Food Research, Education, Safety, and Health Act of 1998

Summary: Food Research, Education, Safety, and Health Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to States for consumer education food safety programs.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary to:  (1) carry out consumer education initiatives on food irradiation, especially ground beef and poultry; and (2) study the cost and feasibility of fruit and vegetable irradiation, and of new irradiation technologies.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 5) Establishes a Food Safety Council which shall:  (1) establish priorities for Federal food safety and related illness prevention activities, including necessary Federal agency updates; and (2) report annually to the appropriate committees.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to make competitive grants to academic, governmental, and private entities for research to reduce the threat of food-borne pathogens.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects to reduce the threat of food-borne pathogens.  Obligates Department of Agriculture funds for such purpose. 
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detection of food-borne pathogens through equipment acquisition and new employment positions for scientists. 
Authorizes appropriations for National Institutes of Health research on treatment of food-borne illnesses. 
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to establish a Food Safety Research Information Office in the National Agricultural Library. 
(Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to conduct pathogen risk assessments with respect to food animals, fruits and vegetables, and home food safety practices. 
(Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations for the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to decrease imported food health risks through equipment acquisition and new employment positions for microbiologists and inspectors.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Food Research, Education, Safety, 
and Health Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Committee of jurisdiction.--The term ``committee of 
        jurisdiction'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (B) the Committee on Commerce of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (C) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and 
                Forestry of the Senate; and
                    (D) the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of 
                the Senate.
            (2) Food.--The term ``food'' means food intended for human 
        consumption.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United 
        States.

SEC. 3. CONSUMER EDUCATION FOOD SAFETY BLOCK GRANTS.

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary shall make grants to States to enable 
the States to carry out consumer education food safety programs.
    (b) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, a State 
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            (1) a description of the activities that the State will 
        carry out using funds received under this section;
            (2) a designation of an appropriate State agency to 
        administer the funds; and
            (3) a description of the steps to be taken to ensure that 
        the funds are used in accordance with subsection (e).
    (c) Amount of Grant.--
            (1) In general.--From the amounts available to carry out 
        this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to 
        each State an amount that bears the same proportion to the 
        amounts available as the population of the State bears to the 
        population of all of the States.
            (2) Determinations of population.--In determining 
        population figures for purposes of this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall use the latest available annual estimates 
        prepared by the Secretary of Commerce.
    (d) Payments.--
            (1) In general.--If the Secretary approves an application 
        submitted by a State under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
        make a payment to the State in an amount that is equal to its 
        allotment under subsection (c).
            (2) Form of payments.--The Secretary may make payments 
        under this section to a State in installments, and in advance 
        or by way of reimbursement, with necessary adjustments on 
        account of overpayments or underpayments, as the Secretary may 
        determine.
            (3) Reallotments.--If the Secretary determines that any 
        portion of the allotment of a State under subsection (c) will 
        not be used to carry out this section in accordance with an 
        approved State application under subsection (b), the Secretary 
        shall reallot to the other States in proportion to the original 
        allotments to the other States.
    (e) Use of Funds.--Funds received by a State under this section 
shall be used to carry out consumer education food safety programs 
under which education is provided to consumers and other persons on 
safe food practices at each step in the food chain (including 
agricultural production, handling, processing, distribution, and 
preparation of food in restaurants, grocery stores, and homes) using 
the mechanisms described in subsection (g).
    (f) Matching Funds.--As a condition of receipt of funds under this 
section, the Secretary may require a State to provide matching funds 
(at the option of the Secretary, in the form of direct funding or in-
kind support).
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 4. IRRADIATION OF FOODS.

    (a) In General.--In conjunction with the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 
and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Secretary 
shall carry out consumer education initiatives on the irradiation of 
foods, especially ground beef and poultry.
    (b) Study.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) conduct a study of the cost and feasibility of 
        irradiating fruits and vegetables and of new irradiation 
        technologies; and
            (2) report the results of the study to each of the 
        committees of jurisdiction.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 5. FOOD SAFETY COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Food Safety Council 
composed of 12 members, including--
            (1) the Secretary;
            (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
            (3) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs;
            (4) 3 members appointed by the President;
            (5) 3 members appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
        Senate; and
            (6) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the Council appointed under 
        paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of subsection (a) shall be appointed 
        for a term of not to exceed 3 years.
            (2) Vacancies.--An individual appointed to complete an 
        unexpired term of a member of the Council described in 
        paragraph (1) shall serve only for the remainder of the term.
    (c) Administration.--
            (1) Chairperson.--The Secretary shall serve as chairperson 
        of the Council.
            (2) Meetings.--
                    (A) In general.--The Council shall meet at least 
                twice a year at the call of the Chairperson.
                    (B) Public meetings.--A meeting of the Council 
                shall be open to the public.
                    (C) Quorum.--Five members of the Council shall 
                constitute a quorum.
    (d) Duties.--The Council shall--
            (1) evaluate, and establish priorities for, food safety 
        research and education, and food-related illness prevention 
        activities, conducted by the Federal Government;
            (2) direct that Federal agencies conduct any necessary 
        updates of science, technology, and public health activities 
        that relate to food safety; and
            (3) submit to the committees of jurisdiction an annual 
        report on actions taken to carry out this section, including 
        any recommendations for improvements in food safety.
    (e) Compensation; Expenses.--
            (1) Compensation of members.--
                    (A) Nonfederal members.--A member of the Council 
                who is not otherwise an officer or employee of the 
                Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal 
                to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
                prescribed for a position at level IV of the Executive 
                Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
                Code, for each day (including travel time) during which 
                the member is engaged in the performance of the duties 
                of the Council.
                    (B) Federal members.--A member of the Council who 
                is otherwise an officer or employee of the United 
                States shall serve without compensation in addition to 
                that received for services as an officer or employee of 
                the United States.
            (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Council shall be 
        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of 
        the member in the performance of service for the Council.
    (f) Funding.--From funds of the Department of Agriculture, the 
Secretary shall use to carry out this section not more than $100,000 
for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 6. COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS FOR REDUCING THREATS OF FOOD-BORNE 
              PATHOGENS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make competitive grants, for 
periods not to exceed 5 years, to colleges and universities, State 
agricultural experiment stations, other research institutions and 
organizations, Federal agencies, and private persons for research to 
reduce and control the health and other threats posed by deadly food-
borne pathogens.
    (b) Participation in Grant Process.--In seeking proposals for 
grants under this section and in performing peer review evaluations of 
the proposals, the Secretary shall seek the widest participation of 
qualified scientists in the Federal Government, colleges and 
universities, State agricultural experiment stations, and private 
persons.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Funds received under this section shall not be 
used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or 
construction of a building or facility.
    (d) Report.--Not later than December 1, 2001, the Secretary shall 
submit to the committees of jurisdiction a report on actions taken to 
carry out this section.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 7. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR REDUCING THREATS OF FOOD-BORNE 
              PATHOGENS.

    (a) Demonstration Projects.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
sufficient number of demonstration projects to--
            (1) determine the epidemiology and ecology of potential 
        food-borne pathogens; and
            (2) develop interventions.
    (b) Report.--Not later than December 1, 2001, the Secretary shall 
submit to the committees of jurisdiction a report on actions taken to 
carry out this section.
    (c) Funding.--From funds of the Department of Agriculture, the 
Secretary shall use to carry out this section not more than $100,000 
for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001.

SEC. 8. DETECTION AND MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS.

    (a) Detection.--There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001 to enable the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention to improve the detection of food-borne 
pathogens through--
            (1) the creation of new employment positions for 
        scientists; and
            (2) the acquisition of scientific equipment.
    (b) Medical Treatments.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2001 to enable the 
National Institutes of Health to conduct research concerning medical 
treatments for individuals infected with food-borne pathogens.

SEC. 9. FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Food Safety 
Research Information Office in the National Agricultural Library.
    (b) Duties.--In cooperation with the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the 
Director of the National Institutes of Health, and other providers of 
relevant information, the Food Safety Research Information Office shall 
provide the scientific community and other interested persons with 
information on public and private research initiatives on food safety.

SEC. 10. RISK ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) In General.--In cooperation with the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 
and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Secretary 
shall conduct--
            (1) a risk assessment for each species of animal that is 
        used to produce food in the United States, at each step in the 
        food chain (including agricultural production, handling, 
        processing, distribution, and preparation of food in 
        restaurants, grocery stores, and homes) to determine the risks 
        of pathogens posed by the species;
            (2) a risk assessment for each type of fruit and vegetable 
        that is intended for human consumption in the United States to 
        determine the risks of pathogens posed by the type; and
            (3) a risk assessment on food safety practices conducted in 
        homes to determine the risks of pathogens posed by the 
        practices.
    (b) Working Groups.--After the risk assessments required under 
subsection (a)(1) are completed, the Secretary shall, in cooperation 
with producer groups, establish species-specific working groups to 
address potential pathogens on farms.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to each of the committees of 
jurisdiction a report describing the results of the risk assessments 
required under this section.

SEC. 11. SAFETY AND HEALTH RISKS OF IMPORTED FOOD.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $10,340,000 for each of 
fiscal years 1999 through 2001 to enable the Commissioner of Food and 
Drugs to decrease the safety and health risks of imported food 
through--
            (1) the creation of new employment positions for 
        microbiologists and inspectors; and
            (2) the acquisition of scientific equipment.