------------------------------------------------
Total, Integrated Activities.... ....................... $39,000 $39,000 $40,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

2021 appropriation.................................... $809,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,327,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,577,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +768,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +250,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$1,577,000. The Committee again directs USDA to promptly issue
the final Origin of Livestock rule as required by Section 756
of P.L. 116-94.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $1,064,179,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,102,222,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,121,427,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +57,248,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +19,205,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
Salaries and Expenses, the Committee provides an appropriation
of $1,121,427,000. This includes a total increase of
$12,645,000 for pay and retirement contributions as requested
in the budget.
In addition to those increases, the Committee provides
increases for the following programs: $2,000,000 for Cattle
Health; $3,000,000 for Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant
Health; $3,000,000 for Veterinary Diagnostics; $4,500,000 for
Zoonotic Disease Management, of which $2,500,000 is for the
National Animal Health Monitoring System; $3,105,000 for Cotton
Pests; $3,600,000 for Wildlife Damage Management; $2,000,000
for Wildlife Services Methods Development; $5,000,000 for
Civilian Climate Corps; $500,000 for Emergency Preparedness and
Response; $3,000,000 for Agriculture Import/Export; $1,000,000
for Horse Protection; and $5,789,000 for Specialty Crop Pests.
The Committee includes in this account $8,500,000 for
Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination (HLB-MAC) projects and
$3,000,000 for cogongrass control previously funded elsewhere
in the Act.
Within the amount included for Specialty Crop Pests, the
Committee includes $67,255,000 for fruit fly exclusion and
detection; $70,368,000 for citrus health, including $11,500,000
for HLB-MAC; $22,178,000 for the glassy-winged sharpshooter;
$6,596,000 for the pale cyst nematode; $2,545,000 for the light
brown apple moth; $5,520,000 for the European grapevine moth;
$8,160,000 for the navel orangeworm; $3,008,000 for
agricultural canine inspection teams; and $18,139,000 for
spotted lanternfly.
The following table reflects the amounts provided by the
Committee:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animal Health Technical Services.......................... $38,093 $38,486 $38,486
Aquatic Animal Health..................................... 2,272 2,306 2,306
Avian Health.............................................. 63,213 63,833 63,833
Cattle Health............................................. 105,216 106,500 108,500
Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health................. 28,982 31,284 32,284
National Veterinary Stockpile............................. 5,736 5,751 5,751
Swine Health.............................................. 25,020 25,390 25,390
Veterinary Biologics...................................... 20,570 20,898 20,898
Veterinary Diagnostics.................................... 56,979 57,414 60,414
Zoonotic Disease Management............................... 19,620 19,782 24,282
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Animal Health............................... 365,701 371,644 382,144
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (Appropriated)......... 32,893 33,849 33,849
Cotton Pests.............................................. 13,597 13,725 16,830
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests................... 10,942 14,137 14,137
Pest Detection............................................ 27,733 28,218 28,218
Plant Protection Methods Development...................... 20,884 21,217 21,217
Specialty Crop Pests...................................... 196,553 209,342 212,842
Tree & Wood Pests......................................... 60,456 61,217 61,217
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Plant Health................................ 363,058 381,705 388,310
Wildlife Damage Management................................ 111,647 113,142 116,742
Wildlife Services Methods Development..................... 21,046 24,363 23,363
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Wildlife Services........................... 132,693 137,505 140,105
Animal & Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement.............. 16,400 16,697 16,697
Biotechnology Regulatory Services......................... 19,020 19,262 19,262
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Regulatory Services......................... 35,420 35,959 35,959
Civilian Climate Corps.................................... 0 10,000 5,000
Contingency Fund.......................................... 478 491 491
Emergency Preparedness & Response......................... 41,268 38,380 38,880
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Emergency Management........................ 41,746 48,871 44,371
Agriculture Import/Export................................. 15,722 15,928 18,928
Overseas Technical & Trade Operations..................... 24,198 24,333 24,333
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Safe Trade.................................. 39,920 40,261 43,261
Animal Welfare............................................ 31,661 32,256 32,256
Horse Protection.......................................... 2,009 2,040 3,040
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Animal Welfare.............................. 33,670 34,296 35,296
APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure............... 4,251 4,251 4,251
Physical/Operational Security............................. 5,153 5,163 5,163
Rent and DHS Payments..................................... 42,567 42,567 42,567
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Agency Management........................... 51,971 51,981 51,981
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Direct Appropriation....................... $1,064,179 $1,102,222 $1,121,427
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AgDiscovery and Growing the Agricultural Family.--The
Committee provides an increase of $500,000 for the AgDiscovery
Program. This funding should allow the expansion of this two-
to four-week summer outreach program at college campuses that
helps middle and high school students explore careers in plant
and animal science, wildlife management, and agribusiness. The
program helps to expand and diversify the U.S. agricultural
family by increasing educational opportunities for future
veterinarians, agricultural producer's, scientists and other
professionals.
Agricultural Imports.--The Committee recognizes that there
may be a need to update APHIS physical facilities, staff
capabilities, and processes due to the increased volume of
agricultural imports. The Committee requests APHIS to keep it
apprised of a plan to address the needs of the programs,
including steps to collaborate with stakeholders on
supplemental inspection and pathogen identification services
and to improve the transparency of the importation process.
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 $33,849,000 for the agricultural
quarantine inspections function, including pre-departure and
interline inspections.
Animal Care Program.--The Committee is concerned about
APHIS's Animal Care program and the steep decline in
enforcement related to violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
The Committee directs the agency to reform its current
licensing and enforcement scheme. This includes, but is not
limited to, the following: ensure consistent, thorough,
unannounced inspections on a regular basis; act swiftly when
facilities fail to comply with the Act's requirements; ensure
each failure to allow access for inspection and each violation
or failure to comply with animal welfare standards is
documented on an inspection report, and consider assessing
penalties in each such case; ensure that there is no use of
teachable moments or any similar program that obscures findings
during inspections; and require that inspection reports that
identify violations or failures of compliance be shared with
relevant local, state, and federal agencies.
The Committee is concerned about the lack of enforcement of
online dog dealers, which has allowed many operations to
continue selling dogs without the necessary USDA licensing
pursuant to Animal Welfare Act. The Committee directs the
Secretary to prioritize enforcement of the 2013 rule that
requires dealers who are selling animals sight-unseen to
consumers to have a license to do so.
The Committee also urges the Secretary to enter into a
memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Attorney General to
encourage greater collaboration on Animal Welfare Act
enforcement and ensure that the Department of Justice has
access to evidence needed to initiate cases.
Antimicrobial Resistance.--The Committee provides an
increase of $2,000,000 and directs APHIS to work
collaboratively with a network of universities focused on
combating the global threat of antimicrobial resistance across
humans, animals, and the environment to build upon ongoing
efforts to develop an antimicrobial resistance dashboard tool
for livestock management, research, risk, and stewardship. As
part of this work, APHIS must explore the feasibility of
developing an antimicrobial resistance dashboard tool that
ensures full compliance with the confidentiality protections of
the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical
Efficiency Act. An antimicrobial resistance dashboard tool
should directly help farmers and ranchers make better
management decisions to improve the resilience, productivity,
and profitability of cattle production. The dashboard should
securely track the emergence and spread of antimicrobial
resistant pathogens in livestock production systems, validate
systematic genetic and management strategies to reduce
antibiotic use, and build understanding of relationships
between livestock genetics, the environment, management
practices, and the dynamics and frequencies of pathogen
emergence in microbial populations.
Arundo Management and Control.--The Committee is concerned
with the damage the invasive plant Arundo donax inflicts on
groundwater levels in drought-prone western states. The
Committee directs APHIS to work with federal, state, and local
water managers in affected areas to establish a management and
control regime to prevent further water shortages in drought
stricken areas.
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 2021 level.
Avian Health.--The Committee maintains the 2021 funding
level for the Avian Health Program which provides surveillance,
prevention, and control of avian diseases to protect the U.S.
poultry industry.
Biological Control Program.--The Committee maintains the FY
2021 level for the Biological Control Program within Plant
Protection Methods Development to continue efforts to suppress
pest populations.
Blackbird Predation.--APHIS is responsible for providing
Federal leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. The
Committee is aware of the economic importance of controlling
blackbird depredation, which affects sunflowers and other
crops. The Committee encourages APHIS to take action to reduce
blackbird depredation in the Northern Great Plains.
Body-gripping traps.--The Committee provides an additional
$300,000 for the Secretary to develop best management practices
for body-gripping traps in circumstances where current use of
body-gripping traps increase the risk of non-target capture to
unacceptable levels, such as in some urban environments.
Canine Detection and Surveillance.--The Committee
recognizes the important role APHIS' canines program plays in
invasive species and disease detection and continues to provide
$3,000,000 to support these efforts. The Committee requests
that APHIS keep it apprised of program activities, including
how the agency uses funding provided.
Cattle Health.--The Committee provides $108,500,000 for
Cattle Health to continue to fund initiatives 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 spread. To prevent movement of livestock
and game animals outside of the quarantined or high-risk
premises, the Committee provides an increase of $2,000,000 and
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.
The Committee also notes that 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 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
Department is requested to keep the Committee apprised of
progress made in this regard.
The Committee directs APHIS to coordinate with ARS on the
development of its long-term cattle fever tick research
program. Cattle fever ticks pose a significant health threat to
U.S. cattle and other species across the entire Southern region
of the United States. Further, the Committee encourages USDA to
collaborate with Mexico in its efforts to combat Cattle Fever
Ticks for more effective cross-border containment and
eradication.
Center for Veterinary Biologics.--The Committee maintains
the increased funding provided in 2021 to support the hiring of
new employees to fill vacancies that will assist with the
regulatory responsibilities under the Virus Serum Toxin Act.
Cervid Health.--Within the funds provided for cervid health
activities, APHIS should give priority to indemnity payments to
remove infected and exposed animals from the landscape as
expeditiously as possible.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).--The Committee is concerned
about the growing threat of CWD and its impact on free ranging
deer populations. Of the amount provided for cervid health
activities, no less than $10,000,000 is provided for APHIS to
allocate funds directly to State departments of wildlife, State
departments of agriculture, Native American Tribes, and
research institutes and universities to further develop and
implement CWD management and response activities, including
surveillance, testing, and indemnity as part of an overall
management plan. The funds directly allocated to States and
other stakeholders may also be provided to develop and evaluate
CWD control tools, methods, and strategies. In allocating these
funds, APHIS shall give priority to States that have
experienced a recent incident of CWD and have a CWD monitoring,
surveillance, and control program.
In addition, the Committee provides an increase of
$2,000,000 for Wildlife Services Methods Development for CWD
work at the National Wildlife Research Center.
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.
Cotton Pests.--The bill provides $16,830,000 for the joint
Cotton Pests Program, including an increase of $1,000,000 for
work related to the cotton seed bug. 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.
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.
Feral swine.--The Committee maintains the 2021 funding
level for feral swine eradication efforts. The Committee
encourages APHIS Wildlife Services to use all approved measures
as a force multiplier and prioritize states with the highest
population of feral swine.
Final rule on horse protection.--The Secretary is strongly
urged to reinstate and publish the final rule, Horse
Protection; Licensing of Designated Qualified Persons and Other
Amendments (Docket No. APHIS-2011-0009), as it was finalized
and displayed in advance public notice in the Federal Register
on January 19, 2017, with effective dates adjusted to reflect
the delay in implementation.
The Committee notes that over four years have passed since
the final rule, Horse Protection; Licensing of Designated
Qualified Persons and Other Amendments (Docket No. APHIS-2011-
0009) was prepared, and therefore encourages the Secretary to
seek additional public comment before finalizing this rule.
Glassy Winged Sharpshooter.--The Committee provides an
increase of $1,000,000 and urges USDA to consider all
appropriate funding resources to rapidly respond to areas where
increasing numbers of the pest glassy winged sharpshooter are
occurring in California.
Green Coffee Imports.--The Committee commends APHIS for
completing a trial program for importing green coffee beans
into Puerto Rico. The Committee understands that Plant
Protection and Quarantine, working with the Puerto Rico
Department of Agriculture, will now focus on a rulemaking. The
Committee urges APHIS to complete this rulemaking as soon as
possible to provide stability and certainty to coffee importers
and agricultural producers in 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.
Horse Protection Act.--The Committee provides $3,040,000
for enforcement of the Horse Protection Act of 1970, as amended
(15 U.S.C. 1831), and reminds the Secretary that Congress
granted the agency primary responsibility to enforce this law.
Huanglongbing Emergency Response.--The Committee encourages
APHIS to allocate sufficient resources to continue the
activities necessary to effectively prevent or manage HLB. The
disease, for which there is no cure, has caused a significant
decline in Florida' s citrus production since 2007. All citrus
producing counties in Texas are under quarantine; and in
California, there have been over 2,000 confirmed cases of HLB
in backyard citrus trees. HLB threatens the sustainability of
the entire domestic citrus industry. If HLB continues to
spread, it will cost thousands of additional jobs and millions
in lost revenue. The agency is encouraged to support the
priorities and strategies identified by the HLB-MAC group. The
agency should appropriately allocate resources based on
critical need and the maximum benefit to the citrus industry.
Imported Dogs.--The Committee is aware that the USDA issued
a report that showed that over one million dogs are imported
into the United States each year. Of that number, however, less
than one percent are subject to thorough health screenings to
show that they are healthy, vaccinated and free of disease
prior to entering the country. The limited health requirements
and inspection has resulted in the importation of animals that
arrive in poor health or die during travel, as well as the
importation of animals carrying various diseases from rabies to
canine influenza to leptospirosis, among others. Diseases such
as canine rabies have cost millions of dollars to eradicate in
the United States and unscreened animal imports threaten to
undue that progress while threatening public health. Most
concerning is the ability of some of these pathogens to jump
from one species to another and pose a risk of zoonotic
transmission. The Committee recognizes the potential for
bedding or conveyances arriving with imported dogs to serve as
vectors of foreign animal diseases of livestock, and is
concerned about the potential introduction of highly contagious
diseases, including African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth
Disease (FMD). These diseases could have devasting economic,
environmental, and social impacts on livestock, farmers,
wildlife and the conservation community. As the connection
between human and animal health becomes clearer, it is
imperative that imported animals, including dogs, are healthy,
vaccinated, and of an appropriate age to travel. Therefore, the
Committee includes an increase of $1,000,000 for APHIS to
strengthen its oversight of imported dogs, including stronger
interagency coordination to better protect animal and public
health.
In and Out Bound Market Access Report.--The Committee
requests APHIS to continue submitting the report on U.S. out-
bound and foreign in-bound agricultural market access. The
report should provide data for the last three years, including
the date access was granted and the in-bound and out-bound
volumes shipped by country and commodity.
Inspection Reports.--The bill provides $32,256,000 for the
Animal Welfare program in order to ensure that standards of
care and treatment are provided for certain animals bred for
commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or
exhibited to the public.
This level includes funding to support 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. The
Committee directs APHIS to conduct inspections of all such ARS
facilities and to post the resulting inspection reports on line
in their entirety without redactions except signatures. 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.
Lacey Act Implementation.--To combat illegal imports of
timber and timber products, protect natural resources, and
promote fair trade, the Lacey Act, as amended, requires an
import declaration for certain plants and plant products. Since
2009, APHIS has been phasing in enforcement of the declaration
requirement. The Committee is concerned with the pace of
enforcement and provides $3,957,000, more than doubling the
2021 level, for additional enforcement phases. The Committee
urges APHIS to work with federal partners and stakeholders to
enhance Lacey Act program analysis and compliance efforts, and
requests a report within 90 days of enactment detailing a
phase-in schedule for remaining products, prioritizing products
of highest US import volume and at high risk for illegality.
Light Brown Apple Moth.--The Committee maintains the 2021
funding level for the light brown apple moth and urges the
Department to develop a regulatory plan designed to remove
regulatory restrictions, if it determines that is appropriate,
while maintaining domestic commerce and agricultural exports
globally. Should APHIS withdraw the federal order for the light
brown apple moth, the Committee encourages APHIS to engage
state and international regulatory bodies to take steps to
reduce the overall burden on growers. The Committee is
concerned that without the necessary cooperation with other
regulatory officials, APHIS will shift, not reduce, the
regulatory burden.
Live Animal Imports.--The Committee is aware that
importation of live animals, particularly dogs, has increased
substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee is
concerned about differences in the APHIS licensing and
registration processes that may lead to a lack of oversight of
registrants and/ or repeated failures to maintain basic
standards of animal care. The Committee is concerned that while
the Agency can deny an initial license or terminate an existing
license for dealers or exhibitors that handle live animals for
failure to comply with Animal Welfare Act requirements, the
process of registration with the Agency for the purposes of
serving as a carrier or intermediate handler of live animals,
or as a research facility, does not require demonstration of
compliance with Animal Welfare Act requirements or other
similar Agency regulations. The Committee directs APHIS to take
all available administrative actions to address this issue and
to send to Congress recommendations for additional legislative
steps, if needed, not later than 120 days after enactment of
this Act.
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 human health, as demonstrated during the pandemic.
Therefore, the Committee rejects the budget reduction and
provides an increase of $2,000,000 for these labs. The bill
continues to provide funding for NAHLN through both APHIS and
NIFA at $15,909,000 and $4,300,000, respectively, resulting in
a total investment of no less than $20,209,000 for fiscal year
2022. 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.
National Clean Plant Network (NCPN).--No less than the 2021
level should be available for NCPN-Berries diagnostic assays
and therapeutics. APHIS- and NCPN-Berries should cooperatively
monitor the usage of funds provided in 2021 for equipment and
determine future funding needs.
National Honeybee Disease Survey Report.--The Committee
continues funding the survey at the 2021 level. Since 2009, a
national survey of honeybee 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
honeybees 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.
Pale Cyst Nematode Eradication.--The Committee includes
funding to maintain resources for the pale cyst nematode
eradication program at the 2021 level in order to continue with
successful efforts to eradicate this pest. If left untreated,
this pest could spread, affecting other crops.
Plant Biostimulants.--Within the funding available, APHIS
is requested to work with other agencies and stakeholders to
develop and implement the recommendations set forth in the
report submitted pursuant to section 10111 of the Agricultural
Improvement Act of 2018.
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 stake- holders and continues to 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.
Searchable databases.--The Committee directs APHIS to
ensure that the searchable animal welfare database is
searchable at least to the same extent that they were on
January 30, 2017 in terms of both function and content.
Spotted Lanternfly.--The Committee continues to be
concerned about the recent Spotted Lanternfly outbreak and
provides an increase of $2,000,000 to support efforts in
combatting this pest. The Committee requests that APHIS keeps
it apprised of the program's strategy and progress.
Tallow Tree.--APHIS is proposing to issue permits for
environmental release of two insects from China, a beetle
species (Bikasha collaris) and a moth species (Gadirtha fusca),
for biological control of the Chinese tallow tree throughout
the Gulf Coast region of the country. Given that beekeepers
report that the Chinese tallow tree is among the most prolific
sources of forage for honeybees, the Committee requests that
APHIS take the necessary steps to mitigate potential impact
resulting from the release of biological control agents on
honeybee populations and the honey industry.
Wildlife Services.--The Committee is aware that APHIS has
worked with landowners to deploy nonlethal strategies. APHIS is
directed to implement and prioritize nonlethal strategies by:
(1) promoting and implementing nonlethal livestock-predator
conflict deterrence and mitigation techniques; husbandry
practices, night corralling, shed lambing, attractant and
carcass removal, livestock herding, and human presence; (2)
providing training in selection, implementation, monitoring and
adaptation of nonlethal techniques for agricultural producers,
landowners, federal and state agency personnel, and others; and
(3) collaborating with the National Wildlife Research Center to
advance and improve nonlethal predator coexistence methods,
research on monitoring methods for efficacy of nonlethal
control methods implemented to reduce predation, and establish
clear documentation protocols for nonlethal approaches
implemented in advance of lethal control measures where
applicable. The Committee provides no less than $4,680,000 for
these activities in fiscal year 2022. Within these funds, APHIS
should expand, develop, and implement nonlethal methods with a
focus on reducing human-wildlife conflicts related to predators
and beavers in the Western Region and Great Lakes states. The
Committee requests APHIS to document all work on nonlethal
strategies development and submit a report demonstrating
progress in this area within 180 days of the enactment of this
Act.
Within the amount provided for Wildlife Services, the
Committee requests that APHIS work with States and other
partners to ensure an equitable cost sharing framework to allow
Wildlife Services to manage human-wildlife conflicts more
effectively.
The Committee directs APHIS to spend no less than the
fiscal year 2020 level for predator control in the protection
of sheep.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

2021 appropriation................................... $3,175,000
2022 budget estimate................................. 3,175,000
Provided in the bill................................. 3,175,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

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

2021 appropriation................................... $188,358,000
2022 budget estimate................................. 213,157,000
Provided in the bill................................. 223,157,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +34,799,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +10,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Marketing Services of the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS), the Committee provides an appropriation of
$223,157,000. This includes a total increase of $2,367,000 for
pay and retirement contribution as requested in the budget.
In addition to those increases, the Committee provides
increases for the following programs: $2,000,000 for the
National Organic Standards program; $500,000 for the Organic
Production and Market Data Initiative; $500,000 for
Transportation Services; $1,000,000 for local food hubs;
$2,000,000 for small meat packing apprenticeships; and
$1,000,000 for the Acer Access and Development Program.
The bill also includes $7,400,000 for the Farmers Market
and Local Food Promotion Program authorized under the Local
Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) in the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018. Together with the Value-Added Producer
Grant Program, the bill provides a total of $21,400,000 for
LAMP. This amount is in addition to $100,000,000 provided for
LAMP in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and
$50,000,000 of mandatory funds available in fiscal year 2022.
The Committee includes in this account $25,000,000 for the
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, funded elsewhere in the
Act at $22,000,000 in 2021. The Committee encourages AMS to
work with the established initiatives to enhance cooperation
with land-grant and minority serving institutions and provide
support to small, minority-owned, socially-disadvantaged
producers, processors, or distributors.
Antitrust.--The Committee recognizes that consolidation in
agribusiness can be detrimental to farmers, consumers, workers
and the environment. The Committee considers enforcement of the
Packers and Stockyards Act a top priority and directs the
Department to continue enforcing the Act to the fullest extent
of the law. Further, the Committee urges AMS and other agencies
and mission areas to fully incorporate fair and competitive
markets priorities across relevant programs and operations.
Local Food Hubs.--Local, resilient food systems are
relevant for the farm to table movement. Increasing numbers of
producers lack infrastructure, and knowledge of HAACP and food
processing licensing requirements. The Committee provides an
increase of $1,000,000 for staff and a cooperative agreement to
develop a strategic plan for creating regional rural food hubs
to support locally sourced, branded, value-added products that
are properly inspected. Design function should integrate a
model that allows, water sharing, water, workspace, loading
dock, accounting, and utilities to accelerate accessibility of
locally-sourced, branded value-added products. In addition, the
plan should include staffing recommendations for food safety
compliance federal inspector interface to support more
effective production and marketing of locally grown and
produced foods.
National Organic Program (NOP).--Within the funding
provided, AMS is urged to focus on standards development and
addressing the backlog of National Organic Standards Board
recommendations.
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Committee directs the agency to publish in the
Federal Register and seek public comment on an Organic
Improvement Action Plan that identifies and describes the
rationale for recommendations approved by the National Organic
Standards Board by a decisive vote and submitted to USDA that
have not been implemented by a final rule or any other agency
action.
To maximize the climate benefits of organic agriculture,
the Committee urges the NOP to increase enforcement efforts to
ensure full compliance with the soil health and pasture
requirements of USDA organic standards.
Organic Dairy Production.--The Committee directs AMS to
seek strong enforcement of organic dairy production standards
and resolve variations on standard interpretation that exist
between organic certifiers as well as between organic dairy
producers. AMS shall continue to conduct critical risk-based
oversight, particularly for large, complex dairy operations as
it has in the past three fiscal years.
Small Meat Packing Plants Apprenticeship.--Local and
regional meat packing plants have played an important role in
assuring access to food during the pandemic. The Farm to Table
movement has accelerated the demand for locally produced animal
protein and small meat packing plants have struggled to keep up
with the demand. The Committee is interested in ensuring that
there are training and apprenticeship programs for small and
medium sized meatpacking operations to assist with the growth
and survival of these smaller meat packers. The Committee
provides $2,000,000 to support regional and local efforts
through partnerships with existing non-profits, community and
junior colleges, vocational schools, and similar organizations
with expertise in training small and medium sized meat packing
operations. The funds may help support apprenticeships of
individuals working in small and very small meat packing plants
to assure that individuals find full and gainful employment.
Transportation Services Division.--Inadequate market access
is a critical barrier to economic growth in rural and
agricultural communities. The Committee provides an increase of
$500,000 for AMS to continue working with other federal, state,
and local agencies, as well as producers and those involved in
all sectors of agriculture.

LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

2021 limitation....................................... ($61,227,000)
2022 budget limitation................................ (61,786,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (61,786,000)
Comparison:
2021 limitation................................... (+559,000)
2022 budget limitation............................ - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

The Committee provides a limitation of $61,786,000 on
Administrative Expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service.

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

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... ($20,705,000)
2022 budget estimate.................................. (20,705,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (20,817,000)
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ (+112,000)
2022 budget estimate.............................. (+112,000)

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Marketing Agreements and Orders Program, the
Committee provides a transfer from Section 32 funds of
$20,817,000.
The following table reflects the status of this fund:

ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE AND BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD--FISCAL YEARS 2021-2022
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2021 FY 2022 Committee
enacted estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation (30% of Customs Receipts)......................... $22,733,332 $21,679,260 $21,679,260
Less Transfers:
Food and Nutrition Service.................................. -21,040,057 -19,961,591 -19,961,591
Commerce Department......................................... -262,275 -253,669 -253,669
-----------------------------------------------
Total, Transfers........................................ -21,302,332 -20,215,260 -20,215,260
Budget Authority, Farm Bill..................................... 1,431,000 1,464,000 1,464,000
Appropriations Temporarily Reduced--Sequestration........... -71,136 -72,789 -72,789
-----------------------------------------------
Budget Authority, Appropriations Act.................... 1,359,864 1,391,211 1,391,211
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
Additional Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Purchases........... 206,000 206,000 206,000
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program........................... 183,000 187,000 187,000
Estimated Future Needs...................................... 800,425 443,084 443,084
-----------------------------------------------
Total, Commodity Procurement............................ 1,686,925 1,333,584 1,333,584
Administrative Funds:
Commodity Purchase Support.................................. 36,746 36,810 36,810
Marketing Agreements and Orders............................. 20,705 20,817 20,817
-----------------------------------------------
Total, Administrative Funds............................. 57,451 57,627 57,627
-----------------------------------------------
Total Obligations........................................... $1,744,376 $1,391,211 $1,391,211
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS

2021 appropriation.................................... $1,235,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,235,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,235,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

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

LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES

2021 limitation....................................... ($55,000,000)
2022 budget limitation................................ (55,000,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (55,000,000)
Comparison:
2021 limitation................................... - - -
2022 budget limitation............................ - - -

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

2021 appropriation.................................... $809,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,327,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,077,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +268,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -250,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $1,077,000.

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

2021 appropriation.................................... $1,075,703,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,165,589,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,153,064,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +77,361,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -12,525,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the
Committee provides an appropriation of $1,153,064,000. This
amount includes $10,300,000 for Information Technology
modernization investments; $1,000,000 for the inspection of
wild caught invasive species in the order siluriformes and
family Ictaluridae, including blue catfish in the Chesapeake
Bay; and resources for reducing User Fees for Small and Very
Small establishments. In addition, $12,525,000 is provided in
Title VII of the bill for costs associated with the Goodfellow
move.
The following table reflects the Committee's
recommendations for fiscal year 2022:

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
[Dollars in thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Inspection.................................... $1,034,167
Public Health Data Communication Infrastructure System 34,580
International Food Safety and Inspection.............. 17,442
State Food Safety and Inspection...................... 66,875
-----------------
Total, Food Safety and Inspection Service......... $1,153,064
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bison as Amenable Species.--Within 90 days of enactment,
the Committee directs FSIS to hold a listening session with
buffalo/bison producers and related stakeholder groups,
including tribes, to explore options for transitioning buffalo/
bison to the amenable species list under the Federal Meat
Inspection Act. The Committee expects a briefing on the
listening session within 30 days after the listening session
date.
Good Commercial Practices.--The Committee recognizes that
the handling of birds at slaughter according to Good Commercial
Practices (GCP) improves quality and reduces the occurrence of
adulterated poultry products in the marketplace. The Committee
directs the Department to brief the Committees on documented
instances where establishments lost control of their processes
for handling birds, and consequently were not operating in
accordance with GCPs, no later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
Humane Methods of Slaughter.--FSIS shall ensure that all
inspection personnel conducting humane handling verification
procedures receive robust initial training and periodic
refresher training on the FSIS humane handling and slaughter
regulations and directives. This includes handling of non-
ambulatory disabled animals, as well as proper use of the
Humane Activities Tracking System to ensure humane handling of
animals as they arrive and are offloaded and handled in ante-
mortem holding pens, suspect pens, chutes, stunning areas, and
on the slaughter line. The Committee directs the agency to
continue preparation and online publication of the Humane
Handling Quarterly Reports, to include: (1) the number of
humane handling verification procedures performed, (2) the
number of administrative enforcement actions taken, (3) the
time spent on Humane Handling Activities Tracking System
activities, and (4) comparisons of these measurements by plant
size and FSIS district.
Inspection Delays.--The Committee is aware that the lack of
sufficient USDA inspections of meat processing facilities in
rural areas has created unnecessary and financially damaging
delays to producers trying to get their goods into the
marketplace, especially during the current public health
emergency. The Committee directs USDA to coordinate with state
regulatory boards in regions where there are not enough federal
inspectors to meet local demand to ensure that inspections do
not become a bottleneck for producers and processing plants.
Plant-in-a-Box (PIB).--Localized, decentralized abattoirs
are critical for regional food security and enabling farmers to
value-add their production to a direct marketed, branded
product. PIB is a model for semi-portable (no building permit
required), turn-key, retrofitted shipping containers or like
structures for slaughtering and processing federally inspected
beef, poultry, lamb, goat, and turkeys. This process is of
particular need for small and very small operations. The
Committee encourages technical assistance and guidance be
available to very small operations by advising as to whether
the facility, like PIB or similar structure, meets requirements
for a Grant of Inspection and can suggest improvements to the
unit once it is complete.

TITLE II

FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation

2021 appropriation.................................... $916,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,437,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,687,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +771,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +250,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production
and Conservation (FPAC), the Committee provides an
appropriation of $1,687,000.
Agritourism Resource Manual Update.--The Committee is
concerned that the ``Alternative Enterprises and Agritourism--
Farming for Profit and Sustainability'' resource manual is out
of date and not user friendly. The Committee directs USDA to
review the manual for updates, specifically for sections that
identify agency resource materials, federal funding
opportunities for agritourism businesses, and Federal contacts
that can aid agritourism. The Committee encourages USDA to
engage interested stakeholders. The Committee requests that the
updated sections and materials be publicly available on USDA's
website within one year of enactment.
Cage-Free Housing Conversion.--The committee recognizes
that the cage-free market is rapidly expanding due to demand by
consumers and food corporations. In addition, a growing number
of state laws are requiring farmers to convert to cage-free
facilities. The Committee strongly encourages the Secretary to
review this information and consider helping producers meet
these economic opportunities by providing financial assistance
for the conversion to cage-free housing.
Disaster Mitigation.--The Committee is aware of the
devastating consequences that natural disasters including
hurricanes, derechos, flooding, and heavy rainfall, have on
agricultural producers, and is concerned that too few resources
are available before such events. The Committee encourages USDA
to consider how it can more effectively adopt a culture of
preparedness and directs the Secretary to provide the Committee
a report not later than 180 days after enactment outlining how
USDA is using existing resources to support agricultural
communities to proactively prepare for, recover from, and build
long-term resilience to natural disasters. The report should
also provide cost estimates for necessary expenses related to
replenishing the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program for
loss of crops, including from high winds or derechos, as well
as losses from fires as in the case of smoke tainted grapes.
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 directs the Department to work with
producers that want to voluntarily develop disaster plans to
prevent livestock deaths and injuries.
Pyrolysis.--Committee recognizes pyrolysis as an innovative
approach supporting climate action, that includes the potential
to reduce or sequester greenhouse emissions that convert
feedstock, including valorizing tree nut harvest by-products,
and waste into multiple higher value biocarbon products,
including sustainable industrial applications, agrochemicals,
repurposing process heat, energy and construction materials.
The Committee encourages USDA to explore ways, including using
existing federal funds, to assist farmers to employ this
technology at efficient scale on farming operations.
Small Meatpackers.--The Committee recognizes small
meatpackers need capital availability to build or expand
services. The Committee directs USDA, within 180 days of
enactment, to evaluate the need of small meatpacking plants and
make recommendations for how to provide capital to support
flourishing small and medium sized meatpacking plants.
Tree Assistance Program.--The Committee recognizes that the
Tree Assistance Program (TAP) and the Emergency Conservation
Program (ECP) are programs that can help repair and restore
orchards damaged by natural disasters. Citrus groves in Texas
were severely damaged by the freeze this year, and orchardists
need assistance to rehabilitate their orchards. However, due to
the severity and length of time for orchards to regain
productive capacity, many orchardists want to convert their
land to other agricultural or conservation uses. The Committee
encourages USDA to closely reexamine the TAP and ECP programs
for opportunities to implement them in a manner that not only
rehabilitates the orchards, but also allows the land to be
maintained in other agricultural or conservation uses.
Tropical and Subtropical Forests.--The Committee recognizes
the importance of native forests for effective watershed
management and erosion protection in tropical and subtropical
forests. The Committee directs USDA to study the ability and
effectiveness of managed forestry best practices to aid in the
reforestation of native trees and the cultivation of forest
crops. USDA should seek input from forestry experts. The
Committee directs USDA to report back on its findings within
one year of the enactment of this Act.

Farm Production and Conservation Business Center

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2021 appropriation.................................... $231,302,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 238,177,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 238,177,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +6,875,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
(FPACBC), the Committee provides an appropriation of
$238,177,000.

Farm Service Agency

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer from
Appropriation program accounts Total, FSA S&E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2021 appropriation..................................... 1,142,924,000 (294,114,000) 1,437,038,000
2022 budget estimate................................... 1,175,670,000 (294,114,000) 1,469,784,000
Provided in the bill................................... 1,175,670,000 (294,114,000) 1,469,784,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................. +32,746,000 - - - +32,746,000
2022 budget estimate............................... - - - - - - - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Salaries and Expenses of the Farm Service Agency (FSA),
the Committee provides an appropriation of $1,175,670,000 and
transfers of $294,114,000 for a total program level of
$1,469,784,000.
Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.--The
Committee supports the Reimbursement Transportation Cost
Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and
Ranchers (RTCP). The Committee directs FSA, within 180 days
after the enactment of this Act, to provide a report on the
RTCP. The report should be by county and include the number of
producers participating, the amount claimed, and the factored
payment for FY 2020, and any recommendations to improve the
program.
Heirs Property.--The Committee continues to direct the FSA
to provide updates on the implementation of the Relending
Program.
National Agriculture Imagery Program.--The Committee
recognizes the importance of the National Agriculture Imagery
Program and encourages FSA, when acquiring future products, to
include commercial satellite imagery and data, in addition to
aerial imagery, as part of its portfolio to ensure
comprehensive coverage while increasing cost-effectiveness and
efficiency. The Committee encourages FSA to include program
updates and current activities in future budget justifications.
Organic Certification Cost Share Program.--The Committee
recognizes the important role of the Organic Certification Cost
Share Program for small and mid-size farms, underserved
farmers, and new organic farmers. The Committee is concerned
that FSA cut 2020 reimbursement levels due to accounting errors
and it directs FSA to report back to the Committee with an
explanation of how this accounting error happened. The
Committee notes USDA recently announced up to $20 million in
additional organic cost share assistance, including for
producers who are transitioning to organic and encourages USDA
to restore the full reimbursement levels of 75 percent of
annual organic certification costs, including the restoration
of prior years.
Regenerative Ag Practice Lending.--The Committee is aware
of the need to enhance access to lending for mixed use land
including crop and pastureland. The Committee encourages USDA
to assess options for lending for regenerative farms that
include crops and animals. Within 180 days, FSA should identify
options and provide recommendations for administrative changes
and inform the Committee. These actions within the agency
should also include education and support of lenders and a
strategy for risk mitigation including possible government
subsidies, crop insurance, or other support for investments in
regenerative agriculture practices.
Small Farmer Specialists.--The Committee recognizes COVID
19, climate change, and trade wars/agreements have impeded
small farmer growth. The Committee remains concerned that a
majority of financial and technical assistance goes to larger
farmers and encourages USDA to hire dedicated regionally
focused small farmer specialists that can enhance outreach and
assistance to small farmers on federal programs, conservation
practices, contract opportunities, and other valuable issues to
help our small farmers regain their economic footing.
Staffing Levels.--The Committee remains concerned about
staffing shortages at FSA offices and continues to direct the
Secretary to submit a report to Congress with an administrative
breakdown of allotment levels by State, current full-time
equivalents, current on-board permanent employees by State, and
funded ceiling levels by State.

STATE MEDIATION GRANTS

2021 appropriation.................................... $6,914,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 6,914,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 6,914,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For State Mediation Grants, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $6,914,000.
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

2021 appropriation.................................... $6,500,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 6,500,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 6,500,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

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)

2021 appropriation.................................... $500,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 500,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 500,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Dairy Indemnity Program (DIPP), the Committee
provides an appropriation of such sums as may be necessary
(estimated to be $500,000 in the President's fiscal year 2022
budget request).
PFAS chemicals.--The Committee is aware that a small number
of dairy farms are unable to sell their milk as a result of
contamination from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl
substances, collectively known as ``PFAS'' chemicals. The
Committee directs the Secretary to utilize DIPP to provide
monthly indemnity payments to affected producers, including
those producers who are no longer milking their herds, for the
value of their unmarketable milk, as well as to provide these
producers with the option to receive an indemnity payment for
the value of the herd and the costs of depopulation if
remediation is not practicable. The Committee encourages the
Secretary to extend the timeframe for monthly DIPP payments to
36 months and to explore whether DIPP or other USDA resources
could assist producers with costs associated with a longer-term
return to farm viability, including testing and remediation.

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

ESTIMATED LOAN LEVELS

2021 loan level....................................... $9,858,176,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 10,358,176,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 10,385,908,000
Comparison:
2021 loan level................................... +527,732,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +27,732,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund program account,
the Committee provides a loan level of $10,385,908,000.
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 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Loan Programs:
Farm Ownership:
Direct................................................ $2,500,000 $2,800,000 $2,800,000
Unsubsidized Guaranteed............................... 3,300,000 3,500,000 3,500,000
Farm Operating:
Direct................................................ 1,633,333 1,633,333 1,633,333
Unsubsidized Guaranteed............................... 2,118,482 2,118,482 2,118,482
Emergency Loans........................................... 37,668 37,668 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........................... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Boll Weevil Eradication................................... 60,000 60,000 60,000
Relending Program......................................... 33,693 33,693 61,425
-----------------------------------------------------
Total............................................. 9,858,176 10,358,176 10,385,908
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct loan Guaranteed loan Administrative
subsidy subsidy expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2021 appropriation........................................ $38,710 $23,727 $307,344
2022 budget estimate...................................... 40,017 16,524 314,772
Provided in the bill...................................... 40,017 16,524 314,772
Comparison:
2021 appropriation.................................... +1,307 -7,203 +7,428
2022 budget estimate.................................. - - - - - - - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

AGRICULTURE CREDIT PROGRAMS--SUBSIDIES AND GRANTS
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Loan Subsidies:
Farm Operating:
Direct................................................ $38,710 $40,017 $40,017
Unsubsidized Guaranteed............................... 23,727 16,524 16,524
Emergency Loans........................................... 207 267 267
Indian Highly Fractionated Land........................... 742 407 407
Boll Weevil Eradication................................... - - - - - - - - -
Relending Program......................................... 5,000 2,743 5,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total............................................. 68,386 59,958 62,215
ACIF Expenses:
FSA Salaries and Expenses............................. 294,114 294,114 294,114
Program Administrative Expenses....................... 13,230 20,658 20,658
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, ACIF Expenses.............................. $375,730 $374,730 $376,987
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Risk Management Agency

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2021 appropriation.................................... $60,131,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 69,207,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 66,957,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +6,826,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -2,250,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Risk Management Agency, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $66,957,000.
The Committee fully funds the Administration's request to
hire additional staff solely devoted to underserved communities
and to ensure actuarial soundness of new policies as well as
contract for additional resources to address climate change.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

CONSERVATION OPERATIONS

2021 appropriation.................................... $832,727,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 886,285,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 894,743,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +62,016,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +8,458,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Conservation Operations, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $894,743,000.
The Committee provides $14,488,000 for the Snow Survey and
Water Forecasting Program; $11,540,000 for the Plant Materials
Centers; and $84,444,000 for the Soil Surveys Program. The
Committee provides $759,813,000 for Conservation Technical
Assistance, of which $2,000,000 is for the ongoing Soil Health
Initiative linking soil health and crop cover management. The
Committee provides $5,000,000 for a cost-share program for the
construction and repair of perimeter fencing, $9,458,000 for
the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Program, and
$10,000,000 For the Healthy Forests Reserve Program.
COMET-Farm Tool.--The Committee encourages NRCS to engage
with partners throughout the country to publicize the
availability of the COMET-Farm tool. The Committee urges the
Secretary to continue to support COMET-Farm technological
improvements that would increase usage by farmers and to
provide continued assistance, improvements, and outreach on the
COMET-Farm tool through conservation technical assistance.
Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Projects.--The
Committee strongly supports and directs funding toward the
Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Projects.
Composting.--The Committee is aware that food waste is the
single largest contributor to landfills, making up 22 percent
of municipal solid waste. The Committee encourages the
Department to work with EPA to incorporate best practices to
use composting to avoid food waste and to share education and
other resources with those entities involved in food production
and use.
Conservation Programs timeline.--The Committee recognizes
the importance of NRCS's conservation programs and their
positive impact on water and soil quality. The Committee also
recognizes these programs must consist of realistic timelines
and outcomes as identified by the farmers using them. The
Committee encourages NRCS to review all conservation programs
to ensure their timelines related to conservation planning and
program delivery meet legislatively mandated timelines to
support farmers to develop their practices and fulfill the
mission of the programs and report back on its findings and
efforts to improve program funding timelines.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Bundles.--The
Committee recognizes the important role the agriculture sector
can play in the effort to mitigate the impacts of global
climate change and understands CSP is well-positioned to
enhance support for agricultural practices and systems with the
greatest climate change adaptation and mitigation potential.
The Committee encourages NRCS to create climate change
mitigation bundles within CSP, as recommended in the Select
Committee on the Climate Crisis June 2020 report. Climate
change mitigation bundles should include practices that reduce
agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, such as improved
nutrient management, and practices that increase carbon
sequestration and improve soil health, such as using cover
crops, conservation tillage, diverse and resource-conserving
crop rotations, and advanced grazing management. Given the wide
geographic variations in climate, rainfall, soil, and
topography, the bundles should be region specific and provide
flexibility, allowing bundles to be tailored to the needs and
conditions of each operation.
Cover Crop Management.--The Committee provides $1,000,000
from within the funds provided and directs NRCS to bolster
ongoing applied efforts of the Soil Health initiative linking
soil health and cover crop management with an On-Farm Research
Network in conjunction with public and private sector partners
on private and public grazing and crop lands. Plant cover that
supports soil health for soil function, lower production risks,
better crop production and that as food source for grazing
animals offers an important carbon capture mechanism that can
enhance farming outputs and economics. In addition, optimal
regenerative agriculture requires integrated crop and animal
production on the farm. The Committee is interested in
understanding the barriers, economics and challenges facing
producers to increase cover crop practices and better define
the benefits and economics of cover crop performance across
different regions, management scenarios, climatic zones, and
soil types. A focus should be on developing a decision-support
platform to help producers establish a cover crop expert
network to help producers in corn producing states establish
and manage cover crops, increase their use, and measure the
diverse benefits.
Customer Data Systems.--The Committee recognizes that NRCS
recently updated its software systems that track applications
and manage projects. Staff have been trained on these data
systems, but a survey of these staff identified that the new
software is creating more work, delaying applications, and
necessitating workarounds. The Committee is interested in
understanding what steps are being taken to improve these data
systems and to assure that internal processes are not delayed.
Within 60 days of passage of the act, NRCS will provide an
update on plans to assess efficacy of software systems, make
recommendations for yearly surveys of staff to assess
efficiency and make swift corrective action plans to resolve
software limitations.
Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs).--The Committee supports
CCAs and the collaborative regional approach to address common
natural resources goals while maintaining or improving
agricultural productivity. The Committee encourages NRCS to
provide Conservation Technical Assistance additional funds to
CCAs to address conservation planning backlogs.
Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative.--The
Committee recognizes the environmental and economic benefits of
the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative, which
expired in 2017. The Committee supports the revitalization of
this program to educate landowners and operators on the
benefits of climate-smart agriculture, soil health, and
holistic grazing, with a focus on equity.
Environment-based Flood Mitigation Measures.--The Committee
recognizes that environment-based mitigation measures such as
the creation of wetlands, conservation easements, and natural
flood plains to slow the flow rate of rivers, creeks, and
streams, are innovative tools to mitigate the severity of
future floods in the Great Lakes Bay Region. These measures
also support a variety of environmental and conservation
benefits including erosion control, species habitat, and
improved air and water quality. The Committee urges the
Department to participate and coordinate as an essential
federal stakeholder with EPA, FEMA, NOAA, and U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, as well as state, local, and tribal governments,
and business and non-profit stakeholders, on developing and
supporting conservation and environment-based flood mitigation
measures to reduce the impact of floods on communities, lives,
and livelihoods within the Tittabawassee River Watershed in the
Great Lakes Bay Region.
Farmer Mentorship Program for Watershed.--The Committee is
concerned about soil and water quality near watersheds such as
the Great Lakes Basin, Salton Sea, Lake Okeechobee, and the
Chesapeake Bay. The Committee recognizes that farmers may be
unaware of possible or necessary conservations efforts that
currently exist to improve the soil and water quality. The
Committee encourages NRCS to leverage its recently created CAMP
mentoring effort to enhance outreach efforts with dedicated
farmers in watersheds with conservation expertise to work with
interested farmers who would like to learn how to implement
improved conservation practices for water and soil in their
operations.
Farmers' Markets.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of Farmers' Markets in urban and rural food deserts. Farmers'
Markets are vehicles that allow local farmers to provide
healthy foods to low income communities and can serve as a
centerpiece for planning and local economies. The Committee
encourages the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative
Production to collaborate with AMS to create funding
opportunities through the Farmers Market and Local Food
Promotion Program and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to
develop or improve farmers' markets and their ability to access
local community markets.
Feral Hogs.--The Committee is concerned that the feral hog
population is rapidly expanding despite efforts to constrain
their spread. To help prevent further damages to agriculture
and urban lands, the Committee provides NRCS $5,000,000 for a
cost-share program for the construction and repair of perimeter
fencing. The Committee encourages NRCS, in conjunction with
state soil and water conservation agencies, to develop a
strategy to exclude feral hogs from agricultural and urban
areas at risk of damage from localized feral hog populations
with lessons learned from the existing Feral Hog Eradication
Pilot Program.
Grazing Lands Conservation.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of collaborative technical assistance to help
producers effectively manage grazing lands to protect water
quality, improve soil health, sequester carbon in the soil, and
increase resilience and producer profitability. The Committee
directs NRCS to increase support for partnerships that provide
grazing lands conservation technical services such as grazing
planning, workshops and demonstrations, peer-to-peer education,
workforce training, and producer outreach, including support
for partnerships that address unique needs at the local, state,
and regional level.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).--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 and nitrogen from
agricultural land uses. Conservation planning should prioritize
fields or riparian areas with the highest risk of elevated
phosphorus and/or nitrogen losses. The Committee encourages
NRCS to use interagency agreements and cooperative agreements
focused on innovative phosphorus or nitrogen removal strategies
where agricultural runoff has contributed nutrients to a
waterbody. Such work shall be conducted in consultation with
the National Institute for Food and Agriculture and the
Agricultural Research Service.
Lake Erie Basin.--The Committee is aware the Western Lake
Erie Basin Initiative (WLEB) is vital to researching and
conserving one of our country's precious freshwater sources,
Lake Erie. Increased levels of harmful algal blooms continue to
plague the Lake due to shallow depths, increased phosphorus
levels, and other contributing factors. The Committee
encourages NRCS to work with locally engaged academic
institutions that have worked on WLEB concerns and to review
the work done by these academic institutions along with the
Federal and State agencies that have responsibility for
tracking lake water quality.
Mississippi River Basin.--The Committee continues to urge
the Department to use its existing expertise and experience
with the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative
to participate and coordinate as an essential federal
stakeholder with EPA's development of the Mississippi River
Restoration and Resiliency Strategy, as directed in H. Rpt.
116-446. The Department is also directed to engage with the
U.S. Geological Survey as they host the Mississippi River
Science Forum and to contribute to the proceedings as a federal
agency with relevant scientific expertise.
National Resource Inventory (NRI).--The Committee
encourages NRCS to consider the feasibility of expanding the
existing NRI system to include soil sampling and analysis on an
annual rotating basis.
Outreach and Innovation.--The Committee acknowledges the
need for expanded research in support of urban agriculture in
food-insecure communities. The Committee believes urban farming
and food production closer to the home is a viable solution to
these challenges and encourages the Department to create
partnerships and, with its extension programs, to assist urban
agricultural production. The Committee directs NRCS to maintain
grants to support urban agriculture outreach and innovation.
Pollinator Seed Mixes.--The Committee encourages NRCS to
provide support to producers through the development of
affordable, regionally appropriate pollinator seed mixes that
avoid attracting crop pests.
Recovering Value from Animal Waste.--The Committee directs
NRCS to provide technical assistances and EQIP resources to
support optimal life cycle management of manure as integral to
regenerative, resilient agriculture. The Committee directed the
Secretary to convene all federal agencies who regulate or
impact animal manure. The collaboration among agencies assess
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. The Committee has provided ERS
with $2,000,000 to conduct the report. Within one year of
passage of this Act, provided that ERS has completed their
report, the Secretary will recommend a strategy to Congress to
improve life-cycle management of manure and policies and
credits needed to scale solutions across farm country that are
acceptable to farmers.
Regenerative Agriculture.--Regenerative agriculture
practices stand to help farmers while addressing the multiple
challenges our nation faces in climate change, land degradation
and risk, biodiversity, water security, and food access. The
Committee recognizes the role of programs like the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation
Innovation Grants in providing financial assistance to farms
interested in improving soil health. NRCS is encouraged to
continue supporting farmers that embrace regenerative
agriculture practices, including continued investments in soil
health demonstration projects.
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.
Soil Carbon Survey.--The Committee recognizes the need for
a regular soil carbon survey to improve the effectiveness of
environmental incentive programs and elucidate the
relationships between soil carbon content and agricultural
yields, water and fertilizer-use efficiency, climate
resilience, and other soil health metrics. To the extent
possible using existing resources, the Committee encourages the
Soil Surveys Program to measure, monitor, and model soil carbon
sequestration on agricultural lands.
Sustainable Farming Methods.--The Committee recognizes the
urgent necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order
to mitigate the impacts of global climate change and the
important role the agriculture sector can play in that effort.
Small and mid-size farmers are uniquely positioned in
mitigating the cumulative effects of climate change. The
Committee encourages USDA to review its conservation practice
standards and technical resources to identify and develop best
practices and related conservation systems for existing small
and independent farmers seeking to transition to more
sustainable farming methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from nitrogen fertilizers and to sequester carbon as part of
any commodity crop, specialty crop, horticulture, or forage
production.
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Program.--The
Committee provides an appropriation of $9,458,000 for this
program, an increase of $2,458,000. It was funded previously as
a general provision. The Committee supports the request to
increase staffing, extend grant opportunities to Historically
Underserved and Socially Disadvantaged communities, and to
establish a communication and partnership framework across the
Federal government.
Vertical Farming.--The Committee is aware of the growing
vertical farming industry and other emerging technologies that
could help increase food production and expand agricultural
operations. The Committee encourages the Office of Urban
Agriculture to engage with appropriate USDA agencies to explore
opportunities to support and scale vertical farming.

WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS

2021 appropriation.................................... $175,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 175,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 160,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ -15,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -15,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $160,000,000.

WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM

2021 appropriation.................................... $10,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 10,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 10,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $10,000,000.

CORPORATIONS

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund

2021 appropriation.................................... $8,748,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 9,660,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 9,660,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +912,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund, the
Committee provides an appropriation of such sums as may be
necessary (estimated to be $9,660,000,000 in the President's
fiscal year 2022 budget request).

Commodity Credit Corporation Fund

REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $31,830,731,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 25,915,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 25,915,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ -5,915,731,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

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 $25,915,000,000 in
the President's fiscal year 2022 budget request).

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

(LIMITATION ON EXPENSES)

2022 limitation....................................... ($15,000,000)
2022 budget estimate.................................. (15,000,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (15,000,000)
Comparison:
2021 limitation................................... - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Hazardous Waste Management, the Committee provides a
limitation of $15,000,000. The Committee directs the Hazardous
Materials Management Program and the Hazardous Waste Management
Program to coordinate their work to ensure there is no
duplication.

TITLE III

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

2021 appropriation.................................... $812,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,330,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,580,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +768,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +250,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural
Development, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$1,580,000.
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.
Colonias and Farmworker Communities.--The Committee
recognizes the challenges facing colonias and farmworker
communities and urges the Department to explore establishing an
``Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives'' and work with
other Federal agencies to identify best practices and ways to
further assist colonias communities and farmworkers.
Colonias Definition.--The Committee urges the Department to
reconsider the definition of colonias, so that colonias
communities with higher population density but low incomes and
substandard living conditions may be eligible for certain USDA
programs that require a rural designation.
Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI).--The Committee
continues to support HFFI, which improves access to healthy
food in underserved areas, creates and preserves quality jobs,
and revitalizes low-income communities. Resources provided
enable continued investments in grants and loans, establish
funding coalitions and partnerships, and support a variety of
food enterprises that target solutions to the needs of rural,
urban, and tribal communities.
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.
Industrial Hemp.--The intent of Congress in Public Law 115-
334 was for industrial hemp to be eligible for all USDA
programs, including Rural Development. Industrial hemp can
significantly benefit struggling rural economies. The Committee
encourages Rural Development to ensure that industrial hemp is
eligible for all competitive grant programs.
Persistent Poverty Areas.--The Committee supports targeted
investments in impoverished areas. The Committee directs the
Department to develop and implement measures to increase the
share of investments in persistent poverty counties, distressed
communities, and any other impoverished areas the Department
determines to be appropriate areas to target. The Committee
expects the activities under the Strikeforce initiative to
complement this effort.
Opportunity Zones.--The Committee directs Rural Development
to identify opportunities to support projects within designated
Opportunity Zones to better leverage existing resources and
incentivize greater investment in distressed rural communities.
Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP).--The Committee
supports RESP and the opportunity it provides to launch or
expand energy efficiency financing programs.
Rural Health.--The Committee encourages USDA to support
development of infectious disease prevention infrastructure in
rural communities, including by investing in infectious disease
training and supplies for rural medical providers, syringe
services programs, supplies for rural community-based
organizations, and mobile health care delivery.
Telemedicine Services.--The Committee continues to support
Distance Learning and Telemedicine and Broadband grant programs
that assist rural communities in connecting to the rest of the
world and overcoming health disparities that affect rural
communities. The Committee urges the Under Secretary for Rural
Development to continue supporting the utilization of existing
telehealth networks to provide additional access using
telemedicine through partnerships with hub medical centers. The
Committee also encourages focus on Tele-Emergency Medical
Service and Tele-Electrocardiogram for use in building
sustainable models for advanced critical care in populations in
rural areas by improving critical care interventional outcomes
and decreasing the wait time between original access and
treatment for rural populations.

Rural Development

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations............................................ $264,024,000 $367,447,000 $348,425,000
Transfers from:
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account.......... 412,254,000 412,254,000 412,254,000
Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account........... 4,468,000 4,468,000 4,468,000
Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loan 33,270,000 33,270,000 33,270,000
Program Account......................................
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, RD Salaries and Expenses................... $714,016,000 $817,439,000 $798,417,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Salaries and Expenses of the Rural Development mission
area, the Committee provides an appropriation of $348,425,000.
Of the amount provided, $32,000,000 is for the StrikeForce
initiative. The Committee also includes $12,025,000 for
information technology investments and additional resources to
increase Rural Development staffing.
Placemaking: Revitalization of Rural Livable Places.--The
Committee provides an increase of $1,000,000 to expand or
enhance cooperative agreements begun in fiscal year 2020 that
utilize public-private partnerships involved in the
``Placemaking Initiative''.
Rural Hospitals.--Rural hospitals are an essential pillar
of their communities and are necessary to create the economic
growth that is direly needed in rural communities.
Unfortunately, many rural hospitals continue to struggle. The
Committee includes $2,000,000 for technical assistance to
vulnerable hospitals in the Community Facilities portfolio to
help struggling rural hospitals negotiate, reorganize, and
revitalize.

Rural Housing Service

RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

[Dollars in thousands]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative
Loan level Subsidy level expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2021 Appropriation........................................ $25,346,000 $70,020 $412,254
2022 Budget estimate...................................... 31,846,000 67,052 412,054
Provided in the bill...................................... 31,846,000 95,052 412,254
Comparison:
2021 Appropriation.................................... +6,500,000 +25,032 - - -
2022 Budget estimate.................................. - - - +28,000 - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account, the
Committee provides a loan level of $31,846,000,000.
Farm Labor Housing.--The Committee encourages USDA to
explore opportunities to leverage its resources including its
Food and Nutrition Programs, Community Facilities Programs,
Housing Preservation Grants, and other programs, and to create
partnerships with the Department of Labor's Farmworker Housing
outreach and technical assistance program, Health Resources and
Services Administration's Health Center Program, and the
Administration for Children and Families Migrant and Seasonal
Head Start Program, to coordinate and align resources to
address the housing, nutrition and healthcare needs of this
vulnerable population of essential workers who play a critical
role in America's food security. The Committee further
encourages USDA to explore including service coordinators as an
allowable expenditure for farm labor housing projects.
The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural
Housing Insurance Fund program account:

[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Loans
Direct............................................ $1,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000
Unsubsidized Guaranteed........................... 24,000,000 30,000,000 30,000,000
Housing Repair (sec. 504)............................. 28,000 28,000 28,000
Rental Housing (sec. 515)............................. 40,000 40,000 40,000
Multi-family Guaranteed (sec. 538).................... 230,000 230,000 230,000
Site Development Loans................................ 5,000 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 5,000
Farm Labor Housing.................................... 28,000 28,000 28,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan Authorization......................... $25,346,000 $31,846,000 $31,846,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS

[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program
Account (Loan Subsidies and Grants):
Single Family Housing (sec. 502):
Direct............................................ $55,400 27,900 $27,900
Housing Repair (sec. 504)......................... 2,215 484 484
Rental Housing (sec. 515)............................. 6,688 3,576 3,576
Multifamily Housing Revitalization.................... 28,000 32,000 60,000
Farm Labor Housing.................................... 5,093 2,831 2,831
Site Development (sec. 524)........................... 355 206 206
Self-Help Land (sec. 523)............................. 269 55 55
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan Subsidies............................. 98,020 67,052 95,052
Farm Labor Housing Grants............................. 10,000 10,000 15,000
RHIF Expenses:........................................
Administrative Expenses........................... $412,254 $412,054 $412,254
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2021 appropriation.................................... $1,450,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,495,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,495,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +45,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rental Assistance Program, the Committee provides a
program level of $1,495,000,000. This provides the estimated
amount to fully fund the program. This amount includes
$45,000,000 for the rural housing voucher program.

MUTUAL AND SELF HELP HOUSING GRANTS

2021 appropriation.................................... $31,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 32,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 32,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +1,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

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

RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

2021 appropriation.................................... $45,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 45,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 65,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +20,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +20,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Housing Assistance Grants program, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $65,000,000, including
$25,000,000 for rural housing preservation grants.

RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $74,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 74,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 238,454,714
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +164,454,714
2022 budget estimate.............................. +164,454,714

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Community Facilities Program Account, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $238,454,714. The
Committee specifies the following projects and amounts to be
funded in fiscal year 2022.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recipient Project Location Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ringgold County Child Care Center. Ringgold County Child Care Center Re-Design IA $725,366
Stanton Child Care Resource Center Stanton Child Care Resource Center IA $1,000,000
Expansion.
Northern Lights YMCA.............. Northern Lights Community Center Renovation MI $1,750,000
Fort Valley State University...... Fort Valley State University and Albany GA $746,250
State University Local Food Project.
Delaware State Fair, Inc.......... New Castle Agricultural Programming DE $937,500
Building.
Richard Allen Coalition........... Richard Allen Historic School Repair....... DE $100,000
Banks Fire District #13........... Banks Fire District EMS Equipment.......... OR $93,500
City of Mt. Vernon................ Mt. Vernon Police Station.................. IL $1,000,000
Northampton County Government..... Northampton County Courthouse.............. NC $5,000,000
Town of Nashville................. Nashville Fire Station..................... NC $1,338,750
City of Guadalupe................. LeRoy Park Safety Modernization............ CA $1,700,000
Pride of Atmore................... Atmore Revitalization Project.............. AL $885,000
City of Central Falls............. Holden Community Center.................... RI $2,000,000
Vital Aging of Williamsburg Murdaugh Senior Center..................... SC $2,883,469
County, Inc..
Rio Grande City................... Starr County Courthouse.................... TX $2,392,763
Sullivan City..................... El Faro Road Flood Mitigation.............. TX $3,539,318
Town of La Joya................... La Joya Fire Station....................... TX $1,275,000
Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe........ Sauk-Suiattle Community Center............. WA $210,000
Volunteers of America Western Sky Valley Teen Center..................... WA $500,000
Washington.
Nooksack Indian Tribe............. Nooksack Clinic and Wellness Facility...... WA $1,000,000
Village of Philmont Fire Village of Philmont Fire Station........... NY $82,000
Department.
M-ARK Project, Inc................ M-ARK Child Care Project................... NY $100,000
Liberty County.................... Liberty County EMS Facility................ FL $825,000
Medina County Senior Center, Inc.. Medina County Senior Center................ TX $562,500
East Wayne Fire District.......... East Wayne Fire Station.................... OH $958,392
VFW Lopez Williams Post........... Brooks County VFW.......................... TX $304,454
Township of Hardwick.............. Hardwick Township Virtual Services......... NJ $17,460
Douglass Community Services....... Douglass Community Center.................. MO $1,000,000
Northfield Volunteer Fire Company. Northfield Fire Department Modernization... CT $225,000
City of Torrington................ Northwest Hills Animal Control Facility.... CT $1,100,000
Protivin Community Fire District.. Protivin Community Fire Station............ IA $100,000
Sunflower Child Care Center, Inc.. Sunflower Child Development Center......... IA $200,000
Prince George's County............ Prince George's County Water Tanks......... MD $1,350,000
Royalton-Hartland Central School Royalton-Hartland Agricultural Learning Lab NY $515,685
District.
County of Wyoming................. Wyoming County Fire Training Center........ NY $597,289
Cornell Cooperative Extension Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning NY $379,432
Association of Orleans County. Center.
Waianae Community Redevelopment MA'O Organic Farms Infrastructure.......... HI $896,000
Corporation.
Port Angeles Food Bank............ Port Angeles Food Bank Expansion........... WA $900,000
City of Platteville............... City of Platteville Fire Station........... WI $7,000,000
Cochise County.................... Cochise County Animal Shelter.............. AZ $1,100,000
County of Nevada.................. North San Juan Fire Suppression System..... CA $1,050,000
City of Anderson.................. Sewer and Storm Drain Cleaner Truck........ CA $262,900
Goosefoot Community Fund.......... Goosefoot Community Center................. WA $346,625
Bradner Fire Department........... Bradner Fire Station....................... OH $1,260,000
University of Florida............. Cherry Lake 4H Center...................... FL $1,125,000
Pueblo of San Felipe.............. San Felipe Community Center................ NM $1,500,000
Town of Phillipstown.............. Phillipstown Highway Facility Center....... NY $1,787,500
North San Juan Water Conservation North San Joaquin Water Conservation CA $1,000,000
District. District.
Berwick Area YMCA................. Berwick Community Center................... PA $1,000,000
Borough of Jim Thorpe............. Jim Thorpe Facility Upgrade................ PA $2,500,000
IQHub............................. IQHub Community Classroom.................. MI $137,671
Four Lakes Task Force............. Four Lakes Public Safety Booms............. MI $795,000
Yakima Nation..................... Yakima Nation Water Canal Maintenance...... WA $742,500
Town of Superior.................. Superior Entrepreneurship and Innovation AZ $2,000,000
Center.
Maine 4-H Foundation.............. 4-H Innovation and Learning Center......... ME $450,000
Virgin Islands Department of Krum Bay Marine Enforcement Pier........... VI $750,000
Planning and Natural Resources.
Virgin Islands Department of Gallows Bay Marine Enforcement Pier........ VI $750,000
Planning and Natural Resources.
City of Reedsburg................. City of Reedsburg Community Center......... WI $220,000
Desert Valley Senior Center....... Desert Valley Senior Center................ AZ $16,800
Greene County Board of Greene County Business Incubator........... PA $1,395,000
Commissioners.
City of Morehead.................. Morehead Fire Station...................... KY $300,000
Commonwealth Healthcare Peritoneal Dialysis Expansion Project...... MP $391,500
Corporation.
Commonwealth Healthcare Health IT Upgrades......................... MP $980,639
Corporation.
Guam Fisherman's Cooperative Guam Fisherman's Co-Op Facility............ GU $3,000,000
Association.
City of Ellensburg................ Friends in Service to Humanity Food Bank... WA $900,000
Shoshone Bannock Tribe............ Shoshone Bannock Tribal Fire Station....... ID $7,000,000
Town of Blackstone................ Blackstone Aerial Ladder Fire Truck........ VA $923,937
County of Amelia.................. Amelia County Court Office................. VA $375,000
City of Moriarty.................. Moriarty Fire Station...................... NM $5,250,000
City of Little Falls.............. Little Falls Child Care Facility........... MN $825,000
Essex County...................... Essex County Ag and Youth Center........... NY $997,000
Cary Christian Center............. Cary Christian Center Facility............. MS $37,500
BDT Housing Services Enterprise... IT Montgomery Home Restoration............. MS $2,250,000
City of Rosedale.................. Bolivar County Community Facility.......... MS $225,000
Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation Facility MS $2,250,000
Revitalization.
Central Mississippi, Inc.......... Mississippi Delta Disaster Relief Shelter.. MS $300,000
Indiana University of Pennsylvania IUP Academy of Culinary Arts Building...... PA $500,000
Jefferson County-Dubois Area Farm to Refrigerator Training Facility..... PA $1,125,000
Vocational Technical School.
United Way of Tri County.......... Marlborough Community Covered Food Pantry.. MA $26,838
Allegany College of Maryland...... Allegany College Facility Revitalization... MD $187,500
Office of the Salem County Salem County Courthouse Revitalization..... NJ $3,750,000
Administrator.
Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium.. St Johnsbury Science Annex................. VT $2,465,176
Pocono Family YMCA................ Pocono Family Community Center............. PA $1,000,000
Mount Bethel Fire Department...... Mount Bethel Fire Department Emergency PA $247,500
Shelter.
City of Kodiak.................... Kodiak Fire Station Replacement............ AK $7,000,000
City of Kiana..................... Kiana Fire Response and Equipment.......... AK $3,350,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community Facility Loans.--The Committee awaits the report
directed in H. Rpt. 116-446 on the Community Facilities Direct
Loan and Grant and Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan
programs portfolio identifying the number of approved
applications for fiscal years 2017-2020 within the North
American Industry Classification System.
Community Facility Relending.--The Committee requests USDA
consider re-examining the Community Facilities Relending
activities in order to more effectively make funds available
for relending to qualified, highly rated community development
financial institutions, with experience serving persistent
poverty communities, therefore not requiring any additional
payment guarantees.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Levels:
Community Facility Direct Loans.................... ($2,800,000) ($2,800,000) ($2,800,000)
Community Facility Guaranteed Loans................ (500,000) (500,000) (650,000)
Subsidy and Grants:
Non-conforming Subsidy............................. 25,000 - - - - - -
Community Facility Grants.......................... 32,000 58,000 222,455
Rural Community Development Initiative............. 6,000 6,000 6,000
Economic Impact Initiative Grants.................. 6,000 - - - - - -
Tribal College Grants.............................. 5,000 10,000 10,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Community Facilities Program $74,000 $74,000 $238,455
Subsidy and Grants............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rural Business Cooperative Service

RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $56,400,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 81,150,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 91,200,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +34,800,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +10,050,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Business Program Account, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $91,200,000.
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 eco- nomic 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:

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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2021 Appropriation..................................... $18,889 $2,939 $4,468
2022 Budget Estimate................................... 18,889 1,524 4,468
Provided in the Bill................................... 18,889 1,524 4,468
Comparison:
2021 Appropriation................................. - - - -1,415 - - -
2022 Budget Estimate............................... - - - - - - - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 $1,524,000. In addition, the Committee
provides $4,468,000 for administrative expenses.

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

2021 appropriation.................................... $50,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 50,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 50,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

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

2021 appropriation.................................... $26,600,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 26,600,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 28,600,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +2,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +2,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Rural Cooperative Development Grants, the Committee
pro- vides an appropriation of $28,600,000. This total includes
$2,800,000 for a cooperative agreement for the Appropriate
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas program and $14,000,000 for
the Value-added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant
Pro- gram under the Local Agriculture Market Program in the
2018 Farm Bill.
Agriculture Innovation Centers.--The Committee continues to
support Agriculture Innovation Centers. The Committee
encourages consideration for the creation an Agricultural
Innovation Center to develop a smart agriculture industry
technology roadmap. The smart agriculture industry roadmap
center would help guide the future development of technology in
the agriculture industry and help align the United States
agriculture industry to increase efforts of the United States
to become a global leader in smart farming and agricultural
technologies.

RURAL MICROENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2021 appropriation.................................... $6,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 6,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 8,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +2,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +2,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP),
the Committee provides an appropriation of $8,000,000. 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.

RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM

2021 appropriation.................................... $392,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 30,168,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 30,420,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +30,028,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +252,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Energy for America Program, the Committee
provides $30,420,000 to make loans and grants as authorized by
section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) to farmers, ranchers, and rural small
businesses to assist with purchasing renewable energy systems
and making energy efficiency improvements.

HEALTHY FOODS FINANCING INITIATIVE

2021 appropriation.................................... $5,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 5,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 6,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +1,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +1,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Healthy Foods Financing Initiative, the Committee
provides $6,000,000 to increase the availability of affordable,
healthy foods in underserved rural communities to create and
preserve quality jobs and revitalize low-income communities.
Additionally, the Committee strongly encourages the Department
to ensure the robust development of best practices for opening
retail stores in food deserts through the use of technical
assistance.

Rural Utilities Service

RURAL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $621,567,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 716,557,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 721,557,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +99,990,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +5,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $721,557,000. 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.
Border Communities.--The Committee is concerned that the
water and wastewater needs of colonias communities that suffer
from high rates of poverty along the southern border are not
being adequately addressed. The Committee encourages USDA to
support qualified non-profit organizations to provide technical
assistance and/or construction projects to help colonias
communities with accessing USDA's water and wastewater programs
and services.
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.
Health Effects of Contaminated Drinking Water.--The
Committee recognizes the possible adverse health effects of
drinking water with elevated contaminants, and the
environmental and public health cost of polluted discharge into
surface water. The Committee urges the Department to prioritize
funding rural water systems that are out of compliance with
federal and/or state drinking water and/or wastewater standards
to bring those municipalities back into compliance.
PFAS Pollution.--The Committee encourages the Department to
make better use of the authority provided by the 2018 Farm Bill
to utilize its Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant Program to
help address the needs of rural communities impacted by PFAS
pollution.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
FY 2021 enacted FY 2022 estimate provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Levels:
Water and Waste Direct Loans....................... ($1,400,000) ($1,400,000) ($1,400,000)
Water and Waste Guaranteed Loans................... (50,000) (50,000) (50,000)
Subsidy and Grants:
Direct Subsidy..................................... - - - - - - - - -
Guaranteed Subsidy................................. 60 45 45
Water and Waste Revolving Fund..................... 1,000 1,000 1,000
Water Well System Grants........................... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Grants for the Colonias and AK/HI.................. 68,000 93,000 93,000
Water and Waste Technical Assistance Grants........ 35,000 40,000 40,000
Circuit Rider Program.............................. 20,157 20,157 20,157
Solid Waste Management Grants...................... 4,000 4,000 4,000
High Energy Cost Grants............................ 10,000 10,000 10,000
Water and Waste Disposal Grants.................... 463,350 528,355 533,355
306A(i)(2) Grants.................................. 15,000 15,000 15,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Subsidies and Grants.................... $621,567 $716,557 $721,557
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative
Loan level Subsidy level expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2021 Appropriation.................................. $6,940,000 $2,277 $33,270
2022 Budget estimate................................ 7,588,551 449,070 33,270
Provided in the bill................................ 7,195,000 191,070 33,270
Comparison:
2021 Appropriation ............................. +255,000 +188,793 - - -
2022 Budget estimate............................ -393,551 -258,000 - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans
Pro- gram Account, the Committee provides a loan level of
$7,195,000,000. In addition, the Committee provides $33,270,000
for administrative expenses.
Consumer Oriented Operating Loans.--Rural cooperative
utilities, which are owned by consumers have suffered severe
energy cost spikes due to winter storm Uri and other severe
weather events. The RUS is encouraged to offer financially
feasible low interest loans and other financial incentives to
cooperatives (and other non-profit electric utilities) to
smooth the impact of severe weather related energy costs and to
finance consumer-oriented energy efficiency measures which
would provide relief to rural consumers as well as facilitate
reductions in carbon pollution.
The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural
Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account:

[Dollars in thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2021 FY 2022 Committee
enacted estimate provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Authorizations:
Electric:
Direct, FFB............... $5,500,000 - - - - - -
Direct, Treasury.......... - - - $6,500,000 $5,500,000
Guaranteed Underwriting... 750,000 - - - 750,000
Rural Energy Savings 107,300 398,551 255,000
Program..................
-----------------------------------------
Subtotal.............. 6,357,300 6,898,551 6,505,000
Telecommunications:
Direct, Treasury Rate..... 345,000 690,000 690,000
Direct, FFB............... 345,000 - - - - - -
-----------------------------------------
Total, Loan $7,047,300 $7,588,551 $7,195,000
Authorizations.......
------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS

BROADBAND PROGRAM

[Dollars in thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2021 FY 2022 Committee
enacted estimate provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Broadband Program:
Loan Authorization........ $11,869 $11,869 $11,869
Loan Subsidy.............. 2,000 1,772 1,772
Community Connect Grants.. 35,000 35,000 35,000
Broadband ReConnect Loans 531,000 650,000 786,605
and Grants...............
Distance Learning and
Telemedicine:
Grants.................... 60,000 60,000 60,000
-----------------------------------------
Total, Loan Subsidy $628,000 $746,772 $883,377
and Grants...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Broadband Program, the Committee provides an
appropriation of $1,772,000 for a loan authorization level of
$11,869,000. The Committee specifies the following projects and
amounts to be funded in fiscal year 2022.

Broadband and Tribal Colleges and Universities.--The
Committee encourages the Secretary of Agriculture to explore
opportunities to expand broadband for 1994 Institutions (as
defined in Sec. 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant
Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note) under the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.). Stronger
efforts are needed to support expansion and maintenance of
broadband connectivity, including, but not limited to,
equipment costs, maintenance of broadband systems, broadband
infrastructure expansion, and ongoing broadband operations
expenses directly related to 1994 Institutions broadband
systems.
Broadband Technologies.--he Committee awaits the report
requested in H. Rpt. 116-646 detailing the progress of the
ReConnect program, including technologies used and communities
served.
Indian Country Broadband.--The Committee urges the USDA to
responsibly and efficiently take action to increase access to
broadband on rural Tribal lands and supports consultation with
federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages and
corporations, and entities related to Hawaiian homelands.
Open Access.--The Committee recognizes the value of open
access broadband fiber infrastructure projects as well as the
challenges these projects face in qualifying for federal
funding and directs the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to
support financially-feasible open access infrastructure
projects that meet its program goals.
ReConnect Program.--The Committee provides an additional
$800,000,000 for the ReConnect program to increase access to
broadband connectivity in unserved and underserved rural
communities, targeting areas of the country with the largest
broadband coverage gaps, including those with mountainous
terrain.
ReConnect Awards.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of quickly closing the digital divide to economic development,
especially in rural communities, and further recognizes how the
COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing digital disparities
over the last year. Similarly, the Committee recognizes that
the difficulties of operating in a pandemic can make the
administration of broadband projects more difficult due to
disruptions in workforce and supply chains. Therefore, the
Committee encourages Rural Development to work to expeditiously
disburse ReConnect funds once grants and loans are awarded.
Additionally, the Committee encourages the Department to
examine, and appropriately adjust and lower the collateral
requirements within ReConnect Loan Agreements, Grant
Agreements, or Loan/Grant Agreements to ensure greater Program
access.
ReConnect Service Areas.--RUS Telecommunications Program
funds should not be awarded in any areas, study areas or census
blocks where a recipient of FCC High-Cost USF support is
already subject to a buildout obligation of 25/3 Mbps or
greater for fixed terrestrial broadband, except that RUS
Telecommunication Program funds may be awarded in such areas to
help finance construction of the network. This shall not apply
in cases where the FCC has not provided for final approval of
an award of such funds.

TITLE IV

DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

2021 appropriation.................................... $809,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,327,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,327,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +518,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition,
and Consumer Services, the Committee provides an appropriation
of $1,327,000.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans.--The Committee
acknowledges the work of USDA in publishing the 2020-2025
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). As work begins on the
2025-2030 DGA, the Committee reminds the Department of the
importance of a transparent, deliberative process that is
rigorous, objective, and designed to avoid non-scientific
notions of nutrition policy. The Committee looks forward to
reviewing the analysis and findings in the upcoming National
Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report as
required in Section 796 of P.L. 116-260.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans Implementation.--The
Committee directs the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
(CNPP) to develop materials to educate consumers on how to use
the new Dietary Guidelines to inform their dietary choices,
including through developing and translating materials to other
languages, and creating materials that represent a diversity of
cultural food preferences. The Committee encourages CNPP to
work with HHS to develop materials for comprehensive education
campaigns aimed at: 1) educating consumers on how to use the
new Dietary Guidelines to inform their dietary choices, and 2)
educating health care professionals to enhance and align their
dietary guidance with the new Guidelines. The Committee
recognizes this is the first time that the guidelines included
age-specific recommendations for children from birth to twenty-
four months old and encourages CNPP to engage key stakeholders
such as pediatricians, nurses, and dietitians.
Emergency Response.--The Committee directs the Secretary
within 180 days of enactment of this Act to report on
improvements needed to ensure that emergency feeding programs
geared toward natural disasters are also adequately prepared
for pandemic response. The report should include executive
actions already able to be taken, as well as recommendations
for Congress on needed statute changes to target pandemic
response more appropriately.
Local Food.--The Committee recognizes the growing demand
for locally and regionally produced food. The Committee
encourages all nutrition programs, to the extent feasible, to
engage local agriculture producers to enhance small farmers and
regional producers. The Committee directs FNS to review its
Child Nutrition Programs and other food distribution programs
to determine how many of their commodity purchases are locally
sourced and how to improve procurement from local and small
farmers.
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.
School Meal Programs.--The Committee recognizes the wide-
reaching impacts COVID-19 has had on schools across the country
and appreciates USDA's decision to extend several child
nutrition waivers through June 2022 to ensure all schools can
reopen safely. COVID-19 has also had severe consequences for
school meal program budgets. The Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2021, provided financial assistance, but many schools
still face meal program losses for the 2020-2021 School Year.
The Committee supports additional assistance to help alleviate
financial stress and to help schools avoid cutting into their
education budgets.

Food And Nutrition Service

CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $25,118,440,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 26,887,922,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 26,892,922,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +1,774,482,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +5,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Child Nutrition Programs, the Committee provides
$26,892,922,000, which includes $35,000,000 for school meals
equipment grants, $45,000,000 for the Summer Electronic
Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children Demonstration, $12,000,000
for Farm to School grants and $20,004,000 for Team Nutrition.
Farm to School.--The Committee is interested in ensuring
that the Farm to School program becomes scalable and replicable
across states. Training states in maximizing the program is
best managed by states that have excelled in implementing the
program. Multiple regions of the country should act as
locations for Farm to School Institutes. In order to expand the
current outreach efforts, $1,000,000 of the Farm to School
program will be directed toward cooperative agreements to
support at least four Farm to School Institutes that represent
the East, Midwest, West, and South regions of the country for
the creation and dissemination of information on farm to school
program development and to provide practitioner education,
training, ongoing school year coaching, and technical
assistance, for programs linking curriculum, local purchasing
and community connections.
Food Waste Education.--USDA's nutrition programs reach
nearly one in four Americans every day, including approximately
30 million children through school feeding programs. This reach
provides a significant opportunity to increase public awareness
of food loss and waste and ways to prevent it. The Committee
encourages the USDA to include food waste education and
prevention information as a priority for each of these
programs, and incorporate food waste prevention and reduction
information into all nutrition education materials geared
toward teachers, students, and other program recipients.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.--The Committee
appreciates the collaboration between USDA and the Department
of Defense on its Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which is
available in over 48 states/territories and serves more than
22,000 schools. The Committee encourages DOD and USDA FNS to
review current practices to identify opportunities to increase
food purchases from small, medium, women and minority farmers
within their respective states, and, within 180 days of
enactment, report back on their findings.
Local Food in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).--
The Committee is aware that school meals are a vital source of
food and nutrition for elementary and secondary students. The
Committee recognizes the NSLP could do more to support local
economies and businesses through increased participation with
local producers and encourages efforts to increase local food
purchases for the NSLP sourced from in-state or geographically
local growers and producers.
Meal Patterns.--The Committee supports efforts to provide
children with the most nutritious meals possible through the
National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Over the last ten
years, we have seen schools make great strides in improving the
nutritional quality of meals served. As the Department
considers further changes to the current meal pattern
standards, the Committee acknowledges the need to be sensitive
to financial viability, student participation and
stigmatization in the program. We urge the Department to
consider the impact of any new standards on schools' ability to
serve nutrient dense components, including those that are dairy
or meat protein based, as well to provide schools the necessary
flexibility to serve regional and culturally-inclusive meals
that also meet the wide variety of student dietary preferences.
Persistent poverty counties.--The Committee is aware that
the Administration has proposed to expand the Community
Eligibility Provision (CEP) and make it more financially viable
for schools by increasing the proportion of costs covered by
the Federal government to make CEP a cost-effective option for
more schools. The Committee is particularly concerned about CEP
participation in persistent poverty counties. The Committee
encourages USDA to explore what strategies might be adopted to
address the unique participation challenges faced by persistent
poverty counties and rural communities such as the border
region colonias communities.
School Breakfast Expansion Grants.--The Committee remains
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 $2,000,000 is dedicated to
the U.S. territories.
Team Nutrition.--The Committee supports the promotion of
nutritional health of school children by establishing team
nutrition networks to promote physical fitness awareness and
obesity prevention programs, and to establish programs such as
school gardens. The Committee provides a $2,000,000 increase
for training and technical assistance to help schools provide
nutritious meals that meet meal standards and continues to
direct $1,000,000 to support schools meet the sodium reduction
targets.
Training for School Food Service Personnel.--The Committee
recognizes the limitations of the professional standards set
for school food service personnel under the Healthy Hunger Free
Kids Act of 2010. The Committee directs the Secretary to
encourage training programs carried out under Section
7(g)(2)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 that are
scheduled primarily during regular, paid working hours.
Whenever appropriate, such training shall be offered in-person
and incorporate hands-on training techniques.
Unpaid School Lunch Fees.--The Committee is concerned with
reports that some students with unpaid school lunch fees are
treated unfairly and being publicly embarrassed. The Committee
continues to direct the Secretary to issue recommended
standards schools may adopt to address the issue of shaming
school children for unpaid school lunch fees, including
standards that protect children from public embarrassment; that
strongly encourage all communications about unpaid school lunch
fees be directed at the parent or guardian, not the child; and
that encourage schools to take additional steps to work with
families falling behind in their school lunch fees.
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 and provide an update to the
Committee.
The agreement provides the following for Child Nutrition
Programs:

TOTAL OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY

[Dollars in thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
School lunch program................................. $14,665,855
School breakfast program............................. 5,188,750
Child and adult care food program.................... 4,314,605
Summer food service program.......................... 581,074
Special milk program................................. 6,250
State administrative expenses........................ 332,000
Commodity procurement................................ 1,567,663
Team Nutrition....................................... 20,004
Food safety education................................ 3,048
Coordinated review................................... 10,000
Computer support and processing...................... 26,753
CACFP training and technical assistance.............. 41,498
Child Nutrition Program studies and evaluations...... 15,607
Child Nutrition payment accuracy..................... 11,656
Farm to school tactical team......................... 6,159
School meals equipment grants........................ 35,000
Summer EBT demonstration............................. 45,000
School breakfast expansion grants.................... 10,000
Farm to School grants................................ 12,000
------------------
Total............................................ $26,892,922
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2021 appropriation.................................... $6,000,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 6,000,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 6,000,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

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 $90,000,000 for the
breastfeeding peer counselor program and $14,000,000 for
infrastructure, and $75,000,000 for management information
systems.
After a decade of decline, the President's budget request
includes a projection of an average monthly participation rate
of 6.4 million women, infants, and children for fiscal year
2022, an increase of about 200,000 participants compared to the
prior fiscal year. The Committee provides funding that will
ensure all eligible participants will be served and to increase
the amounts of fruits and vegetables in the WIC Food Package.
The Committee is steadfast in its commitment to fully fund
WIC and recognizes funding needs might change as the country
continues to respond to and recovery from the COVID-19
pandemic. The Committee will continue to monitor WIC
participation trends, carryover funds, and food costs and take
additional action as necessary.
Blood Lead Screening.--The Committee is concerned about
reports that have found child blood lead screening has declined
during the pandemic, in some states dropping by as much as 20%
compared to the previous year. The Committee encourages WIC to
continue making referrals and do screenings for a blood lead
test when appropriate.
Breastfeeding Rates.--The Committee recognizes that after a
decade of decline, WIC participation is anticipated to increase
in FY 2022. As more women participate in the program, the
Committee recognizes there is an opportunity to have a
substantial impact on childhood obesity by creating a more
effective focus on increasing breastfeeding rates and is
interested in better understanding the impediments to increased
breastfeeding rates in WIC recipients, specifically impediments
that may be unique to WIC as compared to the general
population. As noted in USDA's WIC Participant and Program
Characteristics 2018 Report, 23.3 percent of infant WIC
participants were breastfed at 6 months of age compared with
57.6 percent of infants in the general U.S. population and
compared with the Nation's Healthy People 2020 goal of 60.6
percent. The Committee directs FNS to consider additional
efforts to further promote breastfeeding to improve
breastfeeding rates over the next 5 years. Within 90 days, the
Committee requests a briefing on FNS's current breastfeeding
strategies, impediments unique to the WIC program, and possible
solutions for improvement.
Maternal Mortality Data.--The Committee remains concerned
about maternal mortality and awaits the report detailed in H.
Rpt. 116-446.
Outreach.--The committee is concerned that the 2019 Final
Rule (84 F.R. 41292) discouraged people from applying to WIC
who otherwise would have been eligible. That rule is no longer
in effect and the committee directs FNS to inform the Committee
on how it plans to spend the $390 million provided in the
American Rescue Plan, including specific outreach efforts to
eligible individuals and households.
WIC Food Package.--The Committee recognizes that up-to-date
food packages, comprised of a diversity of foods and reflective
of community preferences results in women and children
consuming healthy diets. The Committee understands that FNS has
already begun work to update the WIC food packages through a
formal rulemaking.
WIC Study.--The Committee directs FNS to publish state
level estimates of the percentage of pregnant women, infants,
and children under age five participating in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program under the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) but not in this program and the
percentage of pregnant women, infants, and children up to age
five participating in the Medicaid program (42 U.S.C. 1396 et
seq.) with income less than the limit in section 17(d)(2)(A)(i)
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 but not in this program.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2021 appropriation............................. $114,035,578,000
2022 budget estimate........................... 123,602,452,000
Provided in the bill........................... 105,796,197,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation......................... -8,239,381,000
2022 budget estimate....................... -17,806,255,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the
Committee provides $105,796,197,000. The total amount includes
$3,000,000,000 for a contingency reserve to be used only in the
event and in the amount necessary. The Committee also includes
a such sums appropriation in the fourth quarter of the fiscal
year, as requested by the Administration, in case participation
exceeds expected levels or there is a disaster that cannot be
managed through use of the contingency funds.
Barriers to Accessing SNAP.--The Committee is concerned
that eight million more families have fallen into poverty since
the start of the pandemic, accelerating the poverty and hunger
crisis in this nation. The Committee also understands that
longstanding inequities stemming from structural racism have
exacerbated the impact COVID-19 has had on the country and
especially communities of color. Alaska Native, Native
Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Black and Latino adults are all two
times more likely to report food insecurity than white adults.
The Committee directs the Secretary, within one year of
enactment, to report on factors contributing to inequitable
barriers of access to SNAP, such as the able-bodied adults
without dependents (ABAWD) requirement, limited in-language
resources, limited culturally responsive outreach standards,
limited in-person and call center availability, and other
factors that produce inequitable access to SNAP.
College Hunger.--The Committee remains concerned that SNAP-
eligible students who are food-insecure lack proper information
about resources available to them. Under regular SNAP
eligibility requirements, students enrolled at least half time
in an institution of higher education are typically ineligible
for SNAP benefits unless they meet certain specific exemptions.
Public Law 116-260 included provisions to temporarily expand
SNAP eligibility to students. The Committee continues to direct
FNS to make information available on its website regarding
student SNAP eligibility requirements easier to understand and
more accessible. The Committee directs FNS to report back on
the number of students who enrolled in SNAP due to this
increased flexibility and provide any lessons learned.
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).--
The Committee supports FDPIR and the ability of tribal
organizations to enter into 638 self-determination contracts
for the procurement of FDPIR foods. The Committee encourages
FNS to ensure the SNAP program does not limit tribes from
accessing the additional benefits of FDPIR and requests that
within 60 day of enactment of this Act, FNS engage a dialogue
with Congress on how to integrate SNAP and FDPIR.
Military Food Insecurity.--The Committee recognizes that
COVID-19 exacerbated food insecurity for millions of people,
including members of the military. The Committee is also aware
that the Basic Allowance for Housing that members of the
military receive is not excluded as income when calculating
eligibility for SNAP. The Committee supports a reevaluation and
revision of this policy to reduce the number of military
members relying on food banks and to ensure all members of the
military have access to healthy, nutritious food.
SNAP Online Pilot Program.--The Committee commends the
expansion of online SNAP pilot program and encourages the
Secretary to ensure that these programs include adequate
language assistance and translation services for SNAP
participants with limited English proficiency.
TEFAP Administration.--The Committee encourages FNS to work
with state and local agencies looking to use their
administrative funds to procure delivery services to reach
unique, high-density, food insecure populations in urban and
rural areas lacking adequate transportation.
TEFAP Local Purchase.--The Committee is aware that TEFAP
distributors such as foodbanks, soup kitchens, and food
pantries have a natural bond with their local farmers. The
Committee encourages FNS to explore innovative ways to procure
food directly from small and local farmers.
Territories.--The Committee recognizes the inadequacy and
inefficacy of the current Nutrition Assistance Program block
grant funding for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa, which has had to be
repeatedly supplemented in response to natural disasters and
the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee encourages FNS to engage
the appropriate stakeholders and directs FNS to provide the
Committee with updates on the separate plans and discussions to
includes theses territories in SNAP. The Committee directs FNS
to provide cost estimates for including Puerto Rico, American
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in
SNAP.
The agreement provides the following for SNAP:

TOTAL OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY
[Dollars in thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits............................................. $93,243,036
Contingency reserve.................................. 3,000,000
Administrative costs:
State administrative costs....................... 5,536,316
Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant 452,000
Program.........................................
Employment and Training.......................... 635,829
Mandatory other program costs.................... 343,354
Discretionary other program costs................ 3,998
Administrative subtotal.............................. 6,971,497
------------------
Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico (NAP)........... 2,070,349
American Samoa....................................... 8,315
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations..... 126,000
TEFAP commodities.................................... 337,000
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands......... 30,000
Community Food Projects.............................. 5,000
Program access....................................... 5,000
Subtotal......................................... 2,581,664
------------------
Total........................................ $105,796,197
------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2021 appropriation.................................... $426,700,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 442,070,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 448,070,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +21,370,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +6,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

The Committee provides an appropriation of $448,070,000 for
the Commodity Assistance Program. The recommended funding level
for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program is $332,000,000.
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 includes $30,000,000 for the
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, an increase of $9,000,000,
$85,000,000 for administrative funding for The Emergency Food
Assistance Program (TEFAP), an increase of $5,370,000, and
maintains the 2021 level of $1,070,000 for the Food Donations
Programs for Pacific Island Assistance.
TEFAP and food boxes--The Committee believes that all
federal feeding programs must be accessible for those with
culturally or religiously sensitive diets, including kosher and
halal. The Committee urges the Secretary to seek input from
Jewish and Muslim community leaders on this issue. The
Committee requests a report within 120 days from the enactment
of this Act on how to overcome the challenges of incorporating
kosher and halal food into TEFAP, as well the amount of kosher
and halal food purchased in the Farmers to Families Food Box
Program, as well as TEFAP during the COVID-19 public health
emergency.
TEFAP Handling and Distribution Costs.--In addition to
grant funds supporting commodity handling and distribution
costs, the bill permits states to use up to 20 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

2021 appropriation.................................... $156,805,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 191,533,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 191,533,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +34,728,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Nutrition Programs Administration, the Committee
provides $191,533,000.

TITLE V

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural
Affairs

2021 appropriation.................................... $887,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,408,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 908,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +21,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -500,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs, the Committee provides an appropriation
of $908,000.

Office of Codex Alimentarius

2021 appropriation.................................... $4,805,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 4,841,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 4,841,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +36,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Office of Codex Alimentarius, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $4,841,000.

Foreign Agricultural Service

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer from
Appropriation export loan Total
account
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2021 appropriation..................................... $221,835,000 $6,063,000 $227,898,000
2022 budget estimate................................... 228,644,000 6,063,000 234,707,000
Provided in the bill................................... 228,644,000 6,063,000 234,707,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................. +6,809,000 - - - +6,809,000
2022 budget estimate............................... - - - - - - - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Committee
provides an appropriation of $228,644,000 and a transfer of
$6,063,000 for a total appropriation of $234,707,000.
The Committee provides increases in funding of $1,198,000
for International Cooperative Administrative Support Services,
$481,000 for Capital Security Cost Sharing, $1,800,000 for
locally employed staff, and $3,330,000 for pay and retirement
contributions.
Farmer-to-Farmer.--Food insecure countries benefit from a
diversity of expertise in developing sustainable agricultural
practices as supported under Feed the Future, particularly
curricula developed by land-grant colleges and universities
that support agricultural extension services. The United States
Agency for International Development-administered (USAID)
Farmer to Farmer program can play a key role in maximizing
these efforts. Within 30 days of enactment, the Committee
directs USDA to consult with USAID in an effort to develop a
deeper understanding of the operation of the Farmer to Farmer
program. Following consultations with USAID, USDA shall provide
the Committees an assessment of the benefits of USDA
collaborating with USAID to operate Farmer to Farmer to help
assure that the program is effective in meeting the goals of
the Global Food Security Act, Feed the Future, and the mission
of FAS. This assessment will provide beneficial information in
the reauthorization of Feed the Future and as a guidepost for
discussions during the next Farm Bill reauthorization.
International Agricultural Education Fellowship.--The
Committee maintains the 2021 level for this program. The
Committee is interested in exploring how this program can
support ongoing efforts at FAS. Prior to issuing any future
funding awards, the Committee continues to direct USDA to brief
the Committees on how the International Agricultural Education
Fellowship program will work in collaboration with programs
administered by USDA, USAID, and other relevant U.S. government
agencies.
U.S., Central America, and Mexico Cooperation.--The
Committee directs FAS to work with its counterparts in Central
America and Mexico to improve the efficiency of the
agricultural inspection process and agricultural trade
facilitation issues. FAS in partnership with USDA technical
agencies, U.S. land grant universities, and USDA Cooperators
can work effectively with counterparts in government agencies
and regional agricultural institutions in Central America and
Mexico to promote farmer resilience to climate change effects
such as drought and flood, and achieve improvements in food
security through capacity-building in climate-smart
agricultural technologies and practices, and fostering relevant
scientific exchanges. The Committee notes that last year's
House report directed the Department to brief the Committees on
these efforts. The Committee looks forward to receiving this
briefing.

Food for Peace Title II Grants

2021 appropriation.................................... $1,740,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 1,570,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 1,740,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ - - -
2022 budget estimate.............................. +170,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Food for Peace Title II grants, the Committee provides
$1,740,000,000.

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

2021 appropriation.................................... $230,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 230,112,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 245,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +15,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. +14,888,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and
Child Nutrition Program Grants (``McGovern-Dole''), the
Committee pro- vides an appropriation of $245,000,000.

COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT (LOANS)

CREDIT GUARANTEE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2021 appropriation.................................... $6,381,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 6,063,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 6,063,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ -318,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For administrative expenses of the Commodity Credit
Corporation Export Loans Credit Guarantee Program Account, the
Committee provides an appropriation of $6,063,000.

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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation User fees Total, FDA S&E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2021 appropriation..................................... $3,201,928 $2,765,580 $5,967,508
2022 budget estimate................................... 3,526,928 2,920,906 6,447,834
Provided in the bill................................... 3,449,869 2,816,540 6,266,409
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................. +247,941 +50,960 +298,901
2022 budget estimate............................... -77,059 -104,366 -181,425
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Committee provides an appropriation of $3,449,869,000
in new budget authority for the FDA. In addition, the Committee
recommends the following user fee amounts: $1,141,861,000--
prescription drugs; $241,431,000--medical devices;
$527,848,000--human generic drugs; $43,116,000--biosimilar
biologicals; $33,836,000--animal drugs; $23,137,000--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 $6,173,098,000. 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; Third-Party Auditor
Program; Outsourcing Facilities; and Over-the-Counter
Monograph.
The Committee recommendation includes a net increase of
$247,941,000, including increases for the following programs or
initiatives: New Era of Smarter Food Safety; Maternal and
Infant Health and Nutrition; Emerging Chemical and Toxicology
Issues in Food; Advancing the Goal of Ending the Opioid Crisis;
Device Shortages and Supply Chain; Predictive Toxicology
Roadmap; Drug Safety Surveillance and Oversight; CVM Medical
Product Supply Chain; Data Modernization and Enhanced
Technologies; Inspections; Capacity Building Efforts; and the
Office of Minority Health and Health Equity.
The Committee recommendation includes the full requested
level for pay costs.
The Committee recommendation includes $3,000,000 for an
educational campaign for consumers surrounding menu labeling
and the updated Nutrition Facts panel.
The Committee recommendation does not include proposed user
fees that are not authorized.
510(k) Guidance.--The Committee expresses concern that
FDA's 510(k) guidance has not been updated since 2005. The
Committee requests that FDA update this guidance including with
the recommendations that ingredients, including fragrance, for
menstrual tampons and pads be disclosed on the label; that
products be tested for common contaminants such as phthalates,
VOCs, pesticide residues, and dioxins and that steps should be
taken to eliminate sources of contamination when found; and to
implement testing to assess the impact of product use on the
vaginal/vulvar microbiome.
Access to Compounded Hormones.--As the FDA reviews
recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine's report on the Clinical Utility of
Compounded Hormones, the Committee urges FDA to engage with
compounders and other stakeholders to help ensure access to
compounded drugs for patients who need them.
Actions on Menthol Flavors.--The Committee notes FDA's
recent announcements on its plan to issue product standards
related to menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in
cigars. The Committee will be closely monitoring FDA's
rulemaking efforts and expects to be kept apprised of updates.
Adulterated Pet Food.--The Committee is aware there is no
requirement that animal food, including pet food, have pre-
market approval by the FDA, leaving the Comprehensive Animal
Food Compliance Program as the ultimate line of defense between
beloved pets, food-producing animals and the food they consume.
The continuing number of animal illnesses due to adulterated
animal food calls for urgent and immediate action by
implementing the Comprehensive Animal Food Compliance Program.
Adverse Drug Events.--As underrepresentation of women and
minorities continues in clinical trials, the pharmacogenomic
impact risks among such populations will continue to be less
well understood. The Committee recognizes adverse drug events
and related health disparities can be reduced when
pharmacogenomic data is monitored, reported, and included in
product labels. The Committee urges FDA to increase
examinations of past drug approvals and related pharmacogenomic
safety issues and to carry out any other activities related to
pharmacogenomic data that would address reducing adverse drug
events and related health disparities.
Alzheimer's Clinical Trials.--The Committee recognizes the
need to advance innovative clinical trials designs to increase
diversity in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. The
Committee notes that due to lack of diversity in clinical
trials, those at the greatest risk may not be as well served by
new treatments. The Committee encourages FDA to increase
efforts to make Alzheimer's clinical trials more inclusive,
innovative, and conduct necessary outreach to underrepresented
populations.
Alternative Testing.--As expressed in H. Rpt. 116-446, the
Committee is encouraged by the FDA's efforts to reduce testing
on dogs and other animals. The Committee commends the agency
for the formation of its Alternative Methods Working Group to
foster the advancement and regulatory acceptance of new
research technologies that can improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of the development of drugs and other FDA-
regulated products and reduce and replace testing on dogs and
other animals. A number of these initiatives were outlined in
the January 2021 FDA report `Advancing New Alternative
Methodologies at FDA'. However, the Committee is concerned
about a lack of performance goals and metrics to measure FDA's
progress in this area, as outlined in the 2019 GAO report
entitled `Animal Use in Research: Federal Agencies Should
Assess and Report on Their Efforts to Develop and Promote
Alternatives'. The Committee directs the FDA to deliver a
report on FDA's acceptance of alternatives to animal tests for
regulatory purposes. The report shall include the following:
(1) a review of existing laws, policies and regulations
allowing FDA acceptance of non-animal test data; (2) a review
of non-animal test methods that the FDA has allowed to be used
in place of animal tests for regulatory purposes; (3) a review
of existing performance goals and metrics used by FDA to
monitor progress and measure the success of its efforts to
accept alternative tests methods and reduce animal use; and (4)
recommendations to improve objective assessment of the impact
of FDA programs to reduce animal use and advance alternative
methods in the future. The Committee directs FDA to deliver a
report to the Committees within one year of enactment of this
Act.
Animal Drug Compounding.--The Committee wants to ensure
that GFI #256 on animal drug compounding, which FDA issued on
November 20, 2019, does not create the same issues that
resulted in withdrawal of the previous draft guidance, GFI
#230. The Committee expects that any finalized guidance on
compounding for animal health will preserve treatment options
available to veterinarians, will reflect public input, and will
recognize the need for compounded medications by pet owners,
animal shelters, zoos and other stakeholders. In addition, the
Committee directs FDA to conduct outreach to the veterinary
community to explain the application of GFI #256 and how
veterinarians will continue to be able to access safe and
effective locally-compounded animal drugs.
Animal Food Ingredients.--Animal food ingredients are
reviewed and approved by CVM, which is responsible for ensuring
the safety of ingredients as they enter the marketplace to be
consumed by either livestock or pets. The Committee is
concerned about the time associated with the ingredient review
and approval process, and uniform acceptance of animal food
ingredients by the delegated authorities. The Committee is also
concerned that the Center for Veterinary Medicine Policy and
Procedures Manual Guide 1240.3605 has not been updated since
1998 and has not kept pace with science, prohibiting
manufacturers of animal food ingredients from making certain
marketing claims about the product's use because the Guide's
outdated policy interpretation classifies the claim to be
associated with an animal drug. The Committee directs the
agency to review the Policy and Procedures Manual Guide
1240.3605 for solutions on how ingredient claims for animal
production, animal well-being, food safety and the environment
can be regulated as animal food.
Artificial Intelligence Assessments.--To better understand
the role artificial intelligence can play in hardening supply
chain logistics, FDA is directed to assess whether artificial
intelligence techniques could be used effectively to help
inform and identify new supply chain logistics strategies,
better predict medical supply chain challenges, identify novel
and non-traditional supply chain participants, and more
accurately predict shortages, bottlenecks and supply chain
choke points. FDA is directed to report on the status of this
assessment within one year of the enactment of this Act.
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.
Biosimilars and Complex Generics.--The Committee directs
FDA to enhance its efforts to facilitate the development and
approval of biosimilar and interchangeable products and complex
generics. The Committee recognizes FDA's efforts to develop
recommendations to assist sponsors in demonstrating that
proposed interchangeable products, including interchangeable
insulins, meet the requirements for licensure and to help
promote generic competition for complex drugs, including
through providing recommendations on how to generate evidence
needed to support approval for these products. However, there
are still drugs on the market that are no longer protected by
patents or exclusivities and that continue to lack generic
competition. The Committee notes that funding has been provided
in prior years to accelerate safe and effective lower cost
drugs and the Committee continues to support FDA's efforts in
advancing these regulatory processes.
Blood Donor Procedures.--The Committee continues to
recognize the need for scientifically sound, evidence-based
policy relative to FDA blood donor guidelines. The committee
urges FDA to complete its ongoing review of relevant
recommendations for deferral and report to Congress no later
than 180 days after enactment of its updated guidance.
Boric Acid.--The Committee directs FDA to provide a
briefing on the regulation of advertising and sales of boric
acid suppositories.
Botanical Dietary Supplements Quality and Safety.--The
Committee encourages the continued work between the National
Center for Natural Products Research and the FDA to conduct
research on biological and chemical properties of plants used
in dietary supplements, in order to ensure the quality and
safety of these products. This collaborative effort helps
develop the science base for ensuring the authenticity, quality
and safety of botanicals sold as dietary supplements in the
U.S.
Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Trials and Combination
Treatments.--The Committee commends FDA for its continued
efforts to accelerate the review and approval of cell and gene
therapies for cancer, which have provided hope for many
patients when more traditional treatments have failed. Research
suggests that therapies that combine cellular products and
other cancer drugs may prove more effective for some patients,
including those who do not benefit from single-drug treatments.
These combination treatments increase the complexity of trial
design, especially regarding treatment sequencing and the
number of treatment arms per trial. Therefore, the Committee
urges FDA to work with and provide guidance to industry and the
broader research community on how to standardize clinical trial
designs for cellular therapy treatments combined with other
cancer therapies. This will allow sponsors to streamline trial
designs, while still ensuring adequate safety and maximizing
efficacy for patients.
Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).--FDA is encouraged to
meet periodically with Congress to provide updates on the
investigation it is undertaking regarding DCM. The update shall
include: the scientific work completed at the agency and any
ongoing work, including information about pending and planned
collaborative efforts with academia, pet food and ingredient
manufacturers, the veterinary cardiology community, and other
stakeholders and the timing and nature of any future public
reporting.
Cannabidiol Enforcement.--The Committee expects further
progress on regulatory pathways for cannabis-derived products
that contain cannabidiol. Additionally, the Committee maintains
at least the fiscal year 2021 funding level for cannabidiol
related oversight and enforcement.
Canned Tuna.--The Committee remains 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 promulgate proposed regulations revising the
standard of identity for canned tuna consistent with the
drained weight standard adopted for canned tuna by the Codex
Alimentarius Commission and the Association of Official
Analytical Chemists canned tuna, FDA shall, to the extent
consistent with applicable regulations, continue to approve in
a timely manner temporary marketing permits that adopt the
drained weight method consistent with international standards
and to approve in a timely manner updates to product labeling
under existing temporary marketing permits.
Closer to Zero.--The Committee is concerned that lead,
arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are often present in dangerous
quantities in foods intended for consumption by infants and
toddlers. Consumption of these toxic heavy metals, even in
extremely small quantities, can impact a child's neurological
development with lifelong implications. The Committee provides
$12,900,000 for the FDA's Closer to Zero program to begin
expeditious development of action levels and provide guidance
on best practices for reducing and eliminating toxic heavy
metals in infant and toddler foods. The Department shall brief
the Appropriations Committee on these efforts within 120 days
of enactment of this Act.
Continuous Manufacturing.--The Committee encourages FDA to
support development and implementation of continuous
manufacturing technologies for the domestic, commercial
production of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Contraceptives.--The Committee requests FDA update its
Birth Control Chart and website to reflect new products that
have entered the market since 2011 that do not fall under any
of the existing methods of contraceptives.
COVID-19 Impacts on Clinical Trials.--The Committee is
concerned that the COVID-19 public health emergency prevented
certain drugs from coming to market by delaying or permanently
cancelling clinical trials. The Committee directs FDA to submit
to the Committee not later than 90 days after enactment of this
Act a report on the impact of COVID-19 on clinical trials,
particularly for specialty drugs being developed to combat rare
diseases, and include suggestions for facilitating the
advancement of such studies.
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 as
described in 21 Code of Federal Regulations parts 131, 133, and
135. 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.
Dietary Supplements.--The Committee is concerned with the
lack of robust regulation of dietary supplements, some of which
cause an estimated 23,000 emergency room visits per year that
include life-threatening illnesses and deaths, and encourages
the FDA to issue regulations requiring mandatory product
listing and registration to create transparency in the supply
chain.
Diversity in Clinical Trials.--The Committee commends FDA
for its recent guidance supporting increasing the number of
women and minorities in clinical trials to represent their
unique health needs, gather safety and efficacy information to
inform proper product labeling, and prevent adverse drug events
(ADEs), which are twice as high for women. However, incremental
changes to address this problem have taken decades and are
contributing to continued safety and efficacy issues for non-
white populations. The Committee supports broadening
eligibility criteria, avoiding unnecessary exclusions from
clinical trials, and improving recruitment, clinical trial
designs and data reporting to reflect the U.S. population and
including pregnant and lactating individuals. The FDA shall
provide a report to the Committee within one year of enactment
of this Act addressing participation barriers, such as travel
costs, timing for trial appointments, appointment locations,
the use of online clinical care and other factors that often
exclude diverse populations, and reporting data for drug and
biological product labeling that can guide safe use of the
product in certain populations.
Drug Compounding and Final MOU.--The Committee recognizes
the FDA recently finalized the MOU for pharmacy compounding.
The Committee requests that FDA engage further with
stakeholders to address concerns and to ensure that all or
nearly all states can sign this important document.
Drug Compounding Pharmacist on Pharmacy Compounding
Advisory Committee (PCAC).--The Committee recognizes that the
PCAC 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.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.--In order to increase study
power and minimize time on placebo in clinical trials longer
than one year for potential Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
therapies, the Committee urges FDA to convene a multi-
stakeholder meeting to evaluate the use of external controls.
The Committee also encourages FDA to explore the use of
external control arms in novel trial designs.
In addition, the Committee is aware of the 2018 Guidance on
developing therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and
related dystrophinopathies. Given the potential that gene
therapies may hold to treat these devastating diseases, the
Committee urges FDA to consider whether the 2018 Guidance
should be modified to reflect these developments. Any such
effort should involve the relevant experts at both CBER and
CDER.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Products.--The
Committee is concerned that nearly 20 percent of high school
students used e-cigarettes in 2020 and urges the Food and Drug
Administration to use its full authority under the Family
Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act to address this
serious public health problem. As the FDA conducts premarket
reviews of e-cigarettes and other deemed tobacco products for
which manufacturers were required to submit applications by
September 9, 2020, the Committee urges the agency to give
careful consideration to the risk of youth initiation of
nicotine or tobacco posed by any product under consideration.
In addition, the Committee is pleased with FDA's recent action
to post a list of products for which a premarket application
was submitted via the premarket tobacco authorization pathway
by September 9, 2020 and whose manufacturers have indicated
were on the U.S. market as of August 8, 2016, and are currently
marketed. This is an important action for increasing
transparency and strengthening enforcement capabilities.
Emerging Technologies Program.--The Committee commends the
FDA for assessing the barriers that have slowed the adoption of
novel manufacturing technologies by commissioning a report by
the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
The Committee encourages FDA to continue to reduce regulatory
barriers by considering innovative technology outside
individual product submissions and expanding the scope of the
current Emerging Technologies Program.
Ethylene Oxide.--The Committee is aware that FDA has worked
with stakeholders to create master files to facilitate
reduction or elimination of the use of ethylene oxide to
sterilize medical devices. The Committee urges the agency to
increase efforts to make stakeholders aware of the existence
and benefits of these master files and alternative
sterilization methods.
Expiration Date for Cosmetics.--The Committee remains
concerned over the importance of ensuring the safety of
cosmetics and reminds the FDA of its commitment to work with
stakeholders and Congress to modernize the regulatory framework
for cosmetics. The Committee also reminds the FDA of the
requirement in P.L. 116-94 for it to report to the Committee on
a path to establishing Good Manufacturing Practices for
cosmetics, as a way to further ensure cosmetic safety.
Food Additives.--The Commissioner should provide a report
within one year of enactment on options to systematically
reassess the safety of food additives and Generally Recognized
as Safe substances including how to 1) set priorities for
review; 2) obtain the information on use; and 3) update its
safety assessment methods to more effectively utilize modern
scientific tools to evaluate the toxicity of and exposure to
substances added to foods. The report should include resource
needs including staffing dedicated exclusively to performing
reassessment.
Foreign Unannounced Inspections Pilots.--The Committee
continues to believe that physical inspections, especially when
unannounced, are one of FDA's most important tools to ensure
drug safety and quality. While COVID-19 has understandably
delayed many routine inspections abroad, the Committee is
concerned that FDA may not prioritize physical inspections as
highly as other regulatory review methods. The Committee
maintains its strong support of FDA's past effort to create a
pilot program in India to increase short notice and unannounced
inspections and continues to direct FDA to restart this pilot
and establish an additional pilot in China. The Committee
provides an additional $5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2021
level to continue implementing these pilots.
Food Traceability.--The Committee provides an increase of
$9,500,000 to facilitate traceability and enhance outbreak
response to prevent further illnesses. The Committee is
encouraged by the work FDA has done in developing a blueprint
to outline strategies to develop a wide-scale traceability
system that helps companies and government agencies more
rapidly trace foods implicated in disease outbreaks and subject
to recall through their New Era of Smarter Food Safety
Initiative.
Foreign High-Risk Inspection.--The Committee maintains
funding for the evaluation of foreign high-risk sites 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. In addition, the funding can be used to
support the Centers' ongoing efforts to improve the scientific
evaluation of manufacturing for risk-based surveillance. The
Committee expects this effort to provide FDA with data-driven
models that will help it target its overseas inspection
activities in a global economy.
Front of Package Labeling.--The Committee is concerned with
elevated rates of diet-related disease and encourages the FDA
to explore issuing regulations requiring mandatory labeling to
appear on the front of package for food products, allowing
consumers to quickly assess the healthfulness of foods.
FSMA Partnerships.--The Committee encourages FDA to work in
partnership with existing government food safety programs and
industry to share and coordinate information and data with
industry partners and state and local government entities to
better coordinate before, during, and after outbreaks occur.
Gluten.--The Committee is aware that celiac disease is a
serious, genetic autoimmune disorder, affecting nearly 3
million Americans, in which ingesting gluten causes damage to
the villi of the small intestine. The only treatment is the
total elimination of gluten containing products. In 2017, FDA
issued Draft Guidance encouraging drug manufacturers to
disclose the presence of gluten. While some manufacturers have
taken this step, it has not been implemented consistently. This
may lead consumers to face continued uncertainty about whether
their medicine will do more harm than good. The Committee
continues to encourage FDA to consider docket comments received
from stakeholders, including consumers, and to work
expeditiously to publish a final guidance document.
Hand Sanitizer Safety.--The Committee is concerned that the
FDA has not issued communication on the risks of refillable
hand sanitizer dispensers. The Committee directs FDA to
consider guidance or other communication to stakeholders on the
risks and requirements of using open refillable dispensers for
hand sanitizers, which may result in adulterated and mislabeled
products.
Harmonizing International Pharmaceutical Quality
Standards.--The Committee supports efforts of the FDA to
facilitate the international harmonization of drug quality
standards and collaborate with trusted regulators to improve
the quality of pharmaceuticals worldwide. The Committee
requests within 180 days of the enactment of this Act a report
on FDA's efforts to collaborate with international regulators
and other important stakeholders to advance international
quality standards.
Homeopathic Draft Guidance.--The Committee urges FDA to
consider the views of commenters, including patients,
proponents of homeopathy, and other stakeholders, in its
approach to finalizing its revised draft guidance entitled
``Drug Products Labeled as Homeopathic Guidance for FDA Staff
and Industry.''
Import Alerts.--The fiscal year 2021 Act required FDA to
develop a plan to identify, detain, and refuse FDA-regulated
products when FDA investigators were not allowed immediate
physical access to registered establishments. The Committee
continues to direct that for any foreign registered
establishment that refuses physical access to the establishment
or its records to determine compliance, the FDA may place the
foreign establishment on import alert and the alert would focus
on all products from this establishment.
Infant Formula.--The Committee expresses concern with
retailers who keep infant formula on the shelves past their
``Use By'' date. The Committee encourages FDA to continue its
efforts to inform retailers of the health risks for infants who
consume infant formula past its ``Use By'' date.
Inspections at Land Ports of Entry.--A record volume of
FDA-regulated commodities are being introduced for import
inspection at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Committee is
concerned that this is outpacing the Administration's
processing operations resources at Land Ports of Entry, and has
resulted in increased cargo backlogs or otherwise compromised
the Administration's ability to detect and seize violative
products. In order to improve and streamline the inspection
process and expedite the release of compliant products, the
Committee directs FDA to support increased import operations at
Land Ports of Entry, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Inspections Data. --The Committee appreciates FDAs
adherence to Section 902 of the FDA Reauthorization Act which
requires an annual report on inspections. Given that Congress
has directed the agency to expedite the review of certain drugs
that are life-supporting, life sustaining, or intended for use
in the prevention or treatment of a debilitating disease or
condition (described in 506C(a) of the Food Drug and Cosmetic
Act), and that are in shortage or reasonably likely to be in
shortage, the Committee requests that FDA provide a separate
table in the existing Section 902 report on the median times
described in Section 902 for generic applications for such
products that underwent expedited review.
Listeria.--The Committee emphasizes reducing incidence of
foodborne illness as an important public health goal and
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 industry guidance regarding Listeria
monocytogenes (Lm) in foods under their jurisdiction. Reducing
incidence of listeriosis is indeed an important public health
goal and the Committee supports efforts to accomplish this
objective. Accordingly, the Committee urges FDA to apply a
risk-based approach and direct its regulatory efforts toward
high risk ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, those which support the
growth of Lm. Additionally, the Committee urges FDA to utilize
current scientific knowledge regarding the public health impact
of foods that do not support growth of Lm to inform compliance
policies. Recently published scientific research from food
safety and public health experts recommends a regulatory action
level of Lm for these low-risk foods to encourage industry to
adopt quantitative Lm testing schemes and facilitate robust
environmental monitoring programs, and ultimately result in
significant reductions in disease incidence. Policies
reflecting these developments align with other national
regulatory standards and restore a level playing field for U.S.
food processors in the global marketplace. Further, the
Committee calls on FDA to define not-ready-to-eat foods in its
guidance in a manner that aligns with the approach of FSIS and
to ensure that this guidance is protective of public health,
science-based and practical.
Lupus.--The Committee is aware of barriers that have long
affected the development of therapeutics for lupus, a disease
that primarily targets women and disproportionately impacts
African Americans, Latinas, Native Americans, and Asian
Americans. The Committee is pleased that FDA participated in an
externally-led, patient-focused drug development meeting with
the lupus community and identified some of these barriers and
that potential treatments are now in clinical trials. The
Committee urges FDA to expedite its ongoing work with the lupus
community to develop solutions to identified barriers that will
accelerate development of new therapies.
Naloxone Expanded Access.--The Committee supports FDA's
efforts to expand naloxone access for individuals with opioid
use disorder. The Committee is concerned about increasing
numbers of opioid overdose deaths for pregnant and postpartum
individuals. As FDA continues to carry out initiatives to
expand access to naloxone, the Committee encourages FDA to
consider opportunities to focus specifically on naloxone
availability and accessibility for pregnant and postpartum
individuals with opioid use disorder. The Committee encourages
FDA to collaborate with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration and relevant stakeholders on outreach
and education initiatives to address maternal opioid use
disorder.
Nephrotic Syndrome.--The Committee recognizes the
collaboration by FDA in continuing to support key clinical
trials for patients with nephrotic syndrome. The Committee
encourages FDA to continue collaborating with stakeholders on
therapy access to ensure the viability of trials.
Net Weights.--The Committee encourages FDA to continue
devoting appropriate efforts to address suspected economic
integrity issues, particularly with respect to net weights, and
treatment of seafood. The Committee believes ``short-weighted''
labeled products are violating FDA laws and that, despite
industry reporting such examples, FDA has not prioritized
enforcement. The Committee requests an update from FDA on its
efforts to enforce net weight requirements with respect to
seafood products.
Non-animal Approaches.--The Committee strongly supports
activities to advance the assessment of nonanimal approaches
for qualification within the Innovative Science and Technology
Approaches for New Drugs (ISTAND) pilot program. The Committee
is pleased that ISTAND provides a pathway for regulatory
acceptance of innovative nonanimal methods that may better
protect public health, improve the safety and efficacy of drug
development, and reduce animal testing.
Non-Human Primates.--The Committee continues to encourage
the FDA to reduce primate testing, prioritize alternative
research methods to relocate primates to sanctuaries and
requests that a progress report be included in the FDA's fiscal
year 2023 budget justification.
Nutrient Value of Fish During Pregnancy.--In light of the
directive included in section 773 of Division B of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, FDA is directed to
perform appropriately designed studies, including pregnant and
postpartum women as subjects, to inform its efforts to
encourage fish consumption in pregnancy. The studies will be
conducted, provided to Congress, and posted on FDA's website.
The Committee is interested to understand consumer knowledge of
seafood consumption benefits and to demonstrate they are able
to adapt FDA guidance into dietary patterns during pregnancy
and breastfeeding.
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.
Olive Oil Standards of Identity.--The Committee is aware
that the United States continues to be an important producer of
olive oils and one of the largest olive oil markets globally.
Accordingly, the Committee believes that the establishment of a
uniform set of standards would better protect and inform
consumers, and directs the FDA to continue to explore a
Standard of Identity for different grades of olive oil as
required in H. Rpt. 116-446 and provide an updated report to
the Committees no later than December 31, 2021.
On-Dose Tracking.--The Committee directs FDA to hold, not
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, a public meeting on anti-counterfeiting technologies,
including track and trace technologies at the package or dosage
level, to learn how these technologies can help with securing
the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, help reduce domestic
illegal distribution of prescription drugs, including opioids,
help reduce the distribution of counterfeit drugs, and help
understand the costs related to the implementation of the
technologies and relevant implementation strategies.
Opioid Abuse.--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 health care
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.
In addition, the Committee is pleased that the FDA took
action to address increasing rates of opioid overdose deaths by
issuing a Drug Safety Communication focused on opioids in July
2020. The Committee requests a briefing from the FDA on the
implementation of the required opioid labeling change to
prescribing information and patient medication guides, as well
as what efforts FDA is making to ensure healthcare prescribers
are aware of the recommendation to discuss the co-prescription
of naloxone alongside opioid prescription.
Orphan Products Grants Program (OPGP).--The Committee
includes an additional $5,000,000 for the Orphan Products
Grants Program at FDA. The Committee notes that this program
can fund ALS clinical trials and invest in regulatory science
to speed the approval of ALS treatments. The Committee
encourages FDA to increase the number of ALS clinical trials to
help expedite treatment developments, foster innovative trial
designs that complement and speed the FDA regulatory processes,
and enable natural history studies to more quickly understand
ALS progression and pathology. In addition, the Committee
directs FDA to increase engagement between government agencies,
such as FDA and NIH, and other entities such as academic
institutions and industry with respect to ALS and other
neurodegenerative diseases.
OTC Acetaminophen Dosing Information for Children.--The
Committee continues to be 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 provide to the Committee
not later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act an
update on the timing of amending the monograph label for
acetaminophen to include weight-based dosing instructions for
children ages six months to two years.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids.--The Committee is concerned
that while the FDA was statutorily required to release draft
regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids by August 18,
2020, the FDA has not done so. The Committee urges the
Commissioner to work expeditiously to release the draft
regulations.
Outreach to Small Farmers.--The Committee expects CFSAN to
provide funding for critical outreach and training services at
not less than the level specified in the Fiscal Year 2021
agreement.
Oversight of Drug Manufacturing Facilities.--The Committee
is concerned by gaps in FDA's information about certain foreign
manufacturing facilities. The Committee directs FDA to report
on the feasibility of implementing policies that require all
drug manufacturing facilities to list all active pharmaceutical
ingredients and drug products intended for the U.S. market
whether or not directly imported or offered for import,
improving the maturity of its quality management practices, and
applying a letter grading system for drug manufacturing
facilities.
Pancreatitis Guidance Document.--The Committee notes the
important ongoing work to ensure safe and effective therapies
become available for patients impacted by pancreatitis. The
Committee urges FDA to build on recent community engagement
efforts, including the externally-led Patient-Focused Drug
Development meeting on this topic by continuing engagement with
stakeholders in this area with the aim of developing and
releasing Guidance for Industry in this area to stimulate
additional activity and further guide ongoing efforts.
Pediatric Cancer International Collaboration.--The
Committee encourages the FDA to engage more formally and
extensively with international entities to promote greater
collaboration between the U.S. and international partners
around pediatric cancer drug development.
Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).--The Committee
is aware of and encourages the FDA to participate in ongoing
efforts within the IBD community to streamline the development
and approval of new pediatric IBD therapies and expand the
indications for therapies approved to treat IBD in adults to
children, particularly through innovative trial designs that
minimize the burden to pediatric patients and their caregivers
and through the use of real-world evidence to support
regulatory decision-making.
Perfusion Technologies and Organ Transplant.--The Committee
is aware that advances in perfusion technologies have been
critical to improving the viability of organs for
transplantation. The Committee encourages CDRH to ensure that
its workforce maintains a strong expertise in these
technologies and their importance to improvements in organ
transplantation and treats the review of device applications in
this area as a priority.
PFAS in Cosmetics.--The Committee remains concerned over
the effects of toxic chemicals used in cosmetics, including
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have been
linked to serious health problems. To promote safety, the
Committee encourages FDA to examine the health effects of PFAS
chemicals and evaluate efforts to phase out their use in
cosmetic and personal care products.
PFAS in Food.--FDA should continue its work to investigate
PFAS in our national diet and in food packaging that contacts
food.
PFAS Testing.--FDA should upgrade its laboratory analytical
method for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in food by
expanding testing capabilities to include additional PFAS
analytes and expanding the method to include additional foods.
FDA should brief the Committee on its plans and progress within
180 days of enactment.
Plant Based Product Labeling.--The Committee is aware of
the ongoing debate around plant-based product labels and the
use of traditional meat, dairy and egg terminology. However,
the Committee is concerned by the assertions being made that
labeling of these products are misleading, deceptive, and
confusing to consumers. The Committee encourages FDA to provide
clarity around the labeling of plant-based foods that use
traditional meat, dairy, and egg terminology, especially as it
relates to such product labels with clear and conspicuous
descriptors such as plant-based, veggie, vegetarian, or vegan.
Poppy Seeds.--The Committee is concerned with reports of
positive drug tests, addiction, overdose, and death related to
contaminated imported poppy seeds, and directs the agency to
establish a maximum permissible threshold of opiate alkaloid
content for poppy seeds and carry out appropriate regulatory or
enforcement measures to ensure the safety of poppy seeds.
Predictive Toxicology Roadmaps.--The Committee is aware
that, pursuant to its Predictive Toxicology Roadmap, FDA is
offering training in new predictive toxicology methods and
encouraging sponsors to submit scientifically valid approaches
for using a new method early in the regulatory process. The
Committee directs FDA to produce not later than 180 days after
enactment of this Act a report detailing metrics regarding the
number of trainings held, the number of participants that
attended each training, and the agendas corresponding with each
training. Additionally, the Committee directs the FDA to
include in the report any methods used to measure the success
of the trainings and continuous learning programs.
Pregnant and Lactating Individuals in Clinical Trials.--The
Committee encourages FDA to harmonize its regulations with
changes to the protected status of pregnant individuals in
federally funded research included in the most recent revisions
to the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects.
When relevant, FDA should consider requesting that sponsors
provide justification for the exclusion of pregnant and
lactating individuals within clinical trials. The Committee
encourages FDA to continue to collaborate with NIH and CDC to
strengthen cross-agency approaches to including pregnant and
lactating individuals in federally funded research.
Prescription to Over-the-Counter Switches.--The Committee
is concerned with the multiple delays in FDA's promulgation of
a proposed regulation that may broaden the types of products
that may be approved for use in a nonprescription setting. The
Agency initiated its Nonprescription Drug Safe Use Regulatory
Expansion initiative in 2013 and issued draft guidance in 2018
as a first step, promising sponsors and patients additional
regulatory options through rulemaking in the near future. The
Committee strongly encourages the Agency to issue this
important proposed rule as soon as possible.
RACE Implementation.--The Committee encourages FDA to hire
additional staff to fully implement the Research to Accelerate
Cures and Equity for Children (RACE) Act.
Radiation Exposure in Medical Imaging.--The Committee
directs FDA to continue to collaborate with the medical imaging
industry and radiological professional societies to address the
safety of all x-ray imaging modalities and promote the use of
international consensus standards and alternative technologies
when appropriate. In addition, the Committee encourages FDA to
increase efforts to engage with stakeholders as part of FDA's
Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from
Medical Imaging.
Rare Cancer Therapeutics.--The Committee includes an
additional $1,000,000 to address gaps in the system, streamline
resources, hire rare cancer experts, help drug sponsors improve
recruitment of rare cancer patients through clinical trials
that reduce barriers to participation uniquely faced by rare
cancer patients, low-income patients, those living in rural
communities, and people of color, 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 continue to build lines of communications and processes
between these two agencies in order to expedite review of rare
cancer therapies.
Rare Disease Cures Accelerator (RDCA).--The Committee
supports the goal of the RDCA to provide a more centralized
infrastructure and approach for understanding rare diseases,
developing ways to measure patient success in clinical trials
that are specifically relevant to rare conditions, and support
conducting clinical trials in rare disease populations. The
Committee encourages FDA to ensure the RDCA has robust funding.
Rare Disease Drug Developments.--The Committee is concerned
that the COVID 19 public health emergency prevented certain
drugs from coming to market by delaying or permanently
cancelling clinical trials. The Committee directs FDA to submit
not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act a report on
the impact of COVID 19 on clinical trials, particularly for
specialty drugs being developed to combat rare diseases, and
suggestions for Congress on facilitating the advancement of
such studies.
Recruitment of Investigators.--The Committee directs the
FDA to develop a strategy to broaden talent pipelines to
recruit and hire a wider array of multi-lingual STEM talent and
identify barriers to language training for current STEM
employees and viable options to address these barriers,
including by prioritizing Minority Serving Institutions in
talent recruitment. This strategy should be shared with the
Committee and made publicly available within 120 days.
Reducing Radiation Exposure for Patients and Healthcare
Workers.--Despite the FDA's 1994 report warning patients and
clinicians of radiation-induced burns, increased occupational
exposure, and radiation-induced cancers linked to fluoroscopy,
among other procedures, no subsequent reports, warnings or
policy changes to improve radiation safety have occurred.
Reducing incidence of avoidable radiation exposure in
healthcare settings is an important public health goal. The
Committee encourages the FDA to review policies, regulations,
and guidance to incorporate and incentivize the use of
technology that reduces radiation exposure during fluoroscopy
and related procedures which involve high and/or repeated
radiation exposure.
Regulation of Unapproved FMT Drug Products.--The Committee
urges FDA to finalize its March 2016 draft guidance regarding
FMT to assure uninterrupted patient access from licensed health
care providers, as well as compliance with FDA's
Investigational New Drug regulations.
Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS).--The
Committee directs FDA to provide not later than 270 days after
the enactment of this Act a report on the status of its review
of the REMS for mifepristone.
Seafood Product Labeling.--The Committee notes that certain
foods are labeled as a fish or seafood product when the
products arehighly-processed plant-based foods rather than
derived from actual fish or seafood. The Committee directs the
FDA to continue to assess products on the market to determine
whether action is necessary to ensure consumers are not misled
regarding such product labeling.
Sesame.--The committee is concerned that the recent FDA
Draft Guidance for Industry on Voluntary Disclosure of Sesame
is insufficient to protect Americans with sesame allergy, and
directs FDA to consider further action to require sesame to be
labeled the same as other major allergens.
Skin Lightening Products.--The Committee is concerned about
the dangers of mercury and hydroquinone in skin lightening
products, particularly those that are disproportionately
targeted towards and used by minority men and women and girls
of color. Regular application of creams containing mercury can
lead to skin damage, while long-term exposure to high levels of
mercury in cosmetic products can cause serious health
consequences, including damage to the eyes, lungs, kidneys,
digestive, immune, and nervous systems. Hydroquinone has been
linked to ochronosis and other significant health risks. The
Committee continues to provide $4,700,000 to the Office of
Minority Health and Health Equity to educate the public on the
dangers of skin lightening products containing these
ingredients, including partnering with community-based
organizations with records of reaching out to impacted
communities. The FDA is directed to report back to the
Committee within 120 days of enactment of this Act detailing
how the funds provided for this work in 2021 were spent,
including the outreach they did to community-based
organizations, what organizations they partnered with and how
that determination was made, what vulnerable communities were
reached out to and how that determination was made, the
specific actions taken to educate the public about these
products, how they are evaluating the impact and success of
this public education, and any lessons learned that should be
given to the Committee. Further, the Committee has concerns
about the overall safety of imported cosmetic products and
directs the FDA to report back to Congress within 180 days of
enactment of this Act on the staffing and budget resources it
needs to enforce the physical inspection process, as well as
the most up to date information on the number and kinds of
personal care products imported each year, the number of
imported products that were inspected, and the number of
contaminated products that were intercepted.
Sodium Guidance.--The Committee encourages FDA to continue
monitoring progress towards the short-term targets and engaging
with industry stakeholders prior to the issuance of any final
guidance. Further, the Committee directs the FDA publicly
release the short-term (two-year) Draft Guidance to Industry
for Voluntarily Reducing Sodium, first published in the Federal
Register on June 2, 2016 on FDA's website and submit to
Committees within 120 days of enactment.
Standard of Identity Activities for Foods.--The Committee
is concerned with the lack of transparency and progress in
modernizing the FDA's standards of identity regulations. To
fulfill the Committee's previous instructions, not later than
30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the FDA shall submit to the Committees, and make
publicly available online, a report outlining its progress on
modernizing its standards of identity regulations, including
demonstration of improved transparency and improved progress.
Traceback.--The Committee recognizes that the ability to
trace back contaminated products is critical to containing food
safety outbreaks but that challenges associated with tracing
these products from the end-consumer through the supply chain
continue to persist. The Committee directs FDA to emphasize in
its final rulemaking the importance of capturing at the point
of sale details such as the lot number and product identifier
instead of prescribing the mechanism by which the information
is shared through the supply chain. The Committee also directs
FDA to ensure these details are maintained from the point of
origination, creation, and/or transformation through to the
retail food or food service establishment. To avoid
duplication, the Committee urges FDA to clearly define
traceability requirements that, where possible, align with
existing consensus standards for traceability utilized by
industry and allow for records to be maintained in electronic
and paper form.
Valley Fever.--The Committee notes that FDA decided in July
2020 not to add coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever,
to the list of tropical diseases under section 524 of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for purposes of PRV
eligibility. The Committee directs the FDA to consider any
additional data and information provided by subject matter
experts and other stakeholders to its public docket, and make a
new determination based on this additional information if
appropriate.
Vulnerabilities in Medical Device Supply Chain.--The
Committee is concerned by vulnerabilities in our medical device
supply chain that have been brought to light by the spread of
COVID-19. The FDA is critical for overseeing our global medical
device supply chain and ensuring interruptions and
discontinuances of life-saving devices do not adversely affect
patients. The Committee encourages the FDA to continue to work
with Congress to ensure it has the necessary tools and
resources to prevent shortages and maintain ample supply of
critical devices.
Youth E-cigarette Use.--The Committee is encouraged by the
recent results of the National Youth Tobacco Survey and
Monitoring the Future survey showing a decline in youth usage
of tobacco and nicotine products in 2020. However, the
Committee remains concerned about the levels of youth use of
disposable flavored products and, in particular, underage
access to electronic nicotine delivery system products. The
Committee supports innovation and the ability to develop and
incorporate new technologies relating to new tobacco products
to address underage access. The Committee urges the FDA to
exercise its existing authorities to review the use of age
verification technologies that can prevent underage access as
part of the Agency's review of ENDS products before they can be
legally marketed.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

2021 appropriation.................................... $12,788,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 30,788,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 21,788,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +9,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -9,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For Buildings and Facilities of the Food and Drug
Administration, the Committee provides $21,788,000.

FDA INNOVATION ACCOUNT, CURES ACT

2021 appropriation.................................... $70,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 50,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 50,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ -20,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the FDA Innovation Account as authorized in the 21st
Century Cures Act, the Committee provides an appropriation of
$50,000,000.

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

2021 appropriation.................................... $304,000,000
2022 budget estimate.................................. 394,000,000
Provided in the bill.................................. 363,000,000
Comparison:
2021 appropriation................................ +59,000,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. -31,000,000

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the
Committee provides an appropriation of $363,000,000.
The Committee fully funds CFTC's salary and expense request
and provides $31,000,000, half the funding requested, for the
move of CFTC's Washington, D.C., office.
The Committee understands that CFTC plans to move into GSA-
owned space. However, it needs more information to justify the
requested funds and looks forward to working with CFTC on this
matter.
Climate-related Risks.--The Committee directs the CFTC to
provide to the Committee, within 180 days of enactment of this
Act, a report on how climate-related risks are impacting and
could impact the markets and market participants under CFTC
oversight. The report should include central counterparties,
futures commission merchants, and speculative traders and
funds. The report should discuss fintech's role regarding
climate risks. The report should also cover how the CFTC's
capabilities and supervisory role may need to adapt to fulfill
its mandate in light of climate change and identify relevant
gaps in the CFTC's regulatory and supervisory framework.

Farm Credit Administration

LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

2021 limitation....................................... ($80,400,000)
2022 budget estimate.................................. (84,200,000)
Provided in the bill.................................. (84,200,000)
Comparison:
2021 limitation................................... +3,800,000
2022 budget estimate.............................. - - -

COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

For the limitation on the expenses of the Farm Credit
Administration, the Committee provides $84,200,000.
Public/private partnerships.--The Committee recognizes the
value of public/private partnerships in financing rural
communities and facilities and also recognizes that the Farm
Credit Act of 1971, as amended, provides authority for Farm
Credit System institutions to make investments in vital rural
community facilities. The Committee recognizes that the Farm
Credit Administration's current approach to approving these
types of Farm Credit System investments on an individual basis
does not meet the needs of rural communities. The Farm Credit
Administration is encouraged to change its current process to
create a clear, programmatic approval process which enables
timely, comprehensive and cost effective rural community
facilities financing packages by allowing and expediting Farm
Credit System institutions' partnerships with community banks,
other financial institutions, and USDA.

TITLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Section 701.--The bill includes language regarding
passenger 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
pro- vided in the bill to one year unless otherwise specified.
Section 704.--The bill includes language regarding indirect
cost share.
Section 705.--The bill includes language regarding the
availability of loans funds in Rural Development programs.
Section 706.--The bill includes language regarding new
information technology systems.
Section 707.--The bill includes language regarding fund
availability in the Agriculture Management Assistance program.
Section 708.--The bill includes language regarding Rural
Utilities Service program eligibility.
Section 709.--The bill includes language regarding funds
for information technology expenses for the Farm Service Agency
and the Rural Development mission area.
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 and notification requirements.
Section 717.--The bill includes language regarding fees for
the guaranteed business and industry loan program.
Section 718.--The bill includes language regarding the
appropriations hearing process.
Section 719.--The bill includes language regarding
government-sponsored news stories.
Section 720.--The bill includes language regarding details
and assignments of Department of Agriculture employees.
Section 721.--The bill includes language requiring spend
plans.
Section 722.--The bill includes language regarding
nutrition programs.
Section 723.--The bill includes language regarding Rural
Development programs.
Section 724.--The bill includes language regarding USDA
loan program levels.
Section 725.--The bill includes language regarding credit
card refunds and rebates.
Section 726.--The bill includes language regarding the
definition of the term ``variety'' in SNAP.
Section 727.--The bill includes language regarding the
Secretary's authority with respect to the 502 guaranteed loan
programs.
Section 728.--The bill includes language regarding new user
fees.
Section 729.--The bill includes language regarding FDA
regulations with respect to spent grains.
Section 730.--The bill includes language regarding the
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.
Section 731.--The bill includes language regarding country
or regional audits.
Section 732.--The bill includes language related to Rural
Development Programs.
Section 733.--The bill includes language related to the
Animal Welfare Act.
Section 734.--The bill includes language regarding U.S.
iron and steel products in public water or wastewater systems.
Section 735.--The bill includes language regarding
lobbying.
Section 736.--The bill includes language related to
persistent poverty counties.
Section 737.--The bill includes language related to
investigational use of drugs or biological products.
Section 738.--The bill includes language related to the
growing, harvesting, packing and holding of certain produce.
Section 739.--The bill provides funding for grants to
enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military
veterans.
Section 740.--The bill includes language related to the
school breakfast program.
Section 741.--The bill includes language regarding hemp.
Section 742.--The bill provides funding for grants under
the section 12502 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 743.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 1621 of Public Law 110-246.
Section 744.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 3307 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 745.--The bill includes language related to
matching fund requirements.
Section 746.--The bill provides funding for a pilot program
related to multi-family housing borrowers.
Section 747.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 4208 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 748.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 12301 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 749.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 7120 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 750.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 7208 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 751.--The bill includes language related to potable
water.
Section 752.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 4206 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 753.--The bill includes language regarding Food for
Peace.
Section 754.--The bill includes language regarding
facilities inspections.
Section 755.--The bill includes language relating to the
use of raw or processed poultry products from the People's
Republic of China in various domestic nutrition programs.
Section 756.--The bill includes language related to certain
school food lunch prices.
Section 757.--The bill provides funding for Centers of
Excellence.
Section 758.--The bill provides funding for rural hospital
technical assistance.
Section 759.--The bill provides funding for a pilot program
for wastewater systems in historically impoverished areas.
Section 760.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 23 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
Section 761.--The bill includes language related to
biotechnology risk assessment research.
Section 762.--The bill provides funding for rural
broadband.
Section 763.--The bill provides funding to carry out
section 7209 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 764.--The bill includes funding for open data
standards.
Section 765.--The bill includes language related to certain
reorganizations within the Department of Agriculture.
Section 766.--The bill includes language extending the hemp
pilot program.
Section 767.--The bill includes language related to the
Agriculture Conservation Experiences Services Program.
Section 768.--The bill includes language related to school
meals.
Section 769.--The bill includes language related to the
ReConnect program.
Section 770.--The bill includes language related to the
Goodfellow Federal facility.
Section 771.--The bill includes language related to the
Federal Meat Inspection Act.
Section 772.--The bill includes funding for a blue-ribbon
panel.
Section 773.--The bill includes funding for a competitive
research and education grant.
Section 774.--The bill includes language related to the
Animal Welfare Act inspections and reports.
Section 775.--The bill includes language regarding
electronically available information for prescribing healthcare
professionals.
Section 776.--The bill includes language related to line
speed waivers.
Section 777.--The bill includes language related to the
purchase of agricultural land.

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 included in the accompanying bill:
Office of the Secretary.--The bill allows funds
within the account to be transferred among the offices included
in the account, as well as reimbursements for certain expenses
and transfers out-side the account for certain activities.
Hazardous Materials Management.--The bill allows
the funds within the account to be transferred to any agency of
the Department.
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 and plants.
Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and
Supply.--The bill limits the transfer of section 32 funds to
purposes specified in the bill.
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. The
bill also pro-vides that funds provided to other accounts in
the agency shall transferred to and merged with the salaries
and expenses account of the Farm Service Agency.
Dairy Indemnity Program.--The bill authorizes the
transfer of funds to the Commodity Credit Corporation, by
reference.
Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program
Account.--The bill provides funds to be transferred to the Farm
Service Agency and for certain funds to be transferred within
the account.
Commodity Credit Corporation.--The bill includes
language allowing certain funds to be transferred to the
Foreign Agricultural Service Salaries and Expenses account for
information resource management activities.
Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account.--The
bill includes language allowing funds to be transferred from
the Multi-Family Housing Revitalization Program Account to this
account and for funds to be transferred from this account to
the Rural De- velopment Salaries and Expenses account.
Rental Assistance Program.--The bill includes
language allowing funds to be transferred from the Multi-Family
Housing Revitalization Program Account to this account.
Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account.--The
bill provides funds in this account to be transferred to the
Rural Development Salaries and Expenses account.
Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account.--
The bill includes language allowing funds to be transferred
from this account to the Rural Utilities Service, High Energy
Cost Grants Account.
Rural Electrification and Telecommunications
Program Account.--The bill provides funds in this account to be
transferred to the Rural Development Salaries and Expenses
account.
Child Nutrition Programs.--The bill includes
authority to transfer section 32 funds to these programs.
Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and
Expenses.--The bill allows for the transfer of funds from the
Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loan Program Account.
Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans
Program.--The bill provides for transfer of funds to the
Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and Expenses account.
Food and Drug Administration, Salaries and
Expenses.--The bill allows funds to be transferred among
certain activities.
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.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission.--The bill
allows cer-tain funds to be transferred to a no-year account in
the Treasury.
General Provisions.--Section 702 of the bill
allows unobligated balances of discretionary funds to be
transferred to the Working Capital Fund. Section 761 of the
bill allows 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
included in the accompanying bill:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program or activity Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USDA FNS (prior year balances)....................... $225,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending Items

The following table is submitted in compliance with clause
9 of rule XXI, and lists the congressional earmarks (as defined
in paragraph (e) of clause 9) contained in the bill or in this
report. Neither the bill nor the report contain any limited tax
benefits or limited tariff benefits as defined in paragraphs
(f) or (g) of clause 9 of rule XXI.

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND RELATED AGENCIES
[Community Project Funding Items]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency Account Recipient Project Location Amount Requestor(s)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agricultural Research Service... Buildings and University of National Center for NE $20,000,000 Fortenberry
Facilities. Nebraska, Lincoln. Resilient and
Regenerative Precision
Agriculture.
Agricultural Research Service... Buildings and Sugarcane Research Sugarcane Research Unit LA $10,000,000 Graves (LA)
Facilities. Unit. Improvements.
Agricultural Research Service... Buildings and National Center for National Center for IL $4,500,000 LaHood; Bustos
Facilities. Agricultural Agricultural
Utilization Utilization Research
Research. Expansion.
Agricultural Research Service... Buildings and University of Center for Agricultural MO $4,000,000 Luetkemeyer
Facilities. Missouri. Animal Genetic
Engineering and Health.
Agricultural Research Service... Buildings and University of Plant Germplasm WI $4,000,000 Pocan
Facilities. Wisconsin, Madison. Research Facility.
Agricultural Research Service... Buildings and US Sheep Experiment US Sheep Experiment ID $4,200,000 Simpson
Facilities. Station. Station Infrastructure
Improvements.
Rural Development............... Community Ringgold County Ringgold County Child IA $725,366 Axne
Facilities. Child Care Center. Care Center Re-Design.
Rural Development............... Community Stanton Child Care Stanton Child Care IA $1,000,000 Axne
Facilities. Resource Center. Resource Center
Expansion.
Rural Development............... Community Northern Lights Northern Lights MI $1,750,000 Bergman
Facilities. YMCA. Community Center
Renovation.
Rural Development............... Community Fort Valley State Fort Valley State GA $746,250 Bishop (GA)
Facilities. University. University and Albany
State University Local
Food Project.
Rural Development............... Community Delaware State New Castle Agricultural DE $937,500 Blunt Rochester
Facilities. Fair, Inc.. Programming Building.
Rural Development............... Community Richard Allen Richard Allen Historic DE $100,000 Blunt Rochester
Facilities. Coalition. School Repair.
Rural Development............... Community Banks Fire District Banks Fire District EMS OR $93,500 Bonamici
Facilities. #13. Equipment.
Rural Development............... Community City of Mt. Vernon. Mt. Vernon Police IL $1,000,000 Bost
Facilities. Station.
Rural Development............... Community Northampton County Northampton County NC $5,000,000 Butterfield
Facilities. Government. Courthouse.
Rural Development............... Community Town of Nashville.. Nashville Fire Station. NC $1,338,750 Butterfield
Facilities.
Rural Development............... Community City of Guadalupe.. LeRoy Park Safety CA $1,700,000 Carbajal
Facilities. Modernization.
Rural Development............... Community Pride of Atmore.... Atmore Revitalization AL $885,000 Carl
Facilities. Project.
Rural Development............... Community City of Central Holden Community Center RI $2,000,000 Cicilline
Facilities. Falls.
Rural Development............... Community Vital Aging of Murdaugh Senior Center. SC $2,883,469 Clyburn
Facilities. Williamsburg
County, Inc.
Rural Development............... Community Rio Grande City.... Starr County Courthouse TX $2,392,763 Cuellar
Facilities.
Rural Development............... Community Sullivan City...... El Faro Road Flood TX $3,539,318 Cuellar
Facilities. Mitigation.
Rural Development............... Community Town of La Joya.... La Joya Fire Station... TX $1,275,000 Cuellar
Facilities.
Rural Development............... Community Sauk-Suiattle Sauk-Suiattle Community WA $210,000 DelBene
Facilities. Indian Tribe. Center.
Rural Development............... Community Volunteers of Sky Valley Teen Center. WA $500,000 DelBene
Facilities. America Western
Washington.
Rural Development............... Community Nooksack Indian Nooksack Clinic and WA $1,000,000 DelBene
Facilities. Tribe. Wellness Facility.
Rural Development............... Community Village of Philmont Village of Philmont NY $82,000 Delgado
Facilities. Fire Department. Fire Station.
Rural Development............... Community M-ARK Project, Inc. M-ARK Child Care NY $100,000 Delgado
Facilities. Project.
Rural Development............... Community Liberty County..... Liberty County EMS FL $825,000 Dunn
Facilities. Facility.
Rural Development............... Community Medina County Medina County Senior TX $562,500 Gonzales, Tony
Facilities. Senior Center, Center.
Inc..
Rural Development............... Community East Wayne Fire East Wayne Fire Station OH $958,392 Gonzalez (OH)
Facilities. District.
Rural Development............... Community VFW Lopez Williams Brooks County VFW...... TX $304,454 Gonzalez, Vicente
Facilities. Post.
Rural Development............... Community Township of Hardwick Township NJ $17,460 Gottheimer
Facilities. Hardwick. Virtual Services.
Rural Development............... Community Douglass Community Douglass Community MO $1,000,000 Graves (MO)
Facilities. Services. Center.
Rural Development............... Community Northfield Northfield Fire CT $225,000 Hayes
Facilities. Volunteer Fire Department
Company. Modernization.
Rural Development............... Community City of Torrington. Northwest Hills Animal CT $1,100,000 Hayes
Facilities. Control Facility.
Rural Development............... Community Protivin Community Protivin Community Fire IA $100,000 Hinson
Facilities. Fire District. Station.
Rural Development............... Community Sunflower Child Sunflower Child IA $200,000 Hinson
Facilities. Care Center, Inc.. Development Center.
Rural Development............... Community Prince George's Prince George's County MD $1,350,000 Hoyer; Brown
Facilities. County. Water Tanks.
Rural Development............... Community Royalton-Hartland Royalton-Hartland NY $515,685 Jacobs (NY)
Facilities. Central School Agricultural Learning
District. Lab.
Rural Development............... Community County of Wyoming.. Wyoming County Fire NY $597,289 Jacobs (NY)
Facilities. Training Center.
Rural Development............... Community Cornell Cooperative Cornell Cooperative NY $379,432 Jacobs (NY)
Facilities. Extension Extension Learning
Association of Center.
Orleans County.
Rural Development............... Community Waianae Community MA'O Organic Farms HI $896,000 Kahele
Facilities. Redevelopment Infrastructure.
Corporation.
Rural Development............... Community Port Angeles Food Port Angeles Food Bank WA $900,000 Kilmer
Facilities. Bank. Expansion.
Rural Development............... Community City of Platteville City of Platteville WI $7,000,000 Kind
Facilities. Fire Station.
Rural Development............... Community Cochise County..... Cochise County Animal AZ $1,100,000 Kirkpatrick
Facilities. Shelter.
Rural Development............... Community County of Nevada... North San Juan Fire CA $1,050,000 LaMalfa
Facilities. Suppression System.
Rural Development............... Community City of Anderson... Sewer and Storm Drain CA $262,900 LaMalfa
Facilities. Cleaner Truck.
Rural Development............... Community Goosefoot Community Goosefoot Community WA $346,625 Larsen (WA)
Facilities. Fund. Center.
Rural Development............... Community Bradner Fire Bradner Fire Station... OH $1,260,000 Latta
Facilities. Department.
Rural Development............... Community University of Cherry Lake 4H Center.. FL $1,125,000 Lawson (FL)
Facilities. Florida.
Rural Development............... Community Pueblo of San San Felipe Community NM $1,500,000 Leger Fernandez
Facilities. Felipe. Center.
Rural Development............... Community Town of Phillipstown Highway NY $1,787,500 Maloney, Sean
Facilities. Phillipstown. Facility Center.
Rural Development............... Community North San Juan North San Joaquin Water CA $1,000,000 McNerney
Facilities. Water Conservation Conservation District.
District.
Rural Development............... Community Berwick Area YMCA.. Berwick Community PA $1,000,000 Meuser
Facilities. Center.
Rural Development............... Community Borough of Jim Jim Thorpe Facility PA $2,500,000 Meuser
Facilities. Thorpe. Upgrade.
Rural Development............... Community IQHub.............. IQHub Community MI $137,671 Moolenaar
Facilities. Classroom.
Rural Development............... Community Four Lakes Task Four Lakes Public MI $795,000 Moolenaar
Facilities. Force. Safety Booms.
Rural Development............... Community Yakima Nation...... Yakima Nation Water WA $742,500 Newhouse
Facilities. Canal Maintenance.
Rural Development............... Community Town of Superior... Superior AZ $2,000,000 O'Halleran
Facilities. Entrepreneurship and
Innovation Center.
Rural Development............... Community Maine 4-H 4-H Innovation and ME $450,000 Pingree
Facilities. Foundation. Learning Center.
Rural Development............... Community Virgin Islands Krum Bay Marine VI $750,000 Plaskett
Facilities. Department of Enforcement Pier.
Planning and
Natural Resources.
Rural Development............... Community Virgin Islands Gallows Bay Marine VI $750,000 Plaskett
Facilities. Department of Enforcement Pier.
Planning and
Natural Resources.
Rural Development............... Community City of Reedsburg.. City of Reedsburg WI $220,000 Pocan
Facilities. Community Center.
Rural Development............... Community Desert Valley Desert Valley Senior AZ $16,800 Raul M. Grijalva
Facilities. Senior Center. Center.
Rural Development............... Community Greene County Board Greene County Business PA $1,395,000 Reschenthaler
Facilities. of Commissioners. Incubator.
Rural Development............... Community City of Morehead... Morehead Fire Station.. KY $300,000 Rogers (KY)
Facilities.
Rural Development............... Community Commonwealth Peritoneal Dialysis MP $391,500 Sablan
Facilities. Healthcare Expansion Project.
Corporation.
Rural Development............... Community Commonwealth Health IT Upgrades..... MP $980,639 Sablan
Facilities. Healthcare
Corporation.
Rural Development............... Community Guam Fisherman's Guam Fisherman's Co-Op GU $3,000,000 San Nicolas
Facilities. Cooperative Facility.
Association.
Rural Development............... Community City of Ellensburg. Friends in Service to WA $900,000 Schrier
Facilities. Humanity Food Bank.
Rural Development............... Community Shoshone Bannock Shoshone Bannock Tribal ID $7,000,000 Simpson
Facilities. Tribe. Fire Station.
Rural Development............... Community Town of Blackstone. Blackstone Aerial VA $923,937 Spanberger
Facilities. Ladder Fire Truck.
Rural Development............... Community County of Amelia... Amelia County Court VA $375,000 Spanberger
Facilities. Office.
Rural Development............... Community City of Moriarty... Moriarty Fire Station.. NM $5,250,000 Stansbury
Facilities.
Rural Development............... Community City of Little Little Falls Child Care MN $825,000 Stauber
Facilities. Falls. Facility.
Rural Development............... Community Essex County....... Essex County Ag and NY $997,000 Stefanik
Facilities. Youth Center.
Rural Development............... Community Cary Christian Cary Christian Center MS $37,500 Thompson (MS)
Facilities. Center. Facility.
Rural Development............... Community BDT Housing IT Montgomery Home MS $2,250,000 Thompson (MS)
Facilities. Services Restoration.
Enterprise.
Rural Development............... Community City of Rosedale... Bolivar County MS $225,000 Thompson (MS)
Facilities. Community Facility.
Rural Development............... Community Fannie Lou Hamer Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer MS $2,250,000 Thompson (MS)
Facilities. Cancer Foundation. Foundation Facility
Revitalization.
Rural Development............... Community Central Mississippi Delta MS $300,000 Thompson (MS)
Facilities. Mississippi, Inc.. Disaster Relief
Shelter.
Rural Development............... Community Indiana University IUP Academy of Culinary PA $500,000 Thompson (PA)
Facilities. of Pennsylvania. Arts Building.
Rural Development............... Community Jefferson County- Farm to Refrigerator PA $1,125,000 Thompson (PA)
Facilities. Dubois Area Training Facility.
Vocational
Technical School.
Rural Development............... Community United Way of Tri Marlborough Community MA $26,838 Trahan
Facilities. County. Covered Food Pantry.
Rural Development............... Community Allegany College of Allegany College MD $187,500 Trone
Facilities. Maryland. Facility
Revitalization.
Rural Development............... Community Office of the Salem Salem County Courthouse NJ $3,750,000 Van Drew
Facilities. County Revitalization.
Administrator.
Rural Development............... Community Fairbanks Museum St Johnsbury Science VT $2,465,176 Welch
Facilities. and Planetarium. Annex.
Rural Development............... Community Pocono Family YMCA. Pocono Family Community PA $1,000,000 Wild
Facilities. Center.
Rural Development............... Community Mount Bethel Fire Mount Bethel Fire PA $247,500 Wild
Facilities. Department. Department Emergency
Shelter.
Rural Development............... Community City of Kodiak..... Kodiak Fire Station AK $7,000,000 Young
Facilities. Replacement.
Rural Development............... Community City of Kiana...... Kiana Fire Response and AK $3,350,000 Young
Facilities. Equipment.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Northern Michigan Rural Broadband MI $1,200,000 Bergman
University. Expansion for Northern
Michigan University.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Goodhue County..... Goodhue County MN $3,210,000 Craig
Broadband Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Town of Ghent...... Upstate New York NY $829,594 Delgado
Broadband Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... County of El Paso.. Cotton Valley Broadband TX $2,850,000 Escobar
Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Niagara County..... Niagara-Orleans NY $3,877,500 Jacobs (NY)
Broadband Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Illinois Department Pembroke Township IL $3,000,000 Kelly (IL)
of Commerce and Broadband Expansion.
Economic
Opportunity.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Impact Corry....... Corry Area Tech Center PA $500,000 Kelly (PA)
and Hub.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Plumas-Sierra Plumas-Sierra Broadband CA $4,000,198 LaMalfa
Telecommunications. Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... City of Espanola... Espanola Broadband NM $879,506 Leger Fernandez
Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Charles City County Charles City County VA $2,643,508 McEachin
Broadband Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Town of Sandwich... Sandwich Broadband NH $1,650,000 Pappas
Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Chelan County PUD.. Chelan County Broadband WA $1,286,390 Schrier
Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... County of Isle of Isle of Wight Broadband VA $318,750 Scott (VA)
Wight. Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Brazos Valley Bremond Broadband TX $1,500,000 Sessions
Council of Expansion.
Governments.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Pine County........ Pine County Broadband MN $5,576,250 Stauber
Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Herkimer County.... Herkimer County NY $500,000 Stefanik
Broadband Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Village of Village of Sherburne NY $212,022 Tenney
Sherburne. Broadband Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Town of Westerlo... Westerlo Broadband NY $1,687,500 Tonko
Expansion.
Rural Development............... ReConnect.......... Garrett County..... Garrett County MD $883,574 Trone
Broadband Expansion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:
Office of the Secretary.--Language is included to limit the
amount of funds for official reception and representation
expenses, as determined by the Secretary and to reimburse
Departmental Administration for travel expenses incident to the
holding of hearings.
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.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Integrated
Activities.--The bill includes language limiting indirect
costs.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--Language is
included to limit the amount of funds for representational
allow- ances.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--The bill
includes language regarding state matching funds and the
brucellosis con- trol program.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--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.
Agricultural Marketing Service, Limitation on
Administrative Expenses.--The bill includes language to allow
AMS to exceed the limitation on administrative expenses by up
to 10 percent with notification to the Appropriations
Committees.
Agricultural Marketing Service, Inspection and Weighing
Services.--The bill includes authority to exceed the limitation
on inspec- tion and weighing services by up to 10 percent with
notification to the Appropriations Committees.
Food Safety and Inspection Service.--Language is included
to limit the amount of funds for representational allowances.
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 pay- ments.
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.
Risk Management Agency.--Language is included to limit the
amount of funds for official reception and representation
expenses.
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations.--Language is in-
cluded that limits the application of certain activities in
watersheds of a certain size.
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.--Language is included to
allow certain funds transferred from the Commodity Credit Cor-
poration to be used for information resource management.
Hazardous Waste Management.--Language is included which
limits the amount of funds that can be spent on operation and
maintenance costs of CCC hazardous waste sites.
Rural Development Salaries and Expenses.--Language is
included to allow funds to be used for advertising and
promotional activities.
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.
Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program
Account.--The bill includes language related to loan rates on
renew- able energy loans.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC).--Language notwithstands section
17(h)(10)(B)(ii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
17 1786), as it relates to management information systems.
Language is included to purchase infant formula except in
accordance with law and pay for activities that are not fully
reimbursed by other departments or agencies unless authorized
by law.
Office of Codex Alimentarius.--Language is included to
limit the amount of funds for official reception and
representation expenses.
Foreign Agricultural Service.--Language is included to
enable the agency to use funds received by an advance or by
reimburse- ment to carry out its activities. The bill also
limits the amount of funds for representation expenses.
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.
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.
FDA Innovation Account.--The bill provides additional
transfer authority.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission.--Language is included
to limit the amount of funds for official reception and
representa- tion expenses. Language is also included to allow
the Commission to record prior year lease obligations and to
liquidate certain obligations.
Farm Credit Administration.--The bill includes authority to
exceed the limitation on assessments by 10 percent with
notification to the Appropriations Committees and to allow
certain banks to exceed the statutory cap on export financing.
General Provisions.--
Section 701.--The bill includes language regarding
passenger 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 indirect
cost share.
Section 705.--The bill includes language regarding the
availability of loans funds in Rural Development programs.
Section 706.--The bill includes language regarding new
information technology systems.
Section 707.--The bill includes language regarding fund
availability in the Agriculture Management Assistance program.
Section 708.--The bill includes language regarding Rural
Utilities Service program eligibility.
Section 709.--The bill includes language regarding funds
for information technology expenses for the Farm Service Agency
and the Rural Development mission area.
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 and notification requirements.
Section 717.--The bill includes language regarding fees for
the guaranteed business and industry loan program.
Section 718.--The bill includes language regarding the
appropriations hearing process.
Section 719.--The bill includes language regarding
government sponsored news stories.
Section 720.--The bill includes language regarding details
and assignments of Department of Agriculture employees.
Section 721.--The bill includes language requiring spend
plans.
Section 722.--The bill includes language regarding
nutrition programs.
Section 723.--The bill includes language regarding Rural
Development programs.
Section 724.--The bill includes language regarding USDA
loan program levels.
Section 725.--The bill includes language regarding credit
card refunds and rebates.
Section 726.--The bill includes language regarding the
definition of the term ``variety'' in SNAP.
Section 727.--The bill includes language regarding the
Secretary's authority with respect to the 502 guaranteed loan
programs.
Section 728.--The bill includes language regarding new user
fees.
Section 729.--The bill includes language regarding FDA
regulations with respect to spent grains.
Section 730.--The bill includes language regarding the
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.
Section 731.--The bill includes language regarding country
or regional audits.
Section 732.--The bill includes language related to Rural
Development Programs.
Section 733.--The bill includes language related to the
Animal Welfare Act.
Section 734.--The bill includes language regarding U.S.
iron and steel products in public water or wastewater systems.
Section 735.--The bill includes language regarding
lobbying.
Section 736.--The bill includes language related to
persistent poverty counties.
Section 737.--The bill includes language related to
investigational use of drugs or biological products.
Section 738.--The bill includes language related to the
growing, harvesting, packing and holding of certain produce.
Section 739.--The bill provides funding for grants to
enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military
veterans.
Section 740.--The bill includes language related to the
school breakfast program.
Section 741.--The bill includes language regarding hemp.
Section 742.--The bill provides funding for grants under
the Section 12502 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 743.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 1621 of Public Law 110-246.
Section 744.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 3307 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 745.--The bill includes language related to
matching fund requirements.
Section 746.--The bill provides funding for a pilot program
related to multi-family housing borrowers.
Section 747.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 4208 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 748.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 12301 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 749.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 7120 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 750.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 7208 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 751.--The bill includes language related to potable
water.
Section 752.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 4206 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 753.--The bill includes language regarding Food for
Peace.
Section 754.--The bill includes language regarding
facilities inspections.
Section 755.--The bill includes language relating to the
use of raw or processed poultry products from the People's
Republic of China in various domestic nutrition programs.
Section 756.--The bill includes language related to certain
school food lunch prices.
Section 757.--The bill provides funding for Centers of
Excellence.
Section 758.--The bill provides funding for rural hospital
technical assistance.
Section 759.--The bill provides funding for a pilot program
for wastewater systems in historically impoverished areas.
Section 760.--The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 23 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
Section 761.--The bill includes language related to
biotechnology risk assessment research.
Section 762.--The bill provides funding for rural
broadband.
Section 763.-- The bill provides funding to carry out
Section 7209 of Public Law 115-334.
Section 764.--The bill includes funding for open data
standards.
Section 765.--The bill includes language related to certain
reorganizations within the Department of Agriculture.
Section 766.--The bill includes language extending the hemp
pilot program.
Section 767.--The bill includes language related to the
Agriculture Conservation Experiences Services Program.
Section 768.--The bill includes language related to school
meals.
Section 769.--The bill includes language related to the
ReConnect program.
Section 770.--The bill includes language related to the
Goodfellow Federal facility.
Section 771.--The bill includes language related to the
Federal Meat Inspection Act.
Section 772.--The bill includes funding for a blue-ribbon
panel.
Section 773.--The bill includes funding for a competitive
research and education grant.
Section 774.--The bill includes language related to the
Animal Welfare Act inspections and reports.
Section 775.--The bill includes language regarding
electronically available information for prescribing healthcare
professionals.
Section 776.--The bill includes language related to line
speed waivers.
Section 777.--The bill includes language related to the
purchase of agricultural land.

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 or Program Last year of Authorization last year of Appropriation in
authorization level authorization this bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farmers' Market Nutrition Prog...... 2015 Such Sums $16,548,000 $30,000,000
CNP State Administrative Expenses... 2015 Such Sums 263,686,000 332,000,000
Summer Food Service Program......... 2015 Such Sums 495,521,000 581,074,000
WIC................................. 2015 Such Sums 6,623,000,000 6,000,000,000
School Breakfast Expansion Grants... 2015 Such Sums 0 10,000,000
Farm to School Grants............... 2015 Such Sums 0 12,000,000
Multi-family Revitalization Program. 2016 Such Sums 28,000,000 60,000,000
Broadband Telecommunications Program 2016 Such Sums 35,000,000 35,000,000
Commodity Futures Trading Commission 2013 Such Sums 205,294,000* 363,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Reduced by an across the board cut and sequestration to $194,556,000.

Committee Hearings

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following hearings were used to
develop or consider the bill:
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on February 25,
2021, with the Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector
General. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Ms. Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General, USDA
Office of Inspector General
Ms. Ann Coffey, Deputy Inspector General,
USDA Office of Inspector General
Mr. Gil H. Harden, Assistant Inspector
General for Audit, USDA Office of Inspector General
Ms. Jenny Rone, Assistant Inspector General
for Analytics and Innovation.
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on March 9,
2021, on the Food and Drug Administration's Foreign Drug
Inspections Program. The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Dr. Mary Denigan-Macauley, Director, Health
Care, Public Health & Private Markets, Government
Accountability Office.
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on March 24,
2021, on the Rural Economy. The Subcommittee received testimony
from:
Mr. Glen R. Smith, Chairman and CEO, Farm
Credit Administration
Mr. Jeffery S. Hall, Chairman, Farm Credit
System Insurance Corporation
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on April 14,
2021, on the Department of Agriculture--The Year Ahead. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary,
the Department of Agriculture.
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on April 20,
2021, with USDA's Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
Ms. Stacy Dean, Deputy Under Secretary,
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, FNS, USDA
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on May 6, 2021,
with USDA's Rural Development Mission Area. The Subcommittee
received testimony from:
Mr. Justin Maxson, Deputy Under Secretary
for Rural Development, USDA
Dr. Karama Neal, Administrator, Rural
Business-Cooperative Service, USDA
Mr. Chad Parker, Acting Administrator, Rural
Housing Service, USDA
Mr. Christopher McLean, Acting
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA
The Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on May 12, 2021,
with USDA's Research, Education and Economics Mission Area. The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Acting Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics
Dr. Simon Y. Liu, Acting Administrator,
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Dr. Spiro Stefanou. Administrator, Economic
Research Service, USDA
Mr. Hubert Hamer, Administrator, National
Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA
Dr. Carrie Castille, Director, National
Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA
The Subcommittee held a hearing on May 18, 2021, entitled
``Member Day.'' The Subcommittee received testimony from:
The Honorable Jim Hagedorn, Member of
Congress
The Honorable Kim Schrier, MD, Member of
Congress
The Honorable Pat Fallon, Member of Congress
The Honorable Jeff Van Drew, Member of
Congress
The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, Member of
Congress
The Honorable Veronica Escobar, Member of
Congress
The Honorable Claudia Tenney, Member of
Congress
The Honorable John Rose, Member of Congress
The Honorable Jim Baird, Member of Congress
The Honorable Raja Krishnamoorthi, Member of
Congress
The Honorable Ed Case, Member of Congress.

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
2021] For fiscal year 2022, 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 2021]
For fiscal year 2022, 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 2022] 2010
through 2023. The Secretary shall be entitled to receive the
funds and shall accept the funds, without further
appropriation.

* * * * * * *

----------

AGRICULTURE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2018

* * * * * * *
TITLE VII--RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND RELATED MATTERS

* * * * * * *

Subtitle F--Other Matters

* * * * * * *

SEC. 7605. LEGITIMACY OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP RESEARCH.

(a) In General.--Section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014
(7 U.S.C. 5940) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as
subsections (b) and (a), respectively, and moving the
subsections so as to appear in alphabetical order;
(2) in subsection (a) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as
paragraph (4); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:
``(3) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given
such term in section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946.'';
(3) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated), in the
subsection heading, by striking ``In General'' and
inserting ``Industrial Hemp Research''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Study and Report.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a
study of agricultural pilot programs--
``(A) to determine the economic viability of
the domestic production and sale of industrial
hemp; and
``(B) that shall include a review of--
``(i) each agricultural pilot
program; and
``(ii) any other agricultural or
academic research relating to
industrial hemp.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report describing the
results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Repeal.--Effective on [January 1, 2022] January 1, 2023,
section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940) is
repealed.

* * * * * * *

----------

SECTION 788 OF THE FURTHER CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020

Sec. 788. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law:
(a) within 60 calendar days, restore on its website the
searchable database and its contents that were available on
January 30, 2017, and all content generated since that date;
and
(b) hereafter, make publicly available via searchable
database, in their entirety without redactions except
signatures, the following records after enactment of this Act
for a subsequent period of three years:
[(1) all final Animal Welfare Act inspection reports,
including all reports documenting all Animal Welfare
Act non-compliances observed by USDA officials and all
animal inventories;
[(2) all final Animal Welfare Act and Horse
Protection Act enforcement records;
[(3) all reports or other materials documenting any
non-compliances observed by USDA officials; and]
(1) all final Animal Welfare Act inspection reports,
including all reports documenting all Animal Welfare
Act violations and non-compliances observed by USDA
officials and all animal inventories for the current
year and preceding three years;
(2) all final Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection
Act enforcement records for the current year and the
preceding three years;
(3) all reports or other materials documenting any
violations and non-compliances observed by USDA
officials for the current year and preceding three
years; and
(4) within six months of receipt by the agency, all
final Animal Welfare Act research facility annual
reports, including their attachments with appropriate
redactions made for confidential business information
that USDA could withhold under FOIA Exemption 4.

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF THE FY 2022 AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD
AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL
PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT
TO SEC. 308(A), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS AMENDED

[In millions of dollars]

COMPARISON WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION

Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 requires the report accompanying a bill providing new
budget authority to contain a statement comparing the levels in
the bill to the suballocations submitted under section 302(b)
of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent
resolution on the budget for the applicable fiscal year.

[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............................... 26,550 26,000 26,550 \1\25,428
Mandatory................................... 150,271 137,918 150,271 \1\137,918
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

NOTE.--The amounts in this report do not include $50
million in discretionary budget authority and $66 million 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.

FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS

In compliance with 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.

[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projection of outlays associated with the recommendation:
2022.................................................... ........... ........... ........... \1\140,844
2023.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 7,353
2024.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 1,753
2025.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 945
2026 and future years................................... ........... ........... ........... 902
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Congressional Budget
Office has provided the following estimates of new budget
authority and outlays provided by the accompanying bill for
financial assistance to State and local governments.

[In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Authority Outlays
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial assistance to State and 48,800 \1\34,685
local governments for 2022.......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

MINORITY VIEWS

We appreciate the collegial and collaborative efforts of
Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Sanford Bishop and the Full
Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro in producing this Agriculture
appropriations bill that addresses critical priorities of
Members on both sides of the aisle. The bill includes several
bipartisan priorities that support investments for rural high-
speed internet, water and wastewater infrastructure in our
rural communities, and critical agricultural research,
including the Farm of the Future initiative. We generally agree
with the Majority on funding provided for a number of other
programs and initiatives in this bill.
Unfortunately, due to concerns about unsustainable
government-wide spending levels and a number of controversial
policy provisions, we are unable to support the bill as written
at this time. The bill provides $26,550,000,000 in new
discretionary budget authority for fiscal year 2022. This
record high spending level for the bill is $2,851,000,000, or
12 percent above the comparable fiscal year 2021 enacted level.
There are also several controversial policy changes
included in the bill such as allowing new and unauthorized bill
language granting unlimited spending in the fourth quarter of
the year for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP and formerly Food Stamps). This type of major policy
change in a mandatory spending program falls under the
jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee and so the decision
to make such a change should wait for the next Farm Bill
deliberations.
Unfortunately, the Majority rejected several Republican
amendments offered in the Committee. If passed, these
amendments would have improved the bill. One amendment would
have disallowed USDA employees from being detailed to the
southern border to help manage the flow of illegal immigrants.
We find it highly counterproductive for the Department to
recruit employees from the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), the agency taking a lead on many climate change
related initiatives championed by the Majority, to try to help
with the crisis of caring for illegal immigrants at the
Southern border. USDA's move is especially troubling when
USDA's own fiscal year 2022 budget request notes that NRCS is
working on new information technology systems in order ``[t]o
address the growing disparity between workload and staffing. .
.''. An agency that currently cannot keep up with workload
demands should not divert staff away from critical conservation
services to the American farmer.
Another amendment offered and accepted by the Majority
relates to withdrawing line speed waivers during the COVID-19
emergency. The Majority's continued attack on this modernized
inspection system and its link to COVID-19 is puzzling. The
language in this bill gives the appearance of protecting worker
safety, yet the bill language only affects a very small
fraction of the meat and poultry inspection plants and it could
negatively impact food supply chains while the Nation is still
in a pandemic. In 2014, when the current Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack was serving in the Obama
Administration, he made the following remarks when he launched
the new line speed waiver program: ``The United States has been
relying on a poultry inspection model that dates back to 1957,
while rates of foodborne illness due to Salmonella and
Campylobacter remain stubbornly high. The system we are
announcing today imposes stricter requirements on the poultry
industry and places our trained inspectors where they can
better ensure food is being processed safely. These
improvements make use of sound science to modernize food safety
procedures and prevent thousands of illnesses each year.'' USDA
can protect its workers in these impacted plants without having
to revert back to an antiquated inspection model that provides
less benefit to the public's safety.
While we have several concerns with the bill at this stage
in the process, we are hopeful that, at some point in the near
future, we will be able to reach a bipartisan and bicameral
agreement on spending and eliminate controversial policy
changes.
We are confident that as this process moves forward, we can
continue working together to find bipartisan agreement on the
items that matter most.

Kay Granger.
Jeff Fortenberry.

[all]