Senate Report 118-44 - AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2024

[Senate Report 118-44]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

Calendar No. 111
118th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 118-44

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

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2024
_______

June 22, 2023--Ordered to be printed

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

REPORT

[To accompany S. 2131]

The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 2131)
making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes,
reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.

New obligational authority

Total of bill as reported to the Senate.................$207,458,404,000
Amount of 2023 appropriations........................... 247,390,665,000
Amount of 2024 budget estimate.......................... 237,568,394,000
Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--
2023 appropriations................................. -39,932,261,000
2024 budget estimate................................ -30,109,990,000

CONTENTS

----------
Page
Overview and Summary of the Bill................................. 4
Reports to Congress.............................................. 4
Breakdown by Title............................................... 5
Title I:
Agricultural Programs:
Production, Processing, and Marketing:
Office of the Secretary.............................. 6
Executive Operations................................. 9
Office of the Chief Economist........................ 9
Office of Hearings and Appeals....................... 9
Office of Budget and Program Analysis................ 10
Office of the Chief Information Officer.............. 10
Office of the Chief Financial Officer................ 11
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights... 11
Office of Civil Rights............................... 12
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities................. 12
Hazardous Materials Management....................... 13
Office of Safety, Security, and Protection........... 13
Office of Inspector General.......................... 13
Office of the General Counsel........................ 14
Office of Ethics..................................... 14
Office of Information Affairs........................ 14
Office of the Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics........................... 15
Economic Research Service............................ 15
National Agricultural Statistics Service............. 16
Agricultural Research Service........................ 17
National Institute of Food and Agriculture........... 34
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs................................ 45
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service........... 46
Agricultural Marketing Service....................... 55
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety........ 61
Food Safety and Inspection Service................... 61
Title II:
Farm Production and Conservation Programs:
Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and
Conservation........................................... 64
Farm Production and Conservation Business Center......... 65
Farm Service Agency...................................... 65
Risk Management Agency................................... 71
Natural Resources Conservation Service................... 72
Corporations:
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund.................. 78
Commodity Credit Corporation Fund........................ 79
Title III:
Rural Development Programs:
Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development...... 82
Rural Development........................................ 82
Rural Housing Service.................................... 83
Rural Community Facilities Program Account............... 88
Rural Business-Cooperative Service....................... 90
Rural Utilities Service.................................. 95
Title IV:
Domestic Food Programs:
Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and
Consumer Services...................................... 100
Food and Nutrition Service............................... 100
Title V:
Foreign Assistance and Related Programs:
Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs................................... 109
Foreign Agricultural Service............................. 110
Title VI:
Related Agency and Food and Drug Administration:
Department of Health and Human Services: Food and Drug
Administration......................................... 114
Independent Agency: Farm Credit Administration........... 134
Title VII:
General Provisions........................................... 136
Program, Project, and Activity................................... 139
Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of
the
Senate......................................................... 139
Compliance With Paragraph 7(c), Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.................................................. 140
Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of
the Senate..................................................... 141
Budgetary Impact of Bill......................................... 144
Disclosure of Congressionally Directed Spending Items............ 145
Comparative Statement of Budget Authority........................ 156

OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF THE BILL

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill
provides funding for a wide array of Federal programs, mostly
in the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA]. These programs
include agricultural research, education, and extension
activities; natural resources conservation programs; farm
income and support programs; marketing and inspection
activities; domestic food assistance programs; rural housing,
economic and community development, and telecommunication and
electrification assistance; and various export and
international activities of the USDA.
The bill also provides funding for the Food and Drug
Administration [FDA] and allows the use of collected fees for
administrative expenses of the Farm Credit Administration
[FCA].
The discretionary programs and activities of USDA and FDA
that are supported by this bill include high priority
responsibilities entrusted to the Federal Government and its
partners to protect human health and safety, contribute to
economic recovery, and achieve policy objectives strongly
supported by the American people.
All accounts in the bill have been closely examined to
ensure that an appropriate level of funding is provided to
carry out the programs of USDA, FDA, and FCA. Details on each
of the accounts, the funding level, and the Committee's
justifications for the funding levels are included in the
report.
Fiscal year 2023 levels cited in this report reflect
amounts enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
(Public Law 116-260) and do not include fiscal year 2023
supplemental appropriations. Accordingly, any comparisons to
fiscal year 2023 do not reflect fiscal year 2023 supplemental
appropriations. Fiscal year 2023 supplemental appropriations
are included in the comparative statement of new budget
authority at the end of this report under the heading ``Other
Appropriations''.

REPORTS TO CONGRESS

The Committee has, throughout this report, requested
agencies to provide studies and reports on various issues. The
Committee utilizes these reports to evaluate program
performance and make decisions on future appropriations. The
Committee directs that all studies and reports be provided to
the Committee as electronic documents in an agreed upon format
within 120 days after the date of enactment of this act, unless
an alternative submission schedule is specifically stated in
the report.

BREAKDOWN BY TITLE

The amounts of obligational authority for each of the seven
titles are shown in the following table. A detailed tabulation,
showing comparisons, appears at the end of this report.
Recommendations for individual appropriation items, projects
and activities are carried in this report under the appropriate
item headings.

[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 2023 Committee
enacted recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I: Agricultural programs...... 8,394,410 8,579,816
Title II: Farm Production and 35,185,732 28,270,107
Conservation programs..............
Title III: Rural economic and 4,080,503 3,942,517
community development programs.....
Title IV: Domestic food programs.... 189,057,589 161,160,930
Title V: Foreign assistance and 2,242,578 2,297,578
related programs...................
Title VI: Related agencies and Food 3,542,938 3,562,938
and Drug Administration............
Title VII: General provisions....... -536,800 -355,482
Other Appropriations................ 5,421,715 ................
-----------------------------------
Total, new budget 247,388,665 207,458,404
(obligational) authority.....
------------------------------------------------------------------------

TITLE I

AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

Processing, Research, And Marketing

Office of the Secretary

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $65,607,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 112,634,000
Committee recommendation................................ 65,067,000

The Secretary of Agriculture, assisted by the Deputy
Secretary, Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries, Chief
Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and members of
their immediate staffs, directs and coordinates the work of the
United States Department of Agriculture [USDA]. This includes
developing policy, maintaining relationships with agricultural
organizations and others in the development of farm programs,
and maintaining liaison with the Executive Office of the
President and Members of Congress on all matters pertaining to
agricultural policy.
The general authority of the Secretary to supervise and
control the work of the Department is contained in the Organic
Act (Public Law 101-624). The delegation of regulatory
functions to Department employees and authorization of
appropriations to carry out these functions is contained in 7
U.S.C. 450c-450g.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $65,067,000
for the Office of the Secretary.
The following table reflects the amount provided by the
Committee for each office and activity:

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2023 Fiscal year 2024 Committee
enacted budget request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Secretary................................... 7,432 34,713 7,432
Office of Homeland Security............................... 1,396 2,396 1,396
Office of Tribal Relations................................ 5,190 6,533 5,190
Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.............. 9,280 10,357 9,280
Office of Assistant Secretary for Administration.......... 1,706 1,742 1,706
Departmental Administration............................... 26,716 35,627 26,716
Office of Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations 4,609 4,727 4,609
and Intergovernmental Affairs............................
Office of Communications.................................. 8,738 16,539 8,738
-----------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 65,067 112,634 65,067
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Camelina.--As a nonfood crop that can be planted on land
that would otherwise be idle or fallow and harvested to produce
low-carbon feedstock for renewable biofuels and chemicals,
camelina offers tremendous agronomic and economic benefits. The
Committee is aware of the Department's efforts to expand crop
insurance coverage for camelina under the existing pilot
program and encourages USDA to further expand safety net
offerings so that growers can introduce camelina into their
existing crop rotations and gain important environmental and
economic benefits, while further supporting American energy
independence.
Canadian Variety Registration.--The Committee is concerned
about unfair wheat variety registration practices that
negatively affect American wheat growers that export to Canada.
Currently, the Canadian wheat varietal registration system is
overly burdensome to many American-developed varieties,
requiring multiple years of Canadian test plot data and
considering agronomic factors that are not relevant to the end
use attributes of the grain. This results in U.S. farmers
growing very few acres of registered varieties and has limited
the opportunity to increase export trade. While the relevant
provisions of USMCA regarding wheat grading made important
changes, additional work is needed to ensure American growers
can benefit from those changes. Therefore, the Committee urges
the Secretary to work with the Department of Commerce and the
United States Trade Representative to prioritize conversations
with the Canadian government to address trade inequities
resulting from Canada's current wheat varietal registration
practices.
Commodity Credit Corporation [CCC] Obligations and
Commitments.--The Secretary is directed to notify the
Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate in writing
15 days prior to the obligation or commitment of any emergency
funds from the CCC.
Communications Services for Limited English Proficient
Communities.--The Committee is supportive of efforts the
department is taking to improve communications, which should
include mediums such as television and radio, to reach limited
English proficient [LEP] communities. However, to improve
implementation, the Committee encourages the department to
review the communication practices and create uniform
applications across all USDA agencies to strengthen
communication practices to include digital, television and
radio advertising when working with limited English proficient
communities. The Committee further directs each Department and
agency funded by this Act with annual advertising budgets to
include a report on expenditures related to local media
advertising to include digital, television and radio no more
than 30 days after the passage of this Act. The Committee also
mandates that a portion of the advertising expenditures
dedicated to LEP communities is dedicated to ethnic media
outlets that work with hard-to-reach communities to ensure
equity across all media outlets.
Institute for Rural Partnerships.--The Committee recognized
the unique challenges faced by rural communities when it
provided funding in fiscal year 2023 to continue three
Institutes for Rural Partnerships in geographically diverse
locations to identify and support community, statewide and
regional partnership to address these challenges. As rural
challenges evolve, the continued need for these Institutes is
clear. Therefore, the Committee provides $9,000,000--to be
divided equally to continue the Institute for Rural
Partnerships at established land-grant universities, which were
originally funded in fiscal year 2022. Funding will support
focused research and applied transitional needs locally and
regionally.
Office of Tribal Relations.--The Committee supports
elevating the Office of Tribal Relations to an Assistant
Secretary level and encourages the Secretary to evaluate the
resources needed.
Resource Conservation and Development Councils.--Since
1964, the Resource Conservation and Development [RC&D] Councils
have worked at the grassroots level with local leaders to plan,
develop, and carry out programs for land and water conservation
and management. The Committee encourages the Secretary to
consider the maximum practical use of RC&D Councils, where such
RC&D Councils meet agency performance requirements, in the
delivery of USDA programs and services.
Train Derailments.--The Committee is concerned with recent
train derailments and specifically its impact on farmers and
rural communities. Farmers in Ohio and Pennsylvania are unsure
what long-term impacts the derailment and its chemical release
will have on the safety and value of farm products, which could
impact overall farm viability. As farmers are crucial to rural
communities and the overall economy of the U.S., the Committee
directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency, to support farmers
through targeted outreach with information about the
derailment, assistance with soil testing, mitigation for
impacts to agricultural products, and resources to support
farmers who can demonstrate they were affected by the
derailment.
USDA Customer and Producer Farm Delivery Systems
Modernization.--The Committee directs the Secretary to submit a
plan within 60 days of enactment of this act that accelerates
the continued implementation and expansion of the Farmers.gov
application and Enterprise Data Analytics Platform and Toolset
[EDAPT]. Despite the continued direction and funding provided
by Congress in previous fiscal years for these modernization
applications, the Committee is aware that the Farm Service
Agency, the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center,
and the Office of the Chief Information Officer continue to
maintain numerous legacy mission support systems that should be
decommissioned and transitioned to applications and mission
support services systems that are interoperable, facts-based,
data driven, and are provided efficiently, effectively, and
professionally with a commitment to excellent customer service
for USDA customers, including farmers, ranchers, and forest
landowners.
Voting-related Activities.--The Committee directs the
Secretary to provide to the Committee a briefing, no later than
90 days after enactment of this act, regarding any strategic
plans developed by the department since January 20, 2021
outlining the ways the department has promoted voter
registration and voter participation.

Executive Operations

Executive operations were established as a result of the
reorganization of the Department to provide a support team for
USDA policy officials and selected Department-wide services.
Activities under the executive operations include the Office of
the Chief Economist, the National Appeals Division, and the
Office of Budget and Program Analysis.

Office of the Chief Economist

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $28,181,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 35,597,000
Committee recommendation................................ 30,181,000

The Office of the Chief Economist advises the Secretary of
Agriculture on the economic implications of Department policies
and programs. The Office serves as the single focal point for
the Nation's economic intelligence and analysis, risk
assessment, and cost-benefit analysis related to domestic and
international food and agriculture issues, provides policy
direction for renewable energy development; conducts analyses
of climate change impacts on agriculture and forestry; and is
responsible for coordination and review of all commodity and
aggregate agricultural and food-related data used to develop
outlook and situation material within the Department.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,181,000
for the Office of the Chief Economist.
Pest Management.--The Committee recognizes the need for
Federal pesticide policy to be science-based and keep in mind
the needs of agricultural producers and encourages the Office
of Pest Management Policy to evaluate the impact on industry.
Policy Research.--The Committee provides $10,000,000 for
policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155 for entities with existing
institutional capacity to conduct complex economic and policy
analysis and which have a lengthy and well-documented record of
conducting policy analysis for the benefit of USDA, the
Congressional Budget Office, or the Congress. Of the amount
provided for policy research activities, $2,000,000 shall be
for a center based at an upper Midwest land grant university
focused on agricultural policy relevant to the region,
including crop insurance, livestock risk management, and
disaster programs, and $3,000,000 shall be for the Department
to focus efforts on entities that have information, analysis,
research and staff necessary to provide objective, scientific
information to support and enhance efficient, accurate
implementation of Federal drought preparedness and drought
response programs, including interagency thresholds used to
determine eligibility for mitigation or emergency assistance.

Office of Hearings and Appeals

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $16,703,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 17,494,000
Committee recommendation................................ 16,703,000

The Office of Hearings and Appeals conducts administrative
hearings and reviews of adverse program decisions made by the
Rural Development mission area, the Farm Service Agency [FSA],
the Risk Management Agency [RMA], and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service [NRCS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $16,703,000
for the Office of Hearings and Appeals.

Office of Budget and Program Analysis

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $14,967,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 21,135,000
Committee recommendation................................ 14,967,000

The Office of Budget and Program Analysis provides
direction and administration of the Department's budgetary
functions including developing, presenting, and executing of
the budget; reviewing program and legislative proposals for
program, budget, and related implications; analyzing program
and resource issues and alternatives; preparing summaries of
pertinent data to aid the Secretary, Departmental policy
officials, and agency program managers in the decision-making
process; and providing Department-wide coordination for and
participation in the presentation of budget-related matters to
the Committees of the Congress, the media, and interested
public. The Office also provides Department-wide coordination
of the preparation and processing of regulations and
legislative programs and reports.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $14,967,000
for the Office of Budget and Program Analysis.

Office of the Chief Information Officer

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $92,284,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 95,061,000
Committee recommendation................................ 92,284,000

The Office of the Chief Information Officer was established
in the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-106), which
required the establishment of a Chief Information Officer for
major Federal agencies. This Office provides policy guidance,
leadership, coordination, and direction to the Department's
information management and information technology [IT]
investment activities in support of USDA program delivery, and
is the lead office in USDA e-gov efforts. The Office provides
long-range planning guidance, implements measures to ensure
that technology investments are economical and effective,
coordinates interagency information resources management
projects, and implements standards to promote information
exchange and technical interoperability. In addition, the
Office of the Chief Information Officer is responsible for
certain activities financed under the Department's Working
Capital Fund (7 U.S.C. 2235). The Office also provides
telecommunication and automated data processing [ADP] services
to USDA agencies through the National Information Technology
Center with locations in Fort Collins, Colorado; Kansas City,
Missouri; and Washington, D.C. Direct ADP operational services
are also provided to the Office of the Secretary, the Office of
the General Counsel, the Office of Communications, the Office
of the Chief Financial Officer, and Departmental Management.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $92,284,000
for the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $7,367,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 9,108,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,367,000

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer is responsible
for the dual roles of Chief Financial Management Policy Officer
and Chief Financial Management Advisor to the Secretary and
mission area heads. The Office provides leadership for all
financial management, accounting, travel, Federal assistance,
and strategic planning performance measurement activities
within the Department. The Office is also responsible for the
management and operation of the National Finance Center and the
Departmental Working Capital Fund.
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 has modified
requirements under current law relating to NFC payroll and
shared services operations, missions, personnel, and functions.
The Committee also directs the 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 years 2017 and 2018.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $7,367,000 for
the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,466,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,486,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,466,000

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
provides oversight of civil rights and related functions. This
includes coordination of the administration of civil rights
laws and regulations for employees of USDA and participants in
programs of the Department and ensuring compliance with civil
rights laws.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,466,000 for
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

Office of Civil Rights

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $37,595,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 38,617,000
Committee recommendation................................ 37,595,000

The Office of Civil Rights provides overall leadership
responsibility for all Department-wide civil rights activities.
These activities include employment opportunity, as well as
program nondiscrimination policy development, analysis,
coordination, and compliance. The Office is responsible for
providing leadership in facilitating the fair and equitable
treatment of USDA employees and for monitoring program
activities to ensure that all USDA programs are delivered in a
nondiscriminatory manner. The Office's outreach functions
provide leadership, coordination, facilitation, and expertise
to internal and external partners to ensure equal and timely
access to USDA programs for all constituents, with emphasis on
the underserved, through information sharing, technical
assistance, and training.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $37,595,000
for the Office of Civil Rights.

Agriculture Buildings and Facilities

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $40,581,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 124,628,000
Committee recommendation................................ 40,581,000

Department headquarters presently operates in a two-
building, Government-owned complex in downtown Washington,
D.C.; the George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville,
Maryland; and leased buildings in the metropolitan Washington,
D.C., area. Under an arrangement with the General Services
Administration, USDA operates, maintains, and repairs these
facilities, in lieu of rental payments. For the last several
years, the Department has implemented a strategic space plan to
locate staff more efficiently, renovate its buildings, and
eliminate safety hazards, particularly in the Agriculture South
Building.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $40,581,000
for Agriculture Buildings and Facilities.

Hazardous Materials Management

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $7,581,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 7,630,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,586,000

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (Public Law 96-510) and the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (Public Law 94-580), the
Department has the responsibility to meet the same standards
regarding the storage and disposition of hazardous materials as
private businesses. The Department is required to contain,
cleanup, monitor, and inspect for hazardous materials in areas
under the Department's jurisdiction.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,586,000 for
Hazardous Materials Management.

Office of Safety, Security, and Protection

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $21,800,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 22,020,000
Committee recommendation................................ 21,800,000

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $21,800,000
for the Office of Safety, Security, and Protection.

Office of Inspector General

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $111,561,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 125,893,000
Committee recommendation................................ 111,561,000

The Office of Inspector General [OIG] was established on
October 12, 1978, by the Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public
Law 95-452). This act expanded and provided specific
authorities for the activities of OIG which had previously been
carried out under the general authorities of the Secretary.
The Office is administered by an inspector general who
reports directly to the Secretary. Functions and
responsibilities of this Office include direction and control
of audit and investigative activities within the Department,
formulation of audit and investigative policies and procedures
regarding Department programs and operations, and analysis and
coordination of program-related audit and investigation
activities performed by other Department agencies.
The activities of this Office are designed to assure
compliance with existing laws, policies, regulations, and
programs of the Department's agencies and to provide
appropriate officials with the means for prompt corrective
action where deviations have occurred. The scope of audit and
investigative activities is large and includes administrative,
program, and criminal matters. These activities are
coordinated, when appropriate, with various audit and
investigative agencies of the executive and legislative
branches of the Government.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $111,561,000
for the Office of Inspector General.

Office of the General Counsel

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $60,537,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 65,646,000
Committee recommendation................................ 60,537,000

The Office of the General Counsel provides all legal
advice, counsel, and services to the Secretary and to all
agencies, offices, and corporations of the Department. The
Office represents the Department in administrative proceedings;
non-litigation debt collection proceedings; State water rights
adjudications; proceedings before the Environmental Protection
Agency, Interstate Commerce Commission, Federal Maritime
Administration, and International Trade Commission; and, in
conjunction with the Department of Justice, judicial
proceedings and litigation.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $60,537,000
for the Office of the General Counsel.
Organic Standard Integrity.--To keep pace with new research
and changing consumer demands, organic standards should be
updated expeditiously to maintain integrity. The Committee
encourages the Office of the General Counsel to prioritize the
hiring of staff with expertise in the Organic Foods Production
Act to address the backlog of organic standards updates within
the National Organic Program.

Office of Ethics

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $5,556,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 6,958,000
Committee recommendation................................ 5,556,000

The Office of Ethics is the centralized and consolidated
office implementing USDA's ethics program throughout the
Department. The Office provides ethics services to all
employees at the Department concerning advice, training, and
guidance about compliance with conflict of interest and
impartiality rules. This includes complying with the
requirements of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act
(Public Law 112-105) and the Office of Government Ethics
regulatory requirements (5 CFR parts 2634 through 2641).

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $5,556,000 for
the Office of Ethics.

Office of Information Affairs

Appropriations, 2023....................................................
Budget estimate, 2024................................... $9,966,000
Committee recommendation................................................

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee does not recommend an appropriation for the
Office of Information Affairs.

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

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $2,384,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 2,414,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,384,000

The Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education,
and Economics provides direction and coordination in carrying
out the laws enacted by the Congress for food and agricultural
research, education, extension, and economic and statistical
information. The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Agricultural Research Service [ARS];
National Institute of Food and Agriculture [NIFA]; Economic
Research Service [ERS]; and National Agricultural Statistics
Service [NASS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,384,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics.

Economic Research Service

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $92,612,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 98,453,000
Committee recommendation................................ 92,183,000

The Economic Research Service provides economic and other
social science research and analysis for public and private
decisions on agriculture, food, the environment, and rural
America. The information that ERS produces is available to the
general public and helps the Executive and Legislative Branches
develop, administer, and evaluate agricultural and rural
policies and programs.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $92,183,000
for the Economic Research Service.
Agricultural Commodity Trade.--The Committee recognizes the
economic importance of international trade for U.S.
agricultural commodities and believes that producers and
markets would benefit from having access to additional data on
the country of destination or origin of those commodities.
Therefore, the Committee directs ERS to report on a quarterly
basis the top five agricultural commodity exports and imports
by State and to identify the country of destination or origin
of those commodities.
Organic Data Analysis.--The organic industry has grown at a
tremendous rate over the past several years and accurate data
for the production, pricing, and marketing of organic products
is essential. Therefore, the Committee encourages ERS to
continue and expand the efforts relating to organic data
analysis.
Rural Tract Codes.--The Committee requests an update on the
status and publication of the ``Difficult Terrain and Access to
Urban Area'' project, as well as a copy of the report upon its
completion. The Committee also requests an update on ERS'
proposed plan to receive, review, and comment on the report.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $211,076,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 241,119,000
Committee recommendation................................ 200,563,000

The National Agricultural Statistics Service administers
the Department's program of collecting and publishing current
national, State, and county agricultural statistics. These
statistics provide accurate and timely projections of current
agricultural production and measures of the economic and
environmental welfare of the agricultural sector, which are
essential for making effective policy, production, and
marketing decisions. NASS also furnishes statistical services
to other USDA and Federal agencies in support of their missions
and provides consulting, technical assistance, and training to
developing countries.
NASS is also responsible for administration of the Census
of Agriculture, which is taken every 5 years and provides
comprehensive data on the agricultural economy, including: data
on the number of farms, land use, production expenses, farm
product values, value of land and buildings, farm size and
characteristics of farm operators, market value of agricultural
production sold, acreage of major crops, inventory of livestock
and poultry, and farm irrigation practices.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $200,563,000
for the National Agricultural Statistics Service, of which
$55,900,000 is for the Census of Agriculture.
Barley Estimates.--The Committee maintains funding for and
expects NASS to continue providing barley acreage and
production estimates for those States previously discontinued
in 2016 and 2017.
Chemical Use Data Series.--The Committee maintains funding
for and expects NASS to continue the collection and analysis of
chemical use data, as well as practices such as integrated pest
management. The Committee supports the NASS effort to resume
collecting Fruit Chemical Use data and Vegetable Chemical Use
data in alternating years and directs the continuation of this
practice to ensure equal access to Federal statistics.
Cost of Pollination Survey.--The Committee maintains
funding for NASS to continue the Cost of Pollination survey,
which provides critical information to beekeepers and specialty
crop growers.
Cotton Estimates.--The Committee encourages NASS to
reinstate the Agricultural Statistics District level estimates
for cotton, including in-season and end-of-season reports.
Floriculture Crops Report.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of the Floriculture Crops Report and maintains
funding for NASS to complete the report. In compiling the
report, the Committee continues to direct NASS to include data
from Alaska.
Organic Data Initiative.--The Committee maintains funding
provided in fiscal year 2023 for NASS to coordinate with
Agricultural Marketing Service for activities related to
expanding organic price reporting and organic data collection.
Vineyard and Orchard Acreage Survey.--The Committee
encourages NASS to resume data collection and reporting so
grape, wine, and juice producers can remain competitive and
respond to challenges in the industry.

Agricultural Research Service

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,744,279,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,938,303,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,792,879,000

The Agricultural Research Service [ARS] is responsible for
conducting basic, applied, and developmental research through
its major program areas of New Products/Product Quality/Value
Added; Livestock/Crop Production; Food Safety; Livestock/Crop
Protection; Human Nutrition; and Environmental Stewardship. The
research applies to a wide range of goals, including
commodities, natural resources, fields of science, and
geographic, climatic, and environmental conditions.
ARS is also responsible for the Abraham Lincoln National
Agricultural Library, which provides agricultural information
and library services through traditional library functions and
modern electronic dissemination to USDA agencies, public and
private organizations, and individuals.
As USDA's in-house agricultural research unit, ARS has
major responsibilities for conducting and leading the National
agricultural research effort. It provides initiative and
leadership in the following five areas: research on broad
regional and national problems, research to support Federal
action and regulatory agencies, expertise to meet national
emergencies, research support for international programs, and
scientific resources to the executive branch and Congress.
The mission of ARS research is to develop and transfer
solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority
and to provide information access and dissemination to ensure
high-quality, safe food and other agricultural products; assess
the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive
agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the
environment; and provide economic opportunities for rural
citizens, communities, and society as a whole.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,791,879,000
for salaries and expenses of the Agricultural Research Service.
The Committee expects extramural research to be funded at
no less than the fiscal year 2023 levels.
6PPD.--The Committee notes that studies have suggested
6PPD-Quinone may be contributing to Coho Salmon mortality in
the Pacific Northwest. The Committee provides $2,000,000 to
asses, analyze, and develop potential alternatives to 6PPD.
Aflatoxin Mitigation Research.--The Committee recognizes
the increasing economic and food safety threat that aflatoxin
poses to corn and other affected agricultural crops and
products. Aflatoxin has historically been a regional concern in
the southeast but is currently spreading to other parts of the
country due to more frequent extreme weather events. As such,
the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level
for ARS to expand research into methods of mitigating the risk
of aflatoxin, particularly regarding responsive agriculture,
human nutrition, and food safety.
Agricultural Data Security.--The Committee recognizes the
critical need for agricultural data security advancements
alongside increased use of autonomous systems and new
technologies. To prepare for these needs, the Committee
provides $2,000,000 for ARS to collaborate with a land-grand
university to research these data security needs and solutions.
The partnership should involve a university with expertise in
both agricultural technology cybersecurity.
Agricultural Genomics.--The Committee provides no less than
the fiscal year 2023 level for agricultural genomic research to
expand the knowledge of public and private sector entities and
persons concerning genomes for species of importance to the
food and agriculture sectors in order to maximize the return on
the investment in genomics of agriculturally important species.
Agrivoltaics.--In the report accompanying the Senate fiscal
year 2022 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Act,
the Committee recognized the advancement in agrivoltaics and
its potential in renewable energy and water efficiency. The
Committee continues to encourage the Department to conduct a
study on dual-use renewable energy systems that includes an
assessment of the compatibility of different species of
livestock and different crop types with different dual-use
renewable energy system designs as well as a risk-benefit
analysis of dual-use renewable energy systems in different
regions. Further, the Committee directs USDA to conduct a
demonstration program on dual-use renewable energy systems in
multiple regions of the United States, including arid, semi-
arid, and wet agricultural zones. In picking locations for the
demonstration programs, the Department shall prioritize
cooperative agreements with land-grant universities and ARS
climate hubs. The Committee also encourages USDA to enter into
a multiyear cooperative agreement to provide education,
outreach and technical assistance materials for producers. The
Committee provides an additional $1,500,000 for this research.
AgTech Cooperative Agreements.--The Committee provides an
additional $1,500,000 for cooperative agreements to support the
research, development and acceleration of agriculture
technology.
Alfalfa Research.--The Committee notes that research into
alfalfa seed and alfalfa forage systems holds the potential to
increase yields, increase milk production, and improve
genetics, and the Committee provides no less than the fiscal
year 2023 level to support research focused on alfalfa
improvement. Research should focus on using tools to accelerate
and enhance existing breeding programs focused on improving
yield and quality parameters; developing innovative harvesting
and utilization systems; developing new markets for co-
products; and quantifying environmental benefits from alfalfa-
based systems.
Ancient Crop Genetics.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of plant genetics research in enhancing yields and
reducing global food insecurity. The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 for utilizing ancient crop plant
ancestors to meet consumer demands and protect the global food
supply.
Animal Health and Agro-/Bio-Defense Program.--The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 enacted level to
continue to support the Animal Health and Agro/Bio Defense
Program.
Appalachian Native Tree Crop.--The Committee provides
$800,000 for the USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station to
study and expand native fruit tree breeding including the
pawpaw, American persimmon, and hazelnut to expand new market
opportunities for Appalachian farmers.
Appalachian Natural Products Research.--The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to advance
natural products research and applications with a focus on
plant species in Appalachia.
Aquaculture Seedstock.--The Committee remains concerned
that vital seedstock to support the development of aquaculture
in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will be sourced from
foreign aquaculture producers. Domestic on-land recirculating
aquaculture systems are highly capable of producing seedstock
to support significant domestic on-land and offshore
aquaculture industry growth, including through broodstock
acquisition and care, spawning, and larval culture techniques.
Therefore, the Committee encourages USDA to continue working
collaboratively with U.S. aquaculture producers and research
institutions that specialize in the development of aquaculture
technologies and provides no less than the fiscal year 2023
level for the development of aquaculture technology that will
ensure a steady supply of warm water marine fish seedstock for
the economic growth of the U.S. aquaculture industry.
Atlantic Salmon Breeding Program.--The Committee directs
ARS to continue its Atlantic salmon breeding and domestication
work. The Committee notes that domestic salmon farms are
required to only use strains of salmon that are of North
American origin and that these strains need substantial
breeding improvement in order to be competitive with strains
currently used by foreign producers. The Committee notes that
the current ARS Atlantic salmon breeding program lacks a
geneticist and supports efforts by the Department to address
this need.
Binational Agricultural Research and Development [BARD].--
The Committee is supportive of the activities carried out
through BARD and provides no less than the fiscal year 2023
level to support BARD's historical grant-making functions and
expand BARD programming for food and nutrition as well as
artificial intelligence.
Barley Pest Initiative.--The Committee recognizes that
insects and viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases inflict
substantial yield and quality losses to the barley crop
throughout the United States, resulting in significant economic
losses to growers and end-users. The Committee supports
research to be carried out through the Barley Pest Initiative
to address these major threats to sustainable and profitable
barley production and utilization. The Committee provides an
additional $1,000,000 to support this initiative.
Bee Genomic Sequencing.--The Committee is aware that the
genome of the honeybee, Apis mellifera, has been sequenced, but
there are more than 4,000 bee species in the United States, not
all of which are affected by colony collapse or population
declines in the same way. The Committee recognizes the critical
importance of bee species to American agriculture,
floriculture, and ecosystem biodiversity and the increasing
challenges to bee colony health related to parasites, poor
nutrition, pathogens, and pesticides. Although progress has
been made in understanding these influences on pollinator
health, additional research into a broader range of genetic
information will assist in addressing the decline in bee
pollinators. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal
year 2023 level for ARS to sequence and study the genomes of
all species of bees in the United States and directs that this
research be conducted in conjunction with Midwestern land-grant
universities with established expertise in bee genomic biology.
Biosafety Level 2 Lab Space.--The Committee recognizes that
the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility [NBAF] is an
important component of the work that USDA does to protect the
agricultural economy of the U.S. and to maintain our position
as a global leader in animal health, biodefense, and
biosecurity. The Committee is also aware that there exists a
need for lab space, especially that meets Biosafety Level 2
standards, to support additional research and scientific work
including on adult swine or cattle. Within 120 days of
enactment of this act, the Secretary is directed to brief the
Committee on its plans to ensure that the country has access to
sufficient space to conduct pharmaceutical and biologic safety
studies as well as for acclimation of research animals prior to
transition to higher containment work. Initial awards should be
focused on research on controlled environment agriculture in
northern climates, densely populated regions, and small farms.
Center for Pollinator Health.--The Committee is aware that
bees play a crucial role in U.S. agriculture as pollinators and
that continued colony loss poses a serious threat to future
food production. While the Committee commends the Department
for the steps it has taken to better understand and address
this problem, the Committee is concerned that the maximum
benefits of multiagency efforts have yet to be achieved. The
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for
the Center for Pollinator Health in order to provide a central
Federal voice on pollinator health. The Committee encourages
ARS to collaborate with Federal and land-grant university
partners to examine the impact of pesticides, varroa mites, and
other potential contributors to bee colony declines.
Central Crops Research.--The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level for improvements to research
capacity for ARS corn and soybean, and small grain genotyping
work.
Center for Soil Health Research.--The Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support comprehensive
soil testing in additional to critical research on emerging
contaminants and biological characteristics of soil.
Chronic Wasting Disease [CWD].--The Committee recognizes
the importance of a live test for cervids potentially affected
with CWD and provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level
for research dedicated to the development of such test and
research on pathways of transmission.
Citrus Breeding.--The Committee provides an additional
$1,100,000 to continue a breeding research program focused on
developing and evaluating citrus rootstock and scion materials
in areas where citrus is grown.
Citrus Greening Disease Research.--The Committee commends
ARS on its 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.
Climate Hubs.--The Committee understands the important role
ARS has on addressing climate related issues. The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for ARS
research teams to support regional Climate Hubs.
Coffee Leaf Rust.--The recent discovery of coffee leaf rust
in the U.S. insular pacific has substantially impacted U.S.
coffee agriculture, and the Committee provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level to develop science-based management
strategies, provide extension services, and research CLR
resistant varieties of coffee.
Controlled Environment Agriculture.--The Committee provides
$2,000,000 for research on nutrient and water management, best
practices, logistics, the agriculture-energy nexus, and
economic feasibility for controlled environment agriculture.
Work should specifically include research on solutions to
Tribal food sovereignty and access to traditional foods
including viability for controlled environment cultivation of
such crops and medicines.
Cotton Blue Disease.--The Committee is aware that emerging
exotic pathogens of cotton, such as the Cotton Blue Disease
identified in Southeastern States, could have a devastating
impact on the cotton industry if they continue to spread. The
Committee no less than the fiscal year 2023 level and directs
ARS to coordinate with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service [APHIS], academic partners, and industry to develop a
multi-State sentinel program with the purpose of conducting
research to establish biomarkers for these diseases and to
determine whether there are viable extension management
strategies pertaining to aphid control and general cotton
management.
Cotton Ginning.--The Committee recognizes the importance of
pollution abatement, improving fiber quality, ginning
efficiency, cotton seed, and other byproducts and provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level to expand research in
cotton ginning and innovation by existing laboratories.
Cotton Genetics Management and Fiber Quality Traits.--The
Committee recognizes the importance of the domestic cotton
industry and provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level
to expand research associated with cotton fiber quality and
yield traits. No less than the fiscal year 2023 level is also
provided for continued research on effective cotton genetics
and management practices for improved cotton quality and
production.
Cover Crops and Cereal Grain Variety Selection.--The
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to
develop soil enhancement technologies and research cereal
grains, cover crops, and invasive weeds as they related to the
northern climates in regions dominated by permafrost.
Cover Crops Research and Outreach.--The Committee
recognizes the importance of developing profitable and
practicable cover crop options for use in dairy, grain, and
vegetable production systems, including for use in no-till
organic systems and as forages. Therefore, the Committee
provides an additional $250,000 to support research with the
purposes of improving measures of soil health and resiliency;
varietal development; optimal dairy forage species
combinations; timing and strategies for cover crop seeding and
termination; forage integration into organic dairy systems; and
mitigation of environmental and extreme rainfall impacts on
water quality and soil security for diverse cover crop systems.
Cranberry Research.--The Committee recognizes the need for
advancements in water conservation, pest control, disease
reduction, and fruit quality improvements in cranberry
production. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year
2023 level for the improvement of cranberry yields, pest and
disease management, and water resource management by developing
fields devoted to cranberry research and collection and storage
of samples for analysis in appropriate existing laboratory
facilities.
Crop Production Systems and Crop Genetics.--The Committee
recommends no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support
ARS activities in crop production systems and crop genetics in
the mid-south region.
Dairy Forage Research.--The Committee provides an increase
of $800,000 for research and outreach on the attributes of
alternative cropping cycles and forage systems for dairy
production systems, including evaluation of the interactions
between climate change, water quality, soil carbon, and cost-
of-production in the short and long term.
East Coast Shellfish Breeding.--The Committee recognizes
the dangers of parasites and bacterial and viral diseases to
shellfish farmers and understands the importance of selective
breeding to combat these infections. The Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level for shellfish breeding
research focused on the East Coast.
Federal Invasive Species Control Lab.--The Committee
continues to be concerned about the threats invasive pests pose
to the Pacific region, notably to agriculture, the economy,
environment, human health, and national security. The Committee
directs ARS to continue its work with stakeholders in the
Pacific region to assess options for combatting invasive pests.
Options may include invasive pest biocontrol research and
development facilities, including appropriate containment,
rearing facilities, greenhouse quarantine, and additional
agricultural research laboratory space and administrative
space.
Fish Meal from Woody Biomass.--The Committee recognizes
that the continued growth of the aquaculture industry in the
U.S. and globally depends upon the development of sustainable
fish meal. ARS is encouraged to accelerate work on fish meal
from woody biomass, such as yeast from woody biomass that have
the ability to convert low-grade wood into high-value (high-
quality protein source) fish meal with economic yields.
Floriculture and Nursery Research.--The Committee
recognizes the economic importance of the floriculture and
nursery sector of agriculture and the industry's need for
continued innovation. The Committee provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level for ARS to support academic and Federal
researchers to pursue efforts in crop protection, breeding,
mechanization, and other areas through USDA's Floriculture and
Nursery Research Initiative.
Food Systems.--The Committee provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level for ARS to continue a Food Systems
Center that addresses how local, regional, and global food
systems can provide nutritious and culturally appropriate food,
regardless of individual life circumstances.
Forest Products.--The Committee recognizes the important
role of the forests products sector to the U.S. economy. The
need to create new and improved value-added products and
renewable energy from our Nation's wood supply is critical to
the sustainability of the National economy. The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support
research on wood product quality improvement and improvement in
forest products evaluation standards and valuation techniques.
ARS shall conduct this research in consultation with the Forest
Products Laboratory.
Fusion of Machine Learning and Electromagnetic Sensors.--
The Committee provides an increase of $1,000,000 for research
on fusing machine learning and enhanced multi-spectrum sensors
for the purpose of collecting real-time environmental data at
the site of food production.
Genetic Oat Research.--The Committee recognizes the
potential genetic oat research has to improve disease
resistance (especially rusts and viruses), augment genetics,
increase yields, and develop crop rotation systems that include
oats, which will enhance the value of oats and provide benefits
to producers and consumers. The Committee provides no less than
the fiscal year 2023 level to expand existing research focused
on oat improvement.
Genomes to Fields.--The Committee provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level to support the Germplasm Enhancement of
Maize project to complement existing USDA maize germplasm
programs and to support the emerging large-scale public sector
effort to investigate the interaction of maize genome variation
and environments, known as the Genomes to Fields project.
Grape Genomics.--The Committee understands the importance
of the National Grape Improvement Center that, when complete,
will be the world's leading facility for grape genomics and
gene expression research. The Committee provides an additional
$1,000,000 for ARS to recruit and hire scientists necessary to
operate the center.
Healthy Soils Initiative.--The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level to support the study of
enhanced food nutritional quality through Healthy Soil-Healthy
Food-Healthy People Initiatives.
Healthy Soils in Semi-Arid Locations.--The Committee
provides an additional $1,000,000 to conduct research on soil
health in the semi-arid west within integrated cropland and
rangeland ecosystems.
Hemp Cultivar Development.--The Committee encourages ARS to
conduct biotechnology and genomics research in collaboration
with capable institutions to elucidate the genetic control of
key production and product quality traits in hemp to facilitate
cultivar development. In addition, the Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level for ARS to partner with
institutions already engaged in such research to conduct hemp
genetic improvement research and breeding with new breeding and
editing techniques.
Hemp Germplasm.--The Committee recognizes the increasing
demand for hemp for a variety of uses and its growing
importance as a crop for U.S. farmers. When the Nation's hemp
germplasm was destroyed in the 1980s, researchers lost access
to publicly available germplasm for plant breeding purposes.
The Committee directs ARS to establish and maintain a hemp
germplasm repository at the Plant Genetics Resources Research
Unit and provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for
this purpose. The Committee also encourages ARS and the Plant
Genetics Resources Research Unit to partner with 1890
institutions that have existing institutional capacity on hemp
germplasm research, education, and extension capabilities.
Hemp Production Systems.--The Committee recognizes the
emerging market potential for U.S. hemp and hemp-based products
for a variety of uses. The Committee directs ARS to conduct
regionally-driven research, development, and stakeholder
engagement to improve agronomic and agro-economic understanding
of effectively integrating hemp into existing agricultural
cropping, processing, and marketing systems. The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for this
purpose. Research, engagement, and technology transfer shall be
conducted in strict accordance with all applicable Federal and
State authorities and regulations.
Herbicide Resistance Initiative.--The Committee supports
the creation of a regionally focused Herbicide Resistance
Initiative for the Pacific Northwest to identify and overcome
herbicide resistance associated with the crop production
pathway, reducing production losses and reducing or eliminating
pressure on trade limits due to contamination. The Committee
supports research to address weed management strongly affecting
the long-term economic sustainability of food systems in
collaboration with ARS, research institutions and stakeholder
support. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year
2023 level to support the initiative.
High Performance Computing Support.--The Committee provides
no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support high
performance computing capability to address scientific needs
and directs ARS to collaborate with appropriate partners with
the technical capacity and scientific synergy to provide cost-
effective high performance computing support.
Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research.--The
Committee recognizes that critical research is needed to
mitigate against threats posed by landscape use, pests, and
pathogens to the beekeeping and specialty crop industries, and
to the health of pollinators in general. ARS shall prioritize
Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research to study
breeding resistance in bees from mites, diseases, and various
other threats.
Hops Research.--The Committee provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level to support hops research.
Human Nutrition Research.--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. This research supports USDA's
strategic goals of nutrition monitoring; the scientific basis
for dietary recommendations; prevention of obesity and related
diseases; and life stage nutrition and metabolism, in order to
better define the role of nutrition in pregnancy and growth of
children and for healthier aging. The Committee provides an
increase of $1,000,000 to expand research regarding life stage
nutrition and metabolism and the growth, health promotion,
disease prevention, diet, and immune function of the developing
child, especially the rural child. The Committee also provides
no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to address the vital
role that research has on human nutrition and an aging
population.
Impact of Harmful Algal Bloom [HAB] on Aquaculture.--The
Committee recognizes the negative effects of algal blooms on
aquaculture products. As such, the Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level and directs the ARS to
coordinate with academic partners to understand the effects of
chemical mixtures of algal blooms on aquaculture and to develop
application control strategies to sustain growth in aquaculture
production systems that are able to be extended to industry.
Improvements in Broiler Production.--The Committee provides
no less than the fiscal year 2023 level and directs ARS to
coordinate with academic partners to understand the
interactions between parasites and viruses in antibiotic free
poultry production for improved vaccination strategies and
products that are able to mitigate against coinfections in
poultry products.
Improving Health and Productivity of Agricultural Fields.--
The Committee recognizes the potential benefits that fast-
growing, biomass convertible cover crops, such as canola, could
have on improving the profitability and sustainability of small
to medium-sized farms. As such, the Committee directs ARS to
provide no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for the
National Soil Dynamics Laboratory to conduct research focused
on identifying fast growing cover crops that have the ability
to generate farmer profitability as a cash crop and as a
biofuel source, while also improving the productivity and
health of agricultural soils.
Invasive Pests.--The Committee continues to be concerned
about the threats invasive pests pose to the Pacific region,
notably to agriculture, the economy, environment, human health,
and national security. The Committee directs ARS to continue
its work with stakeholders in the Pacific region to assess
options for combatting invasive pests. Options may include
invasive pest biocontrol research and development facilities,
including appropriate containment, rearing facilities,
greenhouse quarantine, and additional agricultural research
laboratory space and administrative space.
Laboratory Staffing.--The Committee directs ARS to fully
staff laboratories even if the laboratory is proposed to be
closed in the budget request.
Little Cherry Disease.--The Committee is concerned by the
growing prevalence of Little Cherry Disease in the Pacific
Northwest and the significant threat that it poses to the
region's stone fruit. The Committee includes an additional
$750,000 for research on detection and mitigation of the
disease and the vector insects involved.
Macadamia Tree Health Initiative.--The Macadamia Tree
Health Initiative was authorized for the purpose of developing
and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat
the macadamia felted coccid. The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level for this purpose.
Measurement and Monitoring Innovation Lab.--The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to continue to
support the ARS Agricultural Measurement and Monitoring
Innovation Lab.
Meat Animal Research Center.--The Committee encourages ARS
to prioritize research critical for the beef industry including
climate adaptation and climate resiliency; optimized natural
resource utilization; improved production efficiencies, meat
safety, and meat quality in support of the vitality of rural
communities; and the environmental sustainability of beef
production, including reduced methane emissions.
Methyl Bromide Alternatives.--Farmers throughout the
country continue to face significant adverse economic and
operational impacts associated with the phase-out of methyl
bromide. Therefore, to meet ongoing needs for collaborative
information sources on state-of-the-art fumigant alternatives
for use by researchers, growers, food processors, legislators,
government policy officials, and other interested parties, the
Committee directs the Secretary to provide continued funding
for education and outreach regarding methyl bromide
alternatives to minimize the impacts of soil and post-harvest
pests to agriculture and maintain critical domestic and
international markets.
Missouri River Basin Water Resource Management Research.--
The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level
for research on the benefits of improving flood control on the
lower Missouri River, assessing the impact on commodity process
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 and minimize erosion and
pollution runoff while supporting flood control, navigation,
and drinking and cooling water supplies.
Mitigation of Salmonella in Poultry.--The Committee
recognizes that additional research may be necessary in order
to reduce salmonella related illness and meet the Healthy
People 2030 goal. The Committee encourages ARS to partner with
a Hispanic Serving Institution, that has previous experience
with the U.S National Poultry Research Center, in efforts to
mitigate salmonella in poultry production and processing and
improve public health.
National Agricultural Library [NAL].--The Committee
strongly encourages ARS to maintain its focus on agriculture-
related legal issues within the NAL. The Committee notes that
as the agriculture sector faces increasing financial stress,
there is a necessity that agriculture-related legal issues be
addressed on an increasingly frequent basis. Further,
agricultural-related legal issues are increasingly complex and
the impact of these legal issues continues to broaden in scope.
The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level
to support climate science research at the NAL. Further, the
Committee provides funding at the fiscal year 2023 level to the
Agricultural Law Information Partnership, including for the
existing partner institutions, and recommends that the National
Agricultural Library continue to play an important role in
assisting all stakeholders with understanding these complex
legal issues. The Committee encourages ARS and the National
Agricultural Library to engage in multi-year cooperative
agreements with the Agricultural Law Information Partnership's
partner institutions.
National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility.--The Committee an
additional $9,000,000 to continue stand-up activities and other
initial costs to operate and maintain the National Bio- and
Agro-Defense Facility [NBAF].
Nematodes.--The Committee recognizes that one of the
biggest trade, quality, and condition irritants for potato
research in the Pacific Northwest are nematodes. The Committee
provides $1,300,000 to support research into sampling methods
and suppression strategies for nematodes.
Onion Breeding.--The Committee understands the challenges
facing the onion industry including perishability, disease and
pest management, and low yield. The Committee provides
$1,000,000 for ARS to research onion breeding and genetics. The
research should work to develop new onion varieties, resiliency
against disease and pests, as well as adoption of automation
and mechanization technology.
Pacific Shellfish Genetics and Breeding.--The Committee
recognizes the economic importance of shellfish aquaculture for
rural and coastal communities on the Pacific coast and the need
for resilient, healthy genetic stocks that can withstand the
region's changing ocean and coastal conditions as well as new
disease threats. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal
year 2023 level for a shellfish genetics and breeding program
to develop genetically improved stock, promote enhanced disease
resiliency, modernize production technologies, and transfer
technology and improved stocks to shellfish farmers in Pacific
States.
PFAS Solutions Throughout Agricultural and Food Systems.--
The Committee provides $10,000,000 to establish a Center of
Excellence for PFAS solutions throughout Agricultural and Food
Systems in conjunction with a university partner. Funding shall
be used on research to address PFAS issues in the agricultural
landscape, animal uptake, adsorption, distributions,
metabolism, and excretion, as well as the fate of PFAS residues
in meat and dairy products as well as in animal urine and feces
and subsequent distribution in the environment.
Plant Associated Microbes.--The Committee recognizes that
plant associated microbes can play a critical role in promoting
plant health and growth. The Committee provides $1,500,000 for
the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory for additional research
and storage and plant associated microbes to characterize key
attributes that benefit plant production.
Poultry Processing Research and Innovation.--The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support
research focused on novel poultry processing approaches and
methods that drive transformational innovation in intelligent
systems, automation, robotics, data science, and artificial
technologies that could enable greater efficiencies, better
resilience, and viable poultry enterprises at various scales of
production.
Pollinator Recovery, Education, and Research.--The
Committee is aware that bees play a crucial role in U.S.
agriculture as pollinators and that colony loss poses a serious
threat to future food production. The Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level to continue work at the
Pollinator Recovery, Education, and Research Center.
Postharvest Dairy Research.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of developing solutions to address agricultural
postharvest inefficiencies to conserve limited resources and
feed a growing population. The Committee provides no less than
the fiscal year 2023 level for research to develop postharvest
technologies that decrease waste and improve resource use of
protein, fat, and sugar in dairy processing.
Potato Research.--The Committee provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level for the development of new management
strategies for potato storage that will maintain potato
quality, reduce grower and processor losses, and increase
profits.
Poultry Production and Product Safety.--The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to facilitate
research in ionizing technology and its use to control various
pathogens in vaccine development and other uses.
Precision Aquaculture.--The Committee recognizes that land-
based, closed-containment aquaculture provides the capacity to
raise freshwater or marine species in any locale with minimal
environmental impacts. Implementing precision agriculture
technologies in these systems will increase production
efficiencies and profitability, ultimately increasing capacity
for meeting the seafood demands of U.S. consumers through
responsible and sustainable domestic aquaculture production.
The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level
to continue the implementation of precision aquaculture in
land-based, closed-containment aquaculture systems.
Predictive Modeling Tools.--The Committee supports efforts
to develop sustainable agricultural production systems for
crops through the use of forecasting tools that incorporate
post-harvest soil testing and in-season monitoring of plant
pathogens to combat crop diseases. The Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level for ARS to work with
Federal and land-grant university partners in order to develop
predictive modeling tools that aid farm management decisions to
improve agricultural production of row crops.
Predictive Crop Performance.--The Committee is aware of the
growing need for crop varieties whose performance minimizes
risks associated with severe year-to-year fluctuations in
weather patterns. As such, the Committee provides an additional
$1,000,000 for additional research that integrates high-
throughput performance data collected with drone, robot, and
on-tractor technologies with genome data to accurately predict
which advanced lines have economic value and environmental
stability.
Pulse Crop Quality.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of ARS wheat quality laboratories in researching and
advancing the quality and overall utilization of wheat and
pulse crops. The Committee provides an additional $500,000 to
further these efforts for pulse crops by establishing quality
analysis standards, developing innovative production processes,
and evaluating crop varieties for product functionality and
market suitability.
Pulse Health Initiative.--The Committee supports the
expansion of pulse crop research and provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level to enhance scientific research into the
health and nutritional benefits of dry peas, lentils,
chickpeas, and dry beans.
Rangeland Precision Livestock Management.--The Committee
recognizes the opportunity for precision livestock management
strategies and tools to promote economically efficient and
environmentally responsive livestock production systems for the
Western rangeland. The Committee provides an additional
$1,000,000 to develop precision nutrition strategies for
rangeland-based livestock as well as technology-based rangeland
and livestock management strategies to optimize the health and
productivity of both Western rangeland-based livestock and the
rangeland ecosystem. Further, the Committee recommends this
funding to transfer new knowledge and technology strategies
into data-informed tools and decision guidance for Western
livestock and rangeland managers.
Rangeland Research.--The Committee recognizes the
demonstrated potential for cooperative partnerships to address
complex sagebrush steppe ecosystem challenges in the Great
Basin region. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal
year 2023 level for ARS to support a regional, multi-
institutional cooperative partnership to advance collaborative
science-based conservation research, extension, and education
to address time-sensitive and shared rangeland challenges
affecting sustainable agricultural productivity, rural
communities, and ecosystem health.
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Research.--The Committee
notes that aquaculture is the fastest growing food production
industry in the world yet the U.S. faces a significant and
growing trade deficit with nearly 90 percent of consumed
seafood and aquacultured products imported from foreign
countries. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year
2023 level to support research into Recirculating Aquaculture
Systems, an emerging land-based technology to expand production
and add resilience to domestic finfish aquaculture.
Research Facilities.--The Committee understands the
important collaboration between ARS and universities and the
impact that aging facilities have on new research
opportunities. The Committee directs ARS to submit a report
that includes information on the current utilization of ARS
facilities by universities and cooperators, as well as the
extent to which ARS is housed in cooperator facilities.
Resilient Dryland Farming.--The Committee recognizes the
need for advancements in dryland production practices,
cropping, and equipment to increase profitability, conserve the
soil, enhance soil water storage, promote soil health, and
decrease reliance on herbicides. The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level to expand research focused on
resilient dryland farming. Research should focus on improving
yield and quality parameters; developing cropping systems
capable of tolerating drought, heat, and diseases; and
quantifying economic and environmental benefits from dryland
crop production systems.
Resilient Livestock Initiative.--The Committee recognizes
the importance of livestock as a main source of sustainability
of food production systems to remain globally competitive and
nourish a growing global population. In the face of increasing
severe weather events, exponentials expansion of the human
population, and reductions in natural resources, livestock
production needs to be more efficient and resilient to provide
products for human consumption. The Committee support the ARS's
Animal Disease Research Unit increasing its collaborative work
to devise functional genomics strategies for developing traits
in livestock to address disease resistance and improve
resiliency in harsher weather conditions and provides
$2,000,000 to establish the Resilient Livestock Initiative.
Sclerotinia.--The Committee is aware of the economic
importance of controlling sclerotinia, which affects
sunflowers, soybeans, canola, edible beans, peas, and lentils
and provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for this
purpose. The Committee encourages ARS to continue both core
research and cooperative projects of the National Sclerotinia
Initiative.
Shrimp Production Research.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of increasing domestic shrimp production and
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for research
and commercial development of production technologies that will
improve shrimp health and streamline feed management regimes.
Small Farm Orchard Production Current Research Information
System [CRIS] Unit.--The Committee recognizes the critical need
for development of low-cost technology and innovative
production strategies for small farm fruit growers that enables
profitable operations on a variety of lands, including
reclaimed mines, increases overall fruit quality, reduces
production costs, and increases economic and ecological
sustainability. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal
year 2023 level for the purpose of implementing a Small Farm
Orchard Production CRIS Unit.
Small Fruits.--The Committee recognizes the need to support
research to promote sustainable and organic production of berry
and grape crops with the goal of reducing pesticide use and
improving quality and yield. The Committee provides an
additional $500,000 to support research to improve the ability
to forecast pest and disease spread, implement precision
management strategies, and improve the overall quality of
fruit.
Small Grains Genomic Initiative.--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. The Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support the Small
Grains Genomic Initiative.
Smoke Exposure.--The Committee is concerned about the
impacts of wildfire smoke on winegrape producers and supports
research to help growers and processors establish science-based
threshold levels of smoke compounds that cause smoke-tainted
grapes, identify the compounds responsible for smoke taints,
develop mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint,
and conduct research into compounds that can act as a barrier
between the grapes and the smoke compounds. The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for this
research.
Soft White Wheat Falling Numbers Test.--The Committee
recognizes the emerging crisis surrounding wheat starch
degradation as detected by the Hagberg-Perten Falling Numbers
[FN] Test. The quality loss was particularly devastating to
Pacific Northwest soft white wheat producers in late 2016. The
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 funding
level to research the accuracy of the FN test and better
understand environmental, storage, and genetic conditions
leading to this quality loss.
Soil Carbon Research.--The Committee recognizes the need
for research into current and future dryland production
practices to increase profitability, conserve soil, enhance
soil water storage, promote sequestration of carbon and soil
health, and reduce reliance on herbicides. The Committee no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level for research focused on
improving yield; assessing the level of carbon sequestration
through existing practices; developing new cropping systems
capable of tolerating drought, heat, and diseases by improving
soil health; improving sequestration of carbon; and identifying
opportunities for increasing sustainability of dryland crop
production.
Sorghum Crop Improvement.--The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level for sorghum research to address
increased drought pressure and erratic climate patterns through
trait-based sorghum breeding, phenotyping, and associated
genomic resources. This research will help develop varietals
which respond to plant stress and deliver increased yield
potential in these harsh semi-arid conditions.
Southern Regional Research Center [SRRC].--The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for the SRRC
crop adaptive resilience food program to conduct collaborative
research with research universities by exploring the value-
added enhancement of State-grown crops such as rice and other
grains and pulses, to define the role for novel approaches in
crop biological signaling and modification to yield
environmentally sustainable, adaptive and stressor resistant
varieties and interventions.
Spray Drone Research.--The Committee provides $2,000,000 to
support academic research on agricultural spray drones to
safely and effectively improve productivity, sustainability,
and precision application for growers.
Strawberry Production.--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 an
additional $500,000 to utilize innovativeautomatic technologies
to enhance strawberry production.
Sudden Oak Death.--The European strain 1 [EU1] and the
North American strain 1 [NA1] of the sudden oak death pathogen
are major threats to western Douglas-fir/tanoak forests,
resulting in quarantine restrictions that threaten U.S. forests
and export markets for log shipments and lily bulbs. The
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for
research to improve understanding of the EU1 and NA1 strains of
the sudden oak death pathogen and treatment methods to inform
control and management techniques in wildlands.
Sugar Beet Research.--The Committee provides no less than
the fiscal year 2023 level for plant disease research to
improve the quality of sugar beet production.
Sugarcane Variety Development.--The Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support research to
shorten the conventional sugarcane breeding timeline, break
through the current plateau in sugar content, and predict
improvement in other traits such as cold tolerance, ratooning
ability, and disease resistance.
Sustainable Aquaculture.--The Committee notes that
aquaculture is the fastest growing food production industry in
the world. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year
2023 level for a pilot Aquaculture Experiment Station in
partnership with universities to support rapid response
research on sustainable aquaculture for coldwater and warmwater
production environments, with special emphasis on workforce
education.
Sustainable Poultry Processing Research.--The Committee
supports the utilization of food safety strategies to mitigate
the increase in growth-related meat quality defects, such as
myopathies, and food borne illnesses, particularly
Campylobacter, that are associated with the increased supply of
poultry production. As such, the Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level and directs the ARS to work
with academic partners to develop further meat processing
strategies to enhance the utilization and value of myopathic
poultry meat and reduce foodborne, microbial pathogens
throughout the poultry industry complex.
Sustainable Specialty Crops.--The Committee supports
research to advance sustainable and profitable specialty crop
agriculture in the arid and semi-arid West. Maintaining
productivity and profitability for specialty crops while
adopting new sustainability practices is challenging.
Decreasing the risk of adopting new sustainability practices is
especially critical in water limited systems where options to
control pests, pathogens, and weeds and increase productivity
are constrained by the semi-arid and arid conditions.
Additionally, opportunities for value-added products from post-
harvest processing operations are needed to increase
profitability and sustainability for producers and processors.
The Committee provides $1,000,000 for this research.
Sustainable Water Use Research.--The alluvial plain within
the Lower Mississippi River Basin is one of most productive
agricultural regions in the United States. The Committee
remains concerned with the unsustainable use of water in the
Alluvial Aquifer as a result of increasing water withdrawals
and stagnant recharging. The Committee provides no less than
the fiscal year 2023 level for research to improve the recharge
capabilities of the Alluvial Aquifer and to develop new
conservation and irrigation techniques to reduce water usage in
agriculture production.
Tree Fruit Post-Harvest Research.--The Committee recognizes
that tree fruit production, including pear and cherry, is a
predominant supplier for domestic and international markets.
The Committee further recognizes that the tree fruit industry
faces significant economic vulnerability from variations in
post-harvest quality control. The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level for pear and cherry tree fruit
research to optimize yield and post-harvest quality, extend
storage life, and promote enhanced resiliency from endemic and
emerging diseases.
Tropical and Subtropical Research.--Research on Tropical
and Subtropical crops is critical as the presence of and
destruction by invasive pests such as fruit flies, coffee berry
borer, felted macadamia nut coccid, plant viruses, and fungal
diseases increasingly threaten crop security in the Pacific and
Insular Areas. The Committee encourages ARS to support this
research.
Tropical Grazing Land Pest Management.--The recent
introduction of invasive insect species such as Prosapia
bicincta has substantially impacted tropical grazing lands. The
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to
develop science-based pest management strategies.
Unmanned Aerial Systems [UAS] Precision Agriculture
Applications.--The Committee provides no less than the fiscal
year 2023 level to support efforts utilizing UAS in crop
production operations and to address the challenges associated
with data capture, transfer, and analysis.
U.S. Sheep Experiment Station.--The Committee recognizes
that the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station is a valuable asset for
grazing lands and sheep industry genetic research, and the
repository of over five decades of sage grouse research and
data. The station is not only valuable for the domestic
livestock industry, but also the Western region's wildlife
interface. The Committee provides funding for rangeland
research 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 Initiative [USWBSI].--The
Committee recognizes that fusarium head blight is a major
threat to agriculture, inflicting substantial yield and quality
losses throughout the United States. The Committee supports
research carried out through the USWBSI. The Committee provides
no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to conduct further
research on reducing the impact of fusarium head blight on
wheat and barley.
Warmwater Aquaculture.--The Committee provides no less than
the fiscal year 2023 level to facilitate the advancement of
technologies that improve the efficiency, profitability, and
sustainability of warmwater aquaculture production.
Water Quality Management Systems.--The Committee provides
an additional $1,000,000 to asses, develop, and disseminate
novel water resource monitoring systems that promote
sustainability practices for watershed and rangeland management
necessary for small communities to prepare for a changing
climate.
Wheat and Sorghum Research.--The Committee recognizes the
potential impact heat and drought can have on the yield and
quality of wheat and sorghum and the need for new cultivars to
adapt to changing climatic conditions. In addition, sorghum
crops have been hit particularly hard by the invasive sugarcane
aphid and new resistant cultivars are needed. The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for research
to improve the productivity and quality of wheat and sorghum
during uncertain growing seasons resulting from extended
droughts and increased temperatures. Within this increase,
funding is included to initiate gene flow research to advance
the durability and sustainability of fitness traits in sorghum.
Wheat Resiliency Initiative.--The Committee provides
$1,000,000 for a Wheat Resiliency Initiative that supports
additional research into Wheat Stem Sawfly and Hessian Fly.
This funding would allow researchers to build capacity to
address underfunded and emerging challenges to wheat production
throughout the United States.
Whitefly.--The Committee remains concerned with the
whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, epidemic, which is severely impacting
pecan production in the Southeastern United States. The
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to
continue this research.
Wind Erosion Research Network.--The Committee provides
$1,000,000 to develop infrastructure to predict wind erosion
effects and target erosion mitigation measures in response to
fire and vegetation loss and a changing climate.
Woody Biomass for Recyclable Packaging.--The Committee
recognizes the potential for biobased thermoplastics made from
woody biomass as more recyclable packaging material and
encourages ARS to accelerate research and technology deployment
in this space.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $74,297,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 41,405,000
Committee recommendation................................ 88,869,000

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $88,869,000
for Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Section 7511(f)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-234) amends the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) by
establishing an agency to be known as the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture. The Secretary transferred to the Director
of NIFA, effective October 1, 2009, all authorities
administered by the Administrator of the Cooperative State,
Research, Education, and Extension Service. The mission is to
work with university partners and customers to advance
research, extension, and higher education in the food and
agricultural sciences and related environmental and human
sciences to benefit people, communities, and the Nation.

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,094,121,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,215,099,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,084,600,000

Research and Education programs administered by NIFA are
USDA's principal entree to the U.S. university system for the
purpose of conducting agricultural research and education
programs as authorized by the Hatch Act of 1887, as amended (7
U.S.C. 361a-361i); the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry
Act of 1962, as amended (Public Law 87-788); the Competitive,
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act, as amended (Public
Law 89-106); the National Agricultural, Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (Public Law 95-
113); the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
(7 U.S.C. 301 note); the Agricultural Research, Extension and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-185), as amended;
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990
(Public Law 101-624); the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171); and the Food, Conservation
and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246). Through these
authorities, USDA participates with States and other
cooperators to encourage and assist State institutions in
conducting agricultural research and education through the
State Agricultural Experiment Stations of the 50 States and the
territories; approved Schools of Forestry; the 1890 Land-Grant
Institutions, Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State
University; 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; Colleges of
Veterinary Medicine; and other eligible institutions. The
appropriated funds provide Federal support for research and
education programs at these institutions.
The research and education programs participate in a
nationwide system of agricultural research program planning and
coordination among the State institutions, USDA, and the
agricultural industry of America.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,084,600,000
for research and education activities of the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture.
The following table summarizes the Committee's
recommendations for research and education activities:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Program/Activity Authorization recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatch Act..................................... 7 U.S.C. 361a-i................................ 265,000
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act..... 16 U.S.C. 582a through a-7..................... 38,000
Research at 1890 Institutions (Evans-Allen 7 U.S.C. 3222.................................. 89,000
Program).
Payments to the 1994 Institutions............. 534(a)(1) of Public Law 103-382................ 7,000
Education Grants for 1890 Institutions........ 7 U.S.C. 3152(b)............................... 30,000
Scholarships at 1890 Institutions............. 7 U.S.C. 3222a................................. 10,000
Centers of Excellence at 1890's Institutions.. 7 U.S.C. 5926(d)............................... 10,000
Education Grants for Hispanic-Serving 7 U.S.C. 3241.................................. 16,000
Institutions.
Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native 7 U.S.C. 3156.................................. 5,000
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions.
Research Grants for 1994 Institutions......... 536 of Public Law 103-382...................... 5,000
New Beginning for Tribal Students............. 7 U.S.C. 3222e................................. 5,000
Capacity Building for Non Land-Grant Colleges 7 U.S.C. 3319i................................. 6,000
of Agriculture.
Resident Instruction and Distance Education 7 U.S.C. 3362 and 3363......................... 2,500
Grants for Insular Areas.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative...... 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)............................... 455,000
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment............ 7 U.S.C. 3151a................................. 10,000
Veterinary Services Grant Program............. 7 U.S.C. 3151b................................. 4,000
Continuing Animal Health and Disease Research 7 U.S.C. 3195.................................. 4,000
Program.
Supplemental and Alternative Crops............ 7 U.S.C. 3319d................................. 2,000
Multicultural Scholars, Graduate Fellowship 7 U.S.C. 3152(b)............................... 10,000
and Institutions Challenge Grants.
Secondary and 2-year Post-Secondary Education. 7 U.S.C. 3152(j)............................... 1,000
Aquaculture Centers........................... 7 U.S.C. 3322.................................. 5,000
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 7 U.S.C. 5811, 5812, 5831, and 5832............ 50,000
Farm Business Management...................... 7 U.S.C. 5925f................................. 2,500
Sun Grant Program............................. 7 U.S.C. 8114.................................. 3,500
Research Equipment Grants..................... 7 U.S.C. 3310.................................. 5,000
Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4)............. 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)............................... 15,000
Alfalfa Forage and Research Program........... 7 U.S.C. 5925.................................. 4,000
Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative..... 7 U.S.C. 5924.................................. 2,500
Laying Hen and Turkey Research Program........ 7 U.S.C. 5925.................................. 1,000
Open Data Standards for Neutral Data ............................................... 1,000
Repository.
Special Research Grants:
Global Change/UV Monitoring............... 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)............................... 1,400
Potato Research........................... 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)............................... 4,000
Aquaculture Research...................... 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)............................... 2,200
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Special Research Grants.......... ............................................... 7,600
=================================================================
Necessary Expenses of Research and Education
Activities:
Grants Management System.................. ............................................... 5,000
Federal Administration--Other Necessary ............................................... 8,000
Expenses for Research and Education
Activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Necessary Expenses............... ............................................... 13,000
=================================================================
Total, Research and Education Activities ............................................... 1,084,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards.--The Committee
remains determined to see that quality research and enhanced
human resources development in the agricultural and related
sciences be a nationwide commitment. Therefore, the Committee
continues its direction that not less than 15 percent of the
competitive research grant funds be used for USDA's
agricultural research enhancement awards program, including
USDA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
[EPSCOR].
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.--The Committee
provides $455,000,000 for the Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative [AFRI].
Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (Public Law 110-234) specifies priority areas within AFRI,
including an emphasis on conventional (classical) plant and
animal breeding. The Committee strongly supports providing
farmers nationwide with greater access to cultivars that are
locally and regionally adapted to their soils, climates, and
farming systems. The Committee is concerned that insufficient
progress is being made in prioritizing this effort. As such,
the Committee directs the agency to make regionally adapted,
publicly held cultivar development a distinct funding priority
within AFRI for fiscal year 2024 and directs the agency to take
steps to improve its tracking of public cultivar projects
within AFRI and report its progress in meeting this goal.
Agriculture Technology.--The Committee encourages USDA to
support research and development of agricultural robotics,
particularly to increase yields in vertically stacked farming
production.
Agroacoustics.--The Committee recognizes the growing field
of acoustics and the many positive impacts it may have in
agriculture, particularly with respect to pest management. The
Committee encourages AFRI to prioritize funding for
agroacoustics in its basic and applied research program, as
well as through the Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement
grants.
Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Research.--The
Committee notes that research into alfalfa and forage has the
potential to increase alfalfa and forage yields, increase milk
production, and improve genetics. The Committee provides
funding to support research into the improvement of yields,
water conservation, creation of new uses, and other research
areas holding the potential to advance the alfalfa seed and
alfalfa forage industry.
Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes.--The Committee
supports collaboration between USDA and the National Science
Foundation to pursue advances in precision agriculture and food
supply security. NIFA is encouraged to continue supporting the
work of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes as part
of its mission to provide opportunity through innovation.
Algae Applications in Agriculture Research.--The Committee
encourages NIFA to support research on algae and algae
application in agriculture, including new technologies and
commercial markets for renewable and sustainable products
derived from algae.
Aquaculture Disease Research.--The Committee encourages
USDA to support aquaculture disease and vaccine research,
including research on coldwater aquaculture vaccines. There is
currently no national facility for pathogen testing. Research
into finfish vaccines and pathogens has the potential to
accelerate the growth of sustainable U.S. aquaculture, reduce
the trade deficit attributable to imported seafood, and reduce
the pressure on overfished species.
Aquaculture Research.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of the domestic aquaculture industry to the U.S.
economy. The Committee provides funding for aquaculture
research to address issues related to genetics, disease,
systems, and economics.
Brucellosis Research.--Federal and State animal health
officials have made eradicating livestock disease with
significant reservoirs a national animal health priority. This
need was reflected in the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law
113-79), which made the research and development of
surveillance methods, vaccines, vaccination delivery systems,
and diagnostics tests a priority research area under the
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (Public
Law 89-106), particularly for bovine brucellosis and bovine
tuberculosis. The Committee recognizes the need for this
research and encourages the agency to make competitive grants
available to study improved management tools for zoonotic
livestock diseases with significant wildlife reservoirs.
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 and is provided $25,000,000 per year in
mandatory funding through the Emergency Citrus Disease Research
and Extension Trust Fund, as authorized in the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334). 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.
Countering Seafood Fraud.--The Committee remains concerned
about countering economic fraud and improving the safety of the
U.S. food supply. The Committee is concerned that adequate
technology is not yet available to provide for appropriate
sampling of the food supply. The Committee believes NIFA should
conduct research to develop technologies that will provide
rapid, portable, and facile screening of fish species at port
sites, as well as wholesale and retail centers.
Diversification in Agriculture.--The Committee recognizes
the rapid evolution of U.S. agriculture, including the
diversification of practices, markets, and technologies as
farms transition from one generation to another. The Committee
encourages NIFA to prioritize investments that deliver hands-on
technical education in diversified agriculture and food systems
and to support technical colleges seeking to establish
beginning farmer programs serving diversified agriculture and
supporting farm viability.
Dual Use/Dual Benefit.--The Dual Purpose with Dual Benefit:
Research in Biomedicine and Agriculture Using Agriculturally
Important Domestic Species program is an interagency
partnership grants program funded by the National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development [NICHD] and USDA. The
Committee strongly urges continuation of this partnership
because it sponsors use of farm animals as dual purpose models
to better understand developmental origins of disease, fat
regulation and obesity, stem cell biology, assisted
reproductive technologies, and infectious disease, which
directly benefits both agriculture and biomedicine. This
program also strengthens ties between human medicine,
veterinary medicine, and animal sciences, which is key to
success of the One Health Initiative.
Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions.--The Committee continues to strongly
support and maintains funding for the Alaska Native-Serving and
Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Program.
Enteric Methane Innovation.--The Committee recognizes the
value of public research in supporting innovation. AFRI is
encouraged to prioritize applications that focus on the
advancement of enteric fermentation solutions, such as cattle
feed additives, methane-inhibiting vaccines, and breeding for
low-methane cattle.
Food Safety.--The Committee continues its recommendation
that NIFA prioritize research on technologies to rapidly and
effectively detect pathogens or contaminants in order to
address foodborne illnesses and improve the safety of our
Nation's supply, including research of novel biodetection
technologies.
Function and Efficacy of Nutrients to Treat Obesity.--The
Committee supports research partnerships with academic entities
to research how bioactive substances help reduce obesity. Given
the persistent obesity problem in the U.S. and the associated
and growing costs to Federal healthcare programs, the Committee
strongly supports increased investment in this area, as it
holds great promise to develop new methods to tackle obesity in
our communities.
Genome to Phenome.--The Committee is supportive of the
multi-university crop research initiative known as Genome to
Phenome and encourages NIFA to support the development of tools
and datasets that can be used across multiple crop species to
improve the output and efficiency of agriculture. The Committee
recognizes that investment in this area will help with
developing advanced genome engineering tools for integrated
optimization of crop yield and livestock feed for improved
animal reproduction and nutrition and mitigation of
environmental impacts from crop and livestock production.
Laying Hen and Turkey Research Program.--The Committee
notes that research into laying hens and turkeys holds the
potential to improve the efficiency and sustainability of
laying hen and turkey production through integrated,
collaborative research and technology transfer. The Committee
recommendation funding to support research into laying hen and
turkey disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance, nutrition,
gut health, and alternative housing systems under extreme
weather conditions, all which hold the potential to advance the
laying hen and turkey industry.
Lowbush Blueberries.--The Committee directs NIFA to work
with research institutions to develop and refine predictive
models and monitoring technologies for native and invasive
pests for incorporation into integrated pest management
programs for naturally seeded, native berry crops to increase
the margin of food safety and product quality.
Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Research.--Nearly half the
seafood consumed across the world is the result of aquaculture,
and the aquaculture industry is a critical and growing part of
the U.S. economy. However, less than 1 percent of worldwide
production comes from U.S. producers. The Committee is
concerned that inefficient production technologies hinder the
ability of the domestic aquaculture industry to compete on a
global scale. The Committee supports development and
demonstration of an integrated aquaculture system that would
contain at one site a highly competitive and sustainable system
with a low environmental footprint and primary self-containment
capability. The Committee supports the development of a
``Beta'' model that would focus on developing, building,
operating, demonstrating, and teaching around this intensified,
integrated, bio-secure production technology for feed, fish-
plant, and energy products.
Organic Research.--USDA's National Organic Standards Board
[NOSB] has identified key organic research priorities, many of
which would help to address challenges that have limited the
growth in organic production in this country. The Committee
encourages NIFA to give strong consideration to the NOSB
organic research priorities when crafting the fiscal year 2024
Request for Applications for AFRI and the Organic Transition
Program. Given the growing demand for organic products, the
Committee also encourages USDA to increase the number of
organic research projects funded under AFRI and the Specialty
Crop Research Initiative.
Protein Functionality.--The Committee encourages USDA to
support research projects that characterize protein from crop
plants such as chickpeas, sorghum, lentils, fava beans, lupin,
rice, oats, mushrooms, and water lentils to assess their
suitability for use in food products. The Committee is
particularly interested in research projects involving plants
that can be easily cultivated in the U.S. and that are
sustainably grown and produced.
Risk Management Education.--In light of the increase in
mandatory funding provided for the Risk Management Education
Program by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law
115-334), the Committee encourages NIFA to raise the maximum
grant size in order to accommodate a wider range of project
types and scopes, including regional and national projects,
which would require a separate larger maximum grant size.
Seafood.--The Committee encourages USDA, in partnership
with universities with established domestic shrimp farming
programs, to support the development of a domestic industry
that will help ensure the safety and quality of the Nation's
seafood supply, promote environmentally sustainable
aquaculture, create new opportunities for U.S. agriculture, and
forge new markets for U.S. grain and oilseed products and
technology services.
Small Fruits Research.--The Committee encourages USDA to
support research to promote sustainable production of berry and
grape crops with the goal of reducing pesticide use and
improving quality and yield. The Committee is concerned about
invasive insects, such as the spotted winged drosophila and
brown marmorated stink bug, and the negative impact they have
on small fruit production and integrated pest management. The
Committee strongly encourages USDA to support research to
improve the ability to forecast pest and disease spread and
implement precision management strategies.
Soil Health.--The Committee recognizes SARE's
accomplishments to improve soil health through cutting-edge
research, education, and extension on cover crops, diversified
rotations, and managed grazing. SARE is encouraged to focus on
increasing agricultural resilience in the context of a changing
climate and the related economic, social, and environmental
challenges, including through interdisciplinary systems
research and education, farmer and rancher research and
demonstration grants, and graduate student research grants.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative.--The Committee
emphasizes the important role of the Specialty Crop Research
Initiative in addressing the critical needs of the specialty
crop industry through research and extension activities. The
Committee encourages NIFA to prioritize proposals for, and
enhance its overall commitment to the ability of farmers to
extend their growing season through the use of winter growing
techniques, including but not limited to high tunnel vegetable
production.
Supplemental and Alternative Crops.--The Committee
recognizes the importance of nationally coordinated, regionally
managed canola research and extension programs. The Committee
encourages the Secretary to continue to seek input from
stakeholders and to give priority consideration to proposals in
the peer review process that address research needs in
production areas with the greatest potential to expand, as well
as those where canola production is established and needs to be
maintained.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education [SARE].--The
Committee is strongly supportive of the SARE program and
directs USDA to ensure that research, education, and extension
activities carried out within SARE remain intact. The Committee
encourages consideration of expanding the focus on soil health,
including soil carbon dynamics and increasing agricultural
resilience in a changing climate.
Tribal Seed Banks.--The Committee directs NIFA, in
consultation with Tribal governments, to conduct a study to
identify Tribal seeds cultivars and assess current availability
production, storage, and harvesting processes to protect Tribal
seed banks; evaluate methods to preserve and ensure the
availability for future generations; and advises on the role of
USDA in protecting Tribal seeds. NIFA is further directed to
ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information of Tribal
Nations, including traditional cultural knowledge and
information about locations that are considered sacred.
U.S. Dairy Education and Training.--The Committee
encourages NIFA to support cooperative work with State-run
universities in the Southwest with experience in bringing
together students and young dairy professionals from multiple
States in summer programs designed to provide practical dairy
teaching with the goal of facilitating research into workforce
safety and antimicrobial stewardship.
Veterinary Corps.--Veterinarians fulfilling the terms of a
contract under USDA's Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment
Program, authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Services
Act (Public Law 108-161), shall be members of the National
Veterinary Medical Services Corps and members who have
fulfilled the terms of their contract shall be alumni of the
Corps.
Veterinary Shortages.--The Committee is concerned by the
critical shortage of veterinarians in the public, private,
industrial, and academic sectors, which serve on the front
lines of upholding our Nation's food safety, public health,
animal health, and homeland security. The Committee also notes
that large portions of rural America have inadequate access to
livestock and public health veterinarians. As such, the
Committee provides an increase in program funding for both the
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and the Veterinary
Services Grant Program.
Workforce Development.--Within the AFRI Education and
Workforce Development initiative, the Committee directs the
Secretary to prioritize applications that establish or expand
career and technical training opportunities for meat
processing.

NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $11,880,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 11,880,000
Committee recommendation................................ 11,880,000

The Native American Institutions Endowment Fund, authorized
by the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act (Public Law
103-382), provides an endowment for the 1994 land-grant
institutions (34 tribally-controlled colleges). This program
enhances educational opportunity for Native Americans by
building educational capacity at these institutions in the
areas of student recruitment and retention, curricula
development, faculty preparation, instruction delivery systems,
and scientific instrumentation for teaching. Income funds are
also available for facility renovation, repair, construction,
and maintenance. On the termination of each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall withdraw the income from the endowment fund for
the fiscal year, and, after making adjustments for the cost of
administering the endowment fund, distribute the adjusted
income as follows: 60 percent of the adjusted income from these
funds shall be distributed among the 1994 land-grant
institutions on a pro rata basis, the proportionate share being
based on the Indian student count; and 40 percent of the
adjusted income shall be distributed in equal shares to the
1994 land-grant institutions.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $11,880,000
for the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $565,410,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 611,862,000
Committee recommendation................................ 567,410,000

Cooperative extension work was established by the Smith-
Lever Act of May 8, 1914, as amended (Public Law 63-95). USDA
is authorized to provide, through the land-grant colleges,
cooperative extension work that consists of the development of
practical applications of research knowledge and the giving of
instruction and practical demonstrations of existing or
improved practices or technologies in agriculture and related
subjects, and to encourage the application of such information
by demonstrations, publications, through 4-H clubs, and other
means to persons not in attendance or resident at the colleges.
To fulfill the requirements of the Smith-Lever Act (Public
Law 63-95), State and county extension offices in each State,
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas, and Micronesia
conduct educational programs to improve American agriculture
and strengthen the Nation's families and communities.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $567,410,000
for extension activities of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
The following table summarizes the Committee's
recommendations for extension activities:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Program/Activity Authorization recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(b) and 3(c) and 7 U.S.C. 343(b) and (c) and 208(c) of Public 325,000
Cooperative Extension. Law 93-471.
Extension Services at 1890 Institutions....... 7 U.S.C. 3221.................................. 72,000
Extension Services at 1994 Institutions....... 7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)............................. 11,000
Facility Improvements at 1890 Institutions.... 7 U.S.C. 3222b................................. 21,500
Renewable Resources Extension Act............. 16 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.......................... 4,060
Rural Health and Safety Education Programs.... 7 U.S.C. 2662(i)............................... 5,000
Food and Animal Residue Avoidance Database 7 U.S.C. 7642.................................. 2,500
Program.
Women and Minorities in STEM Fields........... 7 U.S.C. 5925.................................. 2,000
Food Safety Outreach Program.................. 7 U.S.C. 7625.................................. 10,000
Food and Agriculture Service Learning......... 7 U.S.C. 7633.................................. 2,000
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network...... 7 U.S.C. 5936.................................. 12,000
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(d):
Food and Nutrition Education.............. 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 70,000
Farm Safety and Youth Farm Safety 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 5,000
Education Programs.
New Technologies for Agricultural 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 3,550
Extension.
Children, Youth, and Families at Risk..... 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 8,395
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 4,305
Program.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Section 3(d)..................... ............................................... 91,250
=================================================================
Necessary Expenses of Extension Activities:
Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom......... ............................................... 1,000
Federal Administration--Other Necessary ............................................... 8,100
Expenses for Extension Activities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Necessary Expenses............... ............................................... 9,100
=================================================================
Total, Extension Activities............. ............................................... 567,410
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cooperative Extension System.--The Committee recognizes the
essential function that extension plays in ensuring that
farmers, ranchers, and communities of all sizes are empowered
to meet the challenges they face, adapt to changing technology
and a changing climate, improve nutrition and food safety,
prepare for and respond to emergencies, and protect our
environment. The Committee is concerned that the Federal
investment in this critical Federal, State, and local
partnership has lagged in recent years, just as extraordinary
stresses have been placed on farmers, ranchers, rural
businesses, and communities.
Extension Design Initiative.--The Committee recognizes that
for decades, the foundation of traditional farm extension
programs had researchers and educators working on the farms and
fields alongside crop and livestock producers, but that changes
are needed to develop a 21st century extension to meet the
needs of today's farmers. The Committee notes that new efforts
require USDA to use high-performance computing to develop,
test, and deploy new digital infrastructure and platforms that
can translate research into real-time interactive feedback,
online modeling, demonstration, and simulations. The Committee
directs NIFA to conduct meetings with producers, stakeholders,
and policymakers to begin developing a framework for the next
generation of farm extension programs.
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.--The Committee
recognizes the farmers, ranchers, and individuals working in
agriculture who face highly stressful working conditions. NIFA
is encouraged to coordinate with the Department of Health and
Human Services, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration to assess the feasibility of a national
farmer and farm worker crisis line. Within 180 days of
enactment of this act, NIFA is directed to provide a report
detailing the program?s evolution since inception, types of
programming provided, and FRSAN's strategy for continuing
outreach and services.
Minority Outreach.--The Committee is concerned that
extension service resources do not reach minority, socially
disadvantaged, and Tribal communities in proportion to their
participation in the agricultural sector. All institutions that
receive extension funding should seek to ensure that an
equitable percentage of their overall extension work reaches
minority, socially disadvantaged, and Tribal communities. The
Committee directs NIFA to evaluate distribution of extension
resources to these three populations and report to the
Committee no later than 90 days after enactment of this act.
Rural Opioid Addiction Training.--The Committee provides
$5,000,000 for Rural Health and Safety Education Programs
[RHSE] for the sole purpose of combatting opioid abuse in rural
communities. The Committee reminds USDA of the statuatory
requirement in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-334) for fiscal years 2019 through 2025 that the
Secretary give priority to applications addressing substance
use disorder education and treatment and the prevention of
substance use disorder. The Committee is still waiting for NIFA
to provide a report to the Committee detailing RHSE funding
awarded to projects addressing opioid abuse, projects
combatting other types of substance abuse, and projects
unrelated to substance abuse for the past three fiscal years.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $41,500,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 41,500,000
Committee recommendation................................ 41,500,000

Section 406, as amended, of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-85)
authorizes an integrated research, education, and extension
competitive grants program.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $41,500,000
for integrated activities of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
The following table summarizes the Committee's
recommendations for integrated activities:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE--INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Program/Activity Authorization recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methyl Bromide Transition Program............. 7 U.S.C. 7626.................................. 2,000
Organic Transition Program.................... 7 U.S.C. 7626.................................. 7,500
Regional Rural Development Centers............ 7 U.S.C. 450i(c)............................... 3,000
Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative....... 7 U.S.C. 3351.................................. 8,000
Crop Protection/Pest Management............... 7 U.S.C. 343(d)................................ 21,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Integrated Activities............ ............................................... 41,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative.--The Committee
supports the important work being done through the publicly
funded diagnostic laboratory network and encourages NIFA to
prioritize funding to strengthen animal health diagnostic
laboratories, taking into consideration the following: the
degree to which the capacity for surveillance, monitoring,
response, and capacity is enhanced; the concentration of human
and animal populations that are directly at risk; trade,
tourism, and cultural considerations; geography, ecology, and
climate; evidence of active collaboration with and support of
the State animal health officials; those States with highest
risk for the introduction of foreign and emerging pests and
diseases; and evidence of stakeholder support and engagement.
Organic Transition.--The Committee maintains funding for
the Organic Transition Program and directs the agency to use
this increase to focus specifically on research topics related
to the role of organic agriculture with regard to climate
change.
Potato Research.--To minimize the application of pesticides
and to maximize the yield and quality of harvested potatoes,
the Committee directs the Secretary to support pest management
programs in potato growing States. Such programs help
scientists track potential pest outbreaks and provide growers
and industry professionals with current information on specific
and timely treatments. Additionally, the programs help identify
serious diseases, such as late blight disease, in their early
stages, allowing for preventive measures to be put into place
quickly to avoid crop losses.

Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,617,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,657,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,617,000

The Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs provides direction and coordination in
carrying out laws with respect to the Department's marketing,
grading, and standardization activities related to grain;
competitive marketing practices of livestock, marketing orders,
and various programs; veterinary services; and plant protection
and quarantine. The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service [APHIS] and Agricultural Marketing Service [AMS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,617,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory
Programs.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,171,071,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,188,788,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,185,967,000

The Secretary of Agriculture established the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service on April 2, 1972, under the
authority of reorganization plan No. 2 of 1953, and other
authorities. The major objectives of APHIS are to protect the
animal and plant resources of the Nation from diseases and
pests. These objectives are carried out under the major areas
of activity, as follows:
Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/Response.--The
agency monitors plant and animal health worldwide and sets
import polices to prevent the introduction of foreign plant and
animal pests and diseases. Domestically, the agency works
cooperatively to conduct plant and animal health monitoring
programs, pursue eradication, or limit the spread of the
threat. The agency also conducts diagnostic laboratory
activities that support disease prevention, detection, control,
and eradication programs. In addition, the agency protects
agriculture from detrimental animal predators and through its
regulatory structure helps advance genetic research while
protecting against the release of harmful organisms.
Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance.--The
agency helps resolve technical trade issues to ensure the
smooth and safe movement of agricultural commodities into and
out of the United States. The agency negotiates animal and
plant health certification requirements and assists U.S.
exporters in meeting foreign regulatory demands. In addition,
the agency assists developing countries in improving their
safeguarding systems to protect the United States from emerging
plant and animal pests and diseases.
Animal Care.--The agency conducts regulatory activities
that ensure the humane care and treatment of animals and horses
as required by the Animal Welfare Act (Public Law 89-544) and
Horse Protection Acts (Public Law 91-540). These activities
include inspection of certain establishments that handle
animals intended for research, exhibition, and as pets, and
monitoring certain horse shows.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,185,967,000
for salaries and expenses of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
The following table reflects the Committee's specific
recommendations for APHIS:

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safeguarding and International Technical Assistance:
Animal Health Technical Services......................... $39,183 $40,067 $39,183
Aquatic Animal Health.................................... 5,000 6,461 6,385
Avian Health............................................. 64,930 66,324 64,930
Cattle Health............................................ 111,771 103,658 111,771
Equine, Cervid and Small Ruminant Health................. 35,319 32,498 35,819
National Veterinary Stockpile............................ 6,500 5,813 6,500
Swine Health............................................. 26,044 31,624 30,294
Veterinary Biologics..................................... 21,479 22,217 21,479
Veterinary Diagnostics................................... 63,777 63,425 63,777
Zoonotic Disease Management.............................. 21,567 24,430 21,567
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Animal Health................................ 395,570 396,517 401,705
==================================================
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (Appropriated)........ 35,541 37,690 35,541
Cotton Pests............................................. 15,450 15,737 15,450
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystems Pests.................. 14,986 15,425 13,986
Pest Detection........................................... 29,075 30,164 29,075
Plant Protection Methods Development..................... 22,557 22,556 21,807
Specialty Crop Pests..................................... 216,117 222,037 217,904
Tree & Wood Pests........................................ 62,562 64,272 62,562
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Plant Health................................. 396,288 407,881 396,325
==================================================
Wildlife Damage Management............................... 121,957 122,897 121,957
Wildlife Services Methods Development.................... 26,244 25,658 26,244
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Wildlife Services............................ 148,201 148,555 148,201
==================================================
Animal & Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement............. 18,722 19,390 18,722
Biotechnology Regulatory Services........................ 19,691 23,916 19,691
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Regulatory Services.......................... 38,413 43,306 38,413
==================================================
Civilian Climate Corps....................................... ............... 6,016 ...............
Contingency Fund......................................... 514 543 514
Emergency Preparedness & Response........................ 44,067 45,198 48,067
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Emergency Management......................... 44,581 51,757 48,581
==================================================
Subtotal, Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness/ 1,023,053 1,048,016 1,033,225
Response..............................................
==================================================
Safe Trade and International Technical Assistance:
Agriculture Import/Export................................ 19,292 17,766 19,292
Overseas Technical & Trade Operations.................... 25,572 28,976 25,572
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Safe Trade................................... 44,864 46,742 44,864
==================================================
Animal Welfare:
Animal Welfare........................................... 37,506 35,641 37,506
Horse Protection......................................... 4,096 3,166 4,096
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Animal Welfare............................... 41,602 38,807 41,602
==================================================
Agency Management:
APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure.............. 4,251 7,451 4,251
Physical/Operational Security............................ 5,182 5,205 5,182
Rent and DHS Security Payments........................... 42,567 42,567 42,567
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Agency Management............................ 52,000 55,223 52,000
==================================================
Congressionally Directed Spending............................ 9,552 ............... 14,276
--------------------------------------------------
Total, Direct Appropriation............................ 1,171,071 1,188,788 1,185,967
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Agricultural Quarantine Inspection.--The Committee
recognizes that the prevention of infestations of pests and
diseases is significantly more cost effective than subsequent
control or eradication. This is an important Federal
responsibility, and the Committee provides $35,541,000 for the
agricultural quarantine inspections [AQI] function, including
pre-departure and interline inspections, and canine detection
and surveillance activities.
The Committee notes that assessing AQI treatment monitoring
fees on a per-enclosure basis imposes disproportionate impacts
on industry and user groups at certain key ports of entry,
including ports along the Southeastern United States. USDA is
encouraged to continue evaluating alternative and equitable
funding mechanisms in consultation with relevant stakeholder
groups.
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Fees.--The Committee
directs the Secretary to issue a final rule to update the AQI
user fee schedule in fiscal year 2024, if a final rule is
warranted based on the comments received on the proposed rules.
Animal Disease Traceability.--The Committee recognizes that
improving animal disease traceability may help better protect
domestic livestock health. The Committee is concerned the
Department may place a financial burden on producers and
livestock auction markets as they seek to comply with potential
new traceability regulations. The Committee urges the
Department to mitigate the financial impact on producers and
auction markets and address concerns raised by industry,
especially those related to data privacy and confidentiality.
Animal Welfare.--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
urges the agency to reform its current licensing and
enforcement scheme. While the agency took steps towards this
goal over the last year, the Committee believes more progress
can be made. This includes, but is not limited to: ensuring
consistent, thorough, unannounced inspections on a regular
basis; ensuring 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, requiring
that inspection reports which identify violations or failures
of compliance be shared with relevant local, State, and Federal
agencies.
Avian Influenza.--The Committee remains concerned with the
spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza and appreciates the
Department's ongoing efforts to contain spread of the virus.
The Committee encourages the Department to continue
coordination with State animal health officials in order to
proactively mitigate spread of the virus. The Committee also
urges the Department to increase outreach and engagement with
poultry producers to educate on proactive measures individuals
can take to further mitigate the spread of highly pathogenic
avian influenza. The Committee encourages the Department to
utilize existing supplemental funding to continue these
efforts.
Additionally, the Committee recognizes the extreme economic
hardship posed to gamebird and egg farmers when flocks are
determined to be infected by high and low pathogenic avian
influenza and acknowledges the severe limitations on controlled
marketing available to producers of live game birds, as well as
the income loss from egg production. The Committee encourages
APHIS to provide full indemnity coverage for gamebird and egg
operations and cease attempts to limit coverage.
Cattle Fever Ticks.--The Committee provides no less than
the fiscal year 2023 level for cattle fever tick research needs
and directs APHIS to coordinate with ARS on the development of
its long-term cattle fever tick research program. The Committee
directs 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 to manage non-
native Carrizo cane, which is a favorable habitat for the
cattle fever tick. The Committee still awaits a report on the
progress of this effort.
Chronic Wasting Disease [CWD].--The Committee is concerned
about the growing threat of CWD and its impact on wild and
farmed deer populations. As such, the Committee provides
$18,000,000 to implement Section 603 of Public Law 117-392, the
Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act.
Specifically, of the amount provided for cervid health
activities, $13,000,000 shall be for APHIS to allocate funds
directly to State departments of wildlife and State departments
of agriculture to further develop and implement chronic wasting
disease surveillance, testing, management, and response
activities. Of the amount provided for Wildlife Service Methods
Development, $5,000,000 shall be for CWD work at the National
Wildlife Research Center, and the Committee directs APHIS to
continue working with university collaborators to provide
research support to the overall effort to detect, combat, and
control CWD.
Citrus Health Response Program [CHRP].--CHRP is a national
effort to maintain a viable citrus industry within the United
States, maintain producers' continued access to export markets,
and safeguard citrus producing States against a variety 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 to sustain the
economic viability of the citrus industry.
Congressionally Directed Spending [CDS].--The Committee has
provided CDS for certain activities and locations under APHIS.
While the Committee has provided the funding, recipients of CDS
are still required to apply for the funding. The Committee
expects the agency to review the applications and fund projects
in the same manner as in previous years.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis.--The Committee remains
concerned about the capacity of States to conduct surveillance,
testing, prevention, and research relating to Eastern Equine
Encephalitis. The Committee continues to provide $1,000,000 to
support ongoing cooperative agreements with impacted States.
Feral Cattle in the Gila National Forest Wilderness Area.--
The continued presence of feral cattle in the Gila National
Forest Wilderness Area in New Mexico is negatively impacting
both the ecosystem and recreational use of the area. The
Committee directs the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service Wildlife Services and the United States Forest Service
to address this issue as expeditiously as feasible. The
Services shall provide reports to the Senate Committee on
Appropriations and House Committee on Appropriations on their
progress in the first and third quarters of the year.
Foreign Trading Partners.--The Committee encourages APHIS
and the Foreign Agricultural Service to engage with foreign
trading partners, international organizations and others to
create a global environment that's conducive to agricultural
trade in forest products by addressing trade barriers related
to fumigation, and establishing transparent and predictable
rules and standards.
Horse Protection Rule.--The Committee urges the Secretary
to issue the new proposed Horse Protection Act rule
expeditiously, consistent with the agency's announced
intentions in December 2021, and to finalize and publish the
new final rule as soon as possible if warranted by public
comments received. The Committee further urges the Secretary to
ensure that the new rule considers at a minimum all the key
elements of the final rule, ``Horse Protection; Licensing of
Designated Qualified Persons and Other Amendments''.
Huanglongbing Emergency Response.--The Committee maintains
the increased funding levels for Huanglongbing Emergency
Response within the Specialty Crop Pests line item included in
fiscal year 2023. The Committee encourages APHIS to allocate
sufficient resources in order to continue vital management,
control, and associated activities to address citrus greening.
The disease, for which there is no cure, has caused a reduction
in citrus production by over 60 percent since 2007 in Florida
alone. All citrus producing counties in Texas are under
quarantine, and California has detected the disease in some
backyard trees in the Los Angeles basin. The spread of this
disease has called the domestic citrus industry's future into
question, costing thousands of jobs and millions in lost
revenue and increased production costs per acre. In addition,
the agency is encouraged to support priorities and strategies
identified by the HLB-MAC group which will benefit the citrus
industry. The agency should appropriately allocate resources
based on critical need and maximum effect to the citrus
industry. The Committee maintains the fiscal year 2023 funding
level for citrus health to support priorities and strategies
identified by the HLB-MAC group. The MAC is focused on short-
term solutions to help the citrus industry, and the cooperative
nature of Federal, State, and industry representatives in this
group is expected to result in the development of tools and
techniques to address this devastating disease. Helping growers
explore new possible solutions, the MAC has been an effective
resource. These citrus health activities directly protect
citrus production on approximately 765,000 acres in the United
States worth more than $11,000,000,000 in total.
Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination Group.--The
Committee recognizes the significant economic impact of this
disease on the citrus industry, which is especially acute in
Florida and is 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 growers. Finally,
the Committee expects that any funds which are redirected from
existing HLB-MAC projects be repurposed to other priority HLB-
MAC projects that are showing promising results to ensure these
critical funds remain committed to facilitating the design and
implementation of the rapid delivery pathway to growers.
Invasive Blue Catfish.--The Committee directs APHIS to
continue strong collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and State partners to control the spread of invasive
blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Lacey Act Implementation.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of the Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371-3378) in addressing
trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish, and plants,
including illegal deforestation activities. The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to support the
implementation of the Lacey Act within the Safe Trade and
International Technical Assistance program. Additionally, APHIS
is directed to complete a report within 90 days detailing the
status of efforts to expand the Lacey Act declaration
requirement to additional commodities.
Los Alamitos Sterile Insect Release Facility.--The
Committee urges APHIS, the Department of Defense, and local and
State cooperators to develop a comprehensive plan for much
needed facility enhancements at the Sterile Insect Release
Facility in Los Alamitos, California.
Marine Mammals in Captivity.--The Committee is concerned
that USDA's handling, care, treatment, and transportation
standards for marine mammals in captivity are outdated. Marine
mammal science has progressed significantly in the almost 40
years since the most important of these regulations were last
updated, and the current standards do not adequately protect
the welfare of captive marine mammals. The Committee directs
APHIS to prioritize the development and finalization of a
humane and science-based rule to modernize its marine mammal
regulations and directs the agency to report back within 90
days on its progress in achieving that goal.
National Animal Health Laboratory Network.--The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for the
National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
National Aquatic Animal Health Plan.--The Committee
provides $4,020,000 to support the continued implementation of
the 2023-2025 National Aquaculture Health Plan and the
Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards, an increase
of $1,385,000, to protect aquatic animal health, enhance
individual biosecurity, and facilitate domestic and
international commerce in fish and shellfish.
National Bio- and Agro-Defense Human Capital Development.--
The Committee provides $3,000,000 for APHIS to ensure necessary
steps are taken to develop a qualified workforce comprised of
subject matter experts in foreign, emerging, and zoonotic
diseases and capable of developing, validating, and conducting
needed diagnostics, performing epidemiologic studies, and
completing bioinformatics analyses. The Committee encourages
APHIS to establish cooperative agreements with academic
research institutions, particularly non-land grant Hispanic-
Serving Institutions, to support the next generation of the
NBAF workforce, including facilities and equipment.
National Detector Dog Training Center.--The Committee
supports the work of the National Detector Dog Training Center
in protecting the domestic agriculture sector from invasive
pests and diseases. The Committee requests USDA, within 1 year
after enactment, to submit a report to Congress regarding the
Center's role in protecting the domestic agriculture sector
from pests and diseases. The Committee requests that the report
include a description of domestic pest and disease programs
that use canine detector teams, coordination between APHIS and
U.S. Customs and Border Protection on use of canine teams for
agricultural quarantine inspections, and the Center's current
capacity level.
Navel Orangeworm.--The Committee acknowledges and
encourages continued collaboration among ARS, APHIS, and State
cooperators to address threats posed to tree nut production by
the navel orangeworm.
Non-Lethal Strategies.--The Committee is aware that
Wildlife Services has worked with landowners to deploy non-
lethal strategies, such as fladry, electric fencing, and
livestock guardian dogs, to reduce predator depredation on
livestock. The Committee provides $4,500,000 for Wildlife
Services to hire personnel exclusively to promote and implement
non-lethal human-predator conflict deterrence techniques in
interested States, with a focus on reducing human-wildlife
conflicts related to predators and beavers in the Western
Region and Great Lakes States and to assist in providing
training in these techniques to agricultural producers,
landowners, and other agency personnel in collaboration with
the National Wildlife Research Center.
Additionally, APHIS is directed to provide an annual report
within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year, detailing how
these additional funds were dispersed; including regional
distribution, wild and domestic species impacted, number and
size of livestock/agricultural operations impacted, and
nonlethal tools and methods implemented and supported.
National Veterinary Stockpile.--Foot and Mouth Disease
[FMD] remains a grave threat to the animal agriculture industry
in the United States. The U.S. agriculture industry must remain
vigilant and be prepared in the event of an FMD outbreak. The
Committee provides $6,500,000 for the National Veterinary
Stockpile to protect the Nation's food supply by maintaining
enough countermeasures capable of deployment against the most
damaging animal diseases.
Pale or Potato Cyst Nematode Eradication.--The Committee
supports the work of the Pale Cyst Nematode eradication program
and recognizes that if left untreated, this pest could spread,
affecting crops other than potatoes. The Committee provides no
less than the fiscal year 2023 level in order to continue with
successful efforts to eradicate this pest.
Poultry Indemnity Payments.--The Committee directs USDA to
coordinate amongst all relevant agencies under its authority to
update, and where applicable, develop consistent, easily
replicated formulas on an annual basis to estimate market
values of livestock and poultry categories for indemnity
purposes. In developing and updating these annual values, USDA
should ensure that they reflect applicable modern production
practices, and relevant livestock and poultry markets so that
payments by USDA represent average fair market values for the
category of animal that the compensation payment is intended to
cover.
Roseau Cane.--The Committee remains concerned with the
invasive species scale insect pest that is destroying Roseau
cane in the Mississippi River's Delta region along the Gulf of
Mexico. An estimated 225,000 acres of wetlands in the Delta
have been affected with the die-off, and Roseau cane is
important in maintaining a healthy marsh and preventing
erosion. The Committee directs APHIS to work with ARS and
stakeholders and provides no less than the fiscal year 2023
level to develop an integrated management program for control
of the Roseau cane scale insect pest infestation.
Soring.--The Committee has consistently recognized the need
for the equine industry and APHIS to cooperate in order to
eliminate the soring of horses. In 2021, the National Academy
of Sciences recognized the importance of developing an
objective science-based inspection to ensure accuracy and
fairness. The Committee directs APHIS to augment its existing
procedures and protocols by implementing swabbing and other
proven objective science-based inspection tools for its horse
soring inspection protocol and to address the findings of the
NAS report as the agency deems warranted.
Sudden Oak Death.--The European strain 1 [EU1] and the
North American strain 1 [NA1] of the sudden oak death pathogen
are major threats to western Douglas-fir/tanoak forests,
resulting in quarantine restrictions that threaten U.S. forests
and export markets for log shipments and lily bulbs. The
Committee recommendation includes no less than the fiscal year
2023 funding level to improve understanding of EU1 and NA1
strains of the sudden oak death pathogen and treatment methods
to inform control and management techniques in wildlands.
Twenty-Eight Hour Law.--The Committee is concerned that the
regular feeding, watering, and rest required, by 49 U.S.C.
80502, to be provided by animal carriers is not being
effectively enforced. The Committee directs APHIS to provide a
report within 90 days of enactment of this Act on barriers to
successful implementation of this law.
Veterinary Countermeasures.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of APHIS incorporating new vaccines, when warranted,
as veterinary countermeasures are procured by the National
Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank.
West Nile Virus.--The Committee remains concerned with the
threats to human and animal health posed by West Nile virus and
recognizes that a critical strategy for addressing these
threats is necessary to prevent the infection and transmission
by known vectors, including farm-raised alligators. The
Committee encourages APHIS to further investigate West Nile
virus and other infectious diseases affecting farm-raised
alligators and develop methods to prevent infection and
transmission.
Wildlife Damage Management.--APHIS is responsible for
providing Federal leadership in managing problems caused by
wildlife. The Committee provides $121,957,000 for wildlife
damage control to maintain priority initiatives, including
preventing the transport of invasive snakes and other harmful
species. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year
2023 funding level for the agency to reduce blackbird
depredation in the Northern Great Plains.
The Committee maintains support for assistance to catfish
producers to help mitigate wildlife depredation, particularly
as it pertains to fish-eating and disease-carrying birds. The
Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level for
damage management efforts and the development of methods to
assist producers in combatting the persistent threat and
economic hardship caused by cormorants, pelicans, and other
birds.
The Committee recognizes the importance of the National
Feral Swine Damage Management Program in reducing adverse
ecological and economic impacts caused by feral swine across
the country. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal
year 2023 level in support of APHIS' efforts to decrease these
invasive pests' damage and risk to agriculture, natural
resources, and property. The Committee also encourages the use
of all approved measures as a force multiplier and to
prioritize areas with the most populous swine population.
The Committee provides $28,000,000 for the National Rabies
Management Program to fortify existing barriers and advance
prevention and eradication efforts.
Wildlife Services Education and Training.--The Committee is
aware of the wide range of hazardous procedures and materials
utilized by APHIS personnel in the conduct of daily duties. In
addition, a recent comprehensive study noted the critical need
to provide standardized safety training, certification, and
database management for tracking to ensure the safest working
environment possible. As such, the Committee provides
$2,000,000 within Wildlife Damage Management to maintain a
National Training Academy focused on those areas of greatest
concern such as pyrotechnics, firearms, hazardous materials,
immobilization and euthanasia drugs, pesticides, animal care
and handling, land vehicles, watercraft, and zoonotic diseases.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $3,175,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 3,175,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,175,000

The APHIS appropriation for Buildings and Facilities funds
major nonrecurring construction projects in support of specific
program activities and recurring construction, alterations,
preventive maintenance, and repairs of existing APHIS
facilities.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommendation includes an appropriation of
$3,175,000 for buildings and facilities of the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
This funding is necessary to allow APHIS to maintain
existing facilities and perform critically needed repairs to
and replacements of building components, such as heating,
ventilation, and air-conditioning on a prioritized basis at
APHIS facilities. The Committee notes that due to the
environmentally sensitive nature of many APHIS facilities,
closure of a facility could result if APHIS is unable to
complete the required repairs.

Agricultural Marketing Service

MARKETING SERVICES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $237,695,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 254,605,000
Committee recommendation................................ 229,891,000

The Agricultural Marketing Service was established by the
Secretary of Agriculture on April 2, 1972. AMS carries out
programs authorized by more than 50 different statutory
authorities, the primary ones being the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627, 1635-1638); the U.S. Cotton
Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51-65); the Cotton Statistics and
Estimates Act (7 U.S.C. 471-476); the Tobacco Inspection Act (7
U.S.C. 511-511q); the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act
(7 U.S.C. 499a-499t); the Egg Products Inspection Act (21
U.S.C. 1031-1056); and section 32 of the act of 1935 (Public
Law 74-320, 7 U.S.C. 612c).
Programs administered by this agency include the market
news services, standardization, grading, classing, shell egg
surveillance services, transportation services, wholesale
farmers and alternative market development, grant payments to
States for marketing activities, the Federal administration of
marketing agreements and orders, commodity purchases, the
Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (7 U.S.C. 499a-499t),
the Plant Variety Protection Act (Public Law 71-325), and
market protection and promotion activities.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $229,891,000
for Marketing Services of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
The Committee provides the following amounts: $7,504,000 for
the Acer Access and Development Program; $1,000,000 for the
Cattle Contract Library; and $32,700,000 for oversight and
enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.
The Committee includes in this account $15,000,000 for the
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and $8,000,000 for the
Micro-grants for Food Security Program.
Acer Access and Development.--The Committee provides
$7,504,000 for the Acer Access and Development Program. The
Secretary shall use this funding for competitive grants that
support the promotion of research and education, natural
resource sustainability, and market development and promotion.
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives.--The Committee
includes $15,000,000 for the Dairy Business Innovation
Initiatives, which promotes innovation in dairy and supports
dairy farm businesses. The Committee encourages the Secretary
to expend unobligated balances previously appropriated for this
program, including by allocating funding to centers that have
already expended funding under Public Law 117-2.
Dairy Sanitary Export Certificate Software.--The Committee
is concerned with the USDA dairy sanitary export certificate
program software ATLAS has caused US dairy exporters
significant export delays and detentions in foreign ports. USDA
is directed to report to the Committee on the status of its
improvements to the ATLAS program including reporting on the
quantity errors in certificates issued by the end of this
fiscal year and to include in such report, status of Department
and AMS funding from existing and relevant funds, such as CCC
funds, and if necessary, inclusion within the Department's
fiscal year 2025 budget request.
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.
Honey.--The Committee directs the department to provide a
report on the necessary resources and authorities needed to
ensure a fairer market for domestic honey producers and more
transparent market for American consumers. The Department is
encouraged to collaborate with Customs and Border Protection,
the Food and Drug Administration, and domestic commercial honey
producer stakeholders.
Meat Pricing Concerns.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of ensuring that meat pricing mechanisms are
transparent and provide reliable price discovery for cattle
producers and the rest of the supply chain nationwide. The
Committee notes that the Nation's food supply chain is an issue
of national security, and emphasizes that our farmers,
ranchers, processors, and consumers must have a fair and
competitive marketplace. The Committee directs the Secretary,
working with the Attorney General as appropriate, to act
expeditiously to analyze these issues and to consider extending
the ongoing investigation to include economic disruptions
associated with public health emergencies.
Micro-Grants for Food Security.--The Committee urges AMS to
administer the Micro-Grants for Food Security program in a
manner that will ensure that low-income, disadvantaged, and
minority individuals are able to submit applications and
receive funding for projects such as animal processing and
slaughter facilities, including reindeer herders, greenhouses,
and hydroponic growing facilities that would increase the
amount and quality of locally produced foods. When practicable,
the Committee directs AMS to waive or amend how it applies the
regulatory requirements of 2 CFR 200.206, 200.313, 200.328, and
200.329 to ensure that this program addresses food insecurity
challenges.
National Organic Program.--The Committee recognizes that
organic regulations are a valuable market development tool for
U.S. agriculture and provides $22,759,000 for the National
Organic Program [NOP]. A healthy market for organic products
requires a clear product distinction backed by a trusted,
verified, and consistently enforced label. The Committee also
recognizes that regular updates to the regulations are crucial.
The Committee directs USDA to provide all resources needed for
the NOP to deliver the strongest possible oversight before
allowing the USDA organic seal to be granted to domestic and
international operations and products, including a continued
focus on proactive risk-based investigations and oversight,
enhanced training for certifiers, and practice standards
development. In addition, within 60 days of enactment of this
act, AMS is directed to provide a full report outlining the
breakdown of the National Organic Program's key expenditures
such as compliance and enforcement activities, practice
standards development, and technology upgrades.
Native American Foods and Tourism.--The Committee
recognizes that enhanced Native American tourism creates
important job opportunities in Native American communities
while showcasing their heritage, food, traditions, history, and
continuing vitality. The Committee encourages USDA to support
the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience
Act (Public Law 114-221) by prioritizing projects that market,
promote, or expand Native American foods, markets, and
enterprises.
Organic Dairy.--The Committee recognizes the importance of
consumer confidence in the integrity of the USDA Organic Seal
and notes the work that USDA has done to increase training and
certifier consistency with respect to dairy operations. The
Committee directs AMS to seek strong enforcement of organic
dairy production standards and resolve significant variations
in standard interpretation that exists among organic
certifiers, as well as among organic dairy producers. AMS shall
continue to conduct critical risk-based oversight, particularly
for large, complex dairy operations, as it has in the past four
fiscal years.
Organic Data Initiative.--The Committee recognizes that
accurate data for the production, pricing, and marketing of
organic products is essential to maintaining stable markets,
identifying fraud, creating risk management tools, tracking
production trends, and increasing exports. Therefore, the
Committee directs the Secretary to require mandatory reporting
on an annual basis by accredited certifying agents on aggregate
production areas certified by crop and location in order to
accurately calculate organic acreage and yield estimates on a
country-by-country basis. The Committee provides $1,000,000 for
AMS to coordinate with NASS for activities related to expanding
organic price reporting and organic data collection.
Soil Health.--The National organic standards require
farmers that voluntarily chose to certify their operation as
meeting organic practices to use farming practices that improve
soil health, such as crop rotations, cover cropping, and
pasture-based livestock practices. By improving soil health,
these farming practices also increase the carbon sequestration
potential of the soil, and improve the farm's resilience to
extreme weather events and patterns. To maximize the climate
benefits of organic agriculture, the Committee urges the
National Organic Program to increase enforcement efforts to
ensure full compliance with the soil health and pasture
requirements of USDA organic standards.

LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Limitation, 2023........................................ $62,596,000
Budget limitation, 2024................................. 62,596,000
Committee recommendation................................ 62,596,000

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Public Law
97-35) initiated a system of user fees for the cost of grading
and classing cotton and tobacco. These activities, authorized
under the U.S. Cotton Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51 et seq.), the
Tobacco Inspection Act (7 U.S.C. 511 et seq.), and other
provisions of law are designed to facilitate commerce and
protect participants in the industry.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends a limitation of $62,596,000 on
administrative expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service.

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

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $21,501,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 21,501,000
Committee recommendation................................ 21,501,000

Under section 32 of the act of August 24, 1935, (Public Law
74-320), an amount equal to 30 percent of customs receipts
collected during each preceding calendar year and unused
balances are available for encouraging the domestic consumption
and exportation of agricultural commodities. An amount equal to
30 percent of receipts collected on fishery products is
transferred to the Department of Commerce. Additional transfers
to the child nutrition programs of the Food and Nutrition
Service have been provided in recent appropriations acts.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends a transfer from section 32 funds
of $21,501,000 for the formulation and administration of
marketing agreements and orders.
The following table reflects the status of this fund for
fiscal years 2023-2024:

ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE AND BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD-- FISCAL YEARS 2023-2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2023 Fiscal year 2024 Committee
enacted budget request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation--30% of Customs Receipts.............. 21,679,259,652 27,123,377,552 30,801,280,267
Prior Year Appropriation, Available................. 6,491,590 15,546,365 381,930
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total, Appropriation:......................... 21,685,751,242 27,138,923,917 30,801,662,197
===========================================================

Less Transfers:
Food and Nutrition Service--Current Year........ -19,968,082,397 -25,199,766,588 -228,545,432,000
Food and Nutrition Service--Prior Year.......... -6,491,590 -15,546,365 -381,930
Commerce Department--Current Year............... -253,668,845 -362,610,964 -377,363,204
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total, Transfers.............................. -20,228,242,832 -25,577,923,917 -28,923,177,134
===========================================================
Total Available Funds......................... 1,457,508,410 1,561,000,000 1,878,485,063
===========================================================
Budget Authority, Farm Bill (w/CPI adjustment).. 1,448,000,000 1,547,000,000 1,657,000,000
Sequestration................................... -71,877,000 -77,292,000 -83,334,000
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total Funding Availability.................... 1,376,123,000 1,469,708,000 1,573,666,000
===========================================================

Unavailable for Obligations under Enacted Budget .................. .................. ..................
level..............................................
Budget Authority, Appropriations Act................ 1,376,123,000 1,469,708,000 1,573,666,000
Unobligated Balance Brought Forward................. 381,956,523 430,948,281 5,686,215
Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Program (FFVP) transfer... -187,000,000 -191,000,000 -195,000,000
Hemp Production Program transfer.................... .................. .................. ..................
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total Spending Authority--After Transfers:.... 1,571,079,523 1,709,656,281 1,384,352,215
===========================================================

Less Obligations:
Child Nutrition Programs (Entitlement 483,322,237 485,000,000 485,000,000
Commodities)...................................
12% Commodity Floor Requirement (CNP)........... .................. .................. ..................
-----------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, CNP (Entitlement Commodities)....... 483,322,237 485,000,000 485,000,000
===========================================================
Farm Bill Specialty Crop Purchases (Remaining Funds) .................. .................. 206,000,000
State Option Contract............................... .................. 5,000,000 5,000,000
Removal Defective Commodities....................... .................. 2,500,000 2,500,000
Disaster Relief..................................... 77,494,704 5,000,000 5,000,000
Direct Payments..................................... .................. .................. ..................
Emergency Surplus Removal Prior Year Adjustments.... .................. .................. ..................
Emergency Surplus Removal:
Fruit and Vegetables............................ 364,665,729 288,000,000 ..................
Meat and Fish................................... 153,758,925 75,000,000 ..................
Poultry......................................... 29,993,219 .................. ..................
Dairy........................................... .................. .................. ..................
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total Purchases............................... 548,417,873 363,000,000 ..................
===========================================================
Future Needs Remaining Funds........................ .................. 120,029,000 622,173,215
Carryin Balance..................................... .................. 157,031,424 3,807,306
Remaining Funds..................................... .................. 277,060,424 625,980,521
-----------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Commodity Purchases................. 1,109,234,814 1,137,560,424 1,329,480,521
===========================================================
Accounting Adjustment............................... 5,050,181 .................. ..................
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total, Commodity Purchases.................... 1,114,284,995 1,137,560,424 1,329,480,521
===========================================================
Commodity Purchase Service.......................... 36,810,000 37,178,000 37,178,000
Marketing Agreements and Orders..................... 20,817,000 21,501,000 21,501,000
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total, Administrative Funds................... 57,627,000 58,679,000 58,679,000
===========================================================
Total Direct Obligations...................... 1,171,911,995 1,196,239,424 1,388,159,521
===========================================================
Unavailable Prior Year Recoveries--Unavailable...... 16,677,338 381,930 ..................
Prior Year Recoveries--Available.................... 19,126,554 5,686,215 ..................
Current Year--Unavailable........................... .................. .................. ..................
Current Year--Unobligated within spending limitation 399,167,528 .................. ..................
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total, Unavailable Resources.................. 16,677,338 381,930 ..................
===========================================================
Unobligated Balance Carrying Forward................ 430,948,281 5,686,215 ..................
Reimbursements...................................... 6,240,315 1,148,723 1,148,723
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 32 Authorities.--Under the authority described in
clause 3 of 7 U.S.C. 612c, the Secretary is able to direct
funds from the section 32 account to increase the purchasing
power of producers. This practice has been used on various
occasions to provide direct assistance to producers when market
forces or natural conditions adversely affect the financial
condition of farmers and ranchers. The Committee notes the
importance of the ability of the Secretary to utilize this
authority but believes that communication between USDA and
Congress should be improved when this practice is used.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary to provide
notification to the Committee in advance of any public
announcement or release of section 32 funds under the specific
authorities cited above.

PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,235,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,235,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,235,000

The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program is
authorized by section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act
of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627, 1635-1638) and is also funded from
appropriations. Matching grants are awarded on a competitive
basis to State marketing agencies to identify and test market
alternative farm commodities, determine methods of providing
more reliable market information, and develop better commodity
grading standards. This program has made many types of projects
possible, such as electronic marketing and agricultural product
diversification. Current projects are focused on the
improvement of marketing efficiency and effectiveness and
seeking new outlets for existing farm produced commodities. The
legislation grants USDA authority to establish cooperative
agreements with State departments of agriculture or similar
State agencies to improve the efficiency of the agricultural
marketing chain. The States perform the work or contract it to
others and must contribute at least one-half of the cost of the
projects.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,235,000 for
Payments to States and Possessions for Federal-State marketing
projects and activities.

LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES

Limitation, 2023........................................ $55,000,000
Budget limitation, 2024................................. 55,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 55,000,000

The agency provides an official grain inspection and
weighing system under the U.S. Grain Standards Act [USGSA]
(Public Law 64-190, and official inspection of rice and grain-
related products under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946
(7 U.S.C. 1621-1627, 1635-1638). The USGSA was amended in 1981
to require the collection of user fees to fund the costs
associated with the operation, supervision, and administration
of Federal grain inspection and weighing activities.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

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

Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,117,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,146,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,117,000

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety provides
direction and coordination in carrying out the laws enacted by
the Congress with respect to the Department's inspection of
meat, poultry, and processed egg products. The Office has
oversight and management responsibilities for the Food Safety
and Inspection Service [FSIS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,117,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,158,266,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,290,419,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,205,009,000

The major objectives of the FSIS are to ensure that meat
and poultry products are wholesome, unadulterated, and properly
labeled and packaged, as required by the Federal Meat
Inspection Act (Public Law 59-242) and the Poultry Products
Inspection Act (Public Law 85-172), as amended; and to provide
continuous in-plant inspection to egg processing plants under
the Egg Products Inspection Act (Public Law 91-597).
The Food Safety and Inspection Service was established on
June 17, 1981, by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1000-1, issued
pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953.
The inspection program of the Food Safety and Inspection
Service provides in-plant inspection of all domestic plants
preparing meat, poultry, or egg products for sale or
distribution; reviews foreign inspection systems and
establishments that prepare meat or poultry products for export
to the United States; and provides technical and financial
assistance to States which maintain meat and poultry inspection
programs.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,205,009,000
for the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The following table represents the Committee's specific
recommendations for the FSIS as compared to the fiscal year
2023 and budget request levels:

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food safety inspection:
Federal..................................................... 1,036,888 1,159,572 1,081,390
State....................................................... 67,131 73,530 67,462
International............................................... 18,975 20,987 20,885
PHDCIS...................................................... 35,272 36,330 35,272
-----------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... 1,158,266 1,290,419 1,205,009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brazilian Beef.--The Committee urges FSIS to maintain
current rates of reinspection tasks for raw beef imports from
Brazil and to adjust rates of import inspection as necessary
and consistent with import compliance history. The Committee
also requests FSIS to continue conducting routine onsite
verification audits of the Brazilian inspection system.
Humane Slaughter.--The Committee directs FSIS to continue
to provide annual reports to the Committee on the
implementation of objective scoring methods undertaken by FSIS
to enforce the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (Public Law 85-
765).
The Committee also directs FSIS to ensure that personnel
hired with funding previously provided specifically for Humane
Methods of Slaughter Act (Public Law 85-765) enforcement focus
their attention on overseeing compliance with humane handling
rules for live animals as they arrive and are offloaded and
handled in pens, chutes, and stunning areas and that all
inspectors receive robust training.
Invasive Blue Catfish.--The Committee continues to provide
$1,000,000 to cover overtime fees for inspectors at
Siluriformes facilities and directs the Department to expand
the eligible use of these funds to include equipment and
infrastructure to support Siluriformes processing, with a
priority for plants that process invasive species.
Reduced User Fees.--The Committee provides no less than the
fiscal year 2023 level to continue the reduced user fees for
small and very small establishments as established by the
American Rescue Plan act of 2023.
Salmonella.--The Committee is concerned about the
Salmonella illness rate in the United States, which has not
decreased in 25 years, and is supportive of the Department's
efforts to reform the Salmonella food safety regulation for
poultry. Within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the Committee
requests a report by FSIS that details the actions the agency
has initiated for reducing Salmonella illnesses caused by
poultry. The Committee directs FSIS to provide a description in
the report of any actions under development as well as any
completed actions, including proposed and final regulations or
policy.
Siluriformes Fish.--The Committee is aware that Blue
Catfish were first introduced in the Chesapeake Bay region to
develop a recreational fishery, but are now considered invasive
and can have harmful effects on native species in the region.
While the Committee recognizes the use of the commercial market
as a population control measure, the Committee reaffirms the
need for these fish to go through the required inspection
process under the Federal Meat Inspection Act to ensure wild-
caught catfish are safe for consumption. Notably, the March
2022 FSIS Data Summary of Siluriformes Fish Testing found that
a number of positive residue tests for pesticides and heavy
metals came from wild-caught Siluriformes. Therefore, of the
funds provided for FSIS, funding may be used for additional
residue testing of wild-caught catfish harvested from the
Chesapeake Bay region. All wild-caught and farm-raised fish of
the order Siluriformes are subject to mandatory FSIS inspection
and any exclusion of a particular species of catfish or nature-
of-harvest would put the United States in violation of its
World Trade Organization commitments with respect to sanitary
and phytosanitary measures and international equivalence. The
Committee also notes that FSIS has already issued a directive
informing processors that FSIS will not bill establishments
that process wild-caught catfish that occurs outside of
scheduled hours. The Committee directs FSIS to submit a report
to the Committees on Appropriations in the House and Senate
within 180 days of enactment of this Act detailing any barriers
and challenges wild caught processors encounter under the FSIS
program.

TITLE II

FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,727,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,780,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,727,000

The Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and
Conservation [FPAC] provides direction and coordination in
carrying out the laws enacted by the Congress with respect to
the Department's commodity programs, farm loans, disaster
assistance, crop insurance, natural resources conservation and
environment programs, and certain energy programs. The Office
has oversight and management responsibilities for the Farm
Service Agency [FSA] (including the Commodity Credit
Corporation), Risk Management Agency [RMA], and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service [NRCS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,727,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and
Conservation.
Communication.--The Committee is committed to supporting
the mission and values of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, including through critical investments to protect our
land, water, and soil. The Committee recognizes that consistent
coordination is essential to this end, and is frustrated by the
current lack of communication between NRCS and the Committee.
Within 60 days of enactment of this act, and every 30 days
thereafter, NRCS is directed to brief the Committee on ongoing
and upcoming initiatives, as well as resources necessary for
continued success of the Service.
USDA--Customer and Producer Farm Delivery Systems
Modernization.--The Committee directs the Secretary to submit a
plan within 60 days of enactment of this act that accelerates
the continued implementation and expansion of the Farmers.gov
application and Enterprise Data Analytics Platform and Toolset
[EDAPT]. Despite the continued direction and funding provided
by Congress in previous fiscal years for these modernization
applications, the Committee is aware that the Farm Service
Agency, the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center,
and the Office of the Chief Information Officer continue to
maintain numerous legacy mission support systems that should be
decommissioned and transitioned to applications and mission
support services systems that are interoperable, facts-based,
data driven, and are provided efficiently, effectively, and
professionally with a commitment to excellent customer service
for USDA customers, including farmers, ranchers, and forest
landowners.
Farmers.gov.--The Committee directs USDA to continue
implementation and expansion of the Farmers.gov application.
The expansion should consider all farm programs which require
direct application from farmers, ranchers, and producers and
provide a comprehensive application system within USDA.

Farm Production and Conservation Business Center

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $248,684,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 265,825,000
Committee recommendation................................ 249,684,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $249,684,000
for the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center.

Farm Service Agency

The Farm Service Agency was established October 13, 1994,
pursuant to the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354).
The FSA administers a variety of activities, such as the
commodity price support and production adjustment programs
financed by the Commodity Credit Corporation [CCC]; the
Conservation Reserve Program [CRP]; the Emergency Conservation
Program [ECP]; the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey
Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program [ELAP]; the Commodity
Operation Programs, including the warehouse examination
function; farm ownership, farm operating, emergency disaster,
and other loan programs; and the Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program [NAP], which provides crop loss protection
for growers of many crops for which crop insurance is not
available. In addition, FSA currently provides certain
administrative support services to the Foreign Agricultural
Service [FAS] and RMA.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfers from Total, FSA,
Appropriations program salaries and
accounts expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2023......................................... 1,215,307 305,803 1,521,110
Budget estimate, 2024........................................ 1,262,353 321,621 1,583,974
Committee recommendation..................................... 1,215,307 321,621 1,536,928
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The account Salaries and Expenses, Farm Service Agency,
funds the administrative expenses of program administration and
other functions assigned to FSA. The funds consist of
appropriations and transfers from the CCC export credit
guarantees, Food for Peace loans, and Agricultural Credit
Insurance Fund program accounts, as well as miscellaneous
advances from other sources. All administrative funds used by
FSA are consolidated into one account. The consolidation
provides clarity and better management and control of funds and
facilitates accounting, fiscal, and budgetary work by
eliminating the necessity for making individual allocations and
allotments and maintaining and recording obligations and
expenditures under numerous separate accounts.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,536,928,000
for salaries and expenses of the Farm Service Agency, including
a direct appropriation of $1,215,307,000.
Acequia Irrigated Land.--The Committee recognizes that
acequias serve as the primary method of irrigation in many
rural and underserved communities in New Mexico and that
acequias remain an integral aspect of New Mexican cultural
identity. Recent changes administered by FSA changed
eligibility of drought on farms and ranches irrigated by
acequias for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
[NAP]. Given the Farm Service Agency has historically
considered drought on acequia-irrigated land eligible for Non-
insured Crop Disaster Assistance and the ongoing severe drought
conditions in New Mexico and throughout the west, the Committee
urges the Department to maintain their position that drought on
acequia-irrigated land is an eligible cause of loss for NAP.
Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act.--USDA is
responsible for monitoring foreign purchases of agricultural
land under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act
[AFIDA] and for assessing penalties on entities that have
failed to make disclosures as required. The Committee is
concerned that USDA failed to assess penalties for a failure to
disclose foreign investments in American agricultural land. The
Committee directs the Secretary to report to the Committee
within 90 days of enactment of this act on USDA's efforts to
ensure that foreign investments are being accurately disclosed,
including an analysis of any barriers USDA faces in conducting
oversight of these purchases and planned steps for overcoming
these challenges.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program [CREP].--The
Committee recognizes that drought is now the single largest
cause of U.S. farm production losses and strongly supports the
development of creative solutions to conserve water while
maintaining the productive use of farmland. The Committee is
concerned that the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment
[PEA] for CRP published in the Federal Register on October 3,
2019 (84 FR 52868) ignores the intent of Congress and the
urgent threat of drought by immediately dismissing without
meaningful consideration the new authorization for CREP drought
and water conservation agreements to permit dryland
agricultural uses with the adoption of best management
practices. The Committee directs the Secretary to revise the
PEA to allow dryland agriculture uses on land enrolled in CREP
in accordance with section 1231A(e)(2) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(e)(2)). The Committee reminds USDA
that the joint explanatory statement accompanying Public Law
116-260 directed the Secretary to submit a report to the
Committee detailing a full analysis of the new CREP dryland
agricultural uses authority and what dryland farming best
management practices could make advancements to protect ground
water and surface water quality and control soil erosion while
enhancing wildlife habitat.
Disaster Preparedness.--The Committee recognizes that
millions of farm animals die each year due to the effects of
adverse weather. The Committee is also aware that veterinary
and agricultural trade associations recognize the importance of
disaster planning in preventing the extent of livestock deaths.
Therefore, the Committee encourages USDA to educate producers
on the benefits of written disaster preparedness plans.
Honey Bee Losses.--For purposes of administering the
Emergency Livestock Assistance Program for honeybees, the
Secretary is directed to expand eligibility under the program
to include climate change and drought related losses, including
additional transportation and feed costs, among other things,
as determined by the Secretary. Additionally, or in lieu of
ELAP expansion, the Secretary may choose to include managed
honeybees under other appropriate disaster assistance programs.
Disaster assistance is essential to protecting a fragile
beekeeping industry that is responsible for pollinating
billions of dollars in U.S. agricultural input.
Information Technology.--The Committee remains dedicated to
ensuring FSA has reliable and functioning IT systems because it
is critical that farmers and ranchers have access to the tools
they need to succeed. The Committee has invested significant
taxpayer dollars to modernize outdated systems and continues to
provide resources above the budget request. The Committee
continues statutory language that allows funds for IT to be
obligated only after the Secretary meets certain reporting
requirements. The Committee has reviewed the third-party IT
analysis and expects the agency to follow the recommendations
where applicable. FSA is directed to provide timely updates for
future IT needs.
Panther Depredation.--The Committee is aware that livestock
producers in Florida have suffered from panther depredation. To
support the ongoing conservation and recovery of endangered
Florida panthers while minimizing conflicts with ranchers, the
Committee encourages FSA to work with ranchers to tailor the
Livestock Indemnity Program to address unique circumstances
currently preventing producers from receiving compensation for
losses stemming from Florida panther depredation events.

STATE MEDIATION GRANTS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $7,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 7,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,000,000

This program is authorized under title V of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-233).
Originally designed to address agricultural credit disputes,
the program was expanded by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform
and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
(Public Law 103-354) to include other agricultural issues such
as wetland determinations, conservation compliance, rural water
loan programs, grazing on National Forest System lands, and
pesticides. Grants are made to States whose mediation programs
have been certified by the FSA. Grants will be solely for
operation and administration of the State's agricultural
mediation program.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $7,000,000 for
State Mediation Grants.

GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $7,500,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 7,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,500,000

This program is intended to assist in the protection of
groundwater through State rural water associations.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $7,500,000 for
Grassroots Source Water Protection.

DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $500,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 500,000
Committee recommendation................................ 500,000

Under the program, the Department makes indemnification
payments to dairy farmers and manufacturers of dairy products
who, through no fault of their own, suffer income losses
because they are directed to remove their milk from commercial
markets due to contamination of their products by registered
pesticides. The program also authorizes indemnity payments to
dairy farmers for losses resulting from the removal of cows or
dairy products from the market due to nuclear radiation or
fallout.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of such sums as
may be necessary, estimated in fiscal year 2024 to be $500,000,
for indemnity payments to dairy farmers.

GEOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $4,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 4,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,000,000

This program is authorized under Title I of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8792). Under the
Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for
Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers, the
Department offsets a portion of the costs of transporting
agricultural inputs and products over long distances for
farmers and ranchers outside the contiguous United States that
face tremendously high costs for transporting agriculture
products and inputs.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,000,000 for
the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for
Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account
[ACIF] is used to provide direct and guaranteed farm ownership,
farm operating, conservation, Indian highly fractioned land,
and emergency loans to individuals, as well as the following
types of loans to associations: irrigation and drainage,
grazing, Indian Tribe land acquisition, and boll weevil
eradication.
FSA is also authorized to provide financial assistance to
borrowers by guaranteeing loans made by private lenders having
a contract of guarantee from FSA as approved by the Secretary
of Agriculture and to establish Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Individual Development grant accounts.
The following programs are financed through this fund:
Boll Weevil Eradication Loans.--Made to assist foundations
in financing the operations of the boll weevil eradication
programs provided to farmers.
Credit Sales of Acquired Property.--Property is sold out of
inventory and is made available to an eligible buyer by
providing FSA loans.
Emergency Loans.--Made to producers to aid recovery from
production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other
natural disasters, or quarantine. The loans may be used to
restore or replace essential property; pay all or part of
production costs associated with the disaster year; pay
essential family living expenses; reorganize the farming
operation; and refinance certain debts.
Farm Operating Loans.--Provide short-to-intermediate term
production or chattel credit to farmers who cannot obtain
credit elsewhere, to improve their farm and home operations,
and to develop or maintain a reasonable standard of living. The
term of the loan varies from one to 7 years.
Farm Ownership Loans.--Made to borrowers who cannot obtain
credit elsewhere to restructure their debts, improve or
purchase farms, refinance nonfarm enterprises which supplement
but do not supplant farm income, or make additions to farms.
Loans are made for 40 years or less.
Heirs' Property Relending Program.--Provide revolving loan
funds to eligible intermediary lenders to resolve ownership and
complete a succession plan on farmland that has multiple
owners. The lenders will provide loans to qualified individuals
to resolve these ownership issues and ensure fair access to
land for farmers, ranchers, and future generations.
Indian Tribe Land Acquisition Loans.--Made to any Indian
Tribe recognized by the Secretary of the Interior or Tribal
corporation established pursuant to the Indian Reorganization
Act (Public Law 93-638) which does not have adequate
uncommitted funds to acquire lands or interest in lands within
the Tribe's reservation or Alaskan Indian community, as
determined by the Secretary of the Interior, for use of the
Tribe or the corporation or the members thereof.
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans.--Made to Indian
Tribal members to purchase highly fractionated lands, as
authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(Public Law 110-234).

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends a total loan level of
$10,685,585,000 for programs within the Agricultural Credit
Insurance Fund Program Account.
The following table reflects the program levels for farm
credit programs administered by the Farm Service Agency
recommended by the Committee, as compared to the fiscal year
2023 and the budget request levels:

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT PROGRAMS--LOAN LEVELS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2023 Fiscal year 2024 Committee
enacted budget request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Ownership:
Direct................................................ 3,100,000 3,100,000 3,100,000
Guaranteed............................................ 3,500,000 3,500,000 3,500,000
Farm Operating:
Direct................................................ 1,633,333 1,633,000 1,633,000
Guaranteed unsubsidized............................... 2,118,491 2,118,491 2,118,491
Emergency Loans........................................... 4,062 37,668 37,668
Indian Tribe Land Acquisition............................. 20,000 20,000 20,000
Conservation Loans:.......................................
Guaranteed............................................ 150,000 150,000 150,000
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans..................... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Boll Weevil Eradication................................... 60,000 60,000 60,000
Relending Program......................................... 61,426 61,426 61,426
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan Authorizations.......................... 10,652,312 10,685,585 10,685,585
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508)
established the program account. Appropriations to this account
are used to cover the lifetime subsidy costs associated with
the direct loans obligated and loan guarantees committed, as
well as for administrative expenses.
The following table reflects the cost of programs under
credit reform:

[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm Operating:
Direct................................................... 23,520 27,598 27,598
Guaranteed unsubsidized.................................. 11,228 1,483 1,483
Emergency Loans.............................................. 249 3,507 3,507
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans........................ 894 1,577 1,577
Relending Program............................................ 10,983 19,368 19,368
Boll Weevil.................................................. ............... 258 258
--------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan Subsidies.................................. 46,874 53,791 53,791
==================================================
ACIF Expenses:
Salaries and Expenses.................................... 305,803 321,621 321,621
Administrative Expenses.................................. 20,658 20,250 20,250
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Total, ACIF Expenses................................... 326,461 341,871 341,871
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Risk Management Agency

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $66,870,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 77,897,000
Committee recommendation................................ 66,870,000

The Risk Management Agency performs administrative
functions relative to the Federal Crop Insurance program that
is authorized by the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508), as amended by the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of
2000 [ARPA] (Public Law 106-224), the Agricultural Act of 2014
(Public Law 113-79), and the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (Public Law 115-334).
ARPA authorized significant changes in the crop insurance
program. This act provides higher government subsidies for
producer premiums to make coverage more affordable; expands
research and development for new insurance products and under-
served areas through contracts with the private sector; and
strengthens compliance. Functional areas of risk management
are: research and development; insurance services; and
compliance, the functions of which include policy formulation
and procedures and regulations development.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $66,870,000
for Risk Management Agency, Salaries and Expenses.
The Committee recognizes that there are many research
priorities that competitive funding may be used to address,
including the feasibility of insurance programs to cover
business interruption due to integrator bankruptcy and
catastrophic loss in the poultry industry. The Committee
encourages RMA to support research into these priorities.
Administrative and Operating Expenses.--The Committee
encourages the RMA to provide an annual inflation adjustment to
administrative and operating [A&O] reimbursements and to
provide equitable relief for specialty crop policies in a
manner similar to a previous adjustment that was initiated
without renegotiation of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement.
Alfalfa.--The Committee recognizes alfalfa to be an
important domestic forage crop valued for nitrogen fixation,
soil conservation, crop rotation, and as a natural habitat.
From 2002 through 2021, alfalfa acreage has declined 33.4
percent. The Committee encourages RMA to explore the creation
of a revenue and/or quality alfalfa crop insurance policy to
ensure producers have a safety net that they need to produce
this important crop.
Aquaculture.--The Committee notes that the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334) directed the Board
of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to
consider treating the different growth stages of aquaculture
species as separate crops for the Whole Farm Diversified Risk
Management Insurance Plan. RMA is directed to report to the
Committee no later than 90 days after enactment of this act
regarding the steps taken by the Board to consider the
feasibility of this proposed change to recognize the difference
in perils at different phases of growth for aquaculture
species.
Haying and Grazing of Cover Crops.--The Committee
recognizes and applauds the Department's recent efforts to
provide flexibility to producers wishing to hay or graze cover
crops on prevented planting acreage before November 1. This is
an important step forward to ensure that producers planting
decisions are based on sound agriculture practices, while also
promoting smart agricultural practices that build soil health
and resilience in our working lands.
Improved Producer Education.--The Committee recognizes that
crop insurance is a vital public-private partnership and is the
first line of defense for effectively managing risk for many
farmers. However, the Committee believes that additional
education is needed through the use of clear, comparative, and
easy to understand information on the costs of selected crop
insurance policies, the producer premium, and the Federal
premium subsidy. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary
to work with crop insurance providers and agents to ensure that
all farmers have access to that cost information on their
policies in a transparent and easy to understand manner.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Natural Resources Conservation Service was established
pursuant to the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (Public Law 103-354). The NRCS works with conservation
districts, watershed groups, and Federal and State agencies to
bring about physical adjustments in land use that will conserve
soil and water resources, provide for agricultural production
on a sustained basis, and reduce flood damage and
sedimentation.

CONSERVATION OPERATIONS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $941,124,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,022,566,000
Committee recommendation................................ 922,151,000

Conservation operations are authorized by Public Law 74-46
(16 U.S.C. 590a-590f). Activities include:
Conservation Technical Assistance provides assistance to
district cooperators and other land users in the planning and
application of conservation treatments to control erosion and
improve the quantity and quality of soil resources; improve and
conserve water; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; conserve
energy; improve woodland, pasture, and range conditions; and
reduce upstream flooding to protect and enhance the natural
resource base.
Resource appraisal and program development ensures that
programs administered by the Secretary for the conservation of
soil, water, and related resources shall respond to the
Nation's long-term needs.
Plant Materials Centers assemble, test, and encourage
increased use of plant species which show promise for use in
the treatment of conservation problem areas.
Snow Survey and Water Forecasting provides estimates of
annual water availability from high mountain snow packs and
summer stream flow in the Western States and Alaska.
Information is used by agriculture, industry, and cities in
estimating future water supplies.
Soil Surveys inventory the Nation's basic soil resources
and determine land capabilities and conservation treatment
needs. Soil survey publications include interpretations useful
to cooperators, other Federal and State agencies, and local
organizations.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $922,151,000
for NRCS Conservation Operations. The Committee provides
$86,757,000 for Soil Surveys; $16,751,000 for Snow Survey and
Water Forecasting; $10,751,000 for Plant Materials Centers; and
$800,892,000 for Conservation Technical Assistance, including
$10,000,000 for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (16
U.S.C. 3839bb).
Acre-for-Acre Wetlands Mitigation.--The Secretary is
encouraged to use mitigation with the conversion of a natural
wetland and equivalent wetlands functions at a ratio which does
not exceed 1-to-1 acreage.
Agricultural Land Easements.--The Committee encourages NRCS
to allow transaction costs to be covered under the NRCS
Agricultural Land Easement program.
Alfalfa Utilization.--The Committee recognizes alfalfa as
one of the most environmentally friendly crops which can be
grown on the landscape. Alfalfa is valued for its ability to
fix atmospheric nitrogen, protect, and conserve soil, protect
water quality, provide a habitat for pollinators, and generate
a multitude of ecosystem benefits. The Committee recognizes
alfalfa as a 'climate-smart' commodity with an exceptional
capacity for carbon sequestration and decreased reliance on
synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, alfalfa is not well-
utilized in conservation programs at USDA's NRCS. The Committee
urges the Secretary to incentivize the use and integration of
alfalfa in NRCS programs to capitalize on the unique
environmental and conservation benefits it brings to the
agricultural landscape.
Chesapeake Bay States' Partnerships Initiative.--The
Committee recognizes the important role of voluntary
conservation practices in protecting and restoring waterways ,
especially when deployed at scale. The Committee supports the
Department's continuation of the Chesapeake Bay States'
Partnership Initiative, and encourages continued leveraging of
conservation resources for agricultural producers in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed. Additionally, NRCS is encouraged to
target additional Conservation Technical Assistance funds in
the most effective basin areas of the watershed.
Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry.--NRCS received
nearly $19,000,000,000 in additional funding to RCPP, EQIP, CSP
and ACEP prior to fiscal year 2024. Within 180 days of
enactment of this act, NRCS is directed to submit to the
Committee a report outlining how the agency allocated funding
to ensure that programmatic goals were met in a timely,
optimized, and efficient manner. This report should include
consideration of whether priority practice eligibility choices
included Western practices to secure water and forestry co-
benefits, as well as information on staff hiring, technology
systems utilized, contracting strategies, practice eligibility
lists, and departmental directives to NRCS.
Conservation Operations.--In carrying out projects on
public lands that would directly or indirectly prevent, prepare
for, or respond to economic, environmental, or public health
consequences resulting from climate change, the Secretary
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, seek out ways to
utilize qualified youth or conservation corps, as defined in
section 203(11) of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16
U.S.C. 1722(11), non-profit wilderness and trails stewardship
organizations, and consult with public lands stewardship
organizations for the purpose of identifying appropriate
projects, activities, and workforce development outcomes.
Critical Conservation Areas [CCA].--The Committee supports
CCAs and the collaborative regional approach to address common
natural resources goals while maintaining or improving
agricultural productivity. The Committee urges NRCS to provide
sufficient Conservation Technical Assistance funds to CCAs to
address conservation planning backlogs. The Committee also
encourages NRCS to leverage all possible resources to identify
nutrient loss and reduce runoff to achieve the goals of the
2015 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan.
Drought Resilience.--The Committee applauds the passage of
the Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plans, appreciates
efforts to increase efficiencies, and expects NRCS to utilize
all available opportunities to assist producers, irrigators,
and irrigation districts in addressing drought resiliency and
mitigation while maintaining strong rural and agriculture
communities and protecting natural resources. NRCS is expected
to prioritize implementation of Drought Contingency Plans,
agreements, or programs that conserve surface or ground water,
improve drought resiliency, and address current and anticipated
conservation needs and drought-related resource concerns.
Energy Efficiency Opportunities.--The Environmental Quality
Incentive Program [EQIP] is an important tool to help farmers
conserve energy, conduct energy audits, and develop
conservation plans through locally based technical service
providers. The Committee is concerned that very few farmers who
complete energy audits are able to actually utilize EQIP or
other Federal programs to help them adopt much-needed energy
efficiency measures to reduce their high energy expenses. The
Secretary is urged to seek out and implement opportunities to
encourage and support farmers to implement energy efficiency
projects.
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 encourages NRCS to use available
funds for a cost-share program for the construction and repair
of perimeter fencing. The Committee directs NRCS, in
conjunction with State soil and water conservation boards and
agencies, to develop a strategy to exclude feral hogs from
agricultural and urban areas at risk of damage from localized
feral hog populations.
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative.--The Committee
provides $10,000,000 for the Grazing Lands Conservation
Initiative (16 U.S.C. 3839bb), of which at least $8,000,000
shall be provided through State allocations as competitive
grants to diverse partnerships, including socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and their organizations, to
provide technical assistance to producers for grazing planning
and implementation, conferences and other education,
demonstrations, producer networks, workforce training,
research, and outreach projects to improve agricultural
resilience. NRCS is directed to provide at least $2,000,000
through a cooperative agreement with a national grazing lands
conservation coalition to establish diverse State-based
coalitions and to undertake grazing education.
Innovative Water Conservation.--The Committee recognizes
the devastating impacts wrought by severe and prolonged drought
across many regions of the country. The Committee notes that
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334)
made several updates to address water conservation and drought
mitigation, including eligibility changes for water
conservation and irrigation efficiency practices. NRCS is
encouraged to work with eligible entities, including but not
limited to producers, States, irrigation districts, and
acequias, to help implement critical innovative drought
resiliency and mitigation efforts, which maintain strong rural
and agriculture communities while protecting natural resources.
Land Grants and Acequias.--The Committee recognizes that
Section 2304(e) of Public Law 115-334 allows acequias and land
grant mercedes to apply directly to the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program [EQIP], which provides Federal funding and
technical assistance to farmers throughout the Nation. The
Committee appreciates that there are hundreds of acequias and
dozens of land grants in New Mexico that can now gain direct
access to this important conservation program. The Committee
urges USDA to develop EQIP guidance that ensures timely input
from local communities, including listening sessions with land
grants and acequias.
National Resources Inventory.--In reinstating the National
Resources Inventory in Alaska, the Committee expects NRCS to
take into account sample design, data collection software, and
data processing capability in order to collect and produce
scientifically credible information on the status, condition,
and trends of Alaska's lands, soils, waters, and related
resources.
Private Land Conservation.--The Committee recognizes the
importance of providing private land owners with ready access
to the many Federal, State, and local government and private
resources available to support conservation efforts on private
lands. The Committee directs NRCS to implement a multi-year
cooperative agreement with appropriate funding support to an
organization that can make conservation solutions and best
practices accessible daily to private land owners. This
organization should also support efforts to conserve the
lesser-prairie chicken and implement carbon sequestration
conservation programs nationwide.
Soil Health.--The Committee recognizes that improving soil
health on agricultural lands is key to achieving both
meaningful conservation and economic benefits for producers.
The Committee is pleased to see strong stakeholder interest in
the new on-farm conservation innovation trials to test new or
innovative conservation approaches and the soil health
demonstration trial, which provides incentives to producers to
implement practices that improve soil health and increase
carbon levels in the soil. The Committee encourages the
Secretary to dedicate more technical assistance funds to
establish standard protocols for measuring and testing carbon
levels to evaluate gains in soil health that will help
producers to create positive economic, environmental, and
social outcomes through ecosystem service markets. The
Committee believes the Secretary should provide additional
technical assistance related to healthy soil planning, soil
carbon sequestration, and conservation activity planning. NRCS
is urged to support the expansion of existing State soil health
programs and to assist interested States in establishing new
State soil health programs.
SNOTEL.--The Committee continues to be concerned by
documented changes in winter weather across the country, and
the impact of those changes on local ecologies and economies.
The Committee continues to fund the NRCS Snow Telemetry Network
and looks forward to the forthcoming report on feasibility of
expansion to the Northeast.
Streamlined Conservation Planning.--The Committee direct
NRCS to develop a streamlined conservation planning and
application process for small acreage operations to reduce the
time and effort required by both the applicant and local NRCS
staff to process conservation program applications.
Technical Assistance.--The Committee directs NRCS to
maintain a record of total technical assistance dollars for the
past 3 years and annually in the future and to provide the data
to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and the
Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry. This report
should differentiate between mandatory and discretionary
allocations.
Technical Service Providers.--The Committee urges NRCS to
reevaluate the current matching requirements for the Technical
Service Provider program supporting State and Tribal soil
health programs.
Western States Conservation Partnership Initiative.--The
Committee recognizes the value of collaborative, locally-led
conservation practices and remains concerned about the ongoing
extreme drought and related water issues in the American West.
NRCS is encouraged to explore the creation of a partnership
initiative, similar to the recently created Chesapeake Bay
States' Partnership Initiative, to allow Western States and
partners to leverage financial and technical assistance to
address regional water issues and help build resilience to
drought. Within 90 days of enactment of this act, NRCS is
directed to brief the Committee on the feasibility of such an
initiative, as well as efforts undertaken to this end.
Western Water and Working Lands.--The Committee welcomes
the recently announced Western Water and Working Lands
Framework for Conservation Action, and encourages NRCS to
dedicate financial and technical assistance resources to
support the framework, with a priority on projects with
multiple benefits. The Secretary is directed to keep the
Committee apprised of progress toward this end, beginning with
a briefing 90 days after enactment of this act.
Wildlife Habitat on Private Lands.--The Committee
recognizes that conservation of wildlife habitat on private
lands is essential for the recovery of many threatened and
endangered species. While Federal programs that provide direct
conservation assistance can be important contributors to
species recovery efforts, such programs might not be available
to, or appropriate for, all private landowners. Private
landowners interested in habitat conservation must be empowered
with access to the full range of conservation resources that
exist across the Federal government, state and local
governments, non-profit organizations, and private entities.
The Committee encourages NRCS to provide grants to, or enter
into cooperative agreements with, non-profit organizations with
expertise and experience in amalgamating and providing public
access to information and resources pertaining to the
conservation of wildlife habitat on private lands.
Working Lands for Wildlife.--The Committee recognizes the
role of the Working Lands for Wildlife model in conservation
efforts to enhance both wildlife habitat and productivity on
working landscapes. In addition, the Committee is worried about
the concerning population figures for the lesser prairie-
chicken and the need to protect its habitat, particularly in
times of drought. NRCS is directed to make every effort to
strengthen and expand the work of the Working Lands for
Wildlife model and the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative.

WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $75,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 175,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 90,405,000

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public
Law 83-566) (16 U.S.C. 1000-1005, 1007-1009) provides for
cooperation between the Federal Government and the States and
their political subdivisions in a program to prevent erosion,
floodwater, and sediment damages in the watersheds or rivers
and streams and to further the conservation, development,
utilization, and disposal of water and the conservation and
proper utilization of land in authorized watersheds.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $90,405,000
for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program
[WFPO], of which the Committee provides $20,405,000 for
congressionally directed projects, as specified in the table at
the end of the report, for new and ongoing watershed and flood
prevention activities.
The Committee recognizes the critical challenges facing
rural water resource management and protection and supports
needed investments in watershed operations. These Federal-
State-local partnerships are uniquely positioned to identify
critical watershed protection and flood prevention needs in
rural communities and implement projects that deliver multiple
streams of benefits for homes, businesses, transportation
infrastructure, and natural resources. In selecting projects
for funding, the Committee expects the agency to balance the
needs of addressing the project backlog, remediation of
existing structures, and new projects.
Congressionally Directed Spending [CDS].--The Committee has
provided CDS for certain activities and locations under
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations. While the Committee
has provided the funding, recipients of CDS are still required
to apply for the funding and must meet all statutory and
regulatory requirements. The Committee expects the agency to
review the applications and fund projects in the same manner as
in previous years.
Multiple Benefit Projects.--The Committee continues to
support funding for projects that provide multiple benefits,
including reduction of drought impact, improvement of water
quality, and increased fish or wildlife habitat. NRCS is
directed to keep the Committee apprised of streamlining and
modernization efforts, and of efforts to coordinate with
stakeholders to ensure that this program is utilized in a
manner to maximize its effect.
Technical Assistance Flexibility.--The Committee directs
the Secretary to provide greater flexibility to State
Conservationists to be able to utilize technical assistance
dedicated for certain WFPO funds for administration and
planning Statewide for all WFPO projects.

WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $2,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 10,009,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,000,000

The Watershed Rehabilitation Program account provides for
technical and financial assistance to carry out rehabilitation
of structural measures, in accordance with section 14 of the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, approved August
4, 1954 (16 U.S.C. 1012, U.S.C. 1001, et seq.), as amended by
section 313 of Public Law 106-472, November 9, 2000, and by
section 2803 of Public Law 110-246.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,000,000 for
the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.
The Committee recognizes the large backlog of community
infrastructure projects eligible for financial and technical
assistance from the Watershed Rehabilitation Program to address
safety concerns, public health, and environmental impacts of
aging dams. NRCS is urged to prioritize the rehabilitation of
dams that pose the greatest risk to public safety.

CORPORATIONS

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $15,395,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 14,695,301,000
Committee recommendation................................ 14,695,301,000

The Federal Crop Insurance Act, as amended by the Federal
Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354),
authorizes the payment of expenses, which may include indemnity
payments; loss adjustment; delivery expenses; program-related
research and development; startup costs for implementing this
legislation, such as studies, pilot projects, data processing
improvements, and public outreach; and related tasks and
functions.
All program costs, except for Federal salaries and
expenses, are mandatory expenditures subject to appropriation.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of such sums as
may be necessary, estimated to be $14,695,301,000 in fiscal
year 2024, for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund.

Commodity Credit Corporation Fund

The Commodity Credit Corporation is a wholly owned
Government corporation created in 1933 to stabilize, support,
and protect farm income and prices; to help maintain balanced
and adequate supplies of agricultural commodities, including
products, foods, feeds, and fibers; and to help in the orderly
distribution of these commodities. CCC was originally
incorporated under a Delaware charter and was reincorporated
June 30, 1948, as a Federal corporation within USDA by the
Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (Public Law 80-806),
approved June 29, 1948.
The Commodity Credit Corporation engages in buying,
selling, lending, and other activities with respect to
agricultural commodities, their products, food, feed, and
fibers. Its purposes include stabilizing, supporting, and
protecting farm income and prices; maintaining the balance and
adequate supplies of selected commodities; and facilitating the
orderly distribution of such commodities. In addition, the
Corporation makes available materials and facilities required
in connection with the storage and distribution of such
commodities. The Corporation also disburses funds for sharing
of costs with producers for the establishment of approved
conservation practices on environmentally sensitive land and
subsequent rental payments for such land for the duration of
CRP contracts.
Corporation activities are primarily governed by the
following statutes: the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter
Act (Public Law 80-806), as amended; the Agricultural Act of
1949 (Public Law 81-439), as amended (1949 Act); the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (Public Law 75-430), as
amended (the 1938 Act); the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public
Law 99-198), as amended (1985 Act); the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246); the Agricultural Act
of 2014 (Public Law 113-79); and the Agriculture Improvement
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334).
Management of the Corporation is vested in a board of
directors, subject to the general supervision and direction of
the Secretary of Agriculture, who is an ex officio director and
chairman of the board. The board consists of seven members, in
addition to the Secretary, who are appointed by the President
of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Officers of the Corporation are designated according to their
positions in USDA.
The activities of the Corporation are carried out mainly by
the personnel and through FSA facilities and FSA State and
county committees. The Foreign Agricultural Service, the
General Sales Manager, other agencies and offices of the
Department, and commercial agents are also used to carry out
certain aspects of the Corporation's activities.
Under Public Law 87-155 (15 U.S.C. 713a-11, 713a-12),
annual appropriations are authorized for each fiscal year,
commencing with fiscal year 1961. These appropriations are to
reimburse the Corporation for net realized losses.

REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $16,832,185,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 10,612,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,612,000,000

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of such sums as
may be necessary, estimated in fiscal year 2024 to be
$10,612,000,000, for the payment to reimburse the Commodity
Credit Corporation for reimbursement for net realized losses.
CRP Wetland Restoration and Wildlife Enhancement.--The
Committee notes that agricultural commodity crops, if left
unharvested, may help reduce degradation of wetlands and
improve sediment trapping, surface and ground water supply,
erosion control, and wildlife habitat while providing winter
food for waterfowl and other wildlife. The Committee directs
CCC, within 60 days of enactment of this act, to amend its
program policies and guidelines for CRP conservation practices
CP23 and CP23A, to provide that current and future participants
are permitted to plant, but not harvest, agricultural commodity
crops as wildlife food plots on up to 10 percent of the
enrolled land to enhance waterfowl and upland bird food and
habitat.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

(LIMITATION ON EXPENSES)

Limitation, 2023........................................ $15,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 15,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 15,000,000

The CCC's hazardous waste management program is intended to
ensure compliance with the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Public Law 96-510)
and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (Public Law 94-
580). The CCC funds operations and maintenance costs as well as
site investigation and cleanup expenses. Investigative and
cleanup costs associated with the management of CCC hazardous
waste are also paid from USDA's hazardous waste management
appropriation.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends a limitation of $15,000,000 for
the Commodity Credit Corporation's hazardous waste management
program.

TITLE III

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

The Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354)
abolished the Farmers Home Administration, Rural Development
Administration, and Rural Electrification Administration and
replaced those agencies with the Rural Housing and Community
Development Service, (currently, the Rural Housing Service),
Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service (currently,
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service), and Rural Utilities
Service and placed them under the oversight of the Under
Secretary for Rural Economic and Community Development,
(currently, Rural Development [RD]). These agencies deliver a
variety of programs through a network of State and field
offices.

Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,620,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,653,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,620,000

The Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development
provides direction and coordination in carrying out laws with
respect to the Department's rural economic and community
development activities. The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Rural Housing Service [RHS], Rural
Business-Cooperative Service [RBS], and the Rural Utilities
Service [RUS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,620,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development.
Persistent Poverty Areas.--The Committee supports targeted
investments in impoverished areas, particularly in persistent
poverty counties, and directs the Department to complete the
report requested on this matter, which is now several years
overdue. The report shall include both the historic data
requested in the original directive as well as data for fiscal
years 2023 and 2024.

Rural Development

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

These funds are used to administer the loan and grant
programs of RHS, RBS, and RUS, including reviewing
applications, making and collecting loans, providing technical
assistance and guidance to borrowers, and assisting in
extending other Federal programs to people in rural areas.
Under the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law
101-508), administrative costs associated with loan programs
are appropriated to the program accounts. Appropriations to the
salaries and expenses account will be for costs associated with
grant programs.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends $801,079,000 for salaries and
expenses of Rural Development, including a direct appropriation
of $351,087,000.
Cloud use.--The Committee remains interested in Rural
Development's efforts to modernize the agency's information
technology systems in an effort to provide better assistance to
the communities it serves. In compliance with the Federal
Government's Cloud Smart strategy, RD is directed to provide a
report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no
later than 180 days after enactment of this act with an
assessment of the time, effort and cost of moving off on-prem
and transitioning and modernizing in the cloud.
Information Technology.--The Committee remains concerned
about IT systems within Rural Development and directs the
Department to continue to update or retire legacy systems.
Furthermore, the Committee still awaits the report listing the
programs that still require paper applications and the
estimated cost to develop online portals, and continues to
direct the Department to submit monthly updates on making
improvements to the systems listed above and any other IT
development.
Staffing.--The Committee continues to direct the Department
to provide a report that breaks out staffing by program,
including current levels and end of year goals within 30 days
of enactment of this act and monthly reports to the Committee
with hiring updates thereafter.
Rural Partners Network.--The Committee provides $3,000,000
for the Rural Partners Network.

Rural Housing Service

The Rural Housing Service was established under the Federal
Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354).

RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023 (budget authority)................. $527,357,000
Budget estimate, 2024 (budget authority)................ 813,849,000
Committee recommendation (budget authority)............. 558,986,000

This fund was established in 1965 (Public Law 89-117)
pursuant to section 517 of title V of the Housing Act of 1949
(Public Law 87-171). This fund may be used to insure or
guarantee rural housing loans for single-family homes, rental
and cooperative housing, farm labor housing, and rural housing
sites. Rural housing loans are made to construct, improve,
alter, repair, or replace dwellings and essential farm service
buildings that are modest in size, design, and cost. Rental
housing insured loans are made to individuals, corporations,
associations, trusts, or partnerships to provide low-cost
rental housing and related facilities in rural areas. These
loans are repayable in terms up to 30 years. The Multi-family
Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program [MPR] includes
revitalization tools for maintenance of existing units. The
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508)
established the Rural Housing Insurance Fund [RHIF] program
account. Appropriations to this account will be used to cover
the lifetime subsidy costs associated with the direct loans
obligated and loan guarantees committed in fiscal year 2024, as
well as for administrative expenses.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $146,732,000,
excluding the transfer of funds, for the Rural Housing
Insurance Fund Program Account.
The following table presents the loan subsidy levels as
compared to the 2023 levels and the 2024 budget request:

RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Levels:
Single-Family Housing (sec. 502):
Direct............................................... 1,250,000 1,500,000 850,000
Direct Tribal Relending Pilot........................ 7,500 12,000 7,500
Guaranteed........................................... 30,000,000 30,000,000 30,000,000
Housing repair (sec. 504)................................ 28,000 50,000 28,000
Direct rental housing (sec. 515)......................... 70,000 200,000 60,000
Guaranteed rental housing (sec. 538)..................... 400,000 400,000 400,000
Site development loans (sec. 524)........................ 5,000 5,000 5,000
Credit sales of acquired property........................ 10,000 10,000 10,000
Self help land development loans (sec. 523).............. 5,000 5,000 5,000
Farm labor housing loans (sec. 514)...................... 20,000 50,000 25,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan levels..................................... 31,795,500 32,232,000 31,390,500
==================================================
Loan Subsidies and Grants:
Single-Family Housing (sec. 502):
Direct............................................... 46,375 205,950 62,637
Direct Tribal Relending Pilot........................ 2,468 5,491 3,432
Housing repair (sec. 504)................................ 2,324 8,675 4,858
Direct rental housing (sec. 515)......................... 13,377 69,960 20,988
Site development loans (sec. 524)........................ 208 477 477
Self help land development loans (sec. 523).............. 267 637 637
Farm labor housing loans (sec. 514)...................... 4,084 17,405 8,703
Farm labor housing grants (sec. 516)..................... 10,000 18,000 10,000
Multi-Family housing revitalization demonstration........ 36,000 75,000 35,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan subsidies and grants....................... 115,103 401,595 146,732
==================================================
Administrative Expenses...................................... 412,254 412,254 412,254
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan subsidies and administrative expenses...... 527,357 813,849 558,986
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fair Housing Protections.--The Committee supports efforts
to strengthen the protections of the Fair Housing Act, but
understand that more action is needed to ensure these
protections reach every community. The Committee requests
information on what resources are needed to ensure Rural
Development has the resources to collaborate with the
Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to conduct
outreach and raise awareness of the rights and protections
under the Fair Housing Act for all protected classes.
Multifamily Housing Inspections.--The Committee directs the
Department to better collaborate with HUD on Multifamily
housing inspections, especially for properties financed by both
USDA and HUD, and to provide clarifying guidance on the
acceptability of either a USDA or HUD inspection to avoid
duplication.
Relending Program.--The Committee provides $7,500,000 for
the Section 502 Direct Tribal Relending Pilot, and to the
extent practicable, encourages the Rural Housing Service to
expand the current pilot to the Southwest and to Native CDFIs
that are partnered with Regional Housing Authorities which
receive block grant funds under Public Law 104-330. The
Committee recognizes that there is a tremendous need for safe
and affordable housing in American Indian and Alaska Native
communities, and Native American CDFIs have deep ties to the
local communities they serve, and are better equipped to more
effectively reach potential homebuyers.
Single Family Housing Efficiency Concerns.--The Committee
is concerned that there are unnecessary impediments facing
individuals who utilize Single Family Housing Direct Loans and
the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program to purchase
homes or property in rural areas. The Committee awaits the
report on the current appraisal requirements for these homes
and whether these requirements are adopted from requirements
used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the
Department of Veterans Affairs.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,487,926,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,688,109,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,608,000,000

Rental assistance is authorized under section 521(a)(2) of
the Housing Act of 1949 (Public Law 87-171). The objective of
the program is to reduce rents paid by low-income families
living in RHS-financed rental projects and farm labor housing
projects. Under this program, low-income tenants will
contribute the higher of: (1) 30 percent of monthly adjusted
income; (2) 10 percent of monthly income; or (3) designated
housing payments from a welfare agency.
Payments from the fund are made to the project owner for
the difference between the tenant's payment and the approved
rental rate established for the unit.
The program is administered in tandem with RHS section 515
rural rental housing program and the farm labor loan and grant
programs. Priority is given to existing projects for rental
units occupied by over-burdened low-income families and
projects experiencing financial difficulties beyond the control
of the owner.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,608,000,000
for the Rental Assistance Program.
Housing vouchers continue to be addressed in the Rural
Housing Voucher Account.
Applicant Rental Experience.--The Committee understands
that the Rural Development Civil Rights Office previously
administered a testing program to examine the rental experience
of applicants in rural housing services. The Committee requests
information on why the testing program ended, what resources
would be needed to restart the program, and how the program
should be updated to ensure it captures the needs of
communities protected by the Fair Housing Act, who are
particularly at-risk of housing instability.
Decoupling of Rental Assistance.--The Committee accepts the
Department's proposal to decouple the rental assistance program
from Section 515 direct loans. This strategy should only be
used when all other methods of preservation are exhausted. In
implementing this policy, the Committee directs the Department
to have strong stakeholder engagement and to provide the
Committee with monthly updates on the implementation of this
policy.
Rental Assistance Priority.--The Secretary is encouraged to
prioritize multi-family housing properties acquired by means of
a section 515 loan within the current fiscal year when
determining current rental assistance needs.

RURAL HOUSING VOUCHER ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $48,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 48,000,000

The Rural Housing Voucher Program was authorized under the
Housing Act of 1949 (Public Law 81-171) to assist very low-
income families and individuals who reside in rental housing in
rural areas. Housing vouchers may be provided to residents of
rental housing projects financed by section 515 loans that have
been prepaid or paid off after September 30, 2005. Voucher
amounts reflect the difference between comparable market rents
and tenant-paid rent prior to loan pre-payment. Vouchers allow
tenants to remain in existing projects or move to other rental
housing.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $48,000,000
for the Rural Housing Voucher Program.

MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $32,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 40,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 32,000,000

The Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants Program is
authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (Public Law
81-171). Grants are made to local organizations to promote the
development of mutual or self-help programs under which groups
of usually six to 10 families build their own homes by mutually
exchanging labor. Funds may be used to pay the cost of
construction supervisors who work with families in the
construction of their homes and for administrative expenses of
the organizations providing the self-help assistance.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $32,000,000
for Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants.

RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $48,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 70,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 48,000,000

The Rural Housing Assistance Grants Program consolidates
funding for rural housing grant programs. This consolidation of
housing grant funding provides greater flexibility to tailor
financial assistance to applicant needs.
Very Low-Income Housing Repair Grants.--The Very Low-Income
Housing Repair Grants Program is authorized under section 504
of title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (Public Law 81-171). The
rural housing repair grant program is carried out by making
grants to very low-income families to conduct necessary repairs
to their homes in order to make such dwellings safe and
sanitary and to remove hazards to the health of the occupants,
their families, or the community.
These grants may be made to cover the cost of improvements
or additions, such as repairing roofs, providing toilet
facilities, providing a convenient and sanitary water supply,
supplying screens, repairing or providing structural supports,
or making similar repairs, additions, or improvements,
including all preliminary and installation costs in obtaining
central water and sewer service. A grant can be made in
combination with a section 504 very low-income housing repair
loan.
No assistance can be extended to any one individual in the
form of a loan, grant, or combined loans and grants in excess
of $7,500,000, and grant assistance is limited to persons or
families headed by persons who are 62 years of age or older.
Supervisory and Technical Assistance Grants.--Supervisory
and technical assistance grants are made to public and private
nonprofit organizations for packaging loan applications for
housing assistance under sections 502, 504, 514/516, 515, and
533 of the Housing Act of 1949 (Public Law 81-171). The
assistance is directed to very low-income families in
underserved areas where at least 20 percent of the population
is below the poverty level and at least 10 percent or more of
the population resides in substandard housing. In fiscal year
1994, a Homebuyer Education Program was implemented under this
authority. This program provides low-income individuals and
families with education and counseling on obtaining and/or
maintaining occupancy of adequate housing and supervised credit
assistance to become successful homeowners.
Compensation for Construction Defects.--Compensation for
construction defects provides funds for grants to eligible
section 502 borrowers to correct structural defects or to pay
claims of owners arising from such defects on a newly
constructed dwelling purchased with RHS financial assistance.
Claims are not paid until provisions under the builder's
warranty have been fully pursued. Requests for compensation for
construction defects must be made by the owner of the property
within 18 months after the date financial assistance was
granted.
Rural Housing Preservation Grants.--Rural housing
preservation grants (section 533) of the Housing and Urban-
Rural Recovery Act of 1983 (Public Law 98-181) authorizes the
Rural Housing Service to administer a program of home repair
directed at low- and very low-income people.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $48,000,000
for the Rural Housing Assistance Grants Program.
The following table compares the grant program levels
recommended by the Committee to the fiscal year 2023 levels and
the budget request:

RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very low-income housing repair grants........................ 32,000 40,000 32,000
Housing preservation grants.................................. 16,000 30,000 16,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 48,000 70,000 48,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rural Community Facilities Program Account

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $341,490,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 86,745,000
Committee recommendation................................ 253,134,000

Community facility loans were created by the Rural
Development Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-419) to finance a
variety of rural community facilities. Loans are made to
organizations, including certain Indian Tribes and corporations
not operated for profit and public and quasi-public agencies,
to construct, enlarge, extend, or otherwise improve community
facilities providing essential services to rural residents.
Such facilities include those providing or supporting overall
community development, such as fire and rescue services,
healthcare, transportation, traffic control, and community,
social, cultural, and recreational benefits. Loans are made for
facilities which primarily serve rural residents of open
country and rural towns and villages of not more than 20,000
people. Healthcare, fire and rescue facilities, and educational
facilities are the priorities of the program and receive the
majority of available funds.
The Community Facility Grant Program authorized in the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public
Law 104-127) is used in conjunction with the existing direct
and guaranteed loan programs for the development of community
facilities such as hospitals, fire stations, and community
centers. Grants are targeted to the lowest income communities.
Communities that have lower population and income levels
receive a higher cost-share contribution through these grants
with a maximum contribution of 75 percent of the cost of
developing the facility.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $253,134,000
for the Rural Community Facilities Program Account.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2023 and budget
request levels:

RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan Levels:
Community facilities direct loans........................ 2,800,000 2,800,000 2,800,000
Community facilities guaranteed loans.................... 650,000 650,000 650,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan levels..................................... 3,450,000 3,450,000 3,450,000
==================================================
Budget Authority:
Community facilities grants.............................. ............... 52,000 32,000
Congressionally directed spending........................ 325,490 ............... 205,134
Rural community development initiative................... 6,000 22,745 6,000
Tribal college grants.................................... 10,000 10,000 10,000
Rural Hospitals Pilot Program............................ ............... 2,000 ...............
--------------------------------------------------
Total, budget authority................................ 341,490 86,745 253,134
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congressionally Directed Spending [CDS].--The Committee has
provided CDS for certain activities and locations under Rural
Community Facilities Program. While the Committee has provided
the funding, recipients of CDS are still required to apply for
the funding. The Committee expects the agency to review the
applications and fund projects in the same manner as in
previous years.
Income-based Matches.--The Committee is concerned that the
methodology used to calculate income-based matches for the
Community Facilities Grant program and the Water and Wastewater
Disposal Grant program inequitably considers State needs. The
Committee directs the Department to conduct an analysis of this
methodology and develop three alternative methodologies, and to
brief the Committees no later than 60 days after enactment of
the Act. If warranted, the Department is directed to make
changes to its methodology based on this analysis.
Rural Community Development Initiative Grants.--The
Committee encourages the Department to increase the maximum
grant amount for this program from $250,000 to $500,000 and to
allow an advance of 25 percent of grant funds prior to a match
being supplied.

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service was established by
the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354), dated October
13, 1994. Its programs were previously administered by the
Rural Development Administration, the Rural Electrification
Administration, and the Agricultural Cooperative Service.

RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $86,520,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 103,600,000
Committee recommendation................................ 77,728,000

The Rural Business and Industry Loan Program was created by
the Rural Development Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-419), and
finances a variety of rural industrial development loans. Loans
are made for rural industrialization and rural community
facilities under Rural Development Act amendments to the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932 et
seq.) authorities. Business and industrial loans are made to
public, private, or cooperative organizations organized for
profit; to certain Indian tribes; or to individuals for the
purpose of improving, developing, or financing business,
industry, and employment or improving the economic and
environmental climate in rural areas. Such purposes include
financing business and industrial acquisition, construction,
enlargement, repair or modernization; financing the purchase
and development of land, easements, rights-of-way, buildings,
and payment of startup costs; and supplying working capital.
Rural business development grants were authorized by the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79) and can be made to
governmental and nonprofit entities and Indian Tribes. Up to 10
percent of appropriated funds may be used to identify and
analyze business opportunities; identify, train, and provide
technical assistance to existing or prospective rural
entrepreneurs and managers; assist in the establishment of new
rural businesses and the maintenance of existing businesses;
conduct economic development planning, coordination, and
leadership development; and establish centers for training,
technology, and trade. The balance of appropriated funding may
be used for projects that support the development of business
enterprises that finance or facilitate the development of small
and emerging private business enterprise; the establishment,
expansion, and operation of rural distance learning networks;
the development of rural learning programs; and the provision
of technical assistance and training to rural communities for
the purpose of improving passenger transportation.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $77,728,000
for the Rural Business Program Account.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2023 and budget
request levels:

RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan levels:
Business and industry guaranteed loans loan levels....... 1,800,000 2,000,000 1,800,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total, loan levels..................................... 1,800,000 2,000,000 1,800,000
==================================================
Budget Authority:
Business and industry guaranteed loans................... 38,520 47,600 28,728
Rural business development grants........................ 37,000 40,000 37,000
DRA, NBRC, ARC, and SWBRC................................ 9,000 9,000 12,000
Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants.......... 2,000 7,000 ...............
--------------------------------------------------
Total, budget authority................................ 86,520 103,600 77,728
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities.--The
Committee recognizes that strong partnerships exist between RD
and Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities. The Committee
encourages RD to coordinate with the Regional Commissions to
promote efficiency during the grant planning and review
process. Additionally, the Committee encourages RD to ensure
flexible processes are available for each Regional Commission
as appropriate.
Infant Formula Manufacturing.--The Committee directs the
Secretary to ensure that small infant formula manufacturing
facilities located in rural areas are aware of their
eligibility for the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan
Program.
Rural Business Program Account.--The Committee recommends
$500,000 for transportation technical assistance.
The Committee directs that of the $400,000 recommended for
grants to benefit federally Recognized Native American Tribes,
$250,000 shall be used to implement an American Indian and
Alaska Native passenger transportation development and
assistance initiative. Additionally, the Committee encourages
the Department to improve information sharing about Rural
Development's business support programs with local small
business advisory organizations.

INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM FUND ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2023 Fiscal year 2024 Committee
enacted budget request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated loan level...................................... 18,889 18,889 18,889
Direct loan subsidy....................................... 3,313 5,733 5,733
Administrative expenses................................... 4,468 4,468 4,468
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, loan subsidies and administrative expenses... 7,781 10,201 10,201
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Rural Development Intermediary Relending Loan program
was originally authorized by the Economic Opportunity Act of
1964 (Public Law 88-452). The making of rural development loans
by USDA was reauthorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014
(Public Law 113-79).
Loans are made to intermediary borrowers (small investment
groups) who in turn will reloan the funds to rural businesses,
community development corporations, private nonprofit
organizations, public agencies, et cetera, for the purpose of
improving business, industry, community facilities, employment
opportunities, and diversification of the economy in rural
areas.
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law 74-605)
established the program account. Appropriations to this account
will be used to cover the lifetime subsidy costs associated
with the direct loans obligated in 2024, as well as
administrative expenses.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,201,000
for the Intermediary Relending Program Fund.

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

The Rural Economic Development Loans program was
established by the Reconciliation Act of December 1987 (Public
Law 100-203), which amended the Rural Electrification Act of
1936 (7 U.S.C. 901), by establishing a new section 313. This
section of the Rural Electrification Act (7 U.S.C. 901)
established a cushion of credit payment program and created the
rural economic development subaccount. The Administrator of RUS
is authorized under the act to utilize funds in this program to
provide zero interest loans to electric and telecommunications
borrowers for the purpose of promoting rural economic
development and job creation projects, including funding for
feasibility studies, startup costs, and other reasonable
expenses for the purpose of fostering rural economic
development.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends a loan program level of
$75,000,000 and $15,000,000 in grants to be funded from
earnings on the Cushion of Credit and fees on guaranteed
underwriting loans made pursuant to section 313A of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901).

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2023 Fiscal year 2024 Committee
level request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated loan level...................................... 75,000 75,000 75,000
Estimated grants.......................................... 15,000 15,000 15,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $28,300,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 29,800,000
Committee recommendation................................ 28,300,000

Rural cooperative development grants are authorized under
section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (Public Law 113-79), as amended. Grants are made to fund
the establishment and operation of centers for rural
cooperative development with the primary purpose of improving
economic conditions in rural areas. Grants may be made to
nonprofit institutions or institutions of higher education.
Grants may be used to pay up to 75 percent of the cost of the
project and associated administrative costs. The applicant must
contribute at least 25 percent from non-Federal sources, except
1994 institutions, which only need to provide five percent.
Grants are competitive and are awarded based on specific
selection criteria.
Cooperative research agreements are authorized by 7 U.S.C.
2204b. The funds are used for cooperative research agreements,
primarily with colleges and universities, on critical
operational, organizational, and structural issues facing
cooperatives.
Cooperative agreements are authorized under 7 U.S.C. 2201
to any qualified State departments of agriculture,
universities, and other State entities to conduct research that
will strengthen and enhance the operations of agricultural
marketing cooperatives in rural areas.
The Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas [ATTRA]
program was first authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985
(Public Law 99-198). The program provides information and
technical assistance to agricultural producers to adopt
sustainable agricultural practices that are environmentally
friendly and lower production costs.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The following table provides the Committee's recommendation
as compared to the fiscal year 2023 and budget request levels:

[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2023 Fiscal year 2024 Committee
level request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Cooperative Development Grants...................... 5,800 7,000 5,800
Appropriate Technology Transfer........................... 3,500 2,800 3,500
Grants to Assist Minority Producers....................... 3,000 4,000 3,000
Value-Added Producer Grants............................... 13,000 13,000 13,000
Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Grants........ 3,000 3,000 3,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total Rural Cooperative Development Grants.......... 28,300 29,800 28,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $28,300,000
for Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
Of the funds recommended, $3,500,000 is for the Appropriate
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas program.
The Committee includes bill language directing that not
more than $3,000,000 be made available to cooperatives or
associations of cooperatives whose primary focus is to provide
assistance to small, minority producers.
Agriculture Innovation Centers.--The Committee recommends
$3,000,000 for Agriculture Innovation Center funding, as
authorized in section 6402 of Public Law 107-171, to be
available as grants to States authorized to host, and that have
previously hosted, a USDA Agriculture Innovation Center and
where the State continues to demonstrate support and provide
non-Federal grant funding to producers developing, producing,
and marketing value-added agricultural and food products. Prior
year or current grant awardees shall be eligible for these
funds.
Value-Added Producer Grants.--The Committee directs that
Value-Added Producer Grants be prioritized to support the
production of value-added agricultural products, including
dairy, with significant potential to expand production and
processing in the United States.

RURAL MICROENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $6,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 8,250,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,000,000

The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program is
authorized under section 379E(d) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s). This program provides
direct loans and grants to microentreprenuer development
organizations with the skills necessary to establish new rural
microenterprises and provide technical assistance to maintain
the successful operation of rural microenterprises.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,000,000 for
the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.

RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $18,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 30,000,000
Committee recommendation................................................

The Rural Energy for America Program is authorized under
section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (Public Law 107-171). This program may fund energy audits,
direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to farmers, ranchers,
and small rural businesses for the purchase of renewable energy
systems and for energy efficiency improvements.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee does not recommend a discretionary
appropriation for the Rural Energy for America Program.
The following table provides the Committee's recommendation
as compared to the fiscal year 2023 and budget request levels:

RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated loan level............................................ 20,000 50,000 50,000
Guaranteed loan subsidy......................................... 18 .............. ..............
Grants.......................................................... .............. 30,000 ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rural Energy for America Program [REAP].--The Committee
encourages the Department to focus a portion of funding on
underserved renewable technologies.
The Committee also acknowledges the potential of the Rural
Energy for America Program in helping rural agricultural
producers and small businesses diversify on-farm income and
promote energy efficiency through renewable energy production.
However, the Committee recognizes financial barriers to program
utilization by small agricultural producers and small
businesses due to matching fund requirements and reimbursement-
based grant funding. As such, the Committee encourages the
Department to make REAP grants more accessible to socially
disadvantaged groups and low income applicants to ensure the
program's feasibility and accessibility for applicants of all
demographics.

HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVE

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $3,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 5,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,000,000

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative is authorized under
section 4206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014. This program
provides financial and technical assistance to regional, State
and local partnerships, and helps fund projects to improve
access to fresh, healthy foods in underserved rural areas.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,000,000 for
the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and notes the funding
provided through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Rural Utilities Service

The Rural Utilities Service was established under the
Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-354). RUS
administers the electric and telephone programs of the former
Rural Electrification Administration and the water and waste
programs of the former Rural Development Administration.

RURAL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $596,404,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 882,295,000
Committee recommendation................................ 671,560,000

The water and waste disposal program is authorized by
sections 306, 306A, 309A, 306C, 306D, 306E, and 310B of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Public Law 87-
128). This program makes loans for water and waste development
costs. Development loans are made to associations, including
corporations operating on a nonprofit basis, municipalities,
and similar organizations generally designated as public or
quasi-public agencies, that propose projects for the
development, storage, treatment, purification, and distribution
of domestic water or the collection, treatment, or disposal of
waste in rural areas. Such grants may not exceed 75 percent of
the development cost of the projects and can supplement other
funds borrowed or furnished by applicants to pay development
costs.
The solid waste grant program is authorized under section
310B(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(Public Law 87-128). Grants are made to public entities and
private nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance
to local and regional governments for the purpose of reducing
or eliminating pollution of water resources and for improving
the planning and management of solid waste disposal facilities.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $671,560,000
for the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account.
The Committee recommends $70,000,000 for water and waste
disposal systems grants for Native Americans, including Native
Alaskans, Hawaiian Homelands, and the Colonias. The Committee
recognizes the special needs and problems for delivery of basic
services to these populations and encourages the Secretary to
distribute these funds in line with the fiscal year 2014
distribution to the degree practicable. In addition, the
Committee makes up to $25,000,000 available for the circuit
rider program.
The following table provides the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2023 and budget
request levels:

RURAL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2023 Fiscal year 2024 Committee
enacted budget request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan levels:
Water and waste disposal direct loans................. 1,400,000 1,500,000 850,000
Water and waste disposal direct zero percent loans.... ................ ................ ................
Water and waste disposal direct one percent loans..... 20,000 110,000 30,000
Water and waste disposal guaranteed loans............. 50,000 50,000 50,000
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, loan levels.................................. 1,470,000 1,660,000 930,000
=====================================================
Budget authority:
Water and waste disposal direct loans................. ................ 125,250 70,975
Water and waste disposal direct zero percent loans.... ................ ................ ................
Water and waste disposal direct one percent loans..... 2,724 29,645 8,085
Water and waste disposal grants....................... 430,000 538,400 430,000
Solid waste management grants......................... 4,000 4,000 4,000
Water well systems grants............................. 5,000 5,000 5,000
Colonias, AK, HI and Native American grants........... 70,000 87,000 70,000
Water and waste water revolving funds................. 1,000 1,000 1,000
High energy cost grants............................... 10,000 10,000 10,000
Circuit rider......................................... 21,180 25,000 25,000
Emergency community water assistance grants........... 15,000 15,000 10,000
Technical assistance grants........................... 37,500 42,000 37,500
-----------------------------------------------------
Total, budget authority............................. 596,404 882,295 671,560
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Technical Assistance.--The Committee provides $37,500,000
for technical assistance and directs no less than $1,000,000 to
be used to support manufactured homes.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (Public Law 74-605)
provides the statutory authority for the electric and
telecommunications programs.
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508)
established the program account. An appropriation to this
account will be used to cover the lifetime subsidy costs
associated with the direct loans obligated and loan guarantees
committed in fiscal year 2024, as well as administrative
expenses.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The following table reflects the Committee's recommendation
for the Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans
Program Account, the loan subsidy and administrative expenses,
as compared to the fiscal year 2023 and budget request levels:

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan authorization:
Electric:
Direct FFB............................................... 2,167,000 2,167,000 2,167,000
Electric Direct, Treasury Rate........................... 4,333,000 4,333,000 4,333,000
Guaranteed underwriting.................................. 900,000 ............... 900,000
Telecommunications:
Direct, Treasury Rate.................................... 690,000 690,000 690,000
Rural Energy Savings Program............................. 110,898 192,845 60,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorization.............................. 8,200,897 7,382,845 8,150,000
==================================================
Direct, Treasury Rate Telecomm Subsidy................... 3,726 7,176 7,176
Rural Energy Savings Program............................. 11,500 34,500 10,734
Clean Energy Technical Assistance........................ ............... 15,000 ...............
Administrative Expenses.................................. 33,270 33,270 33,270
--------------------------------------------------
Total budget authority................................. 48,496 89,946 51,180
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE AND BROADBAND PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $466,504,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 476,337,000
Committee recommendation................................ 195,721,000

The Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program
is authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade
Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-624), as amended by the Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
127). This program provides incentives to improve the quality
of phone services, provide access to advanced
telecommunications services and computer networks, and improve
rural opportunities.
This program provides the facilities and equipment to link
rural education and medical facilities with more urban centers
and other facilities, providing rural residents access to
better healthcare through technology and increasing educational
opportunities for rural students. These funds are available for
loans and grants.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $195,721,000
for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program.
The following table reflects the Committee's recommendation
for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program,
as compared to fiscal year 2023 and the budget request levels:

DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND PROGRAM
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan and grant levels:
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program:
Grants................................................... 60,000 65,000 60,000
Congressionally Directed Spending........................ 4,991 ............... 2,721
Broadband Program:
Treasury rate loans...................................... 14,674 14,674 ...............
Treasury rate loans budget authority..................... 2,000 2,037 ...............
Middle mile loans........................................ 15,873 ............... ...............
Middle mile loans budget authority....................... 1,000 ............... ...............
Grants................................................... 35,000 35,000 35,000
Re-Connect............................................... 348,000 374,300 98,000
Congressionally Directed Spending.................... 15,513 ............... ...............
--------------------------------------------------
Total, DLT and Broadband Program level................. 30,547 14,674 ...............
==================================================
Total, DLT and Broadband budget authority.............. 466,504 476,337 195,721
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Committee provides $3,000,000 to address critical
healthcare needs, as authorized by section 379G of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Public Law 115-
334).
Broadband Interagency Agreement.--The Committee directs the
Department to continue the interagency agreement between the
Federal Communications Commission, the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, and USDA.
Congressionally Directed Spending [CDS].--The Committee has
provided CDS for certain activities and locations under
Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program. While
the Committee has provided the funding, recipients of CDS are
still required to apply for the funding. The Committee expects
the agency to review the applications and fund projects in the
same manner as in previous years.
ReConnect.--The Committee provides $98,000,000 for the
ReConnect pilot, which was established in the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), and again
reminds USDA that funding should not be used in areas that are
already largely served and should be focused in areas where at
least 90% of households lack access. In doing so, the Committee
intends that USDA should avoid efforts that could duplicate
existing or planned broadband networks, including avoiding
granting funding in areas where another provider already has
received funding from another Federal, State or local funding
program to build, has otherwise committed to a government
entity to build, or has invested private risk capital to build
in an area and has obtained necessary permits to do so, even if
construction is not yet complete. To achieve these goals, we
urge USDA to continue coordinating closely with the National
Telecommunications Information Administration and the Federal
Communications Commission in a transparent manner to ensure
that there is a common agreement about which areas are
currently unserved, to utilize a common map to reach those
conclusions that is updated each time a new funding decision is
announced, and to have a clear and understandable challenge
process.
To avoid waste, funding should be given only to applicants
that can and will follow through with their commitments by
prioritizing applications from applicants that have
demonstrated the technical and financial experience required to
construct and operate broadband networks. To incentivize
participation, applications should be as streamlined as
possible, including allowing all providers to offer proof of
financial capability through bond ratings instead of submitting
financial documentation, and to offer collateral for loans as
well as security for performance under grants using alternate
forms of security instead of providing a first lien on assets.
Applications should only require the data strictly necessary to
evaluate the application and post-award burdens should be
minimized.
In addition, while the pilot is intended to be technology
neutral, it is critical that federal broadband investments
support projects that are both scalable and adequate for both
current and future technological requirement and consumer
needs. In carrying out the Reconnect program, the Committee
directs USDA to support qualified projects that will provide
the highest upload and download speeds possible to ensure rural
America is receiving the same quality broadband services as
their non-rural counterparts.
The Committee also remains concerned that States and
territories outside the contiguous United States are having
difficulty utilizing this program and directs the agency to
report back to the Committee with recommendations to address
these concerns.
Satellite Service.--The Committee still awaits the report
on the feasibility and cost of utilizing satellite Internet
service under its existing programs. The report must cover a
cost comparison of fiber versus satellite costs with a focus on
reaching rural areas. Additionally, USDA should report on any
statutory barriers that prevent program dollars to go toward
satellite Internet access.

TITLE IV

DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,376,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,416,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,376,000

The Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and
Consumer Services provides direction and coordination in
carrying out the laws enacted by the Congress with respect to
the Department's nutrition assistance activities. The Office
has oversight and management responsibilities for the Food and
Nutrition Service [FNS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,376,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and
Consumer Services.
Application Process.--The Committee is concerned that the
application process for organizations which participate in both
the Summer Food Service Program and the Child and Adult Care
Food Program diverts resources away from serving vulnerable
populations. The Committee directs USDA to determine ways to
streamline the application process to reduce the administrative
burden to providers. USDA is specifically directed to consider
allowing organizations in good standing for 3 years
participating in both programs to file only one application to
administer both programs each year.
Meals-to-You.--The Committee recognizes the benefits the
Meals-to-You [MTY] demonstration program has had in reducing
food insecurity, particularly for children and youth in rural
and frontier areas who are unable to access congregate feeding
sites. The Committee encourages FNS to continue providing meal
delivery services through the MTY demonstration project through
a grant or cooperative agreement to a non-profit provider that
works with local service institutions to enroll eligible low-
income children.

Food and Nutrition Service

The Food and Nutrition Service represents an organizational
effort to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in this country.
Nutrition assistance programs provide access to a nutritionally
adequate diet for low-income individuals and families and
encourage better eating patterns among the Nation's children.
These programs include:
Child Nutrition Programs [CNP].--The National School Lunch
and School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, and Child and Adult
Care Food programs provide funding to the States, Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam for use in serving
nutritious lunches and breakfasts to children attending schools
of high school grades and under, to children of preschool age
in child care centers, and to children in other institutions in
order to improve the health and well-being of the Nation's
children and broaden the markets for agricultural food
commodities. Through the Special Milk Program, assistance is
provided to the States for making reimbursement payments to
eligible schools and child care institutions which institute or
expand milk service in order to increase the consumption of
fluid milk by children. Funds for this program are provided by
direct appropriation and transfer from section 32.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,
and Children [WIC].--This program safeguards the health of
pregnant, postpartum, and breast-feeding women, and infants and
children up to age five who are at nutritional risk because of
inadequate nutrition and income by providing supplemental
foods. The delivery of supplemental foods may be done through
health clinics, vouchers redeemable at retail food stores, or
other approved methods which a cooperating State health agency
may select. Funds for this program are provided by direct
appropriation.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP].--This
program seeks to improve nutritional standards of needy persons
and families. Assistance is provided to eligible households to
enable them to obtain a better diet by increasing their food
purchasing capability, usually by furnishing benefits in the
form of electronic access to funds. The program includes
Nutrition Assistance to Puerto Rico [NAP]. The program also
includes the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
[FDPIR], which provides nutritious agricultural commodities to
low-income persons living on or near Indian reservations who
choose not to participate in SNAP.
Commodity Assistance Program [CAP].--This program provides
funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program [CSFP], the
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program [FMNP], Disaster Assistance,
Pacific Island Assistance, and administrative expenses for the
Emergency Food Assistance Program [TEFAP]. CSFP provides
supplemental foods to low-income elderly persons age 60 and
over. TEFAP provides commodities and grant funds to State
agencies to assist in the cost of storage and distribution of
donated commodities. Nutritious agricultural commodities are
provided to residents of the Federated States of Micronesia and
the Marshall Islands. Cash assistance is provided to
distributing agencies to assist them in meeting administrative
expenses incurred. CAP also provides funding for use in non-
presidentially declared disasters and for FNS's administrative
costs in connection with relief for all disasters. Funds for
this program are provided by direct appropriation.
Nutrition Programs Administration.--Most salaries and
Federal operating expenses of FNS are funded from this account.
Also included is the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion,
which oversees improvements in and revisions to the food
guidance systems and serves as the focal point for advancing
and coordinating nutrition promotion and education policy to
improve the health of all Americans.

CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $28,545,432,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 32,030,897,000
Committee recommendation................................ 32,032,897,000

Child Nutrition Programs, authorized by the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (Public Law 79-396) and the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-642), provide
Federal assistance to State agencies in the form of cash and
commodities for use in preparing and serving nutritious meals
to children while they are attending school, residing in
service institutions, or participating in other organized
activities away from home. The purpose of these programs is to
help maintain the health and proper physical development of
America's children. Milk is provided to children either free or
at a low cost, depending on their family income level. FNS
provides cash subsidies to States for administering the
programs and directly administers the program in the States
which choose not to do so. Grants are also made for nutritional
training and surveys and for State administrative expenses.
Under current law, most of these payments are made on the basis
of reimbursement rates established by law and applied to
lunches and breakfasts actually served by the States. The
reimbursement rates are adjusted annually to reflect changes in
the Consumer Price Index for food away from home.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends $32,032,897,000 for the Child
Nutrition Programs.
The Committee's recommendation provides for the following
annual rates for the child nutrition programs.

TOTAL OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Child nutrition programs recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Milk Program................................... 6,651
State Administrative Expenses.......................... 491,591
Commodity Procurement.................................. 1,948,518
Team Nutrition......................................... 20,162
Food Safety Education.................................. 4,378
Coordinated Review..................................... 10,000
Computer Support....................................... 34,912
Training and Technical Assistance...................... 61,291
CNP Studies and Evaluation............................. 21,876
Farm to School Team.................................... 9,533
Payment Accuracy....................................... 17,069
School Meal Equipment Grants........................... 20,000
Child Nutrition Training............................... 2,000
Farm to School Grants.................................. 10,000
----------------
Total............................................ 32,032,897
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Committee expects FNS to utilize the National Food
Service Management Institute to carry out the food safety
education program.
Child and Adult Care Food Program [CACFP].--The Committee
encourages FNS to explore utilizing third-party services to
deliver meals and snacks through CACFP in a non-congregate
setting, particularly in school districts in which the poverty
rate is higher than the National average. The Committee directs
FNS to provide a report within 90 days of enactment of this act
detailing steps taken and potential cost savings to school
districts, States, and the Federal Government.
Child Nutrition Meal Patterns.--The Committee is pleased
that, consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the
Secretary included low-fat, flavored milk and reasonable sodium
reduction standards for School Years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 in
USDA Final Rule: Child Nutrition Programs: Transitional
Standards for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium. The Committee
urges the Department in forthcoming rulemaking on child
nutrition program meal pattern requirements to retain low-fat,
flavored milk as a nutrient-rich option for the milk component
and to consider the food safety and functional uses of sodium
in cheese.
Costs of Producing School Meals in Outlying Areas.--The
Committee is concerned that the per-meal reimbursement rates
for schools meals in the outlying areas do not accurately
reflect the high cost of producing and supplying school lunches
and breakfasts, and that lower than needed reimbursements may
result in a cost burden for school meals programs and lower
child nutrition program participation. The Committee notes that
USDA's calculation for the National average payment rate for
the outlying areas has not be appropriately adjusted for
increased costs since its original 1979 analysis based on data
from the 1976 Thrifty Food Plan and the 1976 County Business
Patterns. The Committee directs USDA to provide a temporary
increase in the National average payment rate for the outlying
areas at a rate at least equal to the National average payment
rate for Alaska until the School Nutrition Cost Study II is
completed and updated adjustments for school meal
reimbursements for these areas are subsequently made, pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. Section 1760(f). The Committee further directs
USDA to provide necessary technical assistance and flexibility
to school food authorities and school staff in the outlying
areas to ensure the collection of complete and accurate data
for the School Nutrition Cost Study II.
Crediting System.--The Committee recognizes that the
current crediting system used by FNS in administering the
School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program has not
been updated to keep pace with products in the marketplace.
Specifically, Greek yogurt receives the same protein crediting
as other products with less protein. The Committee directs the
Secretary to update the system of crediting high-protein yogurt
to accurately reflect scientifically demonstrated higher
protein content in strained yogurt.
Farm to School Program.--Successful implementation of Farm
to School programs requires broad-based knowledge of best
practices regarding coordination among farmers, processors,
distributors, students, teachers, dietary and food preparation
staff, and USDA professionals. Since the scope of some Farm to
School projects has expanded in recent years, the Committee has
included language to allow maximum grant amounts to increase to
$500,000. Of the grant funds provided, the Committee directs
the Secretary to use $500,000 to form at least one cooperative
agreement with an established entity, such as regional a Farm
to School institute, 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.
Pulse Crops.--The Committee recognizes the nutritional
value of pulse crops for children and encourages FNS to support
school food authorities in sourcing and serving pulse crops.
Seafood Consumption in the National School Lunch Program.--
USDA is directed to submit to the Committee, within 120 days of
enactment of this Act, a plan developed in coordination with
the NOAA, to address factors limiting seafood consumption in
school as recommended in GAO report ``National School Lunch
Program: USDA Could Enhance Assistance to States and Schools in
Providing Seafood to Students'' [GAO-23-105179].
Summer Food Service Program.--The Fiscal Year 2021
Consolidated Appropriations Act Explanatory Statement directed
USDA to submit a report to the Committee ``within 1 year of
enactment of this Act describing the number of Summer Food
Service Program grantees, the States in which they operate, the
innovative methods of food delivery by non-congregate means and
in non-congregate settings, and the number of additional youth
served as a result.'' The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has
not yet completed this report. The Committee directs USDA to
submit this report within 30 days of enactment.

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN
[WIC]

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $6,000,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 6,300,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,300,000,000

The WIC program is authorized by section 17 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966. Its purpose is to safeguard the health
of pregnant, breast-feeding, and postpartum women and infants
and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk because
of inadequate nutrition and inadequate income.
The WIC program food packages are designed to provide foods
which studies have demonstrated are lacking in the diets of the
WIC program target population. The authorized supplemental
foods are iron-fortified breakfast cereal, fruit or vegetable
juice which contains vitamin C, dry beans, peas, and peanut
butter.
There are three general types of delivery systems for WIC
foods: (1) retail purchase in which participants obtain
supplemental foods through retail stores; (2) home delivery
systems in which food is delivered to the participant's home;
and (3) direct distribution systems in which participants pick
up food from a distribution outlet. The food is free of charge
to all participants.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,300,000,000
for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants,
and Children.
The Committee recommendation fully funds estimated WIC
participation in fiscal year 2024. The Committee provides
$90,000,000 for breastfeeding support initiatives and
$14,000,000 for infrastructure.
Allergenic Foods.--The Committee encourages the Secretary
to issue regulations to address the early introduction of
potentially allergenic foods within the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children to align
with the most recent edition of the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Recommendations.--WIC
designated Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome [NAS] as a nutrition
risk factor in 2017, and WIC agencies across the country
actively screen for symptoms of substance use, referring
mothers who may be struggling with substance use disorder to
appropriate services. The Committee encourages USDA to
collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services on
the development of uniform, evidence-based nutrition education
materials in order to best serve WIC-eligible pregnant women
and caregivers to infants impacted by NAS. Uniform materials
will enhance WIC's ongoing efforts to screen and support
infants exhibiting symptoms of NAS.
WIC Food Package.--The Committee is pleased that the
Department issued regulations for public comment to update the
WIC food package. The Committee encourages FNS to pay
particular attention to comments received regarding the
inclusion of low-mercury fish.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023

$153,867,723,000

Budget estimate, 2024

122,133,239,000

Committee recommendation

122,141,239,000

SNAP attempts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among
low-income persons by increasing their food purchasing power.
Eligible households receive SNAP benefits with which they can
purchase food through regular retail stores.
Other programs funded through SNAP include Nutrition
Assistance to Puerto Rico and American Samoa, the Food
Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Emergency Food
Assistance Program, and the Community Food Projects program.
SNAP is currently in operation in all 50 States, the
District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Participating households receive food benefits, the value of
which is determined by household size and income. The cost of
the benefits is paid by the Federal Government. As required by
law, FNS annually revises household benefit allotments to
reflect changes in the cost of the thrifty food plan.
Administrative Costs.--All direct and indirect
administrative costs incurred for certification of households,
issuance of benefits, quality control, outreach, and fair
hearing efforts are shared by the Federal Government and the
States on a 50-50 basis.
State Antifraud Activities.--Under the provisions of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246), States are
eligible to be reimbursed for 50 percent of the costs of their
fraud investigations and prosecutions.
States are required to implement an employment and training
program for the purpose of assisting members of households
participating in SNAP in gaining skills, training, or
experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular
employment. USDA has implemented a grant program to States to
assist them in providing employment and training services.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends $122,141,239,000 for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Of the amount
recommended, $3,000,000,000 is made available as a contingency
reserve.
FDPIR Pilot Program.--The Committee is concerned that FNS
has prohibited tribes and Tribal organizations that participate
in the FDPIR pilot program from including traditional food
items unless such items replace a USDA-provided item, and
prohibited such substitutions unless the producer of the
traditional food is able to provide sufficient quantities for
all FDPIR participants nationwide. Allowing tribes
participating in the pilot to source new traditional foods from
small, indigenous producers without requiring a substitution
will result in the inclusion of more traditional foods and help
small, indigenous producers to expand. The Committee therefore
directs FNS to allow tribes participating in the pilot program
to include traditional foods without substitutions and to allow
participating tribes to purchase traditional foods from
producers that may not be able to provide sufficient quantities
to serve all participating tribes across the Nation.
National Accuracy Clearinghouse.--The Committee supports
the full implementation of the National Accuracy Clearinghouse
[NAC] that uses a third-party electronic data matching system,
data analytics, and public data to determine the correct state
to issue SNAP benefits. The Committee encourages FNS to expand
NAC to all SNAP agencies. In addition, the Committee reiterates
that States must administer a robust appeals process to ensure
individuals are not automatically removed from receiving
benefits.
SNAP Fraud.--The Committee remains concerned about data
discrepancies that allowed retailers to provide benefits to
individuals using fraudulent credentials, as outlined in a
January 2017 OIG report. The Committee encourages FNS, as part
of their work to implement controls to address these problems,
to consider how advanced analytics is used to improve analysis
across multiple systems mentioned in the report. This could
include integrating data mining and machine learning into
source systems such as STARS and ALERT, applying computer
vision to enhance FNS investigations, and deploying new
predictive analytics to help detect emerging fraud schemes. The
Committee requests USDA to continue to update Congress on its
progress in addressing the issues outlined in the report.

COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $457,710,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 517,070,000
Committee recommendation................................ 501,070,000

The Commodity Assistance Program includes funding for the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program and funding to pay expenses
associated with the storage and distribution of commodities
through The Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program.--Authorized by
section 4(a) of the Agricultural and Consumer Protection Act of
1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note), as amended in 1981 by Public Law 97-
98 and in 2014 by Public Law 113-79, this program provides
supplemental food to low-income senior citizens and, in some
cases, low-income infants and children up to age six and low-
income pregnant and postpartum women. The Agricultural Act of
2014 (Public Law 113-79) discontinued the admission of new
pregnant and postpartum women and children into the program.
Those already in the program can continue to receive assistance
until they are no longer eligible.
The foods for CSFP are provided by USDA for distribution
through State agencies. The authorized commodities include
iron-fortified infant formula, rice cereal, cheese, canned
juice, evaporated milk and/or nonfat dry milk, canned
vegetables or fruits, canned meat or poultry, egg mix,
dehydrated potatoes, farina, peanut butter, and dry beans.
Elderly participants may receive all commodities except iron-
fortified infant formula and rice cereal.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program.--Authorized by the
Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.),
as amended, the program provides nutrition assistance to low-
income people through prepared meals served on site and through
the distribution of commodities to low-income households for
home consumption. The commodities are provided by USDA to State
agencies for distribution through State-established networks.
State agencies make the commodities available to local
organizations, such as soup kitchens, food pantries, food
banks, and community action agencies, for their use in
providing nutrition assistance to those in need.
Funds are administered by FNS through grants to State
agencies which operate commodity distribution programs.
Allocation of the funds to States is based on a formula which
considers the States' unemployment rate and the number of
persons with income below the poverty level.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--The Farmers' Market
Nutrition Program provides WIC or WIC-eligible participants
with coupons to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared foods,
such as fruits and vegetables, from farmers' markets. This
benefits both participants and local farmers by increasing the
awareness and use of farmers' markets by low-income households.
Pacific Island and Disaster Assistance.--This program
provides funding for assistance to the nuclear-affected islands
in the form of commodities and administrative funds. It also
provides funding for use in non-presidentially declared
disasters and for FNS's administrative costs in connection with
relief for all disasters.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $501,070,000
for the Commodity Assistance Program. The Committee continues
to encourage the Department to distribute Commodity Assistance
Program funds equitably among the States, based on an
assessment of the needs and priorities of each State and the
State's preference to receive commodity allocations through
each of the programs funded under this account.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program.--The Committee
recommends $390,000,000 for CSFP.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--The Committee is aware
that FMNP provides fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income
mothers and children, benefiting not only WIC participants, but
local farmers as well. Therefore, the Committee recommends 20.0
million for FMNP and directs the Secretary to obligate these
funds within 45 days of enactment of this act.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program.--The Committee
provides $90,000,000 in discretionary funding for TEFAP
transportation, storage, and program integrity. In addition,
the Committee recommendation grants the Secretary authority to
transfer up to an additional 20 percent from TEFAP commodities
for this purpose and urges the Secretary to use this authority.
The Committee encourages the Secretary to identify
opportunities for increasing the supply of TEFAP commodities in
the coming fiscal year through bonus and specialty crop
purchases. The Department shall make available to the States
domestically produced catfish fillets for distribution to local
agencies.

NUTRITION PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $189,348,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 221,193,000
Committee recommendation................................ 184,348,000

The Nutrition Programs Administration appropriation
provides for most of the Federal operating expenses of FNS,
which includes CNP, the Special Milk Program, WIC, SNAP, NAP,
and CAP.
The major objective of Nutrition Programs Administration is
to efficiently and effectively carry out the nutrition
assistance programs mandated by law. This is to be accomplished
by the following: (1) giving clear and consistent guidance and
supervision to State agencies and other cooperators; (2)
assisting the States and other cooperators by providing
program, managerial, financial, and other advice and expertise;
(3) measuring, reviewing, and analyzing the progress being made
toward achieving program objectives; and (4) carrying out
regular staff support functions.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $184,348,000
for Nutrition Programs Administration.

TITLE V

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural
Affairs

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $932,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,035,000
Committee recommendation................................ 932,000

The Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs provides direction and coordination in
carrying out the laws enacted by the Congress with respect to
the Department's international affairs (except for foreign
economic development). The Office has oversight and management
responsibilities for the Foreign Agricultural Service [FAS].

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $932,000 for
the Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs.
Food Chain Systems.--The Committee is aware that the lack
of comprehensive cold food chain systems is one of the main
causes of food loss and results in a significant percentage of
food spoilage from farm-to-market. Preventing food loss and
implementing a robust cold food chain results in substantial
benefits such as increased nutrition, a safer food supply,
greater economic opportunity, and increased resilience. In
order to maximize the benefit investment in the agricultural
productivity of the developing world, the Committee encourages
the Department to give strong consideration to the use of cold
chain technologies and include the development of appropriate
cooling technologies in programs, policies, and strategic plans
aimed at hunger prevention and food security in developing
agricultural markets.
International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program
[IAEFP].--The Committee urges USDA to prioritize IAEFP grants
to multi-year programs or to continue existing programs,
including programs previously awarded IAEFP funds. Further, the
Committee is concerned about regional limitations on eligible
programs in previous funding opportunities and encourages USDA
to avoid limiting eligibility of applicants to specific
countries or regions.
Market Access Program [MAP] and Foreign Market Development
Program [FMD] Reporting.--The Committee directs the Department
to publish an annual report describing the recipients of funds,
including the quantity and specific uses of such funding
awards, granted through MAP and FMD for the purpose of
promoting agricultural sales in Cuba, to ensure compliance with
Sec. 3201 of Public Law 115-334.
Peanut Exports.--The Committee remains concerned with
persistent non-tariff trade barriers faced by the domestic
peanut industry when attempting to export peanuts to the
European Union. The Committee encourages the Department to
prioritize interagency coordination with the Office of the
United States Trade Representative and industry engagement in
order to develop effective and lasting solutions that will
allow increased market access for domestic peanuts into the
European Union.
Pecan Exports.--The Committee directs the Department to
prioritize interagency coordination and industry engagement to
develop effective strategies to allow for increased market
access of domestic pecans into India.
Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods [RUTF].--The Committee notes
that there has been a global spike in cases of child wasting as
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and persisting and emerging
humanitarian crises. There is also a significant global deficit
in the availability of therapeutic food treatments. RUTF is a
proven intervention to address global hunger and childhood
malnutrition, and up to 90 percent of children treated with
RUTF recover. The Committee directs USDA to work with USAID to
support the scale up of U.S. production and procurement of
RUTF, and to develop a multi-year strategy to support this
effort. The Committee further directs USDA to report on this
strategy within 90 days of enactment of this act.

OFFICE OF CODEX ALIMENTARIUS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $4,922,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 5,009,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,922,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,922,000 for
the Office of Codex Alimentarius.

Foreign Agricultural Service

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfers from
Appropriations loan accounts Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2023......................................... 237,330 6,063 243,393
Budget estimate, 2024........................................ 256,149 6,063 262,212
Committee recommendation..................................... 237,330 6,063 243,393
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Foreign Agricultural Service was established March 10,
1953, by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1320, supplement 1. Public
Law 83-690, approved August 28, 1954, transferred the
agricultural attaches from the Department of State to FAS.
The mission of FAS overseas is to represent U.S.
agricultural interests, promote export of domestic farm
products, improve world trade conditions, and report on
agricultural production and trade in foreign countries. FAS
staff are stationed at 98 offices around the world, where they
provide expertise in agricultural economics and marketing, as
well as attache services.
FAS carries out several export assistance programs to
counter the adverse effects of unfair trade practices by
competitors on U.S. agricultural trade. The Market Access
Program [MAP] conducts both generic and brand-identified
promotional programs in conjunction with nonprofit agricultural
associations and private firms financed through reimbursable
CCC payments.
The General Sales Manager was established pursuant to
section 5(f) of the charter of the Commodity Credit Corporation
and 15 U.S.C. 714-714p. The funds allocated to the General
Sales Manager are used for conducting the following programs:
(1) CCC Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102), including
facilities financing guarantees; (2) Food for Peace; (3)
section 416b Overseas Donations Program; (4) Market Access
Program; and (5) programs authorized by the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act (Public Law 87-155) including barter,
export sales of most CCC-owned commodities, export payments,
and other programs as assigned to encourage and enhance the
export of U.S. agricultural commodities.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends $243,393,000 for the Foreign
Agricultural Service, including a direct appropriation of
$237,330,000.
Borlaug Fellows Program.--The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level for the Borlaug International
Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program. This
program provides training for international scientists and
policymakers from selected developing countries. The fellows
work closely with U.S. specialists in their fields of expertise
and apply that knowledge in their home countries. The Committee
recognizes the importance of this program in helping developing
countries strengthen their agricultural practices and food
security.
Cochran Fellowship Program.--The Committee provides no less
than the fiscal year 2023 level for the Cochran Fellowship
Program. The Committee encourages the Secretary to continue to
provide additional support for the program through the CCC
Emerging Markets Program.

FOOD FOR PEACE TITLE II GRANTS

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $1,750,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 1,800,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,800,000,000

Commodities Supplied in Connection with Dispositions Abroad
(Title II) (7 U.S.C. 1721-1726).--Commodities are supplied
without cost through foreign governments to combat malnutrition
and to meet famine and other emergency requirements.
Commodities are also supplied for non-emergencies through
public and private agencies, including intergovernmental
organizations. The CCC pays ocean freight on shipments under
this title and may also pay overland transportation costs to a
landlocked country, as well as internal distribution costs in
emergency situations. The funds appropriated for title II are
made available to private voluntary organizations and
cooperatives to assist these organizations in meeting
administrative and related costs.
Quarterly Reports.--The Secretary is directed, in
consultation with the Administrator of USAID, to provide to the
Committee a quarterly report on obligations and current
balances of Food for Peace Title II grants. This report should
also include any supplemental funding.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,800,000,000
for Food for Peace title II grants.

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

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $243,331,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 243,331,000
Committee recommendation................................ 248,331,000

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and
Child Nutrition Program helps support education, child
development, and food security for some of the world's poorest
children. The program provides for donations of U.S.
agricultural products, as well as financial and technical
assistance, for school feeding and maternal and child nutrition
projects in low-income, food-deficit countries that are
committed to universal education. Commodities made available
for donation through agreements with private voluntary
organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations,
and foreign governments may be donated for direct feeding or
for local sale to generate proceeds to support school feeding
and nutrition projects.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $248,331,000
for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and
Child Nutrition Program.
Local and Regional Procurement.--The Committee provides an
appropriation of $24,800,000 for efforts to build long-term
agriculture sustainability and establish a local investment in
school feeding programs. With direct U.S. commodity
contributions, projects supported by the McGovern-Dole Food for
Education and Child Nutrition Program have significantly
improved the attendance, nourishment, and learning capacity of
school-aged children in low-income countries throughout the
impoverished world. New funding authorities would enable school
feeding programs to proactively transition from direct
commodity assistance to locally sourced agriculture products.
The Committee directs the Secretary to conduct the Local and
Regional Food Aid Procurement Project Program in accordance
with the priorities of the McGovern-Dole International Food for
Education and Child Nutrition Program.
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child
Nutrition Program.--The Committee notes that nearly one billion
people experienced food insecurity in food deficit nations
around the globe. The Committee encourages the Department to
work with voluntary organizations, cooperatives, and
intergovernmental organizations in supporting and utilizing all
tools of the program.

COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT [LOANS]

CREDIT GUARANTEE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guaranteed loan
levels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2023................................... 6,063
Budget estimate, 2024.................................. 6,063
Committee precommendation.............................. 6,063
------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1980, the CCC instituted the Export Credit Guarantee
Program (GSM-102) under its charter authority. With this
program, CCC guarantees, for a fee, payments due U.S. exporters
under deferred payment sales contracts (up to 36 months) for
defaults due to commercial as well as noncommercial risks. The
risk to CCC extends from the date of export to the end of the
deferred payment period covered in the export sales contract
and covers only that portion of the payments agreed to in the
assurance agreement. Operation of this program is based on
criteria which will assure that it is used only where it is
determined that it will develop new market opportunities and
maintain and expand existing world markets for U.S.
agricultural commodities. The program encourages U.S. financial
institutions to provide financing to those areas where the
institutions would be unwilling to provide financing in the
absence of the CCC guarantees. CCC also provides facilities
financing guarantees.
The Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-508)
establishes the program account. The subsidy costs of the CCC
export guarantee programs are exempt from the requirement of
advance appropriations of budget authority according to section
504(c)(2) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (Public Law
101-508). Appropriations to this account will be used for
administrative expenses.

TITLE VI

RELATED AGENCY AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Department of Health and Human Services

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

The Food and Drug Administration [FDA] is a scientific
regulatory agency whose mission is to promote and protect the
public health and safety of Americans. FDA's work is a blend of
science and law. The Food and Drug Administration Amendments
Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-85) reaffirmed the responsibilities
of the FDA: to ensure safe and effective products reach the
market in a timely way and to monitor products for continued
safety while they are in use. In addition, the FDA is entrusted
with two critical functions in the Nation's war on terrorism:
preventing willful contamination of all regulated products,
including food; and improving the availability of medications
to prevent or treat injuries caused by biological, chemical,
radiological, or nuclear agents.
The FDA Foods program has the primary responsibility for
assuring that the food supply, quality of foods, food
ingredients, and dietary supplements are safe, sanitary,
nutritious, wholesome, and honestly labeled and that cosmetic
products are safe and properly labeled. The variety and
complexity of the food supply has grown dramatically while new
and more complex safety issues, such as emerging microbial
pathogens, natural toxins, and technological innovations in
production and processing, have developed. This program plays a
major role in keeping the U.S. food supply among the safest in
the world.
In January 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act [FSMA]
(Public Law 111-353) was signed into law. This law enables the
FDA to better protect public health by strengthening the food
safety system. It enables the FDA to focus more on preventing
food safety and feed problems rather than relying primarily on
reacting to problems after they occur. The law also provides
the FDA with new enforcement authorities designed to achieve
higher rates of compliance with prevention- and risk-based food
and feed safety standards and to better respond to and contain
problems when they do occur. The law also gives the FDA
important new tools to hold imported food and feed to the same
standards as domestic food and feed and directs the FDA to
build an integrated national food safety system in partnership
with State and local authorities.
The FDA Drugs programs are comprised of four separate
areas: Human Drugs, Animal Drugs, Medical Devices, and
Biologics. The FDA is responsible for the lifecycle of
products, including premarket review and post-market
surveillance of human and animal drugs, medical devices, and
biological products to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
For Human Drugs, this includes assuring that all drug products
used for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease
are safe and effective. Additional procedures include reviewing
and evaluating investigational new drug applications;
evaluation of market applications for new and generic drugs and
labeling and composition of prescription and over-the-counter
drugs; monitoring the quality and safety of products
manufactured in, or imported into, the United States; and
regulating the advertising and promotion of prescription drugs.
The Animal Drugs and Feeds program ensures only safe and
effective veterinary drugs, intended for the treatment and/or
prevention of diseases in animals and the improved production
of food-producing animals, are approved for marketing.
The FDA Biologics program assures that blood and blood
products, blood test kits, vaccines, and therapeutics are pure,
potent, safe, effective, and properly labeled. The program
inspects blood banks and blood processors; licenses and
inspects firms collecting human source plasma; evaluates and
licenses biologics manufacturing firms and products; lot
releases licensed products; and monitors adverse events
associated with vaccine immunization, blood products, and other
biologics.
The FDA Devices and Radiological program ensures the safety
and effectiveness of medical devices and eliminates unnecessary
human exposure to man-made radiation from medical,
occupational, and consumer products. In addition, the program
enforces quality standards under the Mammography Quality
Standards Act (Public Law 108-365). Medical devices include
thousands of products from thermometers and contact lenses to
heart pacemakers, hearing aids, and MRIs. Radiological products
include items such as microwave ovens and video display
terminals.
The FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research [NCTR]
in Jefferson, Arkansas, serves as a specialized resource,
conducting peer-review scientific research that provides the
basis for the FDA to make sound, science-based regulatory
decisions through its premarket review and post-market
surveillance. The research is designed to define and understand
the biological mechanisms of action underlying the toxicity of
products and lead to developing methods to improve assessment
of human exposure, susceptibility, and risk of those products
regulated by the FDA.
In 2009, Congress granted the FDA new authority to regulate
the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco
products. The FDA exercises this responsibility by protecting
the public health from the health effects of tobacco, setting
scientific standards and standards for tobacco product review,
conducting compliance activities to enforce its authority over
tobacco, and conducting public education and outreach about the
health effects of tobacco products.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation User fees Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations, 2023......... 3,530,150 3,032,643 6,562,793
Budget estimate, 2024........ 3,896,028 3,074,880 6,970,908
Committee recommendation..... 3,550,150 3,074,880 6,625,030
------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,550,150,000
for salaries and expenses of the Food and Drug Administration.
The Committee also recommends $3,074,880,000 in definite
user fees, including: $1,336,525,000 in Prescription Drug user
fee collections; $331,273,000 in Medical Device user fee
collections; $33,500,000 in Animal Drug user fee collections;
$25,000,000 in Animal Generic Drug user fee collections;
$712,000,000 in Tobacco Product user fee collections;
$594,150,000 in Generic Drug user fee collections; and
$42,432,000 in Biosimilar user fee collections. The Committee
recommendation does not include permanent, indefinite user fees
for the Mammography Quality Standards Act; Color Certification;
Export Certification; Priority Review Vouchers Pediatric
Disease; Food and Feed Recall; Food Reinspection; Voluntary
Qualified Importer Program; the Third Party Auditor Program;
Outsourcing Facility; or Over-the-Counter Monograph. The
Committee includes bill language that prohibits the FDA from
developing, establishing, or operating any program of user fees
authorized by 31 U.S.C. 9701. The Committee recommendation does
not include proposed user fees requested in the President's
budget for food facility registration and inspection, food
import, food contact substance notification, cosmetics, and
international courier imports. None of these user fee proposals
have been authorized by Congress. The Committee will continue
to monitor any action by the appropriate authorizing Committees
regarding these proposed user fees.
The Committee expects the FDA to continue all projects,
activities, laboratories, and programs as included in fiscal
year 2023 unless otherwise specified. The Committee provides a
net increase of $7,000,000 for Cosmetics, $3,750,000 for Food
Safety activities, $3,750,000 for Drug Device Shortages and
Supply Chain, $3,000,000 for Neuroscience, and $2,500,000 for
ALS.
The following table reflects the Committee's
recommendations, as compared to the fiscal year 2023 and budget
request levels:

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION SALARIES AND EXPENSES
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2024 budget Committee
2023 enacted request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Centers and related field activities:........................
Foods.................................................... 1,196,097 1,348,852 1,198,263
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition [CFSAN]. 401,867 508,623 416,242
Field Activities..................................... 794,230 840,229 782,021
Human Drugs.............................................. 760,494 775,446 720,963
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research [CDER]....... 551,493 560,040 515,745
Field Activities..................................... 209,001 215,406 205,218
Biologics................................................ 271,515 277,570 266,015
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research [CBER].. 223,465 228,128 218,886
Field Activities..................................... 48,050 49,442 47,129
Animal Drugs............................................. 230,093 257,689 231,378
Center for Veterinary Medicine [CVM]................. 148,141 172,423 150,532
Field Activities..................................... 81,952 85,266 80,846
Medical and Radiological Devices......................... 449,297 477,990 447,604
Center for Devices and Radiological Health........... 356,062 380,952 355,738
Field Activities..................................... 93,235 97,038 91,866
National Center for Toxicological Research............... 76,919 80,154 77,388
Other Activities............................................. 224,940 301,264 237,126
Rent and related activities.................................. 154,509 220,377 207,377
Rental payments to GSA....................................... 166,286 156,686 166,286
--------------------------------------------------
Total, FDA salaries and expenses, new budget authority. 3,530,150 3,896,028 3,550,150
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acetaminophen.--The Committee continues to be concerned
that labeling for over-the-counter [OTC] single-ingredient
acetaminophen does not contain weight-based dosing instructions
for children ages 6 months to 2 years despite the
recommendations of the FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory
Committee [NDAC] and Pediatric Advisory Committee in 2011 that
data supported this information being added to the label. The
Committee is concerned that the lack of dosing information for
this vulnerable population may lead to dosing errors, adverse
events, and inadequate treatment of fever and pain. While the
Committee is encouraged that FDA has included this important
issue among its annual forecast of planned monograph
activities, this list is nonbinding and the issue remains
pending after multiple decades despite its importance for
public health. As such, the Committee directs FDA to provide to
the Committee an update no later than 30 days after the
enactment of this act on the timing of amending the monograph
label for acetaminophen to include weight-based dosing
instructions for children ages 6 months to 2 years.
Alzheimer's Disease.--There are more than 6 million
Americans aged 65 and over living with dementia due to
Alzheimer's disease, and that number is predicted to double by
2050. FDA has approved Alzheimer's therapies through the
accelerated approval pathway that could benefit a subset of
these patients living with early Alzheimer's disease, adhering
to the same standards for establishing safety and efficacy as
medicines receiving a traditional FDA approval. The
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103)
explanatory statement noted the contributions of the
accelerated approval pathway in expediting access to critical
therapies for patients with cancer and certain rare diseases
and encouraged FDA to clarify the use of the pathway to ensure
it remains available for these patients and also encourage its
use for other serious conditions that are unmet medical needs.
Further, Congress gave FDA the authority to ensure that the
accelerated approval pathway continues to ensure early access
to safe and effective new therapies for individuals with
serious or life-threatening illnesses. The Committee supports
FDA's authority to approve therapies under the accelerated
approval pathway based on surrogate endpoints or intermediate
clinical endpoints and remains concerned about other HHS
agencies discouraging the use of the pathway and thus patient
access, particularly related to Alzheimer's disease therapies.
ALS.--The Committee recognizes the FDA's Orphan Drug
Program is one of the few agencies in the Federal Government
that funds phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials for new ALS
therapies. In addition, FDA-sponsored research can expedite ALS
drug development through innovative trial designs that can
speed the FDA regulatory processes for new ALS treatments. The
Committee provides an increase of $2,500,000 to implement the
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (Public
Law 117-79), including implementation of the act for ALS Action
Plan, operation of the Public Private Partnership, and
supporting the FDA Rare Neurodegenerative Disease Grant Program
which is authorized to provide grants for clinical trials for
ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Funding for this
program will further scientific knowledge to inform product
development to allow more ALS patients to participate in the
clinical testing process and have access to experimental
therapies.
Animal Biotechnology.--The Committee encourages the FDA to
expand upon its flexibility in regulation of the DNA of animals
containing gene edits that could have occurred naturally or
resulted from conventional breeding as animal drugs. The
Committee directs FDA to consider how it can use its
authorities in a flexible manner to these innovations and to
continue consulting with the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure
FDA's regulation is coordinated with USDA's approach to these
technologies.
Animal Food Ingredients.--Animal food ingredients are
subject to review and approval by the Center for Veterinary
Medicine before they can enter the interstate marketplace to be
sold for consumption by either livestock or pets. The Committee
is concerned about the time associated with the ingredient
review and approval process. To address these concerns, the
Committee directs the Center for Veterinary Medicine to improve
animal food ingredient reviews to enable innovation and address
challenges and opportunities in the animal food industry.
Animal Product Terminology.--The Committee is concerned
about the increase of products, which do not include meat or
egg products, that are labeled and marketed using animal food
product terminology and related iconography. The Committee
directs the FDA to conduct a study to better understand
consumers' attitudes, beliefs, motivations, and perceptions
relative to product composition, health attributes, and
labeling. The FDA shall assess consumer perceptions of
different terms used on labeling of plant-based alternative
products. No later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this act, FDA shall submit to the Committee, and make publicly
available online, a report on the findings of this study.
Animal Testing for Cosmetics.--The Committee acknowledges
the FDA's increased authority to regulate the safety
substantiation of cosmetic products under Public Law 117-328 in
the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022. The
Committee reiterates the sense of Congress that animal testing
should not be used for the purposes of safety testing on
cosmetic products and should be phased out. The Committee is
encouraged by progress made to replace cosmetic animal testing
with modern nonanimal approaches, and understand that many
companies already substantiate cosmetic safety without the use
of animals. The Committee urges the FDA to continue supporting
the development and testing of cosmetic products without the
use of animal testing.
Antimicrobial Research.--The Committee maintains fiscal
year 2023 levels for biofilms and the regulatory science of
biofilms associated with FDA work on medical devices, drug
delivery, and public health. The funding increase will help the
FDA meet its objectives to reduce healthcare associated
infections as described in the FDA CDRH Regulatory Science
Priorities report, and support the domestic manufacture and use
of medical devices, drugs, and biological products.
Autoantibody Qualification.--The appearance of certain
islet autoantibodies in the serum of individuals increases the
chance of developing type 1 diabetes at some point in the
future. Therefore, the Committee encourages the FDA to continue
working with the Type 1 diabetes community on the assessment of
potential diabetes biomarkers related to islet autoimmunity,
which might help inform the design of clinical studies.
Botanical Dietary Supplements.--The Committee encourages
the FDA to further invest in the science base for regulatory
decisions on botanical dietary supplements. Expanding outreach
and broadening safety evaluations of botanical supplements will
help further that work. Studies of the interactions between
botanical supplements and prescription drugs would help further
patient safety and help inform the FDA's scientific review of
botanical dietary supplements.
Botanical Drugs and Drug Interactions.--The Committee
encourages FDA to further invest in research to identify
potential drug interactions with botanical drugs.
Cell Cultured Products.--The Committee is aware that FDA
has completed its first pre-market consultation for a human
food made from cultured animal cells, the first such action
completed under the Formal Agreement Between the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug
Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of
Food Safety (the ``Formal Agreement'') announced on March 7,
2019. The Committee is interested in the internal FDA protocols
related to pre-market consultations for cell-cultured protein
products, and specifically whether or not there are special or
unique considerations made for these products in pre-market
consultation processes under the Formal Agreement. The
Commissioner is therefore directed to submit a report no later
than 60 days following the enactment of this act to the
Committee outlining the pre-market consultation process for
cell-cultured protein products, noting any special
accommodations made to comply with the Formal Agreement, and
any Agency plans to coordinate with its counterparts at the
Department of Agriculture on further action regarding the same
products.
Cellular Immunity.--The Committee encourages FDA to better
understand how the cellular components of the immune response
contribute to the effectiveness, and duration of effectiveness,
of vaccines, boosters, and therapeutics for COVID-19 and other
diseases. FDA is encouraged to support collaborative research
with NIH, universities, and industry comprehensively evaluate
the immune response of clinical trial participants. FDA is
further encouraged, when relevant, the collection of cellular
immunity data, in addition to serology data, in its evaluation
of such medical products. FDA is directed to report on
collaborative research within 1 year of the enactment of this
act.
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Centers of
Excellence.--The Committee is aware of the important
contribution of the FDA CFSAN Centers of Excellence [COEs]
program in supporting critical basic research as well as
facilitating FSMA implementation. The Committee encourages the
agency to continue to fully utilize the COEs to accomplish
these goals and instructs that it enhance its level of support
for FDA FSMA activities.
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition [CFSAN]
Petitions.--The Committee is concerned about CFSAN's delays in
evaluating State and local petitions for exemption from
preemption by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's
nutrition and menu labeling standards. The Committee directs
the FDA to report to the Committee no later than 30 days after
enactment of this act on the number of pending exemption
petitions before the FDA and the length of time these petitions
have been pending. The Committee further directs the Agency to
update the Committee on FDA's efforts to explore strategies to
improve the preemption exemption petition process.
Clinical Trial Operations.--The Committee recognizes that
the COVID-19 pandemic further increased the staffing shortages
already present at clinical research sites, exacerbating
longstanding challenges to the timely collection and efficient
reporting of clinical trial data in cancer research. The burden
of data collection, entry, and verification is high and rests
primarily with site staff, who most often input data manually.
Meanwhile, the data fields requested for developing a given
drug class have become increasingly numerous and may be
complex. The Committee urges the FDA to provide guidance to
cancer trial sites, sponsors, and contractors that both defines
necessary data elements and streamlines data entry and
verification processes. Such guidance will be foundational in
maximizing clinical trial efficiency through a targeted
reduction of the administrative burden currently placed upon
research staff.
Cloud.--The Committee notes the increased adoption of
cloud-based technologies by FDA-regulated companies, and
appreciates FDA's interest in accelerating use of modern
systems to facilitate innovation and improve patient care. To
further cloud adoption, the Committee encourages FDA to
finalize guidance to medical product sponsors, including drug
and medical device sponsors, on the use of cloud to meet and
exceed regulatory requirements. The Committee further
encourages FDA to continue to explore mechanisms to support
cloud adoption, including looking at critical areas such as
record-keeping, data integrity, and other regulatory
requirements. The agency should ensure the collection of robust
public input, including from regulated companies and cloud
technology vendors.
Data Systems.--The Committee is aware of a recent review of
FDA's Human Foods Program that found, among other issues, a
significant need to modernize data systems at FDA.
Specifically, the report recommended that ``FDA should consider
the feasibility, resource requirements, and potential benefits
of connecting existing IT systems or developing a single system
to receive, track and process information and ensure timely
notification of appropriate personnel of potential signals of
significant public health threats.'' This ability is critical
to address safety and supply chain issues associated with
regulated high-risk products. Currently, tracebacks are time
and labor intensive and frequently limited by inadequate and
disparate records and comingling of product in distribution.
The Committee notes the increased adoption of cloud-based
technologies by FDA-regulated companies, and appreciates FDA's
interest in accelerating use of modern systems to facilitate
innovation and improve patient care. To further cloud adoption,
The Committee encourages the Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition to implement an end-to-end system of data management
and analytics designed to work in any cloud environment. This
system should provide food safety regulators across the human
foods program the analytical tools to more proactively identify
or prevent threats to regulated product safety and quality;
provide capability for FDA to receive information via a digital
chain of trust systems for high-risk products; and support
public health response activities.
Developing Products to Treat Rare Diseases.--The Committee
is aware of the increasing number of therapeutics in
development for rare disease patients, but there still remain
significant gaps with 95 percent of rare diseases not having a
FDA-approved treatment. As such, the Committee recognizes the
importance of the Orphan Products Grant Program which supports
development of products to treat orphan or rare diseases
including the programs to support clinical trials, natural
history studies, and the new authority to fund grants
addressing regulatory science challenges. The Committee
provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level to reflect the
critical need to support this program and the documented
economic burden of all rare diseases.
Device Remanufacturing Safety and Awareness.--The Committee
recognizes that FDA has authority over remanufacturing of
devices but is concerned that the agency needs to increase
public awareness of the requirements applicable to device
remanufacturing, consistent with the agency's mission to
protect and promote public health. The Committee recognizes
that the agency plans to publish a final guidance document on
the remanufacturing of devices in fiscal year 2023. Within 30
of the issuance of the final guidance document, the Committee
directs the agency to provide a briefing to the Committee on
the guidance and the agency's plans to promote public awareness
of the applicable requirements and related compliance.
Drug Approvals.--The Committee asserts that FDA's authority
to approve medications should be based on sound science and
devoid of political or economic considerations.
Drug and Device Shortages.--The Committee remains concerned
about continued reports of supply shortages for critical
medications and devices, especially cancer drug shortages,
which continue to pose a significant challenge, affecting
patient access to vital treatments. The Committee provides an
additional $3,750,000 and directs the FDA to leverage all
available authorities to proactively address this crisis and
ensure a consistent supply of essential medications and devices
for patients in need.
Enforcement of Nicotine Vapor Products.--The Committee is
concerned that vapor use amongst youth is largely being driven
by products that are not authorized or under review by the FDA
in accordance with FDA's 2020 guidance. While the Committee is
aware of recent enforcement action, the Committee strongly
encourages the FDA to prioritize enforcement, including
providing a public listing of vapor products that have been
under review since 2020 so that distributors and retailers are
aware of products that may be sold until FDA renders a decision
on those applications; updating FDA's guidance to align
disposal vapor products with pod-based vapor products; steps to
improve the FDA's ability to identify unauthorized products on
the market; and pursue all legally authorized remedies to
ensure that all products being sold unlawfully are removed from
the marketplace. The Committee directs the FDA to report back
to the Committee in writing on a quarterly basis the
enforcement actions the Agency has undertaken; the status of
its review of vapor pre-market applications; and other steps
the Agency has taken to ensure compliance with products that
have not applied for pre-market review.
Essential Medicines.--The Committee is concerned about
Americans' access to essential medicines, as defined by the
FDA's October 2020 essential medicines and medical
countermeasures list. As the agency in charge of approving
prescription drugs, reporting drug shortages, and protecting
public health, the Committee directs the FDA to coordinate with
the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] and report on
current domestic manufacturing of drugs on HHS's Critical Drug
List and dependence on international supply chains. The review
may account for non-viability of certain components
domestically.
FDA Advisory Committee Conflicts of Interest.--The
Committee remains concerned with the Food and Drug
Administration's conflict of interest rules as it pertains to
advisory committees. The 2023 External Review of FDA Regulation
of Opioid Analgesics Final Report noted the need for the FDA to
address ``concerns about inappropriate industry influence on
agency decision-making''. Current conflict of interest guidance
is intended to show FDA's policies behind financial interests
held by advisory committee membership and Government employees
participating in advisory committee meetings. They do not
specifically address industry influence, impact of this
guidance on participation in meetings, or enforcement ability
of conflict of interest guidance.
For this reason, the Committee directs the Government
Accountability Office, to issue a report within 90 days of
enactment of this Act detailing: how the FDA reviews and
enforces conflicts of interest among invited speakers and
advisory committee members; how the FDA discloses conflicts of
interest to advisory committees, including but not limited to
participation in the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and
Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials [IMMPACT] meetings; current
FDA conflict of interest rules and transparency associated with
communicating these rules to meeting participants and the
general public; how the FDA choses invited speakers to advisory
committee meetings, including their decisions on expertise on
the issues being considered; impact of conflict of interest
rules on the FDA's ability to invite subject matter experts to
advisory committee meetings; the FDA's ability to enforce
conflict of interest rules and guidance and adherence to these
policies.
FDA Study on Opioid Prescribing.--The Committee remains
concerned with the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic, and effort to
provide treatment for those impacted. As such, the Committee
directs the FDA to review current opioid prescribing practices,
including the total number of opioids prescribed in a calendar
year. The purpose of the study is to show the number of opioids
prescribed, excluding opioids prescribed for treatment of pain
related to cancer or cancer treatment, patients participating
in hospice, or a patient with respect to whom the prescriber of
the applicable opioid determines that other non-opioid pain
management treatments are inadequate or inappropriate.
Food Labeling Accuracy.--The Committee supports evaluating
whether artificial intelligence [AI] driven audit tools can
effectively assess food labeling accuracy and facilitate
greater Federal labeling compliance. CFSAN is responsible for
assuring that foods sold in the United States are safe and
properly labeled. The Committee believes that AI-driven tools
will accelerate CFSAN's goal of ensuring the accuracy of food
labeling consistent with the Agency's obligation under the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and
Labeling Act to monitor and ensure that food labels are
truthful and not misleading. The Committee directs CFSAN to
report to the Committee by on the status of its evaluation.
Food Safety Modernization Act Outreach to Small Farmers.--
The Committee expects FDA to adequately fund its programs to
provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to educate
small farmers on compliance with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule
and rules for agricultural water. The Committee expects CFSAN
to continue support for the cooperative agreement established
for this purpose. The Committee encourages FDA to support
critical outreach and training services to small farmers until
the Produce Safety Rule is fully implemented, including
enforcement and compliance of Subpart E (agricultural water)
and Subpart F (biological soil amendments of animal origin) for
farms and businesses of all sizes.
Field Based Prevention Strategies.--The Committee directs
the FDA Center for Excellence to continue to dedicate funds as
necessary to develop field-based prevention strategies for the
fresh produce industry.
Foreign Approved Drugs.--The Committee supports efforts to
increase the tools available to FDA to ensure the timely
approval of lifesaving drugs and encourages FDA to examine
opportunities to facilitate submission of marketing
applications by manufacturers of drugs with marketing
authorization in countries listed in 21 USC 382, Federal, Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act section 802(b), but which are not
approved in the United States.
FSMA Clarification for Small Farms.--The Committee directs
FDA to continue working with small farms to clarify
requirements for compliance with the Food Safety Modernization
Act, including information on the qualified exemptions
available to small and very small farms and the actions
required to achieve compliance under these exemptions. The
Committee urges FDA to communicate (including through
appropriate guidance), offer technical assistance, and provide
other resources to assist small farms with complicance.
Healthy Rule.--The Committee directs FDA to consider all
data and information submitted during the open public comment
period before publishing rules or regulations for updating the
implied nutrient content claim healthy.
Heavy Metals in Baby Food.--The Committee is concerned that
lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury are often present in dangers
quantities in foods intended for consumption by infants and
toddlers and encourages the FDA to coordinate with the
Department of Agriculture to ensure that a wide variety of
healthy nutritious foods remain available to participants of
Federal nutrition programs.
Homeopathy.--The Committee understands the importance of
homeopathic medicines for millions of users. Consumers access
and safety to these products are best ensured by implementing a
legal pathway that includes homeopathic specific standards for
the regulation of these medicines. The Committee understands
FDA is limited to enforcing pharmaceutical specific standards
when taking enforcement action against products labeled as
homeopathic. The FDA's interpretation of the law that all
homeopathic medicines are unapproved new drugs that are
illegally marketed has created confusion both for the
homeopathic community and enforcement officials. The Committee
directs the FDA to work with the homeopathic community with
regards to the regulation of these medicines.
Imported Shrimp Safety and Inspection Pilot Program.--The
Committee commends and supports FDA's ongoing efforts to
implement and increase its oversight and the regulation of the
safety of shrimp products imported into the United States. The
Committee maintains the fiscal year 2023 funding levels to
implement the program. FDA's report to Congress emphasized the
importance of increased sampling of import shipments,
investment in laboratory capabilities, data analytics, and the
establishment of regulatory partnership arrangements with the
top three countries exporting shrimp to the U.S. The Committee
encourages FDA to continue the full development and
implementation of the shrimp pilot program including finalizing
the establishment of regulatory partnership arrangements.
Infant Formula.--The 2023 CAA provided the FDA with
additional authorities and requirements to protect infants and
improve the U.S. formula supply, including the development of a
national strategy on infant formula; annual inspections of each
infant formula manufacturer; monitoring of supply disruptions;
and a study from the National Academies on challenges in
supply, market competition, and regulation of infant formula in
the U.S. The Committee directs the FDA to work expeditiously to
implement the infant formula provisions of the 2023 CAA, and
directs the FDA to brief the Committee on such efforts on a
semi-annual basis.
Innovative Glass Packaging.--The Committee directs the FDA
to work with glass packaging suppliers and pharmaceutical
manufacturers to evaluate and promote streamlined approval
requirements designed to expedite the adoption and use of
innovative glass packaging technologies with the capacity to
improve product quality, reduce product recalls, reduce drug
shortages, and protect public health. Such streamlined approval
requirements should address stability testing and other
relevant types of data to be submitted in support of product
approval.
International Mail Facilities.--The Committee remains
concerned about the opioid epidemic that has taken the lives of
thousands of Americans and support the FDA's continued
investments in International Mail Facilities and Ports of Entry
to prevent illicit drugs, including unapproved and counterfeit
pharmaceuticals, from entering the United States.
Islet Therapies.--The agreement encourages FDA to engage
with the diabetes community on potential cures for Type 1 and
Type 2 diabetes, including islet therapies. The Committee
remains concerned about ongoing delays in research and
development to potential cures for diabetes, including islet
therapies, and encourages FDA to engage with stakeholders,
including advocates, researchers and manufacturers, on
advancing transformative diabetes treatments and cures.
Listeria.--The Committee recognizes that developing the
Compliance Policy Guide [CPG] for Listeria monocytogenes in
ready-to-eat foods is a complex process, and directs the FDA to
work with stakeholders to ensure that the CPG outlines a policy
that is reflective of the current scientific evidence and is
practical to implement.
Lupus.--The Committee is aware of barriers that have long
affected the development of therapeutics for lupus, a disease
that primarily targets women. A chronic and complex autoimmune
disease, lupus can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs,
kidneys, and blood vessels, causing widespread inflammation and
tissue damage in the affected organ. 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.
Medical Foods.--The Committee recognizes the unique role
medical foods play in the nutritional management of inborn
errors of metabolism and encourages a flexible regulatory
process that would enhance access to safe medical foods for
individuals with serious or life-threatening inborn errors of
metabolism. The Committees encourages the FDA to continue
focusing on this issue.
Medical Gas.--The Committee is concerned that healthcare
providers, consumers, and medical gas manufacturers have been
waiting for 45 years for the FDA to follow through on its
commitment to issue separate regulations for medical gases
since it first committed to doing so in the 1978 final
rulemaking on current good manufacturing practices. The
Committee is encouraged that FDA recently issued proposed
regulations in response to the statutory deadlines for medical
gas rulemaking required in section 1112 of Food and Drug
Administration Safety and Innovation Act (Public Law 112-144)
and section 756 of the Fiscal Year 2017 Consolidated
Appropriations Act (Public Law 115-31). However, the Committee
is significantly concerned that despite its directive in the
Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the 2023 Consolidated
Appropriations Act (Public Law 117-328) that final regulations
on medical gases be issued by March 31, 2023 the agency has
indicated a projected delay of 19 months for publication to
October 2024. The Committee directs the FDA to issue the final
separate regulations required by the Fiscal Year 2017
Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 115-31) as soon as
possible. Should the FDA not issue final regulations by
September 30, 2023, the agency shall submit a written report to
Committee every 30 days thereafter with an accompanying in-
person briefing, including explaining the status of the
rulemaking and reasons for delay.
Menthol Cigarettes.--The Committee commends the FDA for
issuing proposed rules to set product standards prohibiting the
use of characterizing menthol flavors in cigarettes and all
non-tobacco characterizing flavors in cigars. These actions
hold the potential to dramatically reduce smoking rates,
mortality, and healthcare spending in current and future
generations. The Committee notes that despite the clear science
and recommendations from its own Advisory Committees, the FDA
has failed to finalize such regulations to date despite several
opportunities. The Committee directs FDA to expeditiously
complete the rulemaking processes regarding product standards
that ban characterizing menthol flavors in cigarettes and all
non-tobacco characterizing flavors in cigars in order to
protect public health.
Metastatic Cancer.--The Committee recognizes FDA for
ongoing efforts to gather input and patient-focused feedback
from the metastatic cancer community. The Committee notes the
ongoing challenge identified by patients of needing access to
multiple therapeutic option and various sites of care due to
the fact that patients with metastatic cancer often progress
through multiple therapies, and encourages FDA to continue
working to ensure multiple safe and effective therapeutic
options with varying delivery mechanisms are available.
Minimal (or Measurable) Residual Disease.--To expedite the
development and safe patient access to new therapeutics, FDA is
encouraged to support collaborative research with the National
Institutes of Health, universities, and industry, regarding the
utilization of Minimal (or Measurable) Residual Disease [MRD]
testing to assess response to therapy and predict patient
outcomes in its evaluation of therapeutic products. The
Committee directs FDA to report within 1 year of the enactment
of this act on advances in the science and development of
products directed to the determination of MRD, that might soon
enable the utilization of MRD to serve as an exploratory
endpoint for clinical trial evaluations.
Neuroscience.--The Committee is encouraged by the Agency's
plants to hire additional staff with neurological expertise to
the expand the Agency's efforts to address regulatory
challenges in neurodegenerative drug development. As previously
mentioned, the Committee provides an additional $3,000,000 for
the Agency's Medical Product Centers to build on current
efforts to advance our scientific knowledge of neurological
diseases.
New Alternative Methods Program.--The Committee directs FDA
to efficiently and expeditiously utilize existing funds to
reduce animal testing and advance alternative methods in a
measurable and impactful way. The Committee requests a report
within 90 days of enactment that provides details on the status
of forming the New Alternative Methods Program in the
Commissioner's office, including but not limited to a
description of program goals and staffing levels by position
classification; FDA's priority areas for reducing animal use
and advancing alternatives, including goals, timelines and
funding associated with each of these identified priorities;
the metrics the agency will use to measure impact; and how the
agency will communicate information regarding acceptance of
alternative methods to the regulated community.
New Era of Smarter Food Safety.--The Committee supports the
FDA's efforts to bring together data from several agencies to
identify and predict vulnerabilities in the Nation's food
supply chain and enable the FDA to take a proactive approach to
ensure food safety and supply chain continuity to prevent and
respond to crises, such as the recent infant formula shortage.
The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2023 level
to continue this initiative.
New Prior Knowledge.--The Committee is aware of certain
issues with domestic drug manufacturing supply chains, and that
the FDA has been previously encouraged to improve generic drug
development, manufacturing, and quality of generic drugs
domestically. The Committee urges FDA to establish a pilot
program that will apply new tools to improve generic drug
development, manufacturing, and quality. The program must be in
collaboration with academic institutions that offer strengths
in assessing and improving the generic drug supply chain to
ensure the utilization of evidence-based best practices.
Niemann-Pick Type C [NPC].--The Committee encourages FDA to
increase its understanding and focus on NPC, a rare progressive
and universally fatal disease that impact children and young
adults. The Committee encourages FDA to use its existing
authorities and pathways to meet the urgent unmet medical need
of the current generation of NPC patients, including preserving
access to existing experimental therapies already in use. The
Committee further encourages FDA to maximize the use of
existing natural history data and real world evidence
contributed by this small patient population through existing
and past clinical studies and to continue to work with
patients, scientists, and industry partners to bring to full
fruition the work that is being accomplished through patient
organizations, scientists, researchers, and other to fully
benefit this generation of NPC patients.
Office of Therapeutic Products.--The Committee recognizes
the FDA's efforts with regard to rare disease and oncology
pilot programs and other positive initiatives, as well as
recent increases to support staffing, especially within the
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and the Office of
Therapeutic Products [OTP]. However, the Committee is concerned
about the ability to consistently achieve the desired level of
review timeliness and quality, and encourages the FDA to
implement and apply modern approaches to keep pace with the
science. Specifically, the Committee encourages OTP to
facilitate reviewers' understanding of the current scientific
consensus and disease-specific considerations for current and
future programs through consultation with subject matter
experts, both internal and external to FDA. The Committee is
also concerned about insufficient patient and expert input when
weighing benefits and risks of potentially life changing or
lifesaving new treatments. Further, the Committee is concerned
that despite Congress recently reinforcing FDA's flexibilities
and toolkit related to rare disease and unmet need, OTP is not
fully utilizing these flexibilities and tools as Congress
intended. The Committee notes the importance of use of these
flexibilities and tools, as appropriate, and expects a report
to the Committee on interim measures of progress within 1 year
of enactment.
Opioids.--The Committee remains concerned with the FDA use
of enriched enrollment, randomized, withdrawal [EERW] clinical
trial designs. Whereas the FDA Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug
Products Advisory Committee [AADPAC] held a meeting reviewing
EERW on extended release/long acting [ER/LA] opioids on the
efficacy of EERW on showing efficacy, while no vote was held,
the AADPAC noted perceived flaws in the clinical trial design.
As such the Committee directs the FDA to immediately conduct
its study on the EERW methodology for its use on new
prescription opioid approvals, and review EERWs use in
approving opioids currently on the market. The study should be
completed within 90 days of the enactment of this Act. In
addition, the FDA should carefully consider the broader public
health effect of opioid analgesic drugs in making its approval
decisions and in monitoring/considering new information about
approved drugs, including the risks related to misuse, abuse,
opioid use disorder, accidental exposure, and overdose, for
both patients and others, as well as any properties of a drug
expected to mitigate these risks.
The Committee applauds FDA for its ongoing efforts to
combat opioid abuse and for prioritizing Agency actions to
expand access to non-addictive treatments and encourages FDA to
collaborate with DEA in situations where descheduling could be
helpful to improving access to such non-addictive treatments,
particularly for populations that have a high prevalence of
insomnia and other high risk conditions that impact veterans,
military service members and front line workers. Within 180
days, the Committee requests that FDA brief the committee on
the status of any scientific and medical evaluation that may be
in progress under the provisions of 21 U.S.C. 811.
Opioid Packaging.--The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention
that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and
Communities Act granted FDA new authority to require special
packaging for opioids and other drugs that pose a risk of abuse
or overdose. The Committee is pleased FDA issued a request for
information on requiring fixed-quantity blister packaging for
certain opioids and strongly urges the agency to finalize this
requirement to promote safe opioid handling and reduce the risk
of unintentional ingestion. Additionally, the Committee
encourages FDA to consider expanding the scope of this
requirement beyond immediate-release, commonly-prescribed
opioid analgesics to cover all solid, oral dosage form opioids.
Oversight Activities.--The Committee provides $1,500,000
for the HHS Office of Inspector General specifically for
oversight of FDA activities.
Pasteurized Orange Juice.--The Committee is concerned that
pests, disease and hurricanes are having a devastating impact
on Florida's citrus growers and processors. These circumstances
have resulted in a natural decline in the Brix level for
Florida's mature oranges, with no known adverse health
consequences for consumers. The Committee believes it is
necessary to provide for analytical deviation in the minimum
Brix level for pasteurized orange juice to account for these
naturally occurring growing conditions. The Committee strongly
encourages both USDA and FDA to expedite work with Florida's
citrus growers and processors, and other stakeholders as
necessary, to consider additional flexibility by modernizing
requirements for pasteurized orange juice that better account
for naturally-occurring Brix variation.
Pathogen Reduction.--The Committee supports FDA's efforts
to recommend an individual risk assessment for blood donor
eligibility. The Committee encourages FDA to continue studying
how to improve existing blood donation policies to advance a
safe and adequate supply of blood and reduce stigma. Further,
FDA must prioritize further investments in pathogen reduction
technologies to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted
infections and safeguard the blood supply.
Patient Experience Data.--The Committee supports the
development of patient experience data to inform clinical
research design and regulatory reviews under the patient-
focused drug development process. Critical patient perspective
insights have been generated by the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
and other patient communities to ensure FDA has the benefit of
this information for critical decisions including on potential
gene therapies for this serious condition. The Committee
encourages FDA to make every effort to incorporate all relevant
patient experience data, including from patient advocacy
organizations, across its regulatory obligations.
Pediatric Device Consortia Grants.--Pediatric Device
Consortia grants provide funding to assist innovators in
developing medical and surgical devices designed for the unique
needs of children, needs that often go unmet by devices
currently available on the market. The Committee is pleased
that the FDA-funded Pediatric Device Consortia have assisted in
advancing the development of more than 2,500 proposed pediatric
medical device projects since 2009. The Committee encourages
FDA to fund Pediatric Device Consortia grants at the authorized
level in fiscal year 2024.
PFAS in Cosmetics.--The Committee is concerned about the
presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl [PFAS] substances
in cosmetics. The Committee directs the FDA to develop a plan
outlining research needed to inform regulatory decisionmaking,
including potential development of a proposed rule to ban
intentionally added PFAS substances in cosmetics. Not later
than 90 days after enactment, FDA will brief the committee on
the research plan, potential regulatory options, and discuss
considerations and anticipated challenges with issuing such a
proposed rule.
Pharmaceutical Marketing.--The Committee is aware of
promotional activities by pharmaceutical companies to
physicians and acknowledges this practice can help inform
providers of new treatments. The Committee notes that this can
also lead to an increase in prescribing rates of newer, and
potentially more expensive brand-name medications. The
Committee urges FDA to clarify the obligation of prescription
drug and biological product sponsors with respect to
promotional activities.
Plant Based Alternatives.--The Committee is concerned that
the current labeling practices of some plant-based alternatives
to animal-derived foods have the potential to cause consumer
confusion. The Committee directs FDA to conduct a study to 1)
better understand consumers' perceptions and motivations
relative to product composition, health attributes, and other
confusing labeling and marketing practices, and 2) assess
consumer perceptions of different terms used on labeling of
plant-based alternative products. No later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this act, FDA shall submit to
Congress, and make publicly available online, a report on the
findings of this study.
Plant Based Product Labeling.--The Committee supports FDA's
case-by-case approach to evaluating product labels considering
terms and representations used within the context of the entire
label, including qualification of any statements or names with
additional terms or information. The Committee urges FDA to
apply this same approach to labeling in pending guidance on
plant-based foods.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOS].--The Committee recognizes
that there have been no FDA-approved treatments specific to
PCOS and commends the FDA for supporting the Externally-Led
Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD] meeting on PCOS. The
Committee further encourages the FDA, based on the findings of
the EL-PFDD meeting, to work with investigators, industry,
patients, practitioners, and researchers to advance the
development of safe new evidence-based therapies, diagnostics,
devices, and that address the identified needs and treatment
priorities of PCOS patients.
Predictive Toxicology Roadmap Guideline Studies.--The
Committee supports activities to implement goals set in the
Predictive Toxicology Roadmap. However, the Committee is
concerned that funding intended to advance New Approach
Methodologies [NAMs] and reduce animal testing for product
development will be used to conduct new animal tests for
comparative guideline studies. While it is important to ensure
that novel methods can be relied upon for product development
and regulatory decision-making, the Committee encourages FDA to
first consider the use of human data or existing animal study
data in this comparative assessment, when feasible, to remain
aligned with the intentions of the Roadmap and animal testing
reduction, refinement, and replacement goals. The Committee
directs NCTR to prioritize use of existing human data, or
existing data from animal tests conducted prior to enactment of
this act when scientifically appropriate, when collaborating
with other FDA Centers and the National Toxicology Program data
if appropriate.
Promoting Domestic Manufacturing.--The Committee supports
the Agency's work to promote the domestic manufacturing of
drugs and biological products to help bolster supply chain
resiliency, including consistent with Executive Order 13944.
The Committee encourages the FDA to increase its efforts to
encourage the pharmaceutical industry to expand and relocate
drug manufacturing to the United States. The Committee
encourages FDA continue programs and policies that would
encourage the pharmaceutical industry to adopt advanced
manufacturing technologies, which could help prompt industry to
relocated foreign manufacturing to the United States or expand
current domestic manufacturing. The Committee encourages the
FDA to use any additional resources to collaborate with
academic institutions to support the advancement, development,
and implementation of advanced and continuous pharmaceutical
manufacturing.
Seafood Product Labeling.--The Committee continues to hear
concerns with the labeling of certain foods as a fish or
seafood product when the products are highly-processed plant-
based foods rather than derived from actual fish or seafood,
and the labeling of these products are misleading, deceptive,
and confusing to consumers. The Committee is concerned the
terms ``plant-based'' and ``vegan'' exempt the producer from
describing the actual plant source as part of the product name,
in opposition to other FDA guidance. The Committee directs the
FDA to provide clarity around the labeling of these foods using
seafood terminology to ensure they are held to the same
standards as actual seafood products to avoid consumer
confusion, and aligns with the structure it has applied to the
draft guidance for the labeling of plant-based milk
alternatives.
Sodium.--As the agency considers next steps in finalizing
short-term sodium reduction guidance, the Committee urges FDA
to monitor progress towards the short-term targets and engage
with industry stakeholders on implementation of the guidance.
The Committee acknowledges the investment and technology
challenges that exist for food manufacturers in reaching the
proposed long-term reduction targets, including those that
jeopardize food safety and integrity of food products, and
believes it is critical that FDA demonstrate the feasibility
and effectiveness of the long-term targets before moving
forward.
Sponsor Communication.--The Committee is concerned with
FDA's reliance on ``Written Response Only'' communication, in
lieu of live interactions when responding to meeting requests
from sponsors. While written response can be a useful tool,
there are times where meaningful scientific exchanges between
sponsors and FDA is required. The Committee urges FDA to offer
face to face or teleconference meetings when the topic of the
meeting requires face to face or teleconference interface, as
discussed in FDA guidance documents.
Sunscreen.--The Committee is aware that FDA has issued a
proposed sunscreen order in accordance with the procedures set
forth by the Sunscreen Innovation Act and the CARES Act. The
Committee encourages FDA to work with stakeholders to issue a
final order that clarifies the status of currently marketed
sunscreen ingredients, recognizing the benefit of currently
marketed sunscreens as a proven preventative tool against skin
cancer, the most common cancer in the United States. The
Committee urges FDA to utilize its authorities provided under
the CARES Act to evaluate new sunscreen ingredients already
approved for use around the world and to educate stakeholders
about the administrative order process to encourage research
and development of new sunscreen technology.
Synthetic Nicotine Products.--The Committee is concerned
that thousands of unauthorized non-tobacco nicotine products
remain on the market despite provisions in the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103) that require
these products to undergo premarket review by the FDA.
Enforcement of this requirement is critical to address
unauthorized nicotine products that appeal to youth, including
flavored e-cigarettes. The Committee urges FDA to clearly
communicate to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers which
products can be lawfully sold; improve its ability to identify
unauthorized products on the market; and pursue all legally
authorized remedies to ensure that all products being sold
unlawfully are removed from the marketplace. The Committee
directs the FDA to report back on the status of its review of
premarket applications for non-tobacco nicotine products, the
enforcement actions it has taken against unauthorized non-
tobacco nicotine products, and other steps the agency has taken
to ensure compliance with the premarket review requirement.
Tart Cherries.--The FDA published a proposed rule, titled
Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term
``Healthy'' (Docket No. FDA-2016-D-2335), that, if implemented
as proposed, would prevent tart cherries from utilizing the
term ``healthy'' due to restrictive added sugar content limits.
These limits fail to recognize that tart cherries require added
sugars to meet consumer expectations for palatability and would
place tart cherries at a competitive disadvantage to similarly
situated fruit products that qualify as ``healthy'' despite
those products containing higher levels of natural sugars.
Therefore, the agency shall carefully consider all comments
received on the proposed rule related to tart fruits, including
tart cherries, and continue to engage with the tart fruit
industry about their concerns with the proposed added sugar
limits for the ``healthy'' nutrient content claim.
Temporomandibular Disorder.--The Committee encourages FDA
to support the development and implementation of a Patient-
Centered Coordinated Registry Network [CRN] for
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder [TMD]. This Registry will be a
critical component in the transformation of temporomandibular
disorder research across other Government Agencies. The
Committee supports collaborations among medical product centers
related to the development of treatments for TMD and urges FDA
to support implementing of a Temporomandibular Joint [TMJ] CRN,
continuing the developmental work of the TMJ Patient-led
RoundTable and its partners in successfully developing the
Registry as an important tool in ongoing efforts to improve the
treatment and management of TMD patients.
Tobacco Issues.--The Committee remains deeply concerned
about data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showing that
more than two million youth use e-cigarettes and urges FDA to
use its full authority to address this serious public health
problem. The Committee urges FDA to promptly complete its
required premarket review of e-cigarettes and other deemed
tobacco products that remain on the market and to deny
authorization for any product that does not meet the statutory
standard for ``appropriate for the protection of the public
health''. The Committee also urges FDA to take enforcement
action against all products that failed to file a premarket
tobacco product application or received a negative action on a
submitted application, including marketing denial order.
Traceability Rule.--The Committee notes the expanded scope
and complexity for implementation of FDA's final rule entitled
``Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain
Foods'' (21 CFR Part 1, Subpart S). The Committee recognizes
that the FDA needs to develop a list of each commodity grouping
subject to the rule; to make available educational materials
for providers thatare interested in developing cost-effective
technology for purposes of rule implementation; and to publish
a protocol detailing consistent investigation practices the
agency will use to respond to foodborne illness and outbreak
investigations.
Traceback.--The Committee recognizes that the ability to
prevent, identify, and trace back contaminated products is
critical to containing food safety outbreaks but that
challenges associatedwith tracing these products consistently
from the end-consumer through the supply chain continue to
persist. To achieve this, the Committee recognizes the need to
modernize data systems to receive, track, and process
information and ensure timely notification of significant
public health threats. This ability is critical to address
safety and supply chain issues associated with regulated high-
risk products to more proactively identify or prevent threats
to regulated product safety and quality.
Usher Syndrome.--The Committee requests that the FDA
immediately consider new technology and innovative measurements
to determine effective treatments for rare ophthalmic diseases.
Acceptable endpoint measurements must better reflect the slow
progression and rare nature of Usher syndrome if potential
treatments are ever going to be available to patients.
Valley Fever.--The Committee is encouraged by progress made
toward producing a Valley Fever vaccine and recommends that FDA
consult with the public and obtain input on the state of the
science related to vaccines to prevent Valley Fever. The
Committee further recommends that FDA draft and issue industry
guidance for entities seeking approval under the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or licensure
under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
262) of antifungal therapies to treat Valley Fever.
Vibrio.--The Committee is aware of the public health
challenge related to the naturally occurring bacteria called
Vibrio parahaemolyticus that can accumulate in shellfish and
believes that more scientific research is necessary to develop
proper controls that will reduce the risk to consumers and
sustain a healthy domestic shellfish industry. The Committee
encourages the FDA to increase funding for research into Vibrio
illnesses associated with the consumption of raw molluscan
shellfish, improve risk assessment models, and develop improved
rapid detection methods for virulent Vibrio strains.
Women in Clinical Research.--Following recommendations by
the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and
Lactating Women, the Committee urges the agency to issue final
regulations relating to the protection of human subjects,
including parts 50 and 56 of title 21, Code of Federal
Regulations, with the latest regulations of the Department of
Health and Human Services relating to the inclusion of pregnant
women as subjects in clinical research. The agency should
consider further guidance about ethical issues to be considered
and strategies for designing ethical studies, to inform the
inclusion of pregnant women and lactating women in a clinical
trial and facilitate their participation.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $12,788,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 18,788,000
Committee recommendation................................ 12,788,000

FDA maintains offices and staff in 49 States and in the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, including field
laboratories and specialized facilities, as well as the
National Center for Toxicological Research complex. Repairs,
modifications, improvements, and construction to FDA
headquarters and field facilities must be made to preserve the
properties, ensure employee safety, meet changing program
requirements, and permit the agency to keep its laboratory
methods up to date.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $12,788,000
for FDA buildings and facilities.
This funding shall be used to upgrade FDA facilities and
laboratories which are currently below public safety standards
and incapable of performing agency requirements. The Committee
is aware that several FDA-owned facilities need significant
renovations and repairs. The Committee understands that high-
quality, reliable buildings are a necessity to support the
FDA's mission-critical work.

FDA INNOVATION ACCOUNT, CURES ACT

(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

Appropriations, 2023.................................... $50,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 50,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 50,000,000

The Committee recommends $50,000,000 for the FDA as
authorized in the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255).

INDEPENDENT AGENCY

Farm Credit Administration

LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Limitation, 2023........................................ $88,500,000
Budget estimate, 2024................................... 94,300,000
Committee recommendation................................ 94,300,000

The Farm Credit Administration [FCA] is the independent
agency in the executive branch of the Government responsible
for the examination and regulation of the banks, associations,
and other institutions of the Farm Credit System.
Activities of FCA include the planning and execution of
examinations of Farm Credit System institutions and the
preparation of examination reports. FCA also promulgates
regulations, establishes standards, enforces rules and
regulations, and approves certain actions of the institutions.
The administration and the institutions under its
jurisdiction now operate under authorities contained in the
Farm Credit Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-181), effective December
10, 1971. Public Law 99-205, effective December 23, 1985,
restructured FCA and gave the agency regulatory authorities and
enforcement powers.
The act provides for the farmer-owned cooperative system to
make sound, adequate, and constructive credit available to
farmers and ranchers and their cooperatives, rural residences,
and associations and other entities upon which farming
operations are dependent, and to modernize existing farm credit
law to meet current and future rural credit needs.
The Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-233)
authorized the formation of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage
Corporation [FAMC] to operate a secondary market for
agricultural and rural housing mortgages. FCA, under section
8.11 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-181), as
amended, is assigned the responsibility of regulating this
entity and assuring its safe and sound operation.
Expenses of FCA are paid by assessments collected from the
Farm Credit System institutions and by assessments to the FAMC.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommends a limitation of $94,300,000 on
administrative expenses of the Farm Credit Administration.
Hemp-Based Products.--The Committee recognizes the growing
interest for U.S. hemp and hemp-based products for a variety of
uses and directs FCA to work with the institutions under its
jurisdiction to provide access to guaranteed loans for hemp
producers and businesses.

TITLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

The Committee recommends the following provisions:
Section 701. This section includes language regarding
passenger motor vehicles.
Section 702. This section includes language regarding the
Working Capital Fund.
Section 703. This section limits the funding provided in
the bill to 1 year, unless otherwise specified.
Section 704. This section includes language regarding
indirect costs.
Section 705. This section includes language regarding Rural
Development programs.
Section 706. This section includes language regarding new
information technology.
Section 707. This section includes language regarding
conservation programs.
Section 708. This section includes language regarding Rural
Utilities Service program eligibility.
Section 709. This section includes language regarding
information technology expenses.
Section 710. This section includes language regarding
first-class travel.
Section 711. This section includes language regarding the
Commodity Credit Corporation.
Section 712. This section includes language regarding
advisory committees.
Section 713. This section includes language regarding
information technology systems.
Section 714. This section includes language regarding
section 32 activities.
Section 715. This section includes language regarding user
fee proposals without offsets.
Section 716. This section includes language regarding the
reprogramming of funds and notification requirements.
Section 717. This section includes language regarding fees
for the guaranteed business and industry loan program.
Section 718. This section includes language regarding the
appropriations hearing process.
Section 719. This section includes language regarding
prepackaged news.
Section 720. This section includes language regarding
details and assignments of Department of Agriculture employees.
Section 721. This section includes language regarding
spending plans.
Section 722. This section includes language regarding the
Food and Drug Administration.
Section 723. This section includes language regarding Rural
Development programs.
Section 724. This section includes language regarding loans
and loan guarantees.
Section 725. This section includes language regarding
credit card refunds.
Section 726. This section includes language regarding SNAP.
Section 727. This section includes language regarding
housing loan programs.
Section 728. This section includes language regarding new
user fees.
Section 729. This section includes language regarding a
rescission.
Section 730. This section includes language regarding FSIS.
Section 731. This section includes language regarding APHIS
inspections.
Section 732. This section includes language regarding a
rescission.
Section 733. This section includes language regarding a
rescission.
Section 734. This section includes language regarding
domestic preference.
Section 735. This section includes language regarding
lobbying.
Section 736. This section includes language regarding Rural
Development programs.
Section 737. This section includes language regarding the
Food and Drug Administration.
Section 738. This section includes language regarding the
Food and Drug Administration.
Section 739. This section includes language regarding a
NIFA pilot program.
Section 740. This section includes language regarding
school meals program.
Section 741. This section includes language regarding hemp.
Section 742. This section includes language regarding
matching funds.
Section 743. This section includes language regarding a
pilot program.
Section 744. This section includes language regarding a
rescission.
Section 745. This section includes language regarding a
rescission.
Section 746. This section includes language regarding the
Food for Peace program.
Section 747. This section includes language regarding
school meals program.
Section 748. This section includes language regarding
school meals program.
Section 749. This section includes language regarding
biotechnology risk assessment.
Section 750. This section includes language regarding
agency relocation.
Section 751. This section includes language regarding
watershed programs.
Section 752. This section includes language regarding Rural
Development.
Section 753. This section includes language regarding the
Water Bank program.
Section 754. This section includes language regarding the
Food and Drug Administration.
Section 755. This section includes language regarding
mitigation banking.
Section 756. This section includes language regarding
labeling requirements.
Section 757. This section includes language regarding REAP
Zones.
Section 758. This section includes language regarding a
working group.
Section 759. This section includes language regarding the
Institute for Rural Partnership.
Section 760. This section includes language regarding Rural
Development.
Section 761. This section includes language regarding
housing.
Section 762. This section includes language regarding
housing.
Section 763. This section includes language regarding
housing.
Section 764. This section includes language regarding
housing.
Section 765. This section includes language regarding
bison.
Section 766. This section includes language regarding the
Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Section 767. This section includes language regarding a
rescission.
Section 768. This section includes language regarding
APHIS.
Section 769. This section includes language regarding the
Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Section 770. This section includes language regarding
toxicants.
Section 771. This section includes language regarding
housing.
Section 772. This section includes language regarding Child
Nutrition Programs.
Section 773. This section includes language regarding
sodium in cheese.
Section 774. This section includes language regarding
Single Family Housing.
Section 775. This section includes language regarding
Housing Vouchers.
Section 776. This section includes language regarding horse
slaughter.

PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY

During fiscal year 2024, for purposes of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law
99-177) or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Reaffirmation Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-119), the following
information provides the definition of the term ``program,
project, and activity'' for departments and agencies under the
jurisdiction of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The
term ``program, project, and activity'' shall include the most
specific level of budget items identified in the Agriculture,
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, and the report.
If a sequestration order is necessary, in implementing the
Presidential order, departments and agencies shall apply any
percentage reduction required for fiscal year 2024 pursuant to
the provisions of Public Law 99-177 or Public Law 100-119 to
all items specified in the explanatory notes submitted to the
Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate in support
of the fiscal year 2024 budget estimates, as amended, for such
departments and agencies, as modified by congressional action,
and in addition:
For the Agricultural Research Service the definition shall
include specific research locations as identified in the
explanatory notes.
For the Natural Resources Conservation Service the
definition shall include individual flood prevention projects
as identified in the explanatory notes and individual
operational watershed projects as summarized in the notes.
For the Farm Service Agency the definition shall include
individual, regional, State, district, and county offices.

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE

Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports
accompanying general appropriations bills identify each
recommended amendment which proposes an item of appropriation
which is not made to carry out the provisions of an existing
law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously
passed by the Senate during that session.
The Committee is filing an original bill, which is not
covered under this rule, but reports this information in the
spirit of full disclosure.
The Committee recommends funding for the following programs
or activities which currently lack authorization for fiscal
year 2024:
--Multi-Family Housing Revitalization Program
--Broadband Telecommunications Grants
--Child Nutrition Programs
--Summer Food Service Program
--National School Lunch Act--Information Clearinghouse
--School Meals Program--Compliance and Accountability
--Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants
and Children
--Farmers Market Nutrition Program
--Livestock Mandatory Reporting

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(C), RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE

Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on June 22, 2023,
the Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill (S.
2131) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other
purposes, provided, that the bill be subject to amendment and
that any amendment increasing budget authority be offset by a
reduction of equal or greater budget authority, by a recorded
vote of 28-0, a quorum being present. The vote was as follows:
Yeas Nays
Chair Murray
Mrs. Feinstein
Mr. Durbin
Mr. Reed
Mr. Tester
Mrs. Shaheen
Mr. Merkley
Mr. Coons
Mr. Schatz
Ms. Baldwin
Mr. Murphy
Mr. Manchin
Mr. Van Hollen
Mr. Heinrich
Mr. Peters
Ms. Collins
Mr. McConnell
Ms. Murkowski
Mr. Graham
Mr. Moran
Mr. Hoeven
Mr. Boozman
Mrs. Capito
Mr. Kennedy
Mrs. Hyde-Smith
Mr. Hagerty
Mrs. Britt
Mrs. Fischer

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE

Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports
on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute
or part of any statute include ``(a) the text of the statute or
part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a
comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution
making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof
proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through type and
italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical
devices the omissions and insertions which would be made by the
bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form recommended by
the Committee.''
In compliance with this rule, changes in existing law
proposed to be made by the bill are shown as follows: existing
law to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets; new matter is
printed in italic; and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman.

TITLE 12--BANKS AND BANKING

Chapter 38--Multifamily Mortgage Foreclosure

Sec. Definitions

As used in this chapter--

(1) . . .

* * * * * * *

(10) ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development and the Secretary of Agriculture.
------

TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Chapter 8A--Slum Clearance, Urban Renewal, and Farm Housing

Subchapter III--Farm Housing

Sec. 1490c. Mutual and self-help housing

(a) Purpose

* * * * * * *

(b) Contract authority; establishment of Self-Help Housing Land
Development Fund; authorization to make loans;
conditions of loan

In order to carry out the purposes of this section, the
Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the
``Secretary'') is authorized--

(1)(A) . . .

(B) to establish the Self-Help Housing Land
Development Fund, referred to herein as the Self-Help
Fund, to be used by the Secretary as a revolving fund
for making loans, on such terms and conditions and in
such amounts as he deems necessary, to public or
private nonprofit organizations and to Indian tribes
for the acquisition and development of land as building
sites to be subdivided and sold to families, nonprofit
organizations, and cooperatives eligible for assistance
under section 1715z or 1715z-1 of title 12 or section
1490a of this title. Such a loan, with interest at a
rate not to exceed 3 percent per annum, shall be repaid
within a period not to exceed [two years] five years
from the making of the loan, or within such additional
period as may be authorized by the Secretary in any
case as being necessary to carry out the purposes
hereof: Provided, That the Secretary may advance funds
under this paragraph to organizations receiving
assistance under clause (A) to enable them to establish
revolving accounts for the purchase of land options and
any such advances may bear interest at a rate
determined by the Secretary and shall be repaid to the
Secretary at the expiration of the period for which the
grant to the organization involved was made;

* * * * * * *

Sec. 1490d. Loans to nonprofit organizations to provide building sites
for eligible families, nonprofit organizations,
public agencies, and cooperatives; interest rates;
factors determinative in making loan

(a)(1) In general.--The Secretary may make loans, on such
terms and conditions and in such amounts he deems necessary, to
public or private nonprofit organizations and to Indian tribes
for the acquisition and development of land as building sites
to be subdivided and sold to families, nonprofit organizations,
public agencies, and cooperatives eligible for assistance under
any section of this subchapter or under any other law which
provides financial assistance for housing low- and moderate-
income families. Such a loan shall bear interest at a rate
prescribed by the Secretary taking into consideration a rate
determined annually by the Secretary of the Treasury as the
current average market yield on outstanding marketable
obligations of the United States with remaining periods to
maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loans,
adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum, and shall
be repaid within a period not to exceed [two years] five years
from the making of the loan or within such additional period as
may be authorized by the Secretary in any case as being
necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

* * * * * * *

Sec. 1490r. Rural housing voucher program

(a) In general

* * * * * * *

(b) Coordination and limitation

In carrying out the rural housing voucher program under
this section, the Secretary shall--
(1) coordinate activities under this section with
activities assisted under sections 1485 and 1490m of
this title; and
(2) enter into contracts for assistance for not
more than [5000] 10,000 units in any fiscal year.
------

Chapter 13--School Lunch Programs

Sec. 1758. Program requirements

(a) Nutritional requirements

* * * * * * *

(h) Food safety

(1) In general

* * * * * * *

(3) Audits and reports by States

[For fiscal year 2023] For fiscal year 2024, each State
shall annually--

* * * * * * *

(4) Audit by the Secretary

[For fiscal year 2023] For fiscal year 2024, the Secretary
shall annually audit State reports of food safety inspections
of schools submitted under paragraph (3).

* * * * * * *

Sec. 1769g. Information clearinghouse

(a) In general

* * * * * * *

(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 2024] 2010
through 2025. The Secretary shall be entitled to receive the
funds and shall accept the funds, without further
appropriation.

* * * * * * *

Chapter 119--Homeless Assistance

Subchapter IV--Housing Assistance

PART D--RURAL HOUSING STABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Sec. 11408a. Use of [FMHA] USDA inventory for transitional housing for
homeless persons and for turnkey housing

(a) In general

The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to
as the ``Secretary'') shall, on a priority basis, lease or sell
[program and nonprogram] inventory properties held by the
Secretary under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C.
1471 et seq.]--

(1) to provide transitional housing; and

(2) to provide turnkey housing for tenants of such
transitional housing and for eligible families.

[(b) Priority

The priority uses of inventory property under this section
shall not have a higher priority than--

(1) the disposition of such property by sale to
eligible families; or

(2) the disposition of such property by transfer
for use as rental housing by eligible families.]

(b) Priority.--The priority uses of inventory property
under this section shall be given priority equal to or higher
than the disposition of such property in accordance with
priorities determined by the Secretary as necessary to protect
the best interests of the Federal Government.
------

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL

PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS
AMENDED
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority Outlays
---------------------------------------------------
Committee Amount in Committee Amount in
allocation bill allocation bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee
allocation for 2024: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies:
Mandatory............................................... 174,241 174,241 169,505 \1\169,505
Discretionary........................................... 25,993 25,993 27,894 \1\27,894
Defense............................................. ........... ........... ........... ...........
Non-defense......................................... 25,993 25,993 27,894 27,894
Projection of outlays associated with the recommendation:
2024.................................................... ........... ........... ........... \2\178,126
2025.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 7,072
2026.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 1,918
2027.................................................... ........... ........... ........... 974
2028 and future years................................... ........... ........... ........... 694
Financial assistance to State and local governments for NA 56,226 NA \2\46,950
2024.......................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
\2\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

NA: Not applicable.

NOTE.--Pursuant to section 1002(b)(3)(B) of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255), $50,000,000 in
budget authority and the resulting outlays do not count for the purposes of estimates under the Congressional
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Pursuant to section 4112(b) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 2018, $7,045,000,000 in budget authority and the resulting outlays do not count for the purposes
of section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

DISCLOSURE OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ITEMS

The Constitution vests in the Congress the power of the
purse. The Committee believes strongly that Congress should
make the decisions on how to allocate the people's money. As
defined in Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the
term ``congressionally directed spending item'' means a
provision or report language included primarily at the request
of a Senator, providing, authorizing, or recommending a
specific amount of discretionary budget authority, credit
authority, or other spending authority for a contract, loan,
loan guarantee, grant, loan authority, or other expenditure
with or to an entity, or targeted to a specific State, locality
or congressional district, other than through a statutory or
administrative, formula-driven, or competitive award process.
For each item, a Member is required to provide a certification
that neither the Member nor the Member's immediate family has a
pecuniary interest in such congressionally directed spending
item. Such certifications are available to the public on the
website of the Senate Committee on Appropriations (https://
www.appropriations.senate.
gov/congressionally-directed-spending-requests). Following is a
list of congressionally directed spending items included in the
Senate recommendation discussed in this report, along with the
name of each Senator who submitted a request to the Committee
of jurisdiction for each item so identified. Neither the
Committee recommendation nor this report contains any limited
tax benefits or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule
XLIV.

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ITEMS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendation
Account State Project Recipient ($) Requestor(s)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agricultural Research Service IL.................. Capital Improvements, ARS, Peoria................. 1,269,000 Durbin
Buildings and Facilities. Peoria, IL.
Agricultural Research Service IL.................. Capital Improvements, ARS, Urbana................. 1,220,000 Durbin
Buildings and Facilities. Urbana, IL.
Agricultural Research Service LA.................. USDA Sugarcane Research Unit American Sugar Cane League.. 5,000,000 Cassidy
Buildings and Facilities.
Agricultural Research Service ME.................. New England Plant, Soil, and USDA-ARS New England Plant, 10,000,000 Collins
Buildings and Facilities. Water Research Laboratory Soil, and Water Laboratory.
Expansion.
Agricultural Research Service NC.................. Central Crops Research North Carolina State 1,475,000 Tillis
Buildings and Facilities. Station. University.
Agricultural Research Service NE.................. ARS National Center for SDA Agricultural Research 25,000,000 Fischer
Buildings and Facilities. Resilient and Regenerative Service co-located facility
Precision Agriculture. with University of Nebraska-
Lincoln.
Agricultural Research Service SC.................. Vegetable Research Clemson University Coastal 500,000 Graham
Buildings and Facilities. Capabilities at Coastal Research and Education
Research and Education Center.
Center.
Agricultural Research Service WA.................. ARS Upgrades in Prosser, WA. USDA-ARS.................... 3,000,000 Murray
Buildings and Facilities.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... CT.................. Connecticut Agricultural The Connecticut Agricultural 239,000 Blumenthal, Murphy
Experiment Station for Experiment Station.
Monitoring Ticks and Tick-
borne Pathogens.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... CT.................. The Connecticut Agricultural The Connecticut Agricultural 300,000 Blumenthal, Murphy
Experiment Station for Experiment Station.
Beech Leaf Disease
Surveillance.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... HI.................. Kukuau Forest Wildlife Hawaii Land Trust........... 1,097,000 Hirono, Schatz
Damage Management.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... LA.................. West Nile Virus Wildlife LA Department of Wildlife 500,000 Cassidy
Conservation Research. and Fisheries.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... MS.................. Wildlife Damage Management-- APHIS-MS.................... 1,000,000 Hyde-Smith
Mississippi Fish-Eating
Bird Control Program.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... MS.................. Wildlife Services Methods APHIS-MS.................... 40,000 Hyde-Smith
Development--Rabies
Surveillance in Mississippi.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... MS.................. Wildlife Damage Management-- Mississippi Department of 500,000 Hyde-Smith
Mississippi WHCP. Agriculture and Commerce.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... NM.................. New Mexico Department of New Mexico Department of 200,000 Heinrich, Lujan
Agriculture for AgPrep Agriculture.
Agriculture Disaster
Preparedness and Response.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... NM.................. New Mexico Department of New Mexico Department of 100,000 Heinrich, Lujan
Agriculture for Invasive Agriculture.
Toxic Plant Detection and
Eradication.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... NM.................. New Mexico Department of New Mexico Department of 150,000 Heinrich, Lujan
Agriculture for Veterinary Agriculture.
Diagnostic Services
Equipment.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... RI.................. Aquatic Diagnostics Roger Williams University... 1,950,000 Reed
Laboratories.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... SC.................. Containment Field Facility Clemson University.......... 1,200,000 Graham
for Guava Root-knot
Nematode.
APHIS Salaries and Expenses...... SC.................. Veterinary Diagnostic Center Clemson University Livestock 7,000,000 Graham
Poultry Health.
Distance Learning and AR.................. Arkansas Digital Arkansas Secretary of 1,000,000 Boozman
Telemedicine Program. Interventions for Care. Agriculture.
Distance Learning and IL.................. Rural Telemedicine OSF HealthCare.............. 750,000 Durbin
Telemedicine Program. Initiative, Eastern
Illinois.
Distance Learning and MS.................. Mississippi Rural Health Mississippi Rural Health 731,000 Hyde-Smith
Telemedicine Program. Workforce and Grant Association.
Development Program.
Distance Learning and NJ.................. Abilities Incredible People. Abilities of Northwest 127,000 Booker
Telemedicine Program. Jersey Inc..
Distance Learning and OR.................. Grant County CyberMill Grant County CyberMill...... 113,000 Merkley, Wyden
Telemedicine Program. Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities AK.................. Heavy Equipment to Support Alaska Municipal League..... 4,023,000 Murkowski
Program. Rural Maintenance Needs.
Rural Community Facilities AK.................. Craig Firehall/ EMS Building City of Craig, Alaska....... 4,125,000 Murkowski
Program. Construction.
Rural Community Facilities AK.................. Haines Community Safety and Haines Borough.............. 5,000,000 Murkowski
Program. Training Center.
Rural Community Facilities AK.................. Northwest Arctic Borough Northwest Arctic Borough.... 2,629,000 Murkowski
Program. Public Safety, Fire, and
Rescue Facilities.
Rural Community Facilities AL.................. Good Hope Community Center City of Good Hope........... 1,313,000 Tuberville
Program. and Storm Shelter.
Rural Community Facilities AL.................. Heflin Police Department City of Heflin.............. 2,325,000 Tuberville
Program. Headquarters.
Rural Community Facilities AL.................. Ashland Courthouse ADA Clay County Commission...... 1,200,000 Tuberville
Program. Compliance Upgrades and
Repairs.
Rural Community Facilities AR.................. City of Wilson Fire and City of Wilson.............. 1,500,000 Boozman
Program. Public Safety Building.
Rural Community Facilities AZ.................. Pleasant Valley Veterans Gila County................. 333,000 Kelly, Sinema
Program. Retreat.
Rural Community Facilities AZ.................. Pinetop Wildland Fire Pinetop Fire District....... 3,274,000 Kelly, Sinema
Program. Response Station.
Rural Community Facilities AZ.................. Huachuca City Fire Town of Huachuca City....... 336,000 Kelly, Sinema
Program. Protection.
Rural Community Facilities CA.................. Snow Removal and Natural San Bernardino County Fire 1,680,000 Feinstein
Program. Disaster Heavy Equipment. Protection District.
Rural Community Facilities CA.................. Las Casitas de Lola Domestic City of Huron............... 53,000 Feinstein, Padilla
Program. Violence Shelter.
Rural Community Facilities CA.................. Southern Inyo Fire County of Inyo.............. 1,500,000 Feinstein, Padilla
Program. Protection District Fire
Stations.
Rural Community Facilities CA.................. Wawona Ambulance Bay........ County of Mariposa.......... 375,000 Feinstein, Padilla
Program.
Rural Community Facilities CA.................. El Nido Fire Station County of Merced............ 781,000 Feinstein, Padilla
Program. Rehabilitation.
Rural Community Facilities CO.................. Regional Workforce Center Build Pagosa................ 1,000,000 Bennet,
Program. for Career and Technical Hickenlooper
Training.
Rural Community Facilities CO.................. Holyoke Community Childcare Holyoke Community Childcare 1,000,000 Bennet,
Program. Initiative. Initiative. Hickenlooper
Rural Community Facilities CO.................. Kiowa County Hospital Kiowa County Hospital 1,917,000 Bennet,
Program. Replacement Facility: Phase District. Hickenlooper
1.
Rural Community Facilities CT.................. Adelbrook Behavioral and Adelbrook Behavioral and 380,000 Blumenthal, Murphy
Program. Developmental Services for Developmental Services.
Facility Improvements.
Rural Community Facilities CT.................. Town of Madison for Academy Town of Madison............. 3,625,000 Blumenthal, Murphy
Program. Community Center.
Rural Community Facilities CT.................. Town of Winchester for Fire Town of Winchester, CT...... 1,980,000 Blumenthal, Murphy
Program. House Addition.
Rural Community Facilities DE.................. CHEER, Inc. administrative CHEER Inc................... 1,000,000 Carper, Coons
Program. service facility.
Rural Community Facilities DE.................. City of Harrington for City of Harrington.......... 3,345,000 Carper, Coons
Program. roadway and water access
expansion.
Rural Community Facilities DE.................. Nanticoke Indian Association The Nanticoke Indian 600,000 Carper, Coons
Program. community center. Association Inc.
Rural Community Facilities DE.................. Town of Milton public works Town of Milton.............. 2,048,000 Coons
Program. facility.
Rural Community Facilities GA.................. Reopening Cuthbert's Randolph County Hospital 4,000,000 Ossoff
Program. Hospital--Randolph County Authority.
Hospital.
Rural Community Facilities GA.................. Dawson Farmers Market and City of Dawson.............. 100,000 Warnock
Program. Community Center.
Rural Community Facilities GA.................. South Georgia Food Bank..... Second Harvest of South 2,000,000 Warnock
Program. Georgia, Inc..
Rural Community Facilities GA.................. The Villages' Tiny Home Shane's Crib................ 440,000 Warnock
Program. Project for Women and
Children in Recovery.
Rural Community Facilities HI.................. Education and Cultural Hawaii Land Trust........... 1,500,000 Hirono, Schatz
Program. Learning Center Waihee
Refuge.
Rural Community Facilities HI.................. Hoa Aina O Makaha Capital Hoa Aina O Makaha........... 96,000 Hirono, Schatz
Program. Improvement Project.
Rural Community Facilities HI.................. Palikea Agroforestry Waianae Community Re- 567,000 Hirono, Schatz
Program. Training Baseyard. Development Corp. DBA MA?O
Organic Farms.
Rural Community Facilities HI.................. Camp Maluhia Dining Hall.... Boy Scouts of America Maui 1,000,000 Schatz
Program. Nui District.
Rural Community Facilities HI.................. West Hawaii Community KUA O Kanaueue.............. 488,000 Schatz
Program. Kitchen.
Rural Community Facilities IL.................. Dixon Family YMCA- Early Dixon Family YMCA........... 1,000,000 Duckworth
Program. Childhood Education and
Childcare Center.
Rural Community Facilities IL.................. Event Center................ Board of Trustees of the 900,000 Durbin
Program. University of Illinois.
Rural Community Facilities IL.................. Medical Clinic.............. Clay County Hospital and 800,000 Durbin
Program. Medical Clinics.
Rural Community Facilities IL.................. Fire Station................ Village of Carrier Mills.... 375,000 Durbin
Program.
Rural Community Facilities KS.................. Republic County Courthouse.. Republic County............. 250,000 Moran
Program.
Rural Community Facilities LA.................. Livingston Parish Courthouse Town of Livingston.......... 800,000 Cassidy
Program. Renovations.
Rural Community Facilities MA.................. Camp Apex Capital Community YMCA of Greenfield 427,000 Markey, Warren
Program. Improvements.
Rural Community Facilities MA.................. Chiller Replacement......... Quabbin Regional School 223,000 Markey, Warren
Program. District.
Rural Community Facilities MA.................. Deerfield 1888 Building Town Town of Deerfield, 4,000,000 Markey, Warren
Program. Administrative Office Massachusetts.
Project.
Rural Community Facilities MD.................. Adkins Arboretum Site Adkins Arboretum............ 260,000 Cardin, Van Hollen
Program. Amenities.
Rural Community Facilities MD.................. Bloomington Fire Company Bloomington Fire Co......... 150,000 Cardin, Van Hollen
Program. Building Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities MD.................. Garrett County Utilities Board of County 525,000 Cardin, Van Hollen
Program. Infrastructure Equipment. Commissioners of Garrett
County.
Rural Community Facilities MD.................. Building African American Building African American 525,000 Cardin, Van Hollen
Program. Minds (BAAM) Academic Minds, Inc.
Center.
Rural Community Facilities MD.................. HOPE Center................. Foundation of HOPE, Inc..... 630,000 Cardin, Van Hollen
Program.
Rural Community Facilities MD.................. Hampstead Fire Station and Hampstead Volunteer Fire 2,000,000 Cardin, Van Hollen
Program. Emergency Shelter. Engine & Hose Company No. 1.
Rural Community Facilities MD.................. Tri-Towns Emergency Medical Tri-Towns Emergency Medical 150,000 Cardin, Van Hollen
Program. Services Building Services.
Restoration.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Brownfield Public Safety Town of Brownfield.......... 2,898,000 Collins
Program. Building.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Franklin County Emergency Franklin County 2,035,000 Collins
Program. Operations Center. Commissioner's Office.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Hartland Irving Tanning Irving Tanning Community 238,000 Collins
Program. Community Center. Center.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Kennebec Valley Community Kennebec Valley Community 803,000 Collins
Program. College Plumbing Training College.
Facility.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Little Saplings Childcare Little Saplings Childcare 641,000 Collins
Program. Center. Center.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Sinclair Fire Station....... North Lakes Fire & Rescue... 2,250,000 Collins
Program.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Patten Lumbermen's Museum Patten Lumbermen's Museum... 107,000 Collins
Program. Building Replacement.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Carmel Municipal Facility Town of Carmel.............. 937,000 Collins
Program. Renovation and Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Union Hall Restoration...... Town of Columbia Falls...... 17,000 Collins
Program.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Hancock Fire Station........ Town of Hancock............. 1,567,000 Collins
Program.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Howland Road Salt/Sand Town of Howland............. 1,200,000 Collins
Program. Facility Relocation.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Southwest Harbor Public Town of Southwest Harbor.... 2,415,000 Collins, King
Program. Works Facility.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Springfield Fire Station and Town of Springfield......... 750,000 Collins
Program. Municipal Facility.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. University of Maine Presque University of Maine System.. 4,000,000 Collins
Program. Isle Auditorium Renovation.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Rangeley Region Childcare Beth Brunswick Memorial Fund 750,000 Collins, King
Program. Facility. for Children.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Bath Fire and EMS Station... City of Bath................ 1,750,000 Collins, King
Program.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Addison Community Center Friends of the Church on the 750,000 Collins, King
Program. Renovation. Hill.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Stonington Wharf Renovation. Isle au Haut Boat Services.. 1,835,000 Collins, King
Program.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Maine Public Emergency Maine Public Broadcasting 3,421,000 Collins, King
Program. Signal Expansion. Corporation.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Millinocket Library ADA Millinocket Memorial Library 115,000 Collins, King
Program. Access.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Orono Public Library Orono Public Library 3,600,000 Collins, King
Program. Expansion. Foundation.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Porter Memorial Library ADA Porter Memorial Library 820,000 Collins, King
Program. Accessibility Upgrades. Association.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Hollis Municipal Facility... Town of Hollis.............. 2,000,000 Collins, King
Program.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Randolph Fire Station....... Town of Randolph............ 2,600,000 Collins, King
Program.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. St. Agatha Municipal Town of St. Agatha.......... 450,000 Collins, King
Program. Building.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Waldo Community Action Waldo Community Action 2,000,000 Collins, King
Program. Partners Facility Partners.
Construction.
Rural Community Facilities ME.................. Hand in Hand--Rayitos de Sol Mano en Mano / Hand in Hand. 831,000 King
Program. Bilingual Childcare
Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities MI.................. Alpena Community College Alpena Community College.... 1,750,000 Peters
Program. Student Housing Community
Facility.
Rural Community Facilities MI.................. Briggs District Library..... City of Saint Johns......... 598,000 Peters, Stabenow
Program.
Rural Community Facilities MI.................. Proposal for a New Ionia Ionia Community Library..... 2,100,000 Peters
Program. Community Library.
Rural Community Facilities MI.................. Increasing Access to Care Cherry Health............... 2,575,000 Stabenow
Program. Through a Health-Focused
Community Hub in
Greenville, Michigan.
Rural Community Facilities MN.................. City of Raymond Community City of Raymond............. 1,186,000 Klobuchar, Smith
Program. Facilities.
Rural Community Facilities MN.................. Early Childhood Hub in Pope Lakes Area Enrichment Center 1,875,000 Klobuchar, Smith
Program. County.
Rural Community Facilities MN.................. Lil' Chomper's Chomper's Lil' Chomper's Child Care... 1,000,000 Klobuchar, Smith
Program. Child Care project.
Rural Community Facilities MS.................. Kemper County Library....... East Central Planning and 600,000 Wicker
Program. Development District.
Rural Community Facilities NC.................. Mount Airy Downtown Franklin City of Mount Airy.......... 522,000 Tillis
Program. Street Lot Revitalization
Project.
Rural Community Facilities NC.................. Expansion of the Marianna Marianna Black Library...... 1,000,000 Tillis
Program. Black Library.
Rural Community Facilities NH.................. Ashland Elementary School Ashland Elementary School... 1,353,000 Shaheen
Program. Net Zero Project.
Rural Community Facilities NH.................. Carroll County Annex Project Carroll County.............. 2,000,000 Shaheen
Program.
Rural Community Facilities NH.................. Warren Village School Net School Administrative Unit 1,147,000 Shaheen
Program. Zero Project. 23.
Rural Community Facilities NJ.................. Creating a Center for Food, Foodshed Alliance A NJ 260,000 Booker
Program. Farming and the Environment Nonprofit Corporation.
to Foster a Resilient,
Robust, Equitable and
Climate-Smart Local Food
System in NJ.
Rural Community Facilities NJ.................. Hunterdon County Emergency Hunterdon County............ 3,192,000 Booker
Program. Services Training Center
Phase 2 and 3.
Rural Community Facilities NJ.................. Acquisition of a New Pumper Township of Quinton......... 746,000 Booker, Menendez
Program. Truck.
Rural Community Facilities NJ.................. Rural Transportation Relief. Project Self-Sufficiency of 291,000 Booker, Menendez
Program. Sussex County.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Aztec Public Library Roof Aztec Public Library........ 81,000 Heinrich
Program. Replacement.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. City of Anthony Public City of Anthony............. 825,000 Heinrich
Program. Safety Building.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Rescue Engine for Portales City of Portales Fire 495,000 Heinrich
Program. Fire Department. Department.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. New Fire Station for Costilla Volunteer Fire 1,500,000 Heinrich
Program. Costilla Volunteer Fire District Taos County Fire
Department. and EMS.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Expansion of EMS Building in Hidalgo County.............. 300,000 Heinrich
Program. Hidalgo County.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Hozho Voices of Healing Hozho Voices of Healing 49,000 Heinrich
Program. Center Native Seed Bank. Center.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. New Ambulance for Logan Logan Ambulance Service..... 289,000 Heinrich
Program. Ambulance Service.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Garage for Pueblo of Santa Pueblo of Santa Ana......... 375,000 Heinrich
Program. Ana Emergency Vehicles.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Pueblo of Tesuque Community Pueblo of Tesuque........... 749,000 Heinrich
Program. Farm Building and Equipment.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Roosevelt County Detention Roosevelt County............ 275,000 Heinrich
Program. Center Electrical and
Plumbing Upgrades.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. San Juan County Fire and San Juan County............. 605,000 Heinrich
Program. Rescue Department--Self-
Contained Breathing
Apparatuses.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Sunrise Clinics--Property Sunrise Clinics............. 151,000 Heinrich
Program. Purchase to Expand Mental
Health Care in Frontier
Burn Communities.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Taos County Fire and EMS-- Taos County Fire and EMS.... 234,000 Heinrich
Program. Wildland Fire Engine.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Town of Red River Public Town of Red River........... 2,171,000 Heinrich
Program. Works and Transit
Operations and Maintenance
Facility.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Town of Springer Fire Town of Springer............ 1,575,000 Heinrich
Program. Department Sub Station.
Rural Community Facilities NM.................. Village of Reserve--Village Village of Reserve.......... 750,000 Lujan
Program. Hall, Library & Community
Center Renovation.
Rural Community Facilities NV.................. Amargosa Valley Library-- Amargosa Valley............. 750,000 Cortez Masto, Rosen
Program. Library Extension.
Rural Community Facilities NV.................. Duckwater Shoshone Tribe-- Duckwater Shoshone Tribe.... 512,000 Cortez Masto, Rosen
Program. Community Building.
Rural Community Facilities NV.................. Elko Band of the Te-Moak Elko Band of the Te-Moak 940,000 Cortez Masto, Rosen
Program. Tribe of Western Shoshone-- Tribe of Western Shoshone.
Indian View Heights Road
Reconstruction.
Rural Community Facilities NV.................. Storey County--McCarran Storey County............... 450,000 Cortez Masto, Rosen
Program. Sheriff's Office Substation.
Rural Community Facilities NY.................. SUNY Morrisville Robotic Morrisville College 1,360,000 Gillibrand, Schumer
Program. Dairy Milker. Foundation.
Rural Community Facilities NY.................. Nelliston School Daycare.... Village of Nelliston........ 300,000 Gillibrand, Schumer
Program.
Rural Community Facilities NY.................. Finger Lakes Community Finger Lakes Community 1,000,000 Schumer
Program. College Horticulture College.
Education Complex Project.
Rural Community Facilities NY.................. Finger Lakes Museum Capital Finger Lakes Cultural and 2,000,000 Gillibrand, Schumer
Program. Project. Natural History Museum.
Rural Community Facilities NY.................. Rural Community Outpatient Keuka College............... 1,600,000 Gillibrand, Schumer
Program. Clinic.
Rural Community Facilities OH.................. Big Walnut Joint Fire Big Walnut Joint Fire 1,320,000 Brown
Program. District Fire Station. District.
Rural Community Facilities OH.................. Canfield Township Public Canfield Township........... 263,000 Brown
Program. Work Garage Expansion
Project.
Rural Community Facilities OH.................. Marietta College Planetarium Marietta College............ 181,000 Brown
Program.
Rural Community Facilities OH.................. Cooper Community Resource Oberlin Community Services 1,286,000 Brown
Program. Center. Council.
Rural Community Facilities OH.................. Shawnee Fire Department New Village of Shawnee.......... 375,000 Brown
Program. Truck.
Rural Community Facilities OH.................. Wells Township Police Wells Township Police 159,000 Brown
Program. Department Cruiser Garage. Department.
Rural Community Facilities OR.................. Condon Library Theatre Condon Arts Council......... 250,000 Merkley, Wyden
Program. Restoration.
Rural Community Facilities OR.................. Community Mental Health South Lane Mental Health 76,000 Merkley, Wyden
Program. Facility Repairs in Lane Services, Inc..
County.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. Armstrong Conservation Armstrong Conservation 594,000 Casey
Program. District--Education Center District.
at Armsdale.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. Child Hunger Outreach Child Hunger Outreach 750,000 Casey
Program. Partners--Building Partners.
Expansion & Improvements.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. Lock Haven Police Building.. City of Lock Haven.......... 1,000,000 Casey
Program.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. Perry County Literacy Perry County Literacy 900,000 Casey
Program. Council Education Expansion Council.
Project.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. The Greater Renovo Area The Greater Renovo Area 138,000 Casey
Program. Heritage Park--Maxwell Heritage Park.
Distance Learning Center.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. City of Clairton Public City of Clairton............ 564,000 Casey, Fetterman
Program. Library.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. Creating a Safer and More Clarion County Commissioners 1,898,000 Fetterman
Program. Efficient Clarion County
Courthouse.
Rural Community Facilities PA.................. Oil City Library Theater Oil Region Library 494,000 Fetterman
Program. Restoration. Association.
Rural Community Facilities RI.................. Public Safety Complex....... Town of New Shoreham........ 3,500,000 Reed
Program.
Rural Community Facilities RI.................. Richmond Radio Tower........ Town of Richmond............ 165,000 Reed
Program.
Rural Community Facilities RI.................. Senior Center Elevator...... Town of Richmond............ 55,000 Reed
Program.
Rural Community Facilities SC.................. Orangeburg County Law County of Orangeburg........ 886,000 Graham
Program. Complex.
Rural Community Facilities SC.................. Robert Davidson Community Dorchester County........... 250,000 Graham
Program. Center.
Rural Community Facilities SC.................. Irmo Town Hall Project...... Town of Irmo................ 1,980,000 Graham
Program.
Rural Community Facilities VA.................. Appalachian Highlands Ballad Health Foundation.... 522,000 Kaine, Warner
Program. Community Dental Center
Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities VA.................. Blue Ridge Discovery Center Blue Ridge Discovery Center. 366,000 Kaine, Warner
Program. Visitor Center.
Rural Community Facilities VA.................. Boys & Girls Club of the Boys & Girls Club of the 1,000,000 Kaine, Warner
Program. Northern Neck. Northern Neck.
Rural Community Facilities VA.................. Historic Masonic Theatre Masonic Theatre Preservation 94,000 Kaine, Warner
Program. Preservation Foundation Foundation.
Door Replacement Project.
Rural Community Facilities VA.................. Nelson County Child The Millennium Group........ 575,000 Kaine, Warner
Program. Development Center and
Community Health Worker
Training Program Facility.
Rural Community Facilities VA.................. Town of Cedar Bluff Dump Town of Cedar Bluff, 90,000 Kaine, Warner
Program. Truck Replacement. Virginia.
Rural Community Facilities VA.................. Town of Tazewell Emergency Town of Tazewell............ 354,000 Kaine, Warner
Program. Medical Services (EMS)
Building Renovation and
Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities VT.................. Northfield Senior Center Greater Northfield Seniors.. 151,000 Sanders
Program. Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities VT.................. Canaan Cooperative Child Northeast Kingdom Community 75,000 Sanders
Program. Development Center. Action.
Rural Community Facilities VT.................. Rochester High School Town of Rochester........... 2,329,000 Sanders
Program. Repurposing Project.
Rural Community Facilities VT.................. Woodbury Volunteer Fire Woodbury Volunteer Fire 1,125,000 Sanders
Program. Department Emergency Department.
Services Building.
Rural Community Facilities VT.................. Brandon Public Library Brandon Public Library...... 1,000,000 Welch
Program. Safety and Accessibility
Improvements.
Rural Community Facilities VT.................. New Town Garage............. Town of Vershire............ 750,000 Welch
Program.
Rural Community Facilities VT.................. Village of Johnson Utility Village of Johnson.......... 824,000 Welch
Program. Maintenance Garage.
Rural Community Facilities WA.................. City of Elma Community City of Elma................ 1,288,000 Cantwell
Program. Policing and Emergency
Operations Center.
Rural Community Facilities WA.................. Darrington Food Bank Darrington Food Bank 425,000 Cantwell
Program. Expansion. Foundation.
Rural Community Facilities WA.................. Quinault Boom Truck......... Quinault Indian Nation...... 135,000 Cantwell
Program.
Rural Community Facilities WA.................. Roslyn Old City Hall City of Roslyn.............. 1,400,000 Murray
Program. Renovation.
Rural Community Facilities WA.................. Public Safety Answering Kittitas County............. 1,050,000 Murray
Program. Point--First Responder
Interoperable
Communications Project.
Rural Community Facilities WA.................. Public Safety Radio Network Okanogan County............. 3,000,000 Murray
Program. Improvement.
Rural Community Facilities WI.................. Waadookodaading Ojibwe Waadookodaading Ojibwe 5,000,000 Baldwin
Program. Language Institute Language Institute.
Revitalization Center.
Rural Community Facilities WI.................. Western Wisconsin Health Western Wisconsin Health.... 1,000,000 Baldwin
Program. Expansion.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Belmont Water Treatment City of Belmont............. 75,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Plant Roof Replacement.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Meadow River Valley Local God's Way Home, Inc......... 100,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Foodway.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Clendenin Municipal Complex Town of Clendenin........... 563,000 Capito
Program. Upgrade.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Princeton City Hall Complex City of Princeton........... 657,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Phase III.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Tucker County New Visitors Tucker County............... 1,260,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Center.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Arnettsville Community Arnettsville Community 150,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Center Roof Replacement. Association.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Elkins Library Renovation & Elkins-Randolph County 2,200,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Expansion. Public Library.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Gilmer County Courthouse Gilmer County Commission.... 191,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Annex Elevator.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Fayetteville Historic Historic Fayette Theater.... 372,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Fayette Theater Renovations
Project.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Summersville New Beginnings New Beginnings Resource 51,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Resource Center Center.
Refrigerated Truck.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Randolph County Conference Randolph County Development 1,250,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. and Event Center. Authority.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Morgan County Senior Life Senior Life Services of 487,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Services HVAC System Morgan County, Inc..
Replacement.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Southern West Virginia Southern West Virginia 1,275,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Community & Technical Community & Technical
College Community Learning College.
Commons.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Bethany Community Center Town of Bethany............. 23,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Roof Replacement.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Reedsville Historic Town Town of Reedsville.......... 234,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Hall Restoration &
Expansion Project.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Ridgeley Town Hall and Town of Ridgeley............ 1,200,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Police Department.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Wardensville Community Town of Wardensville........ 1,121,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Center Stabilization and
Renovation Project.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Weston Historic Landmark Weston Historic Landmark 750,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Commission for Cultural Commission.
Center Restoration Project.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. African American Community African American Community 67,000 Manchin
Program. Association Fishermen's Association of Jefferson
Hall Amphitheater Project. County.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Blackwater Ministries Food Blackwater Ministerial 132,000 Capito, Manchin
Program. Pantry Building. Association, Inc..
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Charles Town Opera House Old Opera House Theatre, 209,000 Manchin
Program. Roof & HVAC Replacement. Inc..
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Wirt County Committee on Wirt County Committee on 57,000 Manchin
Program. Aging Disability and Aging.
Improvement & Senior
Accessibility Project.
Rural Community Facilities WV.................. Worthington Volunteer Fire Worthington Volunteer Fire 214,000 Manchin
Program. Department Tanker Project. Department.
Watershed and Flood Prevention AZ.................. Colorado City Flood Control Town of Colorado City....... 55,000 Kelly, Sinema
Operations. Project.
Watershed and Flood Prevention MS.................. Mississippi Watershed and NRCS Mississippi............ 9,050,000 Hyde-Smith
Operations. Flood Prevention Operations.
Watershed and Flood Prevention MS.................. Choctaw County Lake......... Choctaw County Board of 2,000,000 Wicker
Operations. Supervisors.
Watershed and Flood Prevention MS.................. Big and Little Cedar Creeks George County............... 55,000 Wicker
Operations. Flood Prevention.
Watershed and Flood Prevention MS.................. Jones County Flood Pat Harrison Waterway 2,000,000 Wicker
Operations. Prevention Project. District.
Watershed and Flood Prevention NV.................. Douglas County--Hot Springs- Douglas County.............. 55,000 Cortez Masto, Rosen
Operations. Buckbrush Flood Control.
Watershed and Flood Prevention NV.................. Douglas County--Smelter Douglas County.............. 55,000 Cortez Masto, Rosen
Operations. Creek Tributary Flood
Control.
Watershed and Flood Prevention OH.................. McConnel Run Streambank Village of McConnelsville... 55,000 Brown
Operations. Restoration.
Watershed and Flood Prevention OR.................. Arnold Irrigation District Arnold Irrigation District.. 3,000,000 Merkley, Wyden
Operations. Infrastructure Resiliency
and Modernization Project.
Watershed and Flood Prevention OR.................. North Unit Irrigation North Unit Irrigation 2,000,000 Merkley, Wyden
Operations. District Infrastructure District.
Modernization Project.
Watershed and Flood Prevention RI.................. Pocasset River Watershed RI Association of 2,025,000 Reed
Operations. Flood Mitigation Project. Conservation Districts.
Watershed and Flood Prevention SC.................. Clemson Experiment Station.. Clemson University 55,000 Graham
Operations. Experiment Station.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2024
[In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate Committee recommendation
compared with (+ or -)
Item 2023 Budget estimate Committee -----------------------------------
appropriation recommendation 2023
appropriation Budget estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

Processing, Research, and Marketing

Office of the Secretary

Office of the Secretary....................................... 7,432 34,713 7,432 ................ -27,281
Office of Homeland Security................................... 1,396 2,396 1,396 ................ -1,000
Office of Tribal Relations.................................... 5,190 6,533 5,190 ................ -1,343
Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.................. 9,280 10,357 9,280 ................ -1,077
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration.......... 1,706 1,742 1,706 ................ -36
Departmental Administration................................... 26,716 35,627 26,716 ................ -8,911
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations 4,609 4,727 4,609 ................ -118
and Intergovernmental Affairs................................
Office of Communications...................................... 8,738 16,539 8,738 ................ -7,801
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Office of the Secretary............................ 65,067 112,634 65,067 ................ -47,567
=========================================================================================

Executive Operations

Office of the Chief Economist................................. 28,181 35,597 30,181 +2,000 -5,416
Office of Hearings and Appeals................................ 16,703 17,494 16,703 ................ -791
Office of Budget and Program Analysis......................... 14,967 21,135 14,967 ................ -6,168
Office of the Chief Information Officer....................... 92,284 95,061 92,284 ................ -2,777
Office of the Chief Financial Officer......................... 7,367 9,108 7,367 ................ -1,741
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights............ 1,466 1,486 1,466 ................ -20
Office of Civil Rights........................................ 37,595 38,617 37,595 ................ -1,022
Agriculture Buildings and Facilities.......................... 40,581 124,628 36,081 -4,500 -88,547
Hazardous materials management................................ 7,581 7,630 6,586 -995 -1,044
Office of Safety, Security, and Protection.................... 21,800 22,020 21,800 ................ -220
Office of Inspector General................................... 111,561 125,893 111,561 ................ -14,332
Office of the General Counsel................................. 60,537 65,646 60,537 ................ -5,109
Office of Ethics.............................................. 5,556 6,958 5,556 ................ -1,402
Office of Information Affairs................................. ................ 9,966 ................ ................ -9,966
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Executive Operations............................... 446,179 581,239 442,684 -3,495 -138,555
=========================================================================================
Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and 1,384 2,414 1,384 ................ -1,030
Economics....................................................
Office of the Chief Scientist............................. 1,000 5,510 1,000 ................ -4,510
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.............................................. 2,384 7,924 2,384 ................ -5,540

Economic Research Service..................................... 92,612 98,453 92,183 -429 -6,270
National Agricultural Statistics Service...................... 211,076 241,119 200,563 -10,513 -40,556
Census of Agriculture..................................... (66,413) (80,883) (55,900) (-10,513) (-24,983)

Agricultural Research Service

Salaries and expenses......................................... 1,744,279 1,938,303 1,792,879 +48,600 -145,424
Buildings and facilities...................................... 17,600 41,405 41,405 +23,805 ................
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed 56,697 ................ 47,464 -9,233 +47,464
Spending.................................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Agricultural Research Service.................. 1,818,576 1,979,708 1,881,748 +63,172 -97,960
=========================================================================================

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

National Institute of Food and Agriculture.................... ................ 1,868,461 ................ ................ -1,868,461
Research and education activities............................. 1,094,121 ................ 1,084,600 -9,521 +1,084,600
Native American Institutions Endowment Fund................... (11,880) (11,880) (11,880) ................ ................
Extension activities.......................................... 565,410 ................ 567,410 +2,000 +567,410
Integrated activities......................................... 41,500 ................ 41,500 ................ +41,500
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, National Institute of Food and Agriculture......... 1,701,031 1,868,461 1,693,510 -7,521 -174,951
=========================================================================================
Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory 1,617 1,657 1,617 ................ -40
Programs.....................................................

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Salaries and expenses......................................... 1,161,519 1,188,788 1,171,691 +10,172 -17,097
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed 9,552 ................ 14,276 +4,724 +14,276
Spending.................................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.............................................. 1,171,071 1,188,788 1,185,967 +14,896 -2,821

Buildings and facilities...................................... 3,175 3,175 3,175 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service......... 1,174,246 1,191,963 1,189,142 +14,896 -2,821
=========================================================================================

Agricultural Marketing Service

Marketing Services............................................ 237,695 254,605 229,891 -7,804 -24,714
(Limitation on administrative expenses, from fees collected).. (62,596) (62,596) (62,596) ................ ................

Funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply (Section
32):
Permanent, (Section 32)................................... 1,483,309 1,573,666 1,573,666 +90,357 ................
Marketing agreements and orders (transfer from Section (21,501) (21,501) (21,501) ................ ................
32)..................................................
Payments to States and Possessions........................ 1,235 1,235 1,235 ................ ................
Limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses... (55,000) (55,000) (55,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Agricultural Marketing Service................. 1,839,835 1,947,102 1,922,388 +82,553 -24,714
=========================================================================================
Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety................. 1,117 1,146 1,117 ................ -29
Food Safety and Inspection Service............................ 1,158,266 1,290,419 1,205,009 +46,743 -85,410
Lab accreditation fees.................................... (1,000) (1,000) (1,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title I, Agricultural Programs................. 8,394,410 9,204,229 8,579,816 +185,406 -624,413
=========================================================================================
(By transfer)......................................... (21,501) (21,501) (21,501) ................ ................
(Limitation on administrative expenses)............... (117,596) (117,596) (117,596) ................ ................

TITLE II--Farm Production and Conservation Programs

Farm Production Programs

Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and 1,727 1,780 1,727 ................ -53
Conservation.................................................
Farm Production and Conservation Business Center.............. 248,684 265,825 249,684 +1,000 -16,141
(by transfer from CCC).................................... (60,228) (60,228) (60,228) ................ ................

Farm Service Agency

Salaries and expenses......................................... 1,215,307 1,262,353 1,215,307 ................ -47,046
(by transfer from ACIF)................................... (305,803) (321,621) (321,621) (+15,818) ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Salaries and expenses (including transfers).... 1,521,110 1,583,974 1,536,928 +15,818 -47,046
=========================================================================================
State mediation grants........................................ 7,000 7,000 7,000 ................ ................
Grassroots source water protection program.................... 7,500 7,000 7,500 ................ +500
Dairy indemnity program....................................... 500 500 500 ................ ................
Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers............. 4,000 4,000 4,000 ................ ................

Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund [ACIF] Program Account:
Loan authorizations:
Farm ownership loans:
Guaranteed........................................ (3,500,000) (3,500,000) (3,500,000) ................ ................
Direct............................................ (3,100,000) (3,100,000) (3,100,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...................................... (6,600,000) (6,600,000) (6,600,000) ................ ................

Farm operating loans:
Unsubsidized guaranteed........................... (2,118,491) (2,118,491) (2,118,491) ................ ................
Direct............................................ (1,633,333) (1,633,000) (1,633,000) (-333) ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...................................... (3,751,824) (3,751,491) (3,751,491) (-333) ................

Emergency loans....................................... (4,062) (37,667) (37,667) (+33,605) ................
Indian tribe land acquisition loans................... (20,000) (20,000) (20,000) ................ ................

Conservation loans:
Guaranteed........................................ (150,000) (150,000) (150,000) ................ ................
Relending program loans............................... (61,426) (61,426) (61,426) ................ ................
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans................. (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) ................ ................
Boll weevil eradication loans......................... (60,000) (60,000) (60,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations........................ (10,652,312) (10,685,584) (10,685,584) (+33,272) ................
=========================================================================================

Loan subsidies:
Emergency Loans....................................... 249 3,507 3,507 +3,258 ................

Farm operating loans:
Direct............................................ 23,520 27,598 27,598 +4,078 ................
Unsubsidized guaranteed........................... 11,228 1,483 1,483 -9,745 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal...................................... 34,997 32,588 32,588 -2,409 ................

Relending program loans............................... 10,983 19,368 19,368 +8,385 ................
Indian Highly Fractionated Land Loans................. 894 1,577 1,577 +683 ................
Boll weevil eradication loans......................... ................ 258 258 +258 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies and grants.................. 46,874 53,791 53,791 +6,917 ................
=========================================================================================

ACIF administrative expenses:
Administrative Expenses............................... 326,461 341,871 341,871 +15,410 ................
(Program Loan Cost Expenses)...................... (20,658) (20,250) (20,250) (-408) ................
(Transfer out to FSA Salaries and expenses)....... (-305,803) (-321,621) (-321,621) (-15,818) ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program 373,335 395,662 395,662 +22,327 ................
Account..............................................
=========================================================================================
(Loan authorizations)................................. (10,652,312) (10,685,584) (10,685,584) (+33,272) ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Farm Service Agency............................ 1,607,642 1,676,515 1,629,969 +22,327 -46,546
=========================================================================================

Risk Management Agency

RMA Salaries and Expenses..................................... 66,870 77,897 66,870 ................ -11,027
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Farm Production Programs........................... 1,924,923 2,022,017 1,948,250 +23,327 -73,767
=========================================================================================

Natural Resources Conservation Service:
Conservation Operations 1/................................ 918,151 1,008,266 922,151 +4,000 -86,115
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed 22,973 ................ ................ -22,973 ................
Spending.............................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................................... 941,124 1,008,266 922,151 -18,973 -86,115

Farm Security and Rural Investment Program:
Administrative expenses-FPAC Business Center (transfer (-60,228) (-60,228) (-60,228) ................ ................
out).................................................
Watershed flood and prevention operations................. 54,409 175,000 70,000 +15,591 -105,000
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed 20,591 ................ 20,405 -186 +20,405
Spending.............................................
Watershed rehabilitation program.......................... 2,000 10,009 2,000 ................ -8,009
Healthy forests reserve program........................... 7,000 20,011 ................ -7,000 -20,011
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production............... 8,500 13,534 ................ -8,500 -13,534
Water Bank Program........................................ ................ 4,000 ................ ................ -4,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Natural Resources Conservation Service......... 1,033,624 1,230,820 1,014,556 -19,068 -216,264
=========================================================================================

Corporations

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation:
Federal crop insurance corporation fund................... 15,395,000 14,695,301 14,695,301 -699,699 ................

Commodity Credit Corporation Fund:
Reimbursement for net realized losses..................... 16,832,185 10,612,000 10,612,000 -6,220,185 ................
Hazardous waste management (limitation on expenses)....... (15,000) (15,000) (15,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Corporations................................... 32,227,185 25,307,301 25,307,301 -6,919,884 ................
=========================================================================================
Total, title II, Farm Production and Conservation Programs 35,185,732 28,560,138 28,270,107 -6,915,625 -290,031
=========================================================================================
(By transfer)............................................. (366,031) (381,849) (381,849) (+15,818) ................
(Transfer out)............................................ (-366,031) (-381,849) (-381,849) (-15,818) ................

TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development........... 1,620 1,653 1,620 ................ -33

Rural Development

Rural development expenses:
Salaries and expenses..................................... 351,087 527,182 351,087 ................ -176,095
(by transfer from RHIF)................................... (412,254) (412,254) (412,254) ................ ................
(by transfer from RDLFP).................................. (4,468) (4,468) (4,468) ................ ................
(by transfer from RETLP).................................. (33,270) (33,270) (33,270) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, transfers from program accounts............. 449,992 449,992 449,992 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural development expenses (including transfers)... 801,079 977,174 801,079 ................ -176,095
=========================================================================================

Rural Housing Service

Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account:
Loan authorizations:
Single family direct (Sec 502)........................ (1,250,000) (1,500,000) (850,000) (-400,000) (-650,000)
Relending demonstration program for Native American (7,500) (12,000) (7,500) ................ (-4,500)
Tribes...............................................
Unsubsidized guaranteed............................... (30,000,000) (30,000,000) (30,000,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Single family........................... 31,257,500 31,512,000 30,857,500 -400,000 -654,500

Housing repair (Sec 504).............................. (28,000) (50,000) (28,000) ................ (-22,000)
Rental housing (Sec 515).............................. (70,000) (200,000) (60,000) (-10,000) (-140,000)
Multi-family housing guarantees (Sec 538)............. (400,000) (400,000) (400,000) ................ ................
Single family housing credit sales.................... (10,000) (10,000) (10,000) ................ ................
Self-help housing land development housing loans (Sec (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) ................ ................
523).................................................
Site development loans (Sec 524)...................... (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) ................ ................
Farm Labor Housing (Sec514)........................... (20,000) (50,000) (25,000) (+5,000) (-25,000)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations........................ 31,795,500 32,232,000 31,390,500 -405,000 -841,500
=========================================================================================

Loan subsidies:
Single family direct (Sec 502)........................ 46,375 205,950 62,637 +16,262 -143,313
Relending demonstration program for Native American 2,468 5,491 3,432 +964 -2,059
Tribes...............................................
Housing repair (Sec 504).............................. 2,324 8,675 4,858 +2,534 -3,817
Self-Help Land Development Housing Loans (Sec523)..... 267 637 637 +370 ................
Site Development Loans (Sec524)....................... 208 477 477 +269 ................
Rental housing (Sec 515).............................. 13,377 69,960 20,988 +7,611 -48,972
Multi-family housing revitalization program........... 36,000 75,000 35,000 -1,000 -40,000
Farm labor housing (Sec514)........................... 4,084 17,405 8,703 +4,619 -8,702
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies............................. 105,103 383,595 136,732 +31,629 -246,863
=========================================================================================
Farm labor housing grants................................. 10,000 18,000 10,000 ................ -8,000
RHIF administrative expenses.............................. 412,254 412,254 412,254 ................ ................
(transfer out to Rural Development)....................... (-412,254) (-412,254) (-412,254) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Housing Insurance Fund program........... 527,357 813,849 558,986 +31,629 -254,863
=========================================================================================
(Loan authorization).................................. (31,795,500) (32,232,000) (31,390,500) (-405,000) (-841,500)

Rental assistance program:
Rental assistance (Sec 521)........................... 1,487,926 1,688,109 1,608,000 +120,074 -80,109
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Rental Assistance Program............... 1,487,926 1,688,109 1,608,000 +120,074 -80,109

Rural Housing Vouchers................................ 48,000 ................ 48,000 ................ +48,000
Mutual and self-help housing grants................... 32,000 40,000 32,000 ................ -8,000
Rural housing assistance grants....................... 48,000 70,000 48,000 ................ -22,000

Rural community facilities program account:
Loan authorizations:
Community facility:
Direct.................................... (2,800,000) (2,800,000) (2,800,000) ................ ................
Guaranteed................................ (650,000) (650,000) (650,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations............ 3,450,000 3,450,000 3,450,000 ................ ................
=========================================================================================

Loan subsidies and grants:
Community facility:
Grants.................................... ................ 52,000 32,000 +32,000 -20,000
Community Project Funding/Congressionally 325,490 ................ 205,134 -120,356 +205,134
Directed Spending............................
Rural community development initiative........ 6,000 22,745 6,000 ................ -16,745
Tribal college grants......................... 10,000 10,000 10,000 ................ ................
Rural Hospitals Pilot Program................. ................ 2,000 ................ ................ -2,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Loan subsidies and grants....... 341,490 86,745 253,134 -88,356 +166,389
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, grants and payments........................ 421,490 196,745 333,134 -88,356 +136,389
=========================================================================================
Total, Rural Housing Service.......................... 2,484,773 2,698,703 2,548,120 +63,347 -150,583
=========================================================================================
(Loan authorization).................................. (35,245,500) (35,682,000) (34,840,500) (-405,000) (-841,500)

Rural Business-Cooperative Service:
Rural Business Program Account:
(Guaranteed business and industry loan authorization). (1,800,000) ................ (1,800,000) ................ (+1,800,000)

Loan subsidies and grants:
Guaranteed business and industry subsidy.......... 38,520 47,600 28,728 -9,792 -18,872
Rural business development grants............. 37,000 40,000 37,000 ................ -3,000
Delta Regional Authority , Appalachian 9,000 9,000 12,000 +3,000 +3,000
Regional Commission, Northern Border Regional
Commission, and Southwest Border Regional
Commission...................................
Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant 2,000 7,000 ................ -2,000 -7,000
Program......................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, RBP loan subsidies and grants...... 86,520 103,600 77,728 -8,792 -25,872
=========================================================================================

Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account:
(Loan authorization).................................. (18,889) (18,890) (18,889) ................ (-1)
Loan subsidy.......................................... 3,313 5,733 5,733 +2,420 ................
Administrative expenses............................... 4,468 4,468 4,468 ................ ................
(transfer out to Rural Development)............... (-4,468) (-4,468) (-4,468) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Intermediary Relending Program Account. 7,781 10,201 10,201 +2,420 ................
=========================================================================================

Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account:
(Loan authorization).................................. (75,000) (75,000) (75,000) ................ ................
Limit cushion of credit interest spending............. (75,000) ................ (75,000) ................ (+75,000)

Rural Cooperative Development Grants:
Cooperative development............................... 5,800 7,000 5,800 ................ -1,200
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas....... 3,500 2,800 3,500 ................ +700
Grants to assist minority producers................... 3,000 4,000 3,000 ................ -1,000
Value-added agricultural product market development... 13,000 13,000 13,000 ................ ................
Agriculture innovation centers........................ 3,000 3,000 3,000 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Cooperative development grants....... 28,300 29,800 28,300 ................ -1,500
=========================================================================================

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program:
(Loan authorization).................................. (25,000) (4,777) (20,000) (-5,000) (+15,223)
Loan subsidy and grants............................... 6,000 8,250 6,000 ................ -2,250

Rural Energy for America Program:
(Loan authorization).................................. (20,000) (50,000) (50,000) (+30,000) ................
Loan subsidy and grants............................... 18 30,000 ................ -18 -30,000
Healthy Food Financing Initiative......................... 3,000 5,000 1,000 -2,000 -4,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Business-Cooperative Service............. 131,619 186,851 123,229 -8,390 -63,622
=========================================================================================
(Loan authorizations)................................. (1,938,889) (148,667) (1,963,889) (+25,000) (+1,815,222)

Rural Utilities Service:
Rural water and waste disposal program account:
Loan authorizations:
Direct............................................ (1,420,000) (1,610,000) (880,000) (-540,000) (-730,000)
Guaranteed........................................ (50,000) (50,000) (50,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations.................... 1,470,000 1,660,000 930,000 -540,000 -730,000
=========================================================================================

Loan subsidies and grants:
Water and waste revolving fund.................... 1,000 1,000 1,000 ................ ................
Water well system grants.......................... 5,000 5,000 5,000 ................ ................
306A(i)(2) grants................................. 15,000 15,000 10,000 -5,000 -5,000
Colonias and AK/HI grants......................... 70,000 87,000 70,000 ................ -17,000
Water and waste technical assistance.............. 37,500 42,000 37,500 ................ -4,500
Circuit rider program............................. 21,180 25,000 25,000 +3,820 ................
Solid waste management grants..................... 4,000 4,000 4,000 ................ ................
Direct subsidy.................................... 2,724 154,895 79,060 +76,336 -75,835
High energy cost grants........................... 10,000 10,000 10,000 ................ ................
Water and waste disposal grants................... 430,000 538,400 430,000 ................ -108,400
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies and grants.............. 596,404 882,295 671,560 +75,156 -210,735
=========================================================================================

Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program
Account:
Loan authorizations:
Electric:
Direct, FFB................................... (2,167,000) (2,167,000) (2,167,000) ................ ................
Electric Direct, Treasury Rate................ (4,333,000) (4,333,000) (4,333,000) ................ ................
Guaranteed underwriting....................... (900,000) ................ (900,000) ................ (+900,000)
Rural Energy Savings Program.................. (110,898) (192,845) (60,000) (-50,898) (-132,845)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Electric........................ 7,510,898 6,692,845 7,460,000 -50,898 +767,155

Telecommunications:
Telecomm Direct, Treasury..................... (690,000) (690,000) (690,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan authorizations........................ 8,200,898 7,382,845 8,150,000 -50,898 +767,155
=========================================================================================

Loan Subsidy:
Telecommunications Direct, Treasury Rate.......... 3,726 7,176 7,176 +3,450 ................
Rural Energy Savings Program...................... 11,500 34,500 10,734 -766 -23,766
Rural clean energy initiative technical assistance ................ 15,000 ................ ................ -15,000
grants...............................................
RETLP administrative expenses......................... 33,270 33,270 33,270 ................ ................
(transfer out to Rural Development)............... (-33,270) (-33,270) (-33,270) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Electrification and 48,496 89,946 51,180 +2,684 -38,766
Telecommunications Loans Program Account.........
=========================================================================================
(Loan authorization).............................. (8,200,898) (7,382,845) (8,150,000) (-50,898) (+767,155)

Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program:
Loan authorizations:
Broadband telecommunications.......................... (14,674) ................ ................ (-14,674) ................

Loan subsidies and grants:
Distance learning and telemedicine:
Grants............................................ 60,000 65,000 60,000 ................ -5,000
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed 4,991 ................ 2,721 -2,270 +2,721
Spending.........................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................................... 64,991 65,000 62,721 -2,270 -2,279

Broadband telecommunications:
Direct............................................ 3,000 2,037 ................ -3,000 -2,037

Broadband Re-Connect:
Loan subsidies and grants 1/...................... 348,000 374,300 98,000 -250,000 -276,300
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed 15,513 ................ ................ -15,513 ................
Spending.........................................
Community Connect Grants.......................... 35,000 35,000 35,000 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................................... 398,513 409,300 133,000 -265,513 -276,300
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Loan subsidies and grants.................. 466,504 476,337 195,721 -270,783 -280,616
=========================================================================================
Total, Rural Utilities Service........................ 1,111,404 1,448,578 918,461 -192,943 -530,117
=========================================================================================
(Loan authorization).................................. (9,685,572) (9,042,845) (9,080,000) (-605,572) (+37,155)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title III, Rural Development Programs.......... 4,080,503 4,862,967 3,942,517 -137,986 -920,450
=========================================================================================
(By transfer)......................................... (449,992) (449,992) (449,992) ................ ................
(Transfer out)........................................ (-449,992) (-449,992) (-449,992) ................ ................
(Loan authorizations)................................. (46,869,961) (44,873,512) (45,884,389) (-985,572) (+1,010,877)

TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and 1,376 1,416 1,376 ................ -40
Consumer Services............................................

Food and Nutrition Service:
Child nutrition programs.................................. 28,456,432 32,000,897 32,000,897 +3,544,465 ................
Farm to School........................................ 14,000 ................ 10,000 -4,000 +10,000
School breakfast program equipment grants............. 30,000 30,000 20,000 -10,000 -10,000
Summer EBT............................................ 40,000 ................ ................ -40,000 ................
Child Nutrition Training (Sec 735).................... 2,000 ................ 2,000 ................ +2,000
School Breakfast Expansion Grants..................... 3,000 ................ ................ -3,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Child nutrition programs................... 28,545,432 32,030,897 32,032,897 +3,487,465 +2,000
=========================================================================================
Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, 6,000,000 6,300,000 6,300,000 +300,000 ................
and children (WIC).......................................

Supplemental nutrition assistance program:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program............. 150,859,725 119,125,239 119,132,241 -31,727,484 +7,002
Reserve............................................... 3,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000 ................ ................
FDPIR nutrition education services.................... 998 998 998 ................ ................
Forward funding....................................... ................ 27,511,000 ................ ................ -27,511,000
Healthy Fluid Milk.................................... ................ 3,000 3,000 +3,000 ................
Tribal Demonstration Projects......................... 3,000 5,000 5,000 +2,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Food stamp program......................... 153,863,723 149,645,237 122,141,239 -31,722,484 -27,503,998
=========================================================================================

Commodity assistance program:
Commodity supplemental food program................... 338,640 390,000 390,000 +51,360 ................
Farmers market nutrition program...................... 26,000 26,000 20,000 -6,000 -6,000
Emergency food assistance program..................... 92,000 100,000 90,000 -2,000 -10,000
Pacific island and disaster assistance................ 1,070 1,070 1,070 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Commodity assistance program............... 457,710 517,070 501,070 +43,360 -16,000
=========================================================================================
Nutrition programs administration......................... 189,348 221,193 184,348 -5,000 -36,845
Congressional Hunger Center........................... (2,000) (2,000) (2,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Food and Nutrition Service..................... 189,056,213 188,714,397 161,159,554 -27,896,659 -27,554,843
=========================================================================================
Total, title IV, Domestic Food Programs............... 189,057,589 188,715,813 161,160,930 -27,896,659 -27,554,883
=========================================================================================

TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign 932 1,035 932 ................ -103
Agricultural Affairs.........................................
Office of Codex Alimentarius.................................. 4,922 5,009 4,922 ................ -87

Foreign Agricultural Service

Salaries and expenses......................................... 237,330 256,149 237,330 ................ -18,819
(By transfer from export loans)........................... (6,063) (6,063) (6,063) ................ ................

Food for Peace Title II Grants:
Expenses.................................................. 1,750,000 1,800,000 1,800,000 +50,000 ................
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child 243,331 243,331 248,331 +5,000 +5,000
Nutrition program grants.....................................

Commodity Credit Corporation Export (Loans):
Credit Guarantee Program Account.......................... 6,063 6,063 6,063 ................ ................
Foreign Agriculture Service, Salaries and expenses (-6,063) (-6,063) (-6,063) ................ ................
(transfer out).......................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title V, Foreign Assistance and Related Programs... 2,242,578 2,311,587 2,297,578 +55,000 -14,009
=========================================================================================
(By transfer)............................................. (6,063) (6,063) (6,063) ................ ................
(Transfer out)............................................ (-6,063) (-6,063) (-6,063) ................ ................

TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

Salaries and expenses

Direct appropriation.......................................... 3,530,150 3,896,028 3,550,150 +20,000 -345,878
Transfer to OIG (transfer out)............................ (-1,500) (-1,500) (-1,500) ................ ................

Spending from appropriated user fees:
Prescription drug user fees............................... 1,310,319 1,336,525 1,336,525 +26,206 ................
Medical device user fees.................................. 324,777 331,273 331,273 +6,496 ................
Human generic drug user fees.............................. 582,500 594,150 594,150 +11,650 ................
Biosimilar biological products user fees.................. 41,600 42,432 42,432 +832 ................
Animal drug user fees..................................... 32,144 33,500 33,500 +1,356 ................
Animal generic drug user fees............................. 29,303 25,000 25,000 -4,303 ................
Tobacco product user fees................................. 712,000 712,000 712,000 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, user fees (appropriated).................... 3,032,643 3,074,880 3,074,880 +42,237 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal (including appropriated user fees)........... 6,562,793 6,970,908 6,625,030 +62,237 -345,878

Mammography user fees..................................... 19,371 19,758 19,758 +387 ................
Export user fees.......................................... 5,083 5,185 5,185 +102 ................
Color certification user fees............................. 10,891 11,109 11,109 +218 ................
Food and Feed Recall user fees............................ 1,552 1,584 1,584 +32 ................
Food Reinspection fees.................................... 6,942 7,079 7,079 +137 ................
Voluntary qualified importer program fees................. 5,737 5,852 5,852 +115 ................
Pharmacy compounding fees................................. 1,646 1,679 1,679 +33 ................
Priority review vouchers (PRV) pediatric disease.......... 8,320 8,486 8,486 +166 ................
Priority review vouchers (PRV) tropical disease........... 2,660 2,713 2,713 +53 ................
Priority review vouchers (PRV) medical countermeasures.... 2,660 2,713 2,713 +53 ................
Third party auditor....................................... 771 787 787 +16 ................
Over-the-Counter Monograph fees........................... 30,356 31,800 31,800 +1,444 ................
Increased export certification fees (leg proposal)........ ................ 5,000 ................ ................ -5,000
Expand tobacco products fees (leg proposal)............... ................ 100,000 ................ ................ -100,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, spending from FDA user fees................. 3,128,632 3,278,625 3,173,625 +44,993 -105,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Salaries and expenses (including user fees).... 6,657,282 7,173,153 6,722,275 +64,993 -450,878
=========================================================================================
HHS Office of Inspector General (by transfer)................. (1,500) (1,500) (1,500) ................ ................
Buildings and facilities...................................... 12,788 18,788 12,788 ................ -6,000
FDA Innovation account, Cures Act............................. 50,000 50,000 50,000 ................ ................
Offset of appropriation pursuant to Section 1002 (b)(3)(B) of -50,000 -50,000 -50,000 ................ ................
the 21st Century Cures Act (PL 114-255)......................
Spending of FDA innovation account (transfer)................. (50,000) (50,000) (50,000) ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, FDA (w/user fees, including proposals)............. 6,671,570 7,193,441 6,736,563 +64,993 -456,878
=========================================================================================
Total, FDA (w/enacted user fees only)..................... 6,671,570 7,088,441 6,736,563 +64,993 -351,878
=========================================================================================
FDA user fees................................................. -3,128,632 -3,278,625 -3,173,625 -44,993 +105,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Food and Drug Administration (excluding user fees). 3,542,938 3,914,816 3,562,938 +20,000 -351,878
=========================================================================================

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

Farm Credit Administration (limitation on administrative (88,500) (94,300) (94,300) (+5,800) ................
expenses)....................................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title VI, Related Agencies and Food and Drug 3,542,938 3,914,816 3,562,938 +20,000 -351,878
Administration...........................................
=========================================================================================

TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Richard B Russell National School Lunch Act (Sec 732)......... ................ 12,000 ................ ................ -12,000
NIFA Military Veteran Grants.................................. 5,000 ................ 3,000 -2,000 +3,000
Rural Hospital Technical Assistance........................... 2,000 ................ ................ -2,000 ................
Protecting Animals with Shelter Grants........................ 3,000 ................ ................ -3,000 ................
International Agricultural Education Fellowship............... 1,000 ................ ................ -1,000 ................
Healthy Fluid Milk............................................ 4,000 ................ ................ -4,000 ................
Pollinator Research Coordinator............................... 400 ................ ................ -400 ................
Farm Opportunities Training and Outreach...................... 4,000 ................ ................ -4,000 ................
Water Bank program............................................ 4,000 ................ 2,000 -2,000 +2,000
Maturing mortgage pilot....................................... 2,000 ................ 2,000 ................ +2,000
WIC (rescission).............................................. -315,000 ................ ................ +315,000 ................
Mitigation banking............................................ 5,000 5,000 2,000 -3,000 -3,000
NOAA working group............................................ 500 ................ 500 ................ +500
Institute for Rural Partnership............................... 15,000 ................ 9,000 -6,000 +9,000
Bison Inspection Waiver....................................... ................ ................ 700 +700 +700
Bison Marketing Pilot......................................... ................ ................ 3,000 +3,000 +3,000
NAS Study..................................................... 1,300 ................ ................ -1,300 ................
Farm Loan balances (rescission)............................... -73,000 ................ ................ +73,000 ................
PFAS.......................................................... 5,000 ................ ................ -5,000 ................
Cotton Classing Office Upgrades............................... 4,000 ................ ................ -4,000 ................
RMA A&O....................................................... 25,000 ................ ................ -25,000 ................
Nonrecurring Expenses Fund (rescission)....................... -150,000 ................ ................ +150,000 ................
Summer EBT (rescission)....................................... -80,000 ................ ................ +80,000 ................
Institute of Child Nutrition.................................. ................ 2,000 ................ ................ -2,000
Broadband Treasury Rate Loan Program (rescission)............. ................ -9,156 -9,156 -9,156 ................
Maturing Mortgage Pilot Program (rescission).................. ................ -3,000 ................ ................ +3,000
Rural Cooperative Development Grants (rescission)............. ................ -8,000 -8,000 -8,000 ................
WFPO (rescission)............................................. ................ ................ -20,000 -20,000 -20,000
NIFA Research and Education (rescission)...................... ................ ................ -307,526 -307,526 -307,526
Housing Repair Loans and Grants (rescission).................. ................ ................ -30,000 -30,000 -30,000
Rural Housing Voucher (rescission)............................ ................ ................ -3,000 -3,000 -3,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title VII, General Provisions...................... -536,800 -1,156 -355,482 +181,318 -354,326
=========================================================================================

OTHER APPROPRIATIONS

THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT

(PL 117-58)

DIVISION J--APPROPRIATIONS

Appropriations available from prior year advances 5,000 ................ ................ -5,000 ................
(emergency)..............................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act............. 5,000 ................ ................ -5,000 ................
=========================================================================================
less prior year appropriations (emergency).................... -5,000 ................ ................ +5,000 ................

ADDITIONAL UKRAINE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022

(PL 117-128)

TITLE VI

General Provisions

Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Sec 601 (emergency)........... 2,000 ................ ................ -2,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2,000 ................ ................ -2,000 ................
2022.....................................................
=========================================================================================

ADDITIONAL UKRAINE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023

(PL 117-328)

DIVISION M

Foreign Agricultural Service

Food for Peace Title II Grants (emergency).................... 50,000 ................ ................ -50,000 ................
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child 5,000 ................ ................ -5,000 ................
Nutrition Program Grants (emergency).........................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 55,000 ................ ................ -55,000 ................
2023.....................................................
=========================================================================================

DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023

DIVISION N

Processing, Research and Marketing

Office of the Secretary

Office of the Secretary (emergency)........................... 3,741,715 ................ ................ -3,741,715 ................

Agricultural Research Service

Buildings and Facilities (emergency).......................... 58,000 ................ ................ -58,000 ................
Food Safety and Inspection Service (emergency)................ 29,700 ................ ................ -29,700 ................

Farm Production and Conservation Programs

Farm Service Agency

Emergency Forest Restoration Program (emergency).............. 27,000 ................ ................ -27,000 ................

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (emergency)......... 925,000 ................ ................ -925,000 ................

Rural Development Programs

Rural Housing Service

Rural Housing Assistance Grants (emergency)................... 60,000 ................ ................ -60,000 ................
Rural Community Facilities Program Account (emergency)........ 75,300 ................ ................ -75,300 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Rural Housing Service.............................. 135,300 ................ ................ -135,300 ................
=========================================================================================

Rural Utilities Service

Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account (emergency).... 325,000 ................ ................ -325,000 ................

General Provisions--This Title

Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Services (Sec 2102) 125,000 ................ ................ -125,000 ................
(emergency)..................................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 5,366,715 ................ ................ -5,366,715 ................
2023.....................................................
=========================================================================================
Total, Other Appropriations............................... 5,423,715 ................ ................ -5,423,715 ................
=========================================================================================
Grand total................................................... 247,390,665 237,568,394 207,458,404 -39,932,261 -30,109,990
=========================================================================================
Appropriations............................................ (245,713,582) (240,867,175) (211,009,711) (-34,703,871) (-29,857,464)
Emergency appropriations.................................. (5,423,715) ................ ................ (-5,423,715) ................
Emergency advance appropriations.......................... ................ ................ ................ ................ ................
Offsetting collections.................................... (-3,128,632) (-3,278,625) (-3,173,625) (-44,993) (+105,000)
Rescissions............................................... (-618,000) (-20,156) (-377,682) (+240,318) (-357,526)
(By transfer)................................................. (1,645,672) (1,677,308) (1,677,308) (+31,636) ................
(By transfer) (emergency)..................................... ................ ................ ................ ................ ................
(Transfer out)................................................ (-1,645,672) (-1,677,308) (-1,677,308) (-31,636) ................
(Loan authorization).......................................... (57,522,273) (55,559,096) (56,569,973) (-952,300) (+1,010,877)
(Limitation on administrative expenses)....................... (221,096) (226,896) (226,896) (+5,800) ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand total, excluding Other Appropriations................... 241,966,950 237,568,394 207,458,404 -34,508,546 -30,109,990
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