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[House Report 113-468]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

113th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     113-468

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

 
   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2015

                                _______
                                

  June 4, 2014.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 4800]

    The Committee on Appropriations submits the following 
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for fiscal year 2015.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Title I--Agricultural Programs...................................     3
Title II--Conservation Programs..................................    34
Title III--Rural Development Programs............................    36
Title IV--Domestic Food Programs.................................    44
Title V--Foreign Assistance and Related Programs.................    52
Title VI--Related Agencies and Food and Drug Administration......    54
Title VII--General Provisions....................................    66

                                OVERVIEW

    The fiscal year 2015 discretionary spending in this bill 
totals $20,880,000,000, which is at the same level as the 
fiscal year 2014 enacted level and an increase of $457,226,000 
above the budget request. While the total discretionary funding 
provided in the bill appears significantly higher than the 
President's budget request, the budget request included several 
untenable and unsupported proposals to reduce spending knowing 
that the reductions would not be accepted by most Members of 
Congress on a bipartisan basis.
    The funding levels provided in this appropriations bill 
continue to demonstrate how seriously this Committee takes its 
responsibility to fund the highest priority programs and 
activities while controlling spending to help address the 
Nation's debt, deficit, and economic challenges.

                         Oversight and Hearings

    Consistent with the Committee on Appropriations Oversight 
Plan, as approved and transmitted to the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform and the Committee on House Administration 
in January 2013, the Subcommittee began the fiscal year 2015 
process committed to maintaining the Committee's focus on 
comprehensive oversight of Federal discretionary spending under 
the Subcommittee's jurisdiction. In order to thoroughly review 
the President's budget request for fiscal year 2015 and examine 
how funds appropriated in previous years had been managed, the 
Subcommittee held 10 hearings for the mission areas, agencies, 
and programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission (CFTC). The hearings included:
        USDA Inspector General--March 5, 2014
        Commodity Futures Trading Commission--March 6, 2014
        Secretary of Agriculture--March 14, 2014
        USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services--March 25, 
        2014
        USDA Research, Education, and Economics--March 26, 2014
        Food and Drug Administration--March 27, 2014
        USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs--April 2, 2014
        USDA Food Safety--April 3, 2014
        USDA Rural Development--April 4, 2014
        USDA Field Agencies--April 8, 2014
    As stewards of the taxpayer's dollar, the Subcommittee is 
responsible for ensuring the funds under its jurisdiction are 
wisely invested and properly used. As such, the Subcommittee 
established three objectives to guide its hearings, oversight 
activities, and the development of its bill and report 
recommendations for fiscal year 2015. These objectives include 
robust oversight, ensuring the appropriate level of regulation 
to protect producers and the public, and ensuring funding is 
targeted to vital programs.
    Through its oversight activities, the Subcommittee can help 
identify and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse. It is joined in 
this effort by USDA's Inspector General. During the hearing 
with the Inspector General, the Subcommittee focused on USDA 
information technology systems, fraud in the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and how well USDA's 
agencies are managing their programs.
    The Subcommittee continued its discussion on SNAP and the 
other nutrition programs when it heard from USDA's Food, 
Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area. When it convened 
to review CFTC's budget request, the Subcommittee continued to 
promote sound investment in information technology and program 
management. The Subcommittee made clear that it does not 
tolerate fraud or abuse in any program, knowing that fraud 
undermines support for all programs.
    The second objective of ensuring the appropriate level of 
regulation to protect producers and the public was the focus of 
the hearings with the Secretary of Agriculture, the 
Commissioner of FDA, and USDA's Food Safety mission area. The 
Subcommittee was particularly interested in USDA's plans to 
implement the recently enacted 2014 farm bill and how FDA is 
implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). FDA's 
decisions regarding prescription drug approvals also received 
scrutiny, as well as the Food Safety and Inspection Service's 
plans for using modern science and improving public health.
    The Subcommittee also discussed implementation of the 2014 
farm bill during its hearing with USDA's field agencies, 
including the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, 
Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service.
    The third objective is to ensure funding is targeted to 
vital programs. Because the Subcommittee knows that it cannot 
fulfill all requests for funding, it focuses on those that are 
most effective and broadly supported and those that address 
imminent threats, such as citrus greening and the virulent 
viruses affecting the swine industry. In particular, 
agriculture's priority programs and needs were covered in the 
hearings on USDA's marketing, regulatory, research, and rural 
development programs.
    The Subcommittee will monitor the issues identified and 
discussed at the hearings, as well as others relevant to the 
management of USDA, FDA, CFTC, and the Farm Credit 
Administration and will maintain its oversight efforts 
throughout the 113th Congress to ensure taxpayer dollars are 
wisely and prudently used on behalf of the American people.

                                TITLE I

                         AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

                 Production, Processing, and Marketing

                        Office of the Secretary

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................       $43,778,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        46,816,000
Provided in the bill..................................        41,284,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -2,494,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -5,532,000

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

                         OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Committee
                                          FY 2014    FY 2015
                                          enacted    estimate  provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Secretary................     $5,051     $5,086     $5,051
Office of Tribal Relations.............        498        502        498
Office of Homeland Security and              1,496      1,507      1,507
 Emergency Coordination................
Office of Advocacy and Outreach........      1,209      1,217      1,209
Office of the Assistant Secretary for          804        809        804
 Administration........................
Departmental Administration............     22,786     25,661     22,811
Office of the Assistant Secretary for        3,869      3,897      3,869
 Congressional Relations...............
Office of Communications...............      8,065      8,137      5,535
                                        --------------------------------
      Total............................    $43,778    $46,816    $41,284
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Secretary, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $41,284,000. The Committee recommendation 
includes the following offices under the Office of the 
Secretary: Office of the Secretary; Office of Tribal Relations; 
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination; Office 
of Advocacy and Outreach; Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Administration; Departmental Administration; Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations; and Office of 
Communications.
    Pay Cost.--The Committee does not include requested funding 
for a civilian pay increase across the Department.
    Improper Payments.--The Office of the Inspector General 
recently reported that USDA's agencies and offices have made 
progress toward improving their processes to identify, report, 
and reduce improper payments. However, USDA estimated it made 
$6,200,000,000 in improper payments in fiscal year 2013. The 
Committee finds this unacceptable and strongly encourages the 
Secretary to make a concerted effort to significantly reduce 
USDA's improper payments in fiscal year 2015.
    CCC Report.--The Committee directs the Secretary to provide 
a report on November 15, 2014, and May 16, 2015, on planned 
uses of funding under the authorities of Section 4 and Section 
11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act.
    Notification.--Within 30 days from the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall notify the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations on the allocation of the funds provided to 
the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations by USDA 
agency, along with an explanation for the agency-by-agency 
distribution of the funds.
    State Office Collocation.--The Committee continues to 
direct that any reallocation of resources related to the 
collocation of state offices scheduled for fiscal year 2015 and 
subsequent years is subject to the Committee's reprogramming 
procedures required under law.
    Administrative Provision.--The Committee directs the 
Secretary to advise the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress, through the Office of Budget and Program 
Analysis, of the status of all reports requested of the 
Department in this bill at the time of submission of the fiscal 
year 2016 budget and monthly thereafter. The Committee reminds 
the Secretary that all correspondence related to the directives 
in this bill must be addressed to the Committee on 
Appropriations.
    Loan and Grant Programs.--The Committee directs the 
Department, through the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, 
to provide quarterly reports to the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
on the status of obligations and funds availability for the 
loan and grant programs provided in this bill.
    The Committee further directs that if an estimate of loan 
activity for any program funded in Titles I and III of this 
bill indicates that a limitation on authority to make 
commitments for a fiscal year will be reached before the end of 
that fiscal year, or in any event whenever 75 percent of the 
authority to make commitments has been utilized, the Secretary 
shall promptly notify the Committees in writing, through the 
Office of Budget and Program Analysis.
    Need for Better Communication from USDA.--As part of the 
Committee's oversight responsibilities, the Members of the 
Committee must be informed of the activities, pending and 
proposed actions, and expenditures made by USDA and its 
respective agencies so that Congress can determine whether laws 
and programs are being implemented and carried out in 
accordance with the intent of Congress. The Committee should 
not have to require reports and briefings to receive 
information and data pertinent to its jurisdiction. In addition 
to the reporting and approval requirements stated in this 
report and accompanying bill, the Department is advised to 
increase both the timing and frequency of communication on 
major policy and spending activities so that Congress may 
conduct its oversight responsibilities as expected by U.S. 
taxpayers.
    GSA Rent and DHS Security Expenses.--In accordance with the 
Committee's statement in H. Rpt. 113-116, as well as the shift 
of expenses within the fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, the 
funding levels in this bill reflect the estimated costs 
included in the budget request so that agencies will now begin 
to manage and pay their own respective rent and security 
expenses. The Committee reiterates its continued concern for 
the increasing costs of rent and related operations, especially 
at a time when staffing levels are decreasing and such costs 
limit an agency's ability to apply limited resources to the 
highest priorities and core responsibilities. Any future 
requests for increases to rent and security costs will need to 
be accompanied by detailed justifications.
    Emerging Livestock Diseases.--The Committee is concerned 
about the growing incidence of the porcine epidemic diarrhea 
virus and swine delta coronavirus and strongly encourages USDA 
to utilize its research, extension, and animal health resources 
in partnership with pork producers, related industries, and 
land-grant universities to quickly develop and deploy effective 
control and management tools.
    Food Safety Collaboration at USDA.--The Committee is 
pleased with USDA's recent announcement in May 2014 of a 
collaborative effort between the Food Safety and Inspection 
Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to 
provide a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to 
address foodborne health hazards potentially associated with 
meat and poultry products. The collaborative effort represents 
progress towards improving communications and sharing of 
information between the agencies to uncover root causes of 
foodborne illnesses and the practices that can mitigate food 
safety issues. The Committee commends USDA for taking such 
actions and directs USDA to keep the Committee apprised of the 
results of the collaborative efforts in addressing food safety.
    Design-Build.--The Committee encourages the Department to 
use the design-build method of project delivery when 
appropriate.
    Invasive Species.--The Committee recognizes the threats 
posed by invasive plant species and the need to protect, 
restore, and enhance native plants, including those that are 
endangered or threatened. The Committee encourages the 
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service (NRCS), and the National Institute of Food 
and Agriculture (NIFA) to support the research, education, and 
conservation of native plants.
    Flexibility in Loan and Loan Guarantee Levels.--The bill 
includes language to exceed by up to 25 percent the limitation 
on loan and loan guarantee levels without budget authority upon 
written notification to the Committees on Appropriations of 
both Houses of Congress.
    Scientific Integrity.--Pursuant to the President's 2009 
memorandum and as directed by the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, USDA adopted a scientific integrity policy 
in 2011. It appears to conform to the President's directive by 
requiring the use of information based upon well-established 
scientific processes, including peer review where appropriate, 
making the Department's scientific findings and conclusions 
publicly available, and ensuring a mechanism is in place to 
resolve disputes regarding scientific processes or the 
integrity of scientific information. The Committee directs the 
Secretary to ensure all USDA agencies are complying with the 
policy and using it as a requirement in their policy and 
regulatory decisions.

                          Executive Operations

                     OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST

2014 appropriation....................................       $16,777,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        16,854,000
Provided in the bill..................................        16,777,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................           -77,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Chief Economist, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $16,777,000.
    Drought Resilience.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of understanding and being prepared for drought and 
encourages the Office of the Chief Economist to continue to 
work with partners on drought-related issues.
    Policy Research.--The Committee includes $4,000,000 for 
policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155 for entities with existing 
institutional capacity, including staff, databases, models, and 
long-term, well-documented experience, to conduct complex 
economic and baseline analysis for the benefit of USDA, the 
Congressional Budget Office, and the Congress.

                       NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION

2014 appropriation....................................       $12,841,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        13,430,000
Provided in the bill..................................        13,317,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          +476,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -113,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the National Appeals Division, the Committee provides 
an appropriation of $13,317,000.

                 OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS

2014 appropriation....................................        $9,064,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        10,292,000
Provided in the bill..................................         9,392,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          +328,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -900,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $9,392,000.

                Office of the Chief Information Officer

2014 appropriation....................................       $44,031,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        45,199,000
Provided in the bill..................................        45,025,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          +994,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -174,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $45,025,000. This 
includes $22,000,000 for cybersecurity activities.
    IT Purchase Approvals.--Recognizing that some agencies 
require more oversight and monitoring than others, the 
Committee provides the Office of the Chief Information Officer 
flexibility to set thresholds for approval of agency IT 
expenditures. As such, the Committee directs the Chief 
Information Officer to develop a plan that reflects the unique 
situation of each agency while allowing the Office of the Chief 
Information Officer to continue to exercise prudent judgment 
and provide expert advice regarding the expenditure of taxpayer 
resources on IT investments. The Committee expects the plan 
will be updated as needed, but not less than every two years, 
and directs the office to submit the plan to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress for review prior to 
implementation.

                 Office of the Chief Financial Officer

2014 appropriation....................................        $6,213,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         6,080,000
Provided in the bill..................................         6,028,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          -185,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................           -52,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $6,028,000.
    Assessments.--The Committee remains concerned that the 
assessments the Department charges its agencies for government- 
and department-wide activities continue to escalate. Since 
these assessments are borne by the agencies, and Congress did 
not specifically provide increases to the agencies for these 
costs, most of the funding for the increase has come at the 
expense of programs. The Committee continues to direct the 
Office of the Chief Financial Officer to scrutinize the need 
for each activity, to consider its benefit to the mission of 
each agency, and to limit spending wherever possible, 
especially in regards to assessments for the creative media and 
broadcast center; promotional, voluntary activities; and 
activities not specifically authorized by Congress.

           Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

2014 appropriation....................................          $893,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           898,000
Provided in the bill..................................           898,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 
the Committee provides an appropriation of $898,000.

                         Office of Civil Rights

2014 appropriation....................................       $21,400,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        24,236,000
Provided in the bill..................................        24,070,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +2,670,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -166,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Civil Rights, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $24,070,000.

                  Agriculture Buildings and Facilities

2014 appropriation.............................             $233,000,000
2015 budget estimate...........................               64,825,000
\1\Provided in the bill........................               54,825,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation.........................             -178,175,000
    2015 budget estimate.......................              -10,000,000

\1\Funding for Rental Payments and Building Security is funded from
  Agency accounts in FY 2015.

    For Agriculture Buildings and Facilities, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $54,825,000.
    Report on Headquarters Modernization.--The Committee 
directs the Department within 60 days of enactment of this Act 
to provide a comprehensive report on headquarters modernization 
efforts, beginning with the initial plan developed in 1995 and 
continuing through project completion. The report should 
include amounts appropriated and obligated by fiscal year and 
estimates for future fiscal years. Each fiscal year should 
include a percentage showing completion of the projects and 
projected completion for future years by building and phase. 
The report should include a narrative describing challenges 
faced in completing the project and variations from estimated 
costs.
    The following table represents the Committee's specific 
recommendations for this account:

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     2014    2015 budget     Committee
                                   enacted     request      provisions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rental Payments.................   $164,470        - - -           - - -
Department of Homeland Security.
Building Security...............     13,800        - - -           - - -
Building Operations.............     54,730      $64,825         $54,825
                                 ---------------------------------------
    Total.......................   $233,000      $64,825         $54,825
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     Hazardous Materials Management

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................        $3,592,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         3,600,000
Provided in the bill..................................         3,600,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +8,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Hazardous Materials Management, the Committee provides 
an appropriation of $3,600,000.

                      Office of Inspector General

2014 appropriation....................................       $89,902,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        97,240,000
Provided in the bill..................................        97,020,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +7,118,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -220,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $97,020,000. This includes 
requested funding to support the Council of the Inspectors 
General on Integrity and Efficiency.
    Anti-Fraud Efforts.--The Committee appreciates OIG's 
continued efforts to raise public awareness of successful 
Federal investigations of fraud. Such efforts are intended to 
deter participants from engaging in the misuse of taxpayer 
dollars and to maintain a high level of integrity in all of 
USDA's programs. The Committee encourages OIG to continue its 
efforts to work with all of USDA's agencies to deter fraud, 
waste, and abuse in the Department's programs.

                     Office of the General Counsel

2014 appropriation....................................       $41,202,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        47,567,000
Provided in the bill..................................        44,383,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +3,181,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -3,184,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the General Counsel, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $44,383,000.

                            Office of Ethics

2014 appropriation....................................        $3,440,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         3,867,000
Provided in the bill..................................         3,440,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -427,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of Ethics, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $3,440,000.

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

2014 appropriation....................................          $893,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           898,000
Provided in the bill..................................           898,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, 
Education, and Economics, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $898,000.
    Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.--The Committee appreciates the 
continuing work of ARS and NIFA regarding the Brown Marmorated 
Stink Bug. This pest is causing significant damage to 
agricultural crops, particularly the apple crop in the mid-
Atlantic States, and has spread to more than 41 States and the 
District of Columbia. The Committee encourages ARS and NIFA to 
work collaboratively with APHIS and state partners to identify 
and implement appropriate controls.
    Emerging Livestock Diseases.--The Committee is concerned 
about the growing incidence of the porcine epidemic diarrhea 
virus and swine delta coronavirus and their potential effect on 
pork producers and consumers. The Committee strongly encourages 
USDA to more effectively utilize the resources of its in-house 
research capabilities and to work with other USDA agencies, 
land-grant universities, and other research partners as well as 
pork producers and related industries to quickly develop, 
approve, and disseminate effective control and management 
tools.
    Lyme Disease Research.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of the ongoing research efforts of ARS and NIFA 
regarding tick-borne illnesses. As the agency continues to 
build upon its research efforts to protect humans and livestock 
from tick-borne illnesses, the Committee encourages ARS, in 
conjunction with other agencies, to maintain its efforts and 
consider both the human and economic impacts of Lyme disease on 
communities in the United States.
    Office of Pest Management Policy.--The Committee commends 
the Office of Pest Management Policy for its work providing the 
Department, other Federal agencies, producers, and other 
interested stakeholders scientifically sound analysis of pest 
management issues important to agriculture, especially methyl 
bromide transition, pesticide resistance management, and the 
development of antimicrobials to combat citrus greening. The 
Committee encourages the Under Secretary to better utilize this 
office and directs ARS to continue to support its vital work.
    Pollinators and Colony Health Research.--The Committee 
recognizes that Colony Collapse Disorder and related colony 
health issues are a significant concern to beekeepers, honey 
producers, farmers, researchers, policymakers, and the public 
and appreciates USDA's logical, scientifically based approach 
to studying these issues and supports its proposed research 
plans for fiscal year 2015. The Committee directs the 
Department to continue to focus on the challenges facing 
pollinators.
    Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.--The 
Committee is concerned about the Foundation for Food and 
Agriculture Research created by the 2014 farm bill and reports 
that the Department intends to obligate $200,000,000 in 
mandatory funds to the Foundation by the end of the fiscal year 
but before the Foundation has been established and any matching 
funds have been received as required by law. The Committee 
directs USDA not to expend any funds except those related to 
the appointment of members of the board and the preparation of 
by-laws, conflict of interest policies, and standards of 
conduct until the Committee receives and approves these 
documents. The Committee directs USDA to report to it no later 
than January 1, 2015.

                       Economic Research Service

2014 appropriation....................................       $78,058,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        83,446,000
Provided in the bill..................................        85,784,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +7,726,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        +2,338,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Economic Research Service, the Committee provides 
an appropriation of $85,784,000.

                National Agricultural Statistics Service

2014 appropriation....................................      $161,206,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       178,999,000
Provided in the bill..................................       169,371,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +8,165,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -9,628,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $169,371,000, of which 
$47,842,000 is for the Census of Agriculture.
    The Committee provides $2,000,000 as requested to expand 
beekeeper surveys.

                     Agricultural Research Service

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2014 appropriation....................................    $1,122,482,000
2015 budget estimate..................................     1,104,403,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,120,253,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -2,229,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +15,850,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Salaries and Expenses of the Agricultural Research 
Service, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$1,120,253,000.
    The Committee does not concur with the agency's proposed 
closures and redirections of research programs and provides 
sufficient funding for ARS to maintain existing investments.
    Aerial Application Research.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of the ARS Aerial Application Technology Program. 
The program conducts innovative research making aerial 
applications more efficient, effective, and precise. Research 
for aerial application serves the public good as a vital tool 
for the future, as agriculture strives to meet the food, fiber, 
and bio-energy demands of a growing population.
    Alfalfa Research.--The Committee supports research into 
alfalfa seed and forage systems which hold the potential to 
increase yields and milk production and improve genetics.
    Aquatic Animal Health.--The Committee supports ARS's work 
with land-grant universities and other Federal partners to 
develop solutions to aquatic animal pathogens in the marine, 
freshwater, and aquaculture environments and encourages the 
agency to continue its efforts in this area.
    Cheat Grass Eradication.--The Committee encourages ARS to 
continue research on cheat grass eradication, control, and the 
reduction of fuel loads, including late-season grazing 
techniques, and to work with the NRCS on this effort.
    Citrus Greening Disease Research.--The Committee commends 
ARS's 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 Multi-Agency 
Coordination group.
    Coffee Plant Health.--The Committee appreciates ARS's work 
to address existing and emerging challenges to coffee 
production in the United States and commends the agency's work 
through its Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center with the 
University of Hawaii and coffee grower groups. The Committee 
encourages ARS and its partners to maintain support for coffee 
plant health research and requests a report on ARS's current 
and planned activities on this issue within 90 days of 
enactment of this Act.
    Domestic and Bighorn Sheep.--The Committee recognizes the 
challenges caused by infectious disease problems arising from 
wildlife-domestic animal agriculture interactions, particularly 
between domestic sheep and wild bighorn sheep. The Committee 
encourages ARS to work to determine the role of domestic sheep 
in causing die-offs of bighorn sheep from respiratory disease 
and develop methods to reduce transmission and enhance 
immunity.
    Emerging Cereal Rust Diseases.--The Committee continues to 
be concerned about emerging cereal rust diseases, particularly 
Ug99, and the threat they pose to domestic and world food 
supplies. The Committee encourages ARS to continue its work on 
these diseases, including the development of Ug99-resistant 
wheat varieties.
    Food Pathogen Detection.--The Committee notes the advances 
in the detection of dangerous pathogens in the food supply and 
encourages ARS to continue research to increase the efficiency 
and cost-effectiveness of new technologies.
    Forest Products Research.--The forest products sector is an 
important part of the U.S. economy. The Committee supports 
research on wood quality, forest product evaluation standards 
and valuation techniques, and ARS's continuing work with the 
Forest Products Laboratory.
    FOV Race 4 Cotton Research.--The Committee recognizes the 
serious threat that fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum 
(FOV), particularly the strain FOV Race 4, poses to the U.S. 
cotton industry. The Committee encourages ARS to continue 
research efforts to combat FOV Race 4 and to work with industry 
and other partners to develop effective control measures to 
eradicate this disease and prevent its spread nationwide.
    Horticultural Research and Education.--The Committee 
recognizes the importance of the U.S. National Arboretum and 
its role as a center of discovery and education, as well as a 
destination for more than half a million visitors every year. 
The Committee encourages the agency to continue to support the 
Arboretum.
    Human Nutrition Research.--There is strong evidence that 
nutrition plays a vital role in how a person ages, particularly 
its significance for preventative health care and degenerative 
and age-related disease. Research is needed to address the 
needs of the rapidly growing number of older Americans. The 
Committee encourages ARS to continue research relating to the 
effect of nutrition on aging.
    Lower Mississippi River Basin.--The Committee recognizes 
the groundwater problems in the Lower Mississippi River Basin 
and encourages ARS to continue research to quantify how 
appropriate use of conservation practices and technology affect 
water quantity.
    National Agricultural Library.--The Committee requests that 
ARS maintain a focus on agriculture-related legal issues within 
the National Agricultural Library. The Committee recognizes 
agriculture-related legal issues are being litigated on an 
increasingly frequent basis, the complexity and scope of these 
legal issues continues to broaden, and that the National 
Agricultural Library plays an important role in assisting all 
stakeholders with understanding these issues.
    Porcine Virus Research.--The Committee is aware of ongoing 
research to identify mechanisms of viral pathogenesis, 
transmission, and immunity to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus 
(PEDv) and provides $1,000,000 to strengthen efforts to 
identify the genetic virulence factors of PEDv, identify a 
protective immune response including transmission of maternal 
antibodies through the milk, and evaluate new vaccine platforms 
for the development of improved PEDv vaccines.
    Pulse Health Initiative.--The Committee is aware of the 
need to investigate the ability of pulse crops, such as dry 
beans, dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas, to provide solutions 
to critical health issues and to improve the sustainability of 
crop rotations by improving the nitrogen-fixing abilities of 
pulse crops. The Committee encourages ARS to continue its work 
on these important issues.
    Research on Sediments.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of finding solutions to the problems associated with 
soil erosion, including erosion and sedimentation in stream 
channels and the loss of nutrients and agricultural chemicals 
from farm fields.
    Sclerotinia Initiative.--The Committee is aware of the 
importance of controlling Sclerotinia in sunflowers, soybeans, 
canola, edible beans, peanuts, peas, lentils, and chickpeas and 
encourages ARS to continue its support of this initiative.
    Wild Rice Research.--Wild rice is the only cereal grain 
native to North America, but it is still in its infancy as a 
domesticated crop. Wild germplasm and previously developed 
varieties have been lost. The Committee urges ARS to consider 
molecular characterization of wild rice to prevent future 
losses and maximize the potential for this crop.
    Cooperative Agreements.--The Committee encourages ARS to 
work with university partners to ensure long-term maintenance 
and infrastructure needs can be addressed within current permit 
and lease arrangements.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

2014 appropriation....................................             - - -
2015 budget estimate..................................      $155,000,000
Provided in the bill:.................................       155,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................      +155,000,000
    2015 estimate.....................................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For ARS Buildings and Facilities, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $155,000,000 for priorities identified in the 
USDA Agricultural Research Service Capital Investment Strategy, 
April 2012.

               National Institute of Food and Agriculture

                   RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

2014 appropriation....................................      $772,559,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       837,747,000
Provided in the bill..................................       774,465,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +1,906,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       -63,282,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Research and Education Activities, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $774,465,000.
    Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards.--The Committee 
continues to direct that not less than 10 percent of the 
competitive research grant funds be used for USDA's agriculture 
research enhancement awards program, including USDA-EPSCoR, in 
accordance with 7 U.S.C. 450i.
    Biomass and Water Quality Research at 1890 Institutions.--
The Committee encourages NIFA to support funding to explore new 
technologies for the development of renewable power and fuels 
from biomass and agricultural residues and to develop new 
approaches to water quality.
    Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2016.--The Committee 
appreciates NIFA's efforts to provide additional information in 
its budget requests over the past two years. For the fiscal 
year 2016 budget request, the Committee is particularly 
interested in the request for the Agriculture and Food Research 
Initiative and requests that the agency provide greater detail 
on the levels proposed to be allocated to and the expected 
publication date, scope, and allocation level for each request 
for awards to be published under each priority area specified 
in section 2(b)(2) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(2)).
    Citrus Disease Research Program.--The 2014 farm bill 
established the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension 
Program, which is intended to discover and develop tools for 
early detection, control, and eradication of diseases and pests 
that threaten domestic citrus production and processing, and 
provided $25,000,000 per year in mandatory funding for the 
program through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. The 
Committee believes research projects funded under this 
authority should be prioritized based on the critical threat of 
citrus greening and encourages NIFA, to the maximum extent 
practicable, to follow the recommendations of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Advisory 
Board's citrus disease subcommittee and to collaborate with the 
Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination group.
    Classical Plant Breeding.--The Committee is aware of the 
need for classical plant breeding and encourages NIFA to invest 
in research to improve genetic resources and cultivars for the 
benefit of U.S. producers, seed companies, processors, and 
consumers. This research should focus on breeding improved 
germplasm and varieties with higher yields, improved disease 
and pest resistance, and resilience to weather extremes. 
Additionally, methods and tools should be developed to enable 
classical breeders to choose better breeding parents and speed 
up variety development.
    Industrial Hemp Research.--The Committee encourages NIFA to 
work with the eligible research institutions and state 
departments of agriculture, as authorized by Sec. 7606 of P.L. 
113-79, to conduct research on industrial hemp.
    Livestock and Poultry Waste Research.--The Committee 
recognizes the benefits of improved methods of managing animal 
waste in livestock and poultry production and encourages NIFA 
to support research and development of innovative technologies, 
particularly those that are operationally and economically 
feasible and have a high probability of widespread 
implementation.
    Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.--
The Committee encourages NIFA to continue to support 
biotechnology by promoting research at the land-grant colleges 
and universities, including the Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, and directs NIFA to encourage partnerships among 
universities and industry.
    Zoonotic Disease Research.--The eradication of zoonotic 
livestock diseases has been a priority of Federal and state 
animal health officials, as was reflected in the Agricultural 
Act of 2014. The Committee recognizes the need for this 
research and encourages NIFA to support the development of 
improved management tools for zoonotic livestock diseases that 
have significant wildlife reservoirs.
    The following table reflects the amount provided by the 
Committee:

                                        RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Committee
               Program/Activity                          Authorization              2014       2015
                                                                                  enacted    estimate  provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hatch Act....................................  7 U.S.C. 361a-i.................   $243,701   $243,701   $243,701
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act....  16 U.S.C. 582a through a-7......     33,961     33,961     33,961
Research at 1890 Institutions (Evans-Allen     7 U.S.C. 3222...................     52,485     52,485     52,485
 Program).
Payments to the 1994 Institutions............  534(a)(1) of P.L. 103-382.......      3,439      3,439      3,439
Education Grants for 1890 Institutions.......  7 U.S.C. 3152(b)................     19,336     19,336     19,336
Education Grants for Hispanic-Serving          7 U.S.C. 3241...................      9,219      9,219      9,219
 Institutions.
Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native  7 U.S.C. 3156...................      3,194      3,194      3,194
 Hawaiian-Serving Institutions.
Research Grants for 1994 Institutions........  7 U.S.C. 301 note...............      1,801      1,801      1,801
Capacity Building for Non Land-Grant Colleges  7 U.S.C. 3319i..................      4,500      - - -      - - -
 of Agriculture.
Grants for Insular Areas.....................  7 U.S.C. 3222b-2, 3363 and 3362       1,800      1,800      2,000
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.....  7 U.S.C. 450i(b)................    316,409    325,000    325,000
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment...........  7 U.S.C. 3151a..................      4,790      4,790      5,000
Food and Agriculture Resiliency Program for    7 U.S.C. 2662(e)................      - - -      2,500      - - -
 Military Veterans.
Continuing Animal Health and Disease Research  7 U.S.C. 3195...................      4,000      - - -      5,000
 Program.
Supplemental and Alternative Crops...........  7 U.S.C. 3319d..................        825      - - -      - - -
Critical Agricultural Materials Act..........  7 U.S.C. 178 et seq.............      1,081      - - -      - - -
Multicultural Scholars, Graduate Fellowship    7 U.S.C. 3152(b)................      9,000      - - -      9,000
 and Institution Challenge Grants.
Secondary and 2-year Post-Secondary Education  7 U.S.C. 3152(j)................        900      - - -        900
Aquaculture Centers..........................  7 U.S.C. 3322...................      4,000      4,000      4,000
Sustainable Agriculture Research and           7 U.S.C. 5811, 5812, 5831, and       22,667     22,667     22,667
 Education.                                     5832
Farm Business Management.....................  7 U.S.C. 5925f..................      1,450      - - -      - - -
Sun Grant Program............................  7 U.S.C. 8114...................      2,500      - - -      - - -
Alfalfa and Forage Research Program..........  7 U.S.C. 5925...................      1,350      - - -      - - -
Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4)............  7 U.S.C. 450i(c)................     11,913     11,913     11,913
Special Research Grants:                       7 U.S.C. 450i(c)
    Global Change/UV Monitoring..............  ................................      1,405      1,405      1,405
    Potato Research..........................  ................................      1,350      - - -      - - -
    Forest Products Research.................  ................................      1,350      - - -      - - -
                                                                                --------------------------------
      Total, Special Research Grants.........  ................................      4,105      1,405      1,405
Innovation Institutes........................  ................................      - - -     75,000      - - -
Necessary Expenses of Research and Education
 Activities:
    Grants Management Systems................  ................................      7,830      9,830      7,830
    Federal Administration--Other Necessary    ................................      6,303      5,746      6,303
     Expenses.
    GSA Rent and DHS Security Expenses.......  ................................      - - -      5,960      6,311
                                                                                --------------------------------
      Total, Necessary Expenses..............  ................................     14,133     21,536     20,444
                                                                                ================================
          Total, Research and Education        ................................   $772,559   $837,747   $774,465
           Activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS ENDOWMENT FUND

2014 appropriation....................................     ($11,880,000)
2015 budget estimate..................................      (11,880,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (11,880,000)
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund, the 
Committee provides $11,880,000.
    The Committee notes that the endowment fund has a cost of 
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.

                          EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

2014 appropriation....................................      $469,191,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       468,968,000
Provided in the bill..................................       467,339,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -1,852,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -1,629,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Extension Activities, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $467,339,000.
    The following table reflects the amount provided by the 
Committee:

                                              EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Committee
               Program/Activity                          Authorization            FY 2014    FY 2015
                                                                                  enacted    estimate  provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(b) and (c)          7 U.S.C. 343(b) and (c) and        $300,000   $300,000   $300,000
 programs and Cooperative Extension.            208(c) of P.L. 93-471
Extension Services at 1890 Institutions......  7 U.S.C. 3221...................     43,920     43,920     43,920
Extension Services at 1994 Institutions......  7 U.S.C. 343(b)(3)..............      4,446      4,446      4,446
Facility Improvements at 1890 Institutions...  7 U.S.C. 3222b..................     19,730     19,730     19,730
Renewable Resources Extension Act............  16 U.S.C. 1671 et seq...........      4,060      4,060      4,060
Rural Health and Safety Education Programs...  7 U.S.C. 2662(i)................      1,500      - - -      - - -
Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database         7 U.S.C. 7642...................      1,250      - - -      1,250
 Program.
Women and Minorities in STEM Fields..........  7 U.S.C. 5925...................        400      - - -        400
Food Safety Outreach Program.................  7 U.S.C. 7625...................      - - -      2,500      2,500
Smith-Lever Act, Section 3(d):                 7 U.S.C. 343(d)
    Food and Nutrition Education.............  ................................     67,934     67,934     67,934
    Farm Safety and Youth Farm Safety          ................................      4,610      4,610      4,610
     Education Programs.
    New Technologies for Agricultural          ................................      1,550      1,750      1,750
     Extension.
    Children, Youth, and Families at Risk....  ................................      8,395      8,395      8,395
    Federally Recognized Tribes Extension      ................................      3,039      3,039      3,039
     Program.
                                                                                --------------------------------
        Total, Section 3(d)..................  ................................     85,528     85,728     85,728
Necessary Expenses of Extension Activities:
    Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom........  ................................        552      - - -      - - -
    Federal Administration--Other Necessary    ................................      7,805      8,584      5,305
     Expenses for Extension Activities.
                                                                                --------------------------------
      Total, Necessary Expenses..............  ................................      8,357      8,584      5,305
                                                                                ================================
        Total, Extension Activities..........  ................................   $469,191   $468,968   $467,339
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES

2014 appropriation....................................       $35,317,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        28,821,000
Provided in the bill..................................        32,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -3,317,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        +3,179,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Integrated Activities, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $32,000,000. The following table reflects the 
amount provided by the Committee.

                                              INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             FY 2014      FY 2015     Committee
             Program/Activity                       Authorization            enacted      estimate    provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Quality Program.....................  7 U.S.C. 7626................       $4,500       $- - -       $- - -
Methyl Bromide Transition Program.........  7 U.S.C. 7626................        1,996        - - -        2,000
Organic Transition Program................  7 U.S.C. 7626................        4,000        4,000        4,000
Regional Rural Development Centers........  7 U.S.C. 450i(c).............          998          998        1,000
Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative...  7 U.S.C. 3351................        6,680        6,680        7,000
Crop Protection/Pest Management Program...  7 U.S.C. 7626, 7 U.S.C.             17,143       17,143       18,000
                                             450i(c), and 7 U.S.C. 343(d)
                                                                          --------------------------------------
    Total, Integrated Activities..........  .............................      $35,317      $28,821      $32,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

2014 appropriation....................................          $893,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           898,000
Provided in the bill..................................           898,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................           +$5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and 
Regulatory Programs, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$898,000.

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................      $821,721,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       834,341,000
Provided in the bill..................................       867,505,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       +45,784,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +33,164,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 
Salaries and Expenses, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $867,505,000.
    Included in this funding level are increases of $42,567,000 
for the cost of GSA rent and for security expenses reimbursed 
to the Department of Homeland Security; an increase of 
$2,000,000 for Overseas Technical and Trade Operations 
activities in order to help resolve sanitary and phytosanitary 
trade issues that could result in the opening of new markets 
and retaining and expanding existing market access for U.S. 
agricultural products; an increase of $500,000 for the National 
Veterinary Stockpile to assist in the supply of critical 
veterinary countermeasures that would be used for emergency 
preparedness and response efforts in the event of an 
intentional or unintentional introduction of an animal disease 
into the U.S. market; and an increase of $5,000,000 for the 
Citrus Health Response Program to help address the damaging 
effects of citrus greening disease. Also, the recommended 
funding level includes an increase of $3,500,000 to address the 
devastating effects of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Within 
this total, $1,000,000 is for Veterinary Diagnostics in support 
of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and 
$2,500,000 is for the Swine Health line item.
    The following table reflects the amounts provided by the 
Committee:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                                                           provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animal Health Technical Services.....................        $35,339,000
Aquatic Animal Health................................          2,253,000
Avian Health.........................................         52,340,000
Cattle Health........................................         92,500,000
Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health............         19,500,000
National Veterinary Stockpile........................          4,222,000
Swine Health.........................................         24,750,000
Veterinary Biologics.................................         16,417,000
Veterinary Diagnostics...............................         32,540,000
Zoonotic Disease Management..........................          9,523,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Animal Health..........................        289,384,000

Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (Appropriated)....         26,900,000
Cotton Pests.........................................         11,520,000
Field Crop & Rangeland Ecosystem Pests...............          8,826,000
Pest Detection.......................................         27,446,000
Plant Protection Methods Development.................         24,549,000
Specialty Crop Pests.................................        156,500,000
Tree & Wood Pests....................................         47,417,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Plant Health...........................        303,158,000

Wildlife Damage Management...........................         87,428,000
Wildlife Services Methods Development................         18,856,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Wildlife Services......................        106,284,000

Animal & Plant Health Regulatory Enforcement.........         16,224,000
Biotechnology Regulatory Services....................         18,135,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Regulatory Services....................         34,359,000

Contingency Fund.....................................            470,000
Emergency Preparedness & Response....................         16,966,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Safeguarding and Emergency Preparedness         17,436,000

Agriculture Import/Export............................         14,099,000
Overseas Technical and Trade Operations..............         22,114,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Safe Trade & International Technical            36,213,000
     Assistance......................................

Animal Welfare.......................................         28,010,000
Horse Protection.....................................            697,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Animal Welfare.........................         28,707,000

APHIS Information Technology Infrastructure..........          4,251,000
Physical/Operational Security........................          5,146,000
GSA Rental and DHS Security Payments.................         42,567,000
                                                      ------------------
    Subtotal, Agency Management......................         51,964,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total, Salaries & Expenses...................       $867,505,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Animal Welfare.--The bill funds the Animal Welfare program 
at $28,010,000 in order to ensure that minimum standards of 
care and treatment are provided for certain animals bred for 
commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or 
exhibited to the public.
    Aquatic Animal Health.--Nearly half of the seafood consumed 
across the world is the product of aquaculture. In addition, 
the aquaculture industry is a critical and growing part of the 
U.S. economy. Unfortunately, the monitoring of aquatic animal 
health issues is not adequate to meet the needs of a growing 
industry. For example, the shrimp and catfish aquaculture 
industries are losing revenue due to the lack of tracking and 
monitoring of aquatic animal pathogens. These losses could have 
been prevented if the pathogens had been promptly identified 
and effective treatments or prevention procedures were 
developed and available. The Committee encourages the agency to 
support and protect this important industry. Collaborative 
efforts among the agency, industry, and other Federal and state 
partners are essential to improving preparedness, surveillance, 
and response capabilities, as well as reducing the likelihood 
of disease spread.
    Biotechnology Regulatory Services.--The Committee continues 
to be concerned about the time it takes the agency to review 
biotechnology product petitions for regulatory determination. 
USDA's data showed that it took, on average, almost 900 days 
for eight products to be approved in 2013 despite the agency's 
recent efforts to improve the review process. In addition, the 
backlog of petitions still remains. The Committee encourages 
the agency to continue to find ways to improve the permit 
review process and to reduce the number of petitions awaiting 
determination. The Committee provides the requested funding 
necessary to ensure regulatory decisions can be made in a more 
timely and predictable manner.
    Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.--The Committee is aware of the 
growing threat to fruits, vegetables, other crops, and 
ornamentals throughout the mid-Atlantic region from the Brown 
Marmorated Stink Bug. It has been found in more than 41 States 
and the District of Columbia. The Committee directs APHIS to 
treat this pest as a priority and to continue to assist ARS, 
NIFA, and state partners with biological control technology 
once such tools are available.
    Cervid Health.--Data from 2007 indicate that the cervid 
industry in the United States accounts for 5,600 deer farms and 
1,900 elk farms, has an economic value of $894,000,000, and 
supports nearly 30,000 jobs. This industry continues to 
participate in the agency's national, voluntary herd 
certification program (HCP) that supports the domestic and 
international marketability of U.S. cervid herds. The Committee 
encourages APHIS to maintain its commitment to the HCP and the 
cervid industry and directs the agency to spend no less than 
$3,000,000 for cervid health activities. Within the funds 
provided, the agency should give consideration to indemnity 
payments if warranted.
    Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP).--CHRP is a national 
effort to protect the U.S. industry from the ravages of 
invasive pests and diseases. These funds are designed to 
partner with state departments of agriculture and industry 
groups to address the challenges of citrus pests and diseases. 
In addition to the funds provided in this account, the 
Committee encourages APHIS to utilize the funds available in 
the newly consolidated Plant Pest and Disease Management and 
Disaster Prevention Programs account to the greatest extent 
possible in an attempt to sustain the economic viability of the 
citrus industry.
    Cost Sharing with States and Other Cooperators.--The 
Committee directs APHIS to maximize the use of cost-sharing 
agreements or matching requirements with States, Territories, 
producers, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, 
and any other recipient of services in order to reduce the cost 
burden on the agency.
    Cotton Pests.--The Committee is concerned that every effort 
be made by APHIS and the cotton industry to ensure the boll 
weevil does not re-infest areas of the United States where it 
has been successfully eradicated. The Boll Weevil Eradication 
Program (BWEP), an outstanding example of a public-private 
partnership, has successfully eradicated the boll weevil from 
all U.S. cotton-producing regions except for the extreme lower 
parts of Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) bordering 
Tamaulipas, Mexico. Growers in the LRGV, with assistance from 
APHIS and the support of the entire industry, continue to 
conduct an active program to eradicate the boll weevil. The 
LRGV serves as the barrier between boll weevil infested areas 
of Mexico and boll weevil-free areas of the United States. The 
Department is directed to work with the U.S. cotton industry to 
develop a plan of action to protect the United States from re-
infestation and to report its findings to the Committee not 
less than 120 days after enactment of this Act.
    Designated Qualified Person Program.--The Committee directs 
APHIS to maintain transparency and consistency in the 
enforcement of the Horse Protection Act when dealing with the 
regulated industry.
    Emerging Plant Pests.--The Committee expects the Secretary 
to continue to use the authority provided in this bill to 
transfer funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for 
the arrest and eradication of animal and plant pests and 
diseases that threaten American agriculture. By providing funds 
in this account, the Committee is enhancing, not replacing, the 
use of CCC funding for emergency outbreaks.
    Feral Swine Management.--The Committee is aware of the 
growing economic and ecological damage caused by feral swine 
across the United States. Conservative estimates indicate feral 
swine are present in 44 States, and agricultural losses and 
control efforts cost $1,500,000,000 annually. The Committee 
continues to support the agency's national feral swine 
management program and provides the FY 2014 enacted funding 
level to continue activities aimed at reducing the damage 
caused by these invasive pests.
    Huanglongbing Emergency Response.--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 the removal of 200,000 acres of citrus in Florida and 
has affected Texas. In addition, the agency is encouraged to 
support priorities and strategies identified by the 
Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination group which will 
benefit the citrus industry. The agency should appropriately 
allocate resources based on critical need and maximum effect to 
the citrus industry.
    Phytopthora ramorum.--The Committee expects APHIS to 
continue its efforts to manage P. ramorum while minimizing 
disruption to the interstate movement of plant materials and 
commercial trade. The agency should use an appropriate portion 
of funds from the Specialty Crop Pests account to expeditiously 
implement the review of the Federal Order governing shipment of 
plant materials from quarantined and regulated counties as well 
as to continue its review of the efficacy of the pre-
notification requirements for western nurseries. APHIS also 
should continue efforts to partner with the regulated States to 
develop new best management practices regarding P. ramorum 
during the effective period of the Order.
    Potato Cyst Nematode Eradication.--The Committee includes 
funding to maintain resources for the potato cyst nematode 
eradication program at the fiscal year 2014 level in order to 
continue with successful efforts to eradicate this pest. If 
left untreated, this pest could spread, affecting other crops.
    Wildlife Damage Management.--While receiving support from 
cooperators to conduct wildlife management operations, special 
emphasis should be placed on those areas such as oral rabies 
vaccination, livestock protection, predator damage management, 
and other such activities that will reduce or eliminate threats 
to agricultural industries. The Committee expects APHIS to fund 
national rabies control and surveillance efforts at the same 
levels expended in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
    Conehead Termite.--The Committee is concerned about the 
threat the recently introduced conehead termite poses to 
agricultural crops, trees and shrubs, wood and paper products, 
as well as homes and other structures. Fortunately, the 
geographic scope of this invasive species is still limited. 
However, without expeditious action the conehead termite will 
gain a foothold, spread throughout the country, and have a 
significant economic impact. Therefore, the Committee directs 
APHIS to make it a priority to provide States that the conehead 
termite has invaded with the technical assistance needed to 
develop, implement, and administer an effective eradication 
program.
    Customs and Border Protection and USDA Inspection.--
International trade is a vital part of the Nation's economy. 
However, the discrepancy between USDA and Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) handling of inbound goods transportation has 
led to confusion and increased risk for multiple parties. The 
Committee directs USDA to report to the Appropriations 
Committees of the House and Senate within 90 days of enactment 
of this Act on how USDA and CBP processes can be streamlined 
and how liability standards can be brought in sync for cargo 
that is released to a warehouse, released to a buyer in the 
United States, or exported to a foreign country.
    Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (AQI).--The 
Committee is aware of the proposed rules regarding adjustment 
to fees for AQI services and overtime reimbursement rates. The 
proposed rule related to AQI services includes the increase of 
some existing fees and the establishment of several new fees 
that will affect a wide variety of industries, including pest 
treatment providers, international and domestic shippers, and 
importers. Many of these services are not currently subject to 
a fee and strong evidence was not presented in the proposed 
rule to support the need for these new fees. The agency should 
exercise due diligence in determining the comprehensive impacts 
of these new fees on the related industries, especially given 
the coupling effect of the increased overtime reimbursement 
rates. The Committee encourages the agency to fully analyze 
these impacts, including extending the public comment period 
and consulting with stakeholders to allow ample time for those 
impacted by the fees to provide input.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

2014 appropriation....................................        $3,175,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         3,175,000
Provided in the bill..................................         3,175,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

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

                     Agricultural Marketing Service

                           MARKETING SERVICES

2014 appropriation....................................       $79,914,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        82,963,000
Provided in the bill..................................        81,192,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +1,278,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -1,771,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Marketing Services of the Agricultural Marketing 
Service, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$81,192,000.
    The Committee recommendation provides funding equivalent to 
the fiscal year 2014 level for the National Organic Program as 
well as the Pesticide Data Program. The Committee notes that 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 provides mandatory funding for the 
Specialty Crop Block Grant program and the Organic Production 
and Market Data Initiative.
    Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).--The Committee 
is aware that the governments of Canada and Mexico have 
challenged a final rule published in the Federal Register on 
May 24, 2013, (78 Fed. Reg. 31367) claiming that it violates 
the United States' international trade obligations in cases WT/
DS384 and WT/DS386, which are pending before a compliance panel 
of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is estimated that 
U.S. exports to the two countries will suffer an economic 
impact of approximately $2,000,000,000 in retaliatory actions 
should the final adjudication of this matter by the WTO 
determine the COOL requirements are inconsistent with U.S. 
international trade obligations under the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade annexed to the WTO agreement, the WTO 
agreement, or the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 
referred to in section 101(d)(5) of the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(5)). Additionally, the USDA 
Chief Economist noted at a House Agriculture Committee hearing 
on April 30, 2014, that USDA has found that COOL has little 
impact on consumer meat choices based on survey data.
    The Committee directs USDA not to implement or enforce the 
COOL final rule should the WTO issue a final ruling against the 
United States. Furthermore, the Secretary is directed to 
promptly issue a notice in the Federal Register announcing that 
the COOL rule is suspended until further notice if the final 
ruling is against the United States.
    Organic Integrity.--The Committee is aware of concerns 
about recent administrative and procedural changes implemented 
by the National Organic Program regarding the procedures used 
to review the use of synthetic materials allowed for continued 
use in organic products. The Committee notes the importance of 
respecting the role of public comments in these review 
procedures, and encourages the agency to ensure continued, 
robust stakeholder participation in the National List 
``sunset'' process.

                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

2014 limitation.......................................     ($60,435,000)
2015 budget limitation................................      (60,709,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (60,709,000)
Comparison:
    2014 limitation...................................          +274,000
    2015 budget limitation............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    The Committee provides a limitation of $60,709,000 on 
Administrative Expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service.

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

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................     ($20,056,000)
2015 budget estimate..................................      (20,317,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (20,056,000)
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -261,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Marketing Agreements and Orders Program, the 
Committee provides a transfer from section 32 funds of 
$20,056,000.
    The following table reflects the status of this fund for 
fiscal years 2014 and 2015:

ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE AND BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD FISCAL YEARS
                                2014-2015
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              FY 2014         FY 2015
                                              enacted        estimate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation (30% of Customs Receipts).      $9,211,183       9,714,923
Less Transfers:
    Food and Nutrition Service..........      -8,011,569      -8,299,923
    Commerce Department.................        -130,144        -131,000
                                         -------------------------------
        Total, Transfers................      -8,141,713      -8,430,923
Prior Year Appropriation Available,              313,530         119,000
 Start of the Year......................
Prior Year Collections and Recoveries...           - - -           - - -
Unavailable for Obligations (recoveries            - - -           - - -
 & offsetting collections)..............
Transfer of Prior Year Funds to FNS             -117,000        -119,000
 (Fruit & Vegetable)....................
                                         -------------------------------
    Budget Authority:...................       1,266,000       1,284,000
Rescission of Current Year Funds........        -189,000        -121,000
Appropriations Reduced 7.2 Percent by            -79,703           - - -
 Sequestration..........................
Appropriations Reduced 7.3 Percent by              - - -         -82,000
 Sequestration..........................
Unavailable for Obligations (Fruit &            -119,000        -122,000
 Vegetable transfer to FNS).............
                                         -------------------------------
    Available for Obligation:...........         878,297         959,000
Less Obligations:
    Child Nutrition Programs                     465,000         465,000
     (Entitlement Commodities)..........
    State Option Contract...............           5,000           5,000
    Removal of Defective Commodities....           2,500           2,500
    Emergency Surplus Removal...........         196,900           - - -
    Small Business Support..............           - - -           - - -
    Disaster Relief.....................           5,000           5,000
    Additional Fruits, Vegetables, and            29,100         206,000
     Nuts Purchases.....................
    Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program...          41,000          40,000
    Estimated Future Needs..............          79,119         180,734
                                         -------------------------------
        Total, Commodity Procurement....         823,619         904,234
    Administrative Funds:
        Commodity Purchase Support......          34,622          34,710
        Marketing Agreements and Orders.          20,056          20,056
                                         -------------------------------
          Total, Administrative Funds...          54,678          54,766
                                         -------------------------------
    Total Obligations...................         878,297         959,000
Unobligated Balance, End of Year........           - - -           - - -
Unavailable for Obligations (Fruit and           119,000         122,000
 Vegetable transfer to FNS).............
Balances, Collections and Recoveries Not           - - -           - - -
 Available..............................
                                         ===============================
        Total End of Year Balances......        $119,000        $122,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   PAYMENTS TO STATES AND POSSESSIONS

2014 appropriation....................................        $1,363,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         1,235,000
Provided in the bill..................................         1,235,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          -128,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

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

        Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2014 appropriation....................................       $40,261,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        44,017,000
Provided in the bill..................................        43,722,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +3,461,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................          -295,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards 
Administration, the Committee provides $43,722,000.

        LIMITATION ON INSPECTION AND WEIGHING SERVICES EXPENSES

2014 limitation.......................................     ($50,000,000)
2015 budget limitation................................      (50,000,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (50,000,000)
Comparison:
    2014 limitation...................................             - - -
    2015 budget limitation............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    The Committee includes a limitation on inspection and 
weighing services expenses of $50,000,000. The bill includes 
authority to exceed by 10 percent the limitation on inspection 
and weighing services with notification to the Committees on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress.

             Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety

2014 appropriation....................................          $811,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           816,000
Provided in the bill..................................           816,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $816,000.

                   Food Safety and Inspection Service

2014 appropriation....................................    $1,010,689,000
2015 budget estimate..................................     1,001,402,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,005,189,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -5,500,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        +3,787,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $1,005,189,000.
    The following table reflects the Committee's 
recommendations for fiscal year 2015:

                   FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal inspection....................................          $889,356
Public health data communication infrastructure system            34,580
International food safety and inspection..............            16,589
State food safety and inspection......................            60,905
Codex alimentarius....................................             3,759
                                                       -----------------
    Total, Food Safety and Inspection Service.........        $1,005,189
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Humane Methods of Slaughter.--FSIS shall ensure that 
inspectors hired with funding previously specified for 
enforcement under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act focus 
their attention on overseeing compliance with humane handling 
rules for live animals as they arrive and are offloaded and 
handled in pens, chutes, and stunning areas, and that all 
inspectors receive robust national training, including on the 
Regulatory Essentials, Humane Animal Tracking System, and 
Public Health Information System.
    Buffalo/Bison Inspection.--The Committee urges FSIS to 
enhance its work with Tribes to set up voluntary, fee-for-
service programs for the slaughter of Tribally-raised buffalo 
and bison. In doing so, FSIS should work with the InterTribal 
Buffalo Council and make the Council aware of opportunities 
such as mobile slaughter and trade associations that may be 
able to assist them in qualifying for inspection and beginning 
their operations.
    Water Conserving Technologies.--The Committee supports the 
agency's efforts to encourage innovation and modernization at 
slaughter and processing establishments. The Committee is aware 
of technologies that allow hand-washing facilities to be 
immediately activated and deactivated in a hands-free manner. 
In order to encourage water conservation and reduce cross-
contamination, the Committee directs FSIS to utilize water-
conserving technologies and pursue implementation as soon as 
practicable.

    Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
                                Services

2014 appropriation....................................          $893,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           898,000
Provided in the bill..................................           898,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign 
Agricultural Services, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $898,000.
    The Committee is concerned about waste, fraud, and abuse in 
programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the 
Risk Management Agency (RMA). Therefore, the Secretary is 
directed to certify that any newly approved payment, loan, 
grant, subsidy, or insurance claim from a program administered 
by FSA or RMA does not include individuals or entities that 
have been permanently debarred from participating in USDA 
programs.
    Farm Bill Implementation.--The Committee is aware that the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 provided $100,000,000 in mandatory 
funds for FSA to implement title I of the Act. The Committee 
directs the Secretary to provide a detailed plan by October 1, 
2014, on how this funding will be utilized. At a minimum, the 
plan should include information on any interagency agreements 
or contracts with the private sector and other non-Federal 
entities; the purpose, amounts, and dates of estimated 
obligations; and the number of part-time, temporary, or related 
staff hired to assist with implementation. On October 1, 2014, 
and every quarter thereafter until the funds are expended, the 
Committee directs the Secretary to provide a status report on 
the obligations and outlays and expects that the Committee will 
be notified if there are any significant deviations from the 
plan. The Committee reminds the Secretary that funding is not 
available to hire new full-time equivalent staff at FSA. As 
such, this funding should not be used for that purpose.

                          Farm Service Agency

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Transfer from
                                                         Appropriation     program accounts     Total, FSA S&E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation..................................      $1,177,926,000      ($310,087,000)    ($1,488,013,000)
2015 budget estimate................................       1,139,323,000       (309,880,000)     (1,449,203,000)
Provided in the bill................................       1,205,068,000       (309,880,000)     (1,514,948,000)
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation..............................         +27,142,000            -207,000       (+26,935,000)
    2015 budget estimate............................         +65,745,000               - - -       (+65,745,000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Salaries and Expenses of the Farm Service Agency, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $1,205,068,000 and 
transfers of $309,880,000 for a total program level of 
$1,514,948,000.
    FSA Budget Request.--The Committee does not support the 
proposals in the budget submission that include significant 
funding shifts with no justification and basis to support them. 
The Committee is displeased with the agency's budget request as 
there is no rationale for the proposed changes. The request 
proposed a reduction in costly headquarters and state office 
staff personnel while shifting the costs to hire the same 
number of personnel in the field while simultaneously 
decreasing 815 non-Federal staff years. No clear plan of how 
these actions would be implemented in a timely manner in order 
to sustain the significant reductions was provided in the 
justification, and no evidence of the impact of such actions 
was offered to the Committee to form a reasonable opinion on 
the matter. The Committee would like to remind the agency that 
submitting such budget requests is a waste of taxpayer 
resources. The Committee encourages the agency to develop more 
meaningful budget requests in the future. The Committee 
supports more efficient policies, practices, and operations in 
the delivery of farm programs across the country, but it will 
require the appropriate supporting data and documentation to 
form a corresponding decision.
    Proposal to Close County Offices.--The President's fiscal 
year 2015 budget proposed to close or consolidate an estimated 
250 FSA county offices and reduce the non-federal staff years 
by roughly 815 full time equivalents as part of an effort to 
modernize the Department's farm program delivery system. The 
Committee supports greater efficiency in the management of 
limited Federal tax dollars and supports the consolidation of 
locations or activities when there is a strong case for such a 
proposal. However, the President's budget proposal is both 
flawed and untimely. Department officials have shown great 
difficulty in explaining the justification for this proposal 
when questioned by this Committee and other oversight 
committees. Secondly, in order to maintain quality service 
within a reasonable timeframe, the Department should have the 
requisite infrastructure and support in place before moving 
offices into a ``model service center'' location. The 
Department has failed to demonstrate that the information 
technology systems are mature enough to support this concept. 
Thirdly, preparing for a consolidation of offices while county 
employees continue implementation of the 2014 farm bill is ill-
timed. Lastly, the ability to deliver farm programs to 
stakeholders is contingent upon an analysis on the needs of a 
particular county office or offices within a particular region. 
Therefore, in addition to the requirements mandated by the 2008 
farm bill for office closures, the Department is directed to 
conduct, complete, and submit an evaluation of workload 
assessments for proposed office closures to the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
prior to the closure of any FSA county offices.
    MIDAS.--The Committee has strong concerns regarding the 
delays and potential cost overruns associated with the 
Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems 
(MIDAS) program. As designed, the system is supposed to improve 
the delivery of FSA farm program benefits and services through 
re-engineered business processes and the adoption of enhanced 
and modernized information technology. While FSA made some 
initial progress in 2013 with the release of the Farm Records 
and Business Partner functionality, little progress is evident 
or expected for fiscal year 2014. Over a year ago, FSA notified 
the Committee that the agency was in the process of reviewing 
the timeline for the next phases and future rollouts of the 
project via a re-baseline process. The purpose of the re-
baseline project was to align the project scope with the most 
recent schedule and projected available funding. Congress has 
appropriated nearly $400,000,000 to support the modernization 
of a farm program delivery system. The total lifecycle costs of 
this program continue to grow beyond the initial estimates and 
will continue to grow if the Department fails to manage this 
project in a far more efficient manner. FSA must continue to 
proceed with plans for the original functionality that would 
build existing farm program applications into an integrated 
system that delivers increased efficiency and security and not 
continue down a path of siloed applications that fail to 
improve upon the capabilities originally promised to the 
Nation's farmers and ranchers. The Committee directs USDA to 
provide quarterly briefings in writing and in person to both 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations starting on 
October 1, 2014.

                         STATE MEDIATION GRANTS

2014 appropriation....................................        $3,782,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         3,404,000
Provided in the bill..................................         3,404,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          -378,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For State Mediation Grants, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $3,404,000.

               GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM

2014 appropriation....................................        $5,526,000
2015 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................         2,500,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -3,026,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        +2,500,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $2,500,000. The 
Committee notes that the Agricultural Act of 2014 provided 
$5,000,000 in mandatory funds for this program.

                        DAIRY INDEMNITY PROGRAM

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................       \1\$250,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        \1\500,000
Provided in the bill..................................        \1\500,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          +250,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

\1\Current indefinite appropriation.

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Dairy Indemnity Program, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of such sums as may be necessary (estimated to be 
$500,000 in the President's fiscal year 2015 budget request).

           AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

                         ESTIMATED LOAN LEVELS

2014 loan level.......................................    $5,527,278,000
2015 budget estimate..................................     6,402,114,000
Provided in the bill..................................     6,402,114,000
Comparison:
    2014 loan level...................................      +874,836,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund program account, 
the Committee provides a loan level of $6,402,114,000.
    The following table reflects the loan levels for the 
Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund program account:

                AGRICULTURE CREDIT PROGRAMS--LOAN LEVELS
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2014       FY 2015      Committee
                                    level       estimate     provisions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm loan programs
    Farm ownership:
        Direct................      $575,000    $1,500,000    $1,500,000
        Unsubsidized               2,000,000     2,000,000     2,000,000
         Guaranteed...........
    Farm operating:
        Direct................     1,195,620     1,252,004     1,252,004
        Unsubsidized               1,500,000     1,393,443     1,393,443
         Guaranteed...........
    Emergency loans...........        34,658        34,667        34,667
    Indian tribe land                  2,000         2,000         2,000
     acquisition loans........
    Conservation loans:
        Unsubsidized                 150,000       150,000       150,000
         Guaranteed...........
    Indian highly fractionated        10,000        10,000        10,000
     land.....................
    Boll weevil eradication...        60,000        60,000        60,000
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total.................    $5,527,278    $6,402,114    $6,402,114
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Guaranteed
                                                     Direct loan        loan         Grants      Administrative
                                                       subsidy         subsidy                      expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation..............................       $71,714,000   $18,300,000         - - -      $314,719,000
2015 budget estimate............................        63,957,000    14,770,000    $2,500,000       314,918,000
Provided in the bill............................        63,957,000    14,770,000         - - -       314,918,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation..........................        -7,757,000    -3,530,000         - - -          +199,000
    2015 budget estimate........................             - - -         - - -    -2,500,000             - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

            AGRICULTURE CREDIT PROGRAMS--SUBSIDIES AND GRANTS
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2014       FY 2015      Committee
                                   enacted      estimate     provisions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farm loan subsidies:
    Farm ownership:
        Direct................        $4,428         - - -         - - -
    Farm operating:
        Direct................        65,520       $63,101       $63,101
        Unsubsidized                  18,300        14,770        14,770
         Guaranteed...........
    Emergency loans...........         1,698           856           856
    Indian highly fractionated            68         - - -         - - -
     land.....................
    Individual development             - - -         2,500         - - -
     accounts.................
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total.................        90,014        81,227        78,727
ACIF expenses:
    Salaries and expenses.....       306,998       306,998       306,998
    Administrative expenses...         7,721         7,920         7,920
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total, ACIF expenses..      $314,719      $314,918      $314,918
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Risk Management Agency

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2014 appropriation....................................       $71,496,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        76,779,000
Provided in the bill..................................        77,094,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +5,598,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................          +315,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISION

    For the Risk Management Agency, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $77,094,000.
    Quarantine Endorsement Pilot Project.--The Committee 
supports RMA's current quarantine endorsement pilot project for 
avocado and citrus growers in California and seeks input on the 
expansion of this pilot to other specialty crop growers 
throughout the United States, provided that any insurance 
product offered is actuarially sound. The Committee directs RMA 
to report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate within 90 days of enactment of 
this Act on the cost, benefits, and challenges of expanding the 
pilot program.
    Timely Communication of Changes in Coverage.--Crop 
insurance represents a key risk management tool for 
agricultural producers around the country and any changes to 
their insurance policies can have an immediate impact on 
critical financial and business decisions. The Committee 
understands that RMA will implement changes in an effort to 
reduce the loss ratios in the crop insurance industry, but it 
is concerned by the timeliness and the manner in which RMA 
notifies purchasers of changes to crop insurance coverage. The 
Committee expects RMA will address this issue and ensure 
effective and efficient administration of the crop insurance 
program.
    Standard Reinsurance Agreement.--The Committee is aware of 
concerns that the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) 
currently in effect has caused disparate treatment of crop 
insurance agents depending on the crop(s) they service and 
expects that as the Department begins the process of 
renegotiating the SRA it will address this inequality.

                              CORPORATIONS

                Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund

2014 appropriation....................................  \1\$9,502,944,00
                                                                       0
2015 budget estimate..................................  \1\8,666,022,000
Provided in the bill..................................  \1\8,666,022,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................      -836,922,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

\1\Current indefinite appropriation.

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of such sums as may be 
necessary (estimated to be $8,666,022,000 in the President's 
fiscal year 2015 budget request).

                   Commodity Credit Corporation Fund

                 REIMBURSEMENT FOR NET REALIZED LOSSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation.............................       \1\$12,538,880,000
2015 budget estimate...........................         \1\9,067,281,000
Provided in the bill...........................         \1\9,067,281,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation.........................           -3,471,599,000
    2015 budget estimate.......................                    - - -

\1\Current indefinite appropriation.

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Reimbursement for Net Realized Losses to the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, the Committee provides such sums as may be 
necessary to reimburse for net realized losses sustained but 
not previously reimbursed (estimated to be $9,067,281,000 in 
the President's fiscal year 2015 budget request).

                       HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

                        (LIMITATION ON EXPENSES)

2014 limitation.......................................      ($5,000,000)
2015 budget estimate..................................       (5,000,000)
Provided in the bill..................................       (5,000,000)
Comparison:
    2014 limitation...................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

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

                                TITLE II

                         CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

  Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment

2014 appropriation....................................          $893,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           898,000
Provided in the bill..................................           898,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources 
and Environment, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$898,000.

                 Natural Resources Conservation Service

                        CONSERVATION OPERATIONS

2014 appropriation....................................      $812,939,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       814,772,000
Provided in the bill..................................       843,053,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       +30,114,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +28,281,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Conservation Operations, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $843,053,000.
    The Committee provides $9,100,000 for the Snow Survey and 
Water Forecasting Program; $9,200,000 for the Plant Materials 
Centers; and $78,000,000 for the Soil Surveys Program. The 
Committee provides $746,753,000 for conservation technical 
assistance and directs NRCS to continue to invest in the 
Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). The Committee 
provides an increase of $1,500,000 for the Conservation 
Delivery Streamlining Initiative (CDSI). The Committee is 
pleased with the results of CEAP and the agency's efforts to 
modernize the delivery of conservation programs and services 
through CDSI and encourages the continuation of these efforts.
    Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.--Due to the 
unique ecological needs of each State, the Committee encourages 
NRCS to work with state and local partners to address these 
needs and to ensure the priority needs and projects in each 
State, such as those that are leveraged by public and private 
resources, are addressed, as appropriate.
    Cheat Grass Eradication.--The Committee encourages NRCS to 
continue to assist farmers and ranchers to eradicate, control, 
and reduce the fuel loads associated with cheat grass and to 
collaborate with ARS, as appropriate, on research related to 
cheat grass.
    Conservation Practice Standards.--The Committee is aware 
that NRCS has been pressured to modify its conservation 
practice standards in certain circumstances for purposes not 
related to the conservation of farm and ranch land. The 
Committee recognizes that conservation practice standards are 
science-based, undergo a thorough technical review, are open to 
the public for notice and comment, and reflect the best 
available knowledge on how to achieve the identified 
conservation and environmental objective. The Committee directs 
NRCS to maintain its long-standing process for developing and 
updating its conservation practice standards.
    Herbicide Resistance.--The Committee reminds NRCS of the 
challenges many producers are facing due to the spread of 
herbicide-resistant weeds and encourages it to ensure agency 
staff, partners, and producers are aware of conservation 
practice standards and conservation activity plans to address 
herbicide-resistant weeds, and that financial assistance 
through certain conservation programs is available to assist 
producers in their efforts to control these weeds.
    Locally Led Conservation.--The Committee recognizes that 
locally led conservation is the foundation of the Nation's 
highly successful legacy of conservation and encourages NRCS to 
work with State, Tribal, local, and other partners on voluntary 
stewardship projects that preserve working agricultural lands 
while protecting watersheds and wildlife habitat.
    National Marine Sanctuaries.--The Committee urges the 
agency to continue the collaborative agreement with the Office 
of National Marine Sanctuaries to address agricultural sources 
of runoff, such as sediments, nitrates, and pesticides.
    Resource Conservation and Development Councils.--The 
Committee recognizes RC&Ds have been valuable partners in 
conservation and encourages NRCS to continue working with local 
councils, as appropriate, to ensure conservation programs meet 
local resource needs.
    Sage Grouse Initiative.--The Committee supports NRCS's sage 
grouse conservation efforts. Through the initiative, NRCS 
provides technical and financial assistance to help landowners 
conserve sage grouse habitat on their land. The initiative is 
an integral part of efforts by Federal agencies, several 
western States, and private landowners to help preclude the 
listing of the sage grouse as an endangered species.
    Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Plan.--The 
Committee directs NRCS to establish a long-term, multi-year 
plan to guide needed investments in watershed surveys and 
planning and watershed operations as authorized under the 
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, P.L. 83-566. The 
plan should establish a process for setting and ranking 
watershed operations and flood prevention priorities, 
reflecting the agency's mission, goals, and requirements; 
consideration of existing investment in planning, 
infrastructure, and land treatment; and future needs for 
investment to improve watershed condition or prevent or 
mitigate watershed impairments. The plan should also include 
estimated funding requirements. As the agency develops the 
plan, the Committee encourages it to provide interested parties 
an opportunity to provide input. The agency is directed to 
develop the plan and report to Congress within 90 days after 
enactment of this Act.

                    WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM

2014 appropriation....................................       $12,000,000
2015 budget estimate..................................             - - -
Provided in the bill..................................        25,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       +13,000,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +25,000,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $25,000,000.

                               TITLE III

                       RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

          Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development

2014 appropriation....................................          $893,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           898,000
Provided in the bill..................................           898,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural 
Development, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$898,000.
    Program Consolidation.--The Committee does not concur with 
the proposal to consolidate Rural Development's (RD) business 
and economic development programs into the Rural Business and 
Cooperative Grants Program.
    Resource Conservation and Development Councils.--The 
Committee recognizes RC&Ds have been valuable partners in rural 
economic development and encourages RD to continue working with 
local councils, as appropriate, to address local economic 
development needs.
    Reporting Requirements.--The Committee reminds Rural 
Development that any action that relocates an office or 
employees and reorganizes offices, programs, or activities must 
be reported to the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
and Senate as required by law.

                Rural Development Salaries and Expenses

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                           FY 2014  level   FY 2015  estimate      provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriations.........................................       $203,424,000       $225,101,000       $224,201,000
Transfer from:
    Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account.......        415,100,000        397,296,000        415,100,000
    Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account........          4,439,000          4,249,000          4,439,000
    Healthy Foods, HNI.................................              - - -            750,000              - - -
    Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loan           34,478,000         33,000,000         34,478,000
     Program Account...................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total, RD Salaries and Expenses................       $657,441,000       $660,396,000       $678,218,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Salaries and Expenses of the Rural Development mission 
area, the Committee provides an appropriation of $224,201,000.
    This includes $15,000,000 for the Comprehensive Loan 
Accounting System.

                         Rural Housing Service

              RURAL HOUSING INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Loan level             Subsidy level       Administrative expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation...................          $25,148,567,000              $38,968,000             $415,100,000
2015 budget estimate.................           24,603,565,000               47,748,000              397,296,000
Provided in the bill.................           25,290,648,000               98,020,000              415,100,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation...............             +142,081,000              +59,052,000                    - - -
    2015 budget estimate.............             +687,083,000              +50,272,000              +17,804,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account, the 
Committee provides a loan level of $25,290,648,000.
    Housing Program Eligibility.--The Committee directs the 
Rural Housing Service (RHS) to provide a report within 60 days 
of enactment of this Act on its implementation of the three-
part test to determine a community's eligibility to participate 
in rural housing programs as required by the Housing Act of 
1949, as amended. The report should include information on the 
factors the agency uses to determine whether a community is 
``rural in character'' and when a ``serious lack of mortgage 
credit exists''. The report also should include a history of 
the agency's actions using this three-part test since the 2000 
U.S. Census and its implementation of the changes made by the 
Agricultural Act of 2014.
    Risk Management.--USDA's Rural Development mission area 
manages about 1.2 million loans that have a value of 
$200,000,000,000; $130,000,000,000 of this is in the rural 
housing and community facility portfolio. Given the size of the 
Federal investment in rural housing programs, the Committee 
believes RHS should actively monitor and manage this portfolio 
to mitigate risk. As such, the Committee directs RHS to provide 
a report within 30 days of enactment of this Act on the risk in 
its portfolio and how it is managed. The Committee further 
directs the agency to expeditiously create and fill a position 
of Chief Risk Officer whose responsibility it will be to manage 
and mitigate the agency's financial risk.
    Section 502 Intermediary Pilot Program.--The bill directs 
the Secretary to continue and expand the pilot program for 
packaging section 502 direct loans. The pilot allows non-profit 
organizations to prepare and review applications for single 
family loans, saving Federal funds and staff time. The 
Committee expects RHS to expeditiously implement this program.
    The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural 
Housing Insurance Fund program account:

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2014       FY 2015      Committee
                                    level       estimate     provisions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund
 Loans:
    Single family housing (sec
     502):
        Direct................      $900,000      $360,000    $1,042,276
        Unsubsidized              24,000,000    24,000,000    24,000,000
         guaranteed...........
    Housing repair (sec 504)..        26,280        26,279        26,372
    Rental housing (sec 515)..        28,432        28,432        28,398
    Multi-family guaranteed          150,000       150,000       150,000
     (sec 538)................
    Site development loans....         5,000         5,000         5,000
    Credit sales of acquired          10,000        10,000        10,000
     property.................
    Self-help housing land             5,000         - - -         5,000
     development fund.........
    Farm labor housing........        23,855        23,854        23,602
                               -----------------------------------------
        Total, Loan              $25,148,567   $24,603,565   $25,290,648
         authorization........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

        ESTIMATED LOAN SUBSIDY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES LEVELS
                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     FY 2014      FY 2015     Committee
                                      level       estimate    provision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural Housing Insurance Fund
 Program Account (loan subsidies
 and grants):
    Single family housing (sec
     502):
        Direct...................      $24,480      $26,568      $76,920
    Housing repair (sec 504).....        2,176        3,687        3,700
    Rental housing (sec 515).....        6,656        9,812        9,800
    Farm labor housing...........        5,656        7,681        7,600
    Total, Loan subsidies........       38,968       47,748       98,020
    Farm labor housing grants....        8,336        8,336        8,336
RHIF expenses:
        Administrative expenses..     $415,100     $397,296     $415,100
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2014 appropriation....................................    $1,110,000,000
2015 budget estimate..................................     1,088,500,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,088,500,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       -21,500,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rental Assistance Program, the Committee provides a 
program level of $1,088,500,000.
    The Committee appreciates USDA's proposals to address 
challenges within the Rental Assistance Program and provides 
authority to limit the second renewal of contracts during the 
same 12-month period.

           MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVITALIZATION PROGRAM ACCOUNT

2014 appropriation....................................       $32,575,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        28,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................        28,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -4,575,000
2015 budget estimate..................................             - - -

    For the Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program Account, 
the Committee provides an appropriation of $28,000,000, 
including $8,000,000 for the rural housing voucher program.

                  MUTUAL AND SELF-HELP HOUSING GRANTS

2014 appropriation....................................       $25,000,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        10,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................        30,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +5,000,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +20,000,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $30,000,000.

                    RURAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS

2014 appropriation....................................       $32,239,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        25,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................        27,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -5,239,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        +2,000,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Housing Assistance Grants program, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $27,000,000.

               RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................       $32,520,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        21,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................        30,500,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -2,020,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        +9,500,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Community Facilities Program Account, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $30,500,000.
    The following table provides the Committee's 
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 FY 2015           Committee
                                                           FY 2014  level       estimated          provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan levels:
    Community facility direct loans....................       ($2,200,000)       ($2,200,000)       ($2,200,000)
    Community facility guaranteed loans................           (59,543)            (- - -)           (73,222)
Subsidy and grants:
    Community facility guaranteed loans................              3,775              - - -              3,500
    Community facility grants..........................             13,000             17,000             13,000
    Rural Community Development Initiative.............              5,967              - - -              5,000
    Economic Impact Initiative.........................              5,778              - - -              5,000
    Tribal college grants..............................              4,000              4,000              4,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Rural Community Facilities Program subsidy              $32,520            $21,000            $30,500
     and grants........................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following is included in bill language for the Rural 
Community Facilities Program: $5,000,000 is for the Rural 
Community Development Initiative.

                   Rural Business-Cooperative Service

                     RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................       $96,539,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        30,190,000
Provided in the bill..................................        65,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       -31,539,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +34,810,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Business Program Account, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $65,000,000.
    The following table provides the Committee's 
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 FY 2015           Committee
                                                           FY 2014  level       estimated          provision
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan level:
    Business and industry guaranteed loans.............         ($958,097)         ($590,802)         ($880,626)
Subsidy and grants:
    Business and industry guaranteed loans.............             66,971             30,190             45,000
    Rural business enterprise grants...................             24,318              - - -             20,000
    Rural business opportunity grants..................              2,250              - - -              - - -
    Delta regional authority...........................              3,000              - - -              - - -
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Rural Business Program subsidy and grants...            $96,539            $30,190            $65,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following programs are included in bill language for 
the Rural Business Program account: $500,000 for rural 
transportation technical assistance; and $4,000,000 for 
Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, of which $250,000 
is for transportation technical assistance. The Committee notes 
that the 2014 farm bill consolidated the Rural Business 
Opportunity and Rural Business Enterprise grant programs.

              INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM FUND ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Administrative
                                                          Loan level        Subsidy  level         expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation..................................         $18,889,000          $4,082,000          $4,439,000
2015 budget estimate................................          10,013,000           3,084,000           4,249,000
Provided in the bill................................          16,234,000           5,000,000           4,439,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation..............................          -2,655,000            +918,000               - - -
    2015 budget estimate............................          +6,221,000          +1,916,000            +190,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account, the 
Committee provides for a loan level of $16,234,000.
    For the loan subsidy, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $5,000,000. In addition, the Committee 
provides $4,439,000 for administrative expenses.

            RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                    (INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Loan level
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation....................................       $33,077,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        59,456,000
Provided in the bill..................................        59,456,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       +26,379,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account, 
the Committee provides for a loan level of $59,456,000.

                  RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

2014 appropriation....................................       $26,050,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        16,087,000
Provided in the bill..................................        22,050,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        -4,000,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        +5,963,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Rural Cooperative Development Grants, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $22,050,000.
    The total includes $2,500,000 for a cooperative agreement 
for the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas program 
and $10,750,000 for the value-added agricultural product market 
development grant program.
    The Committee notes that the 2014 farm bill provided 
$63,000,000 in mandatory funding for value-added agricultural 
product market development grants.

                    RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM

2014 appropriation....................................        $3,500,000
2015 budget estimate..................................        10,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................         3,500,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -6,500,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Energy for America Program, the Committee 
provides a loan level of $33,081,000 and an appropriation of 
$3,500,000 for the loan subsidy to make loans as authorized by 
section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107).
    The Committee notes that the 2014 farm bill provides 
$50,000,000 in mandatory funding for this program in fiscal 
year 2015.

               RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM ACCOUNT

2014 appropriation....................................             - - -
2015 budget estimate..................................        $6,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................         4,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +4,000,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -2,000,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Business Investment Program Account, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $4,000,000, which will 
support $39,254,000 in loans.

                        Rural Utilities Service

             RURAL WATER AND WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................      $462,371,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       304,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................       466,893,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +4,522,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................      +162,893,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $466,893,000.
    Water Supplies for Very Small Communities.--The Committee 
is aware of concerns that RUS grant programs do not adequately 
help small, disadvantaged, and severely disadvantaged 
communities access the funding and expertise necessary to 
develop sustainable water supplies or otherwise improve their 
water systems and directs the agency to focus its efforts to 
assist these communities with predevelopment planning to help 
them address their water supply needs.
    The following table provides the Committee's 
recommendations as compared to the budget request:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                           FY 2014  Level     FY 2015  level       provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan levels:
    Water and waste direct loans.......................       ($1,200,000)       ($1,200,000)       ($1,200,000)
    Water and waste guaranteed loans...................           (50,000)              - - -           (84,746)
    Direct Loans authorized by P.L. 83-566.............           (40,000)              - - -              - - -
Subsidy and Grants:
    Guaranteed Subsidy.................................                355              - - -                500
    Water and Waste Revolving Fund.....................              1,000              - - -              1,000
    Water Well System Grants...........................                993              - - -                993
    Grants for the Colonias and AK/HI..................             66,500             36,480             66,500
    Water and Waste Technical Assistance Grants........             19,000              9,120             19,000
    Circuit Rider Program..............................             15,000              7,600             15,000
    Solid Waste Management Grants......................              4,000              4,000              4,000
    High Energy Cost Grants............................             10,000              - - -              - - -
    Water and Waste Disposal Grants....................            345,523            246,800            359,900
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total Subsidies and Grants.....................           $462,371           $304,000           $466,893
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

                         LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Administrative
                                                          Loan level         Subsidy level         expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation..................................      $6,190,000,000               - - -         $34,478,000
2015 budget estimate................................       5,345,000,000               - - -          33,000,000
Provided in the bill................................       6,190,000,000               - - -          34,478,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation..............................               - - -               - - -               - - -
    2015 budget estimate............................        +845,000,000               - - -          +1,478,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loans 
Program Account, the Committee provides a loan level of 
$6,190,000,000. In addition, the Committee provides $34,478,000 
for administrative expenses.
    The Committee does not concur with the proposal to limit 
the use of rural electrification loans and instead directs USDA 
to work with borrowers to finance the most reliable and cost-
effective electricity source that meets their needs.
    The Committee is concerned about the RUS Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, published February 2, 2014, regarding its 
environmental policies and procedures and directs the agency to 
report to the Committee by September 1, 2014, regarding the 
proposal's potential to increase workload and decrease 
effectiveness of its programs.
    The following table reflects the loan levels for the Rural 
Electrification and Telecommunications Loans Program Account:

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                          FY 2014  enacted  FY 2015  estimate      provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loan authorizations:
Electric:
    Direct, FFB........................................         $5,000,000         $5,000,000         $5,000,000
    Guaranteed underwriting............................            500,000              - - -            500,000
    Subtotal...........................................          5,500,000          5,000,000          5,500,000
Telecommunications:
    Direct, Treasury rate..............................            690,000            345,000            690,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Loan authorizations.....................         $6,190,000         $5,345,000         $6,190,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE, AND BROADBAND PROGRAM

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee
                                                       FY 2014  enacted    FY 2015  estimate      provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Broadband Program:
    Loan authorization..............................         $34,483,000         $44,238,000         $24,077,000
    Loan subsidy....................................           4,500,000           8,268,000           4,500,000
    Grants..........................................          10,372,000          20,372,000          10,372,000
Distance learning and telemedicine:
    Grants..........................................          24,323,000          24,950,000          20,000,000
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Loan subsidy and grants..............         $39,195,000         $53,590,000         $34,872,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband 
Program, the Committee provides an appropriation of 
$34,872,000, which includes $20,000,000 for distance learning 
and telemedicine grants.
    Broadband Loan Program Priorities.--Funding provided for 
the broadband program is intended to promote broadband 
availability in those areas where there is not otherwise a 
business case for private investment in a broadband network. 
The Committee directs RUS to focus expenditures on projects 
that bring broadband service to currently unserved households.

                                TITLE IV

                         DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS

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

2014 appropriation....................................          $811,000
2015 budget estimate..................................           816,000
Provided in the bill..................................           816,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................            +5,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, 
and Consumer Services, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $816,000. The Committee expects USDA to continue 
implementation of section 743 of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-76).
    The Committee remains concerned about the lack of 
communication and delay by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 
in completing requested reports. Reports requested by the House 
and Senate Appropriations Committees, as well as information 
regarding FNS programs, are an important part of the 
Committees' oversight responsibilities. The directives and 
issues that are specified in the House, Senate, or conference 
report are very important to the Committee, and dates are 
mandatory. FNS is expected to keep the Committee apprised of 
activities and issues, especially those mentioned in Committee 
reports. FNS is reminded that the Committee reserves the right 
to call before it any agency that does not submit reports on 
time.
    FNS is directed to provide the Committees on Appropriations 
of the House and Senate the FNS Research and Evaluation Plan 
each fiscal year when this report is available.
    The Committee directs FNS to continue making all policy 
documents related to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program 
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program (including, but 
not limited to, instructions, memoranda, guidance, and 
questions and answers) available to the public on the Internet 
within one week of their release to state WIC administrators.
    The Committee directs FNS to work with States to ensure 
full compliance with the law that all WIC and SNAP participants 
meet all program eligibility requirements. FNS also is directed 
to ensure these programs are not being promoted to ineligible 
individuals, which would increase program costs.
    The Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize that 
Americans should consume more fruits and vegetables in all of 
their forms. In order to maximize the value of the benefits 
nutrition program participants receive, the Committee urges FNS 
to recognize in relevant agency publications related to all 
Federal nutrition programs, including nutrition education 
programs, the nutritional benefits provided by all forms of 
fruits, vegetables, and beans, whether canned, dried, fresh, or 
frozen.
    Impact of the Affordable Care Act on SNAP and WIC.--The 
Committee is aware that FNS is examining how the Affordable 
Care Act (ACA) will impact and possibly increase enrollment for 
SNAP and WIC. The ACA expands eligibility for Medicaid and it 
is expected that this will lead to an increase in SNAP and WIC 
applications. The Committee directs FNS to provide an update, 
including all white papers and memos, on both of these projects 
within 30 days of enactment of this Act. As these projects 
continue, FNS is directed to keep the Committee apprised of any 
additional reports and provide the Committees on Appropriations 
of the House and Senate with the final results of these 
studies.

                       Food and Nutrition Service

                        CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................   $19,287,957,000
2015 budget estimate..................................    20,537,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................    20,523,795,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................    +1,235,838,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       -13,205,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Child Nutrition Programs, the Committee provides 
$20,523,795,000. Included in this total is $25,000,000 for 
school meals equipment grants and $27,000,000 for summer 
electronic benefit transfer (EBT) pilot projects. In carrying 
out summer EBT projects, the Committee encourages FNS to select 
populations in both rural and urban areas that have not been 
piloted.
    School Meals.--The Committee is concerned about the 
challenges and costs that local schools face in implementing 
the various regulations from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 
of 2010. Schools from across the Nation have expressed concern 
with increased food costs and plate waste coupled with 
decreased participation in the National School Lunch Program 
(NSLP), all of which is resulting in at least half of all 
school food authorities to experience a decline in revenue. A 
February 27, 2014, GAO report found that student participation 
in the NSLP declined by 1.2 million students from school year 
2010-11 through school year 2012-13. Additional meal 
requirements are scheduled to be implemented in the 2014-15 
school year as well as the ``Smart Snacks in School'' interim 
final rule.
    To address the concerns of local schools, the FY 2014 
conference report directed the Secretary to establish a waiver 
process for schools incurring costs to provide more time to 
comply with some of these regulations. On March 14, 2014, the 
Secretary responded he did not have the statutory authority to 
grant such waivers. Therefore, the Committee includes bill 
language that provides schools with flexibility by allowing 
schools experiencing a financial loss for at least a six-month 
period to seek a waiver from compliance with the final 
regulations. The Committee directs USDA to implement this 
provision in a timely and streamlined manner. Schools receiving 
a waiver under this provision shall, at a minimum, implement 
the nutrition standards in effect prior to the final rule 
issued on January 26, 2012. The bill language does not provide 
for a change in reimbursement rates and only applies to the 
2014-15 school year.
    As schools seek to implement the school meal standards, the 
Committee encourages USDA to consider ways to assist schools 
with technical assistance and training, including the services 
of not-for-profit culinary institutions, to provide healthy, 
cost-effective foods that students will eat.
    The Committee recognizes the importance of cultural and 
regional differences in food items served in the NSLP and the 
School Breakfast Program (SBP). Numerous food products are 
undergoing reformulation to meet the new nutrition standards. 
Some that have been developed are not widely available, do not 
have the proper stability or consistency to be served on school 
lunch lines, and are not palatable when compared to traditional 
and regional foods. The Committee encourages FNS to issue 
guidance within 90 days of enactment of this Act to school food 
authorities that provides alternative options in regards to 
culturally and regionally diverse food products served in the 
NSLP and SBP.
    Furthermore, the Committee is aware of concerns with the 
requirements in the proposed rule published in the Federal 
Register on February 4, 2014, ``Professional Standards for 
State and Local School Nutrition Programs Personnel.'' The 
Committee notes that the proposed standards could create 
economic hardship and adverse effects on workforce capacity 
issues, which are better addressed by local school districts. 
The Committee strongly encourages FNS to work with stakeholders 
to ensure any professional standards do not result in 
unintended consequences for local schools.
    Lastly, the Committee directs USDA to submit a report 
within 60 days of enactment of this Act that describes whether 
or not all of the food sold in all USDA cafeterias and vending 
machines in the Washington, D.C., National Capital Area meet 
the same nutrition standards as those required for the NSLP, 
SBP, and the ``Smart Snack'' rule.
    Prioritization of Monitoring and Compliance Reviews.--The 
Committee directs the Secretary to allow States to vary the 
frequency of monitoring and compliance reviews of each school 
food authority based on past school performance, with no cycle 
extending more than five years as granted in the Healthy, 
Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
    Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program.--The Committee 
recognizes that Section 4214 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
provided $5,000,000 for the pilot project for canned, frozen, 
or dried fruits and vegetables, in addition to funds made 
available for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The 
Committee directs USDA to implement the pilot at the beginning 
of the 2014-15 school year so that children in selected schools 
will have access to all forms of fruits and vegetables for the 
duration of the school year. This will ensure the full effects 
of the pilot program can be evaluated in a timely manner to 
comply with the January 1, 2015, statutory deadline for an 
interim report. The Committee encourages the Secretary to 
select States for participation that are geographically 
diverse, face barriers to accessing fresh fruits and 
vegetables, and have a large number of students eligible for 
free and reduced price meals.
    The following table reflects the Committee recommendations 
for the child nutrition programs:

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Child Nutrition Programs:
    School lunch program............................         $11,369,079
    School breakfast program........................           3,904,967
    Child and adult care food program...............           3,149,700
    Summer food service program.....................             492,738
    Special milk program............................              10,350
    State administrative expenses...................             264,016
    Commodity procurement...........................           1,199,797
    Food safety education...........................               2,709
    Coordinated review..............................              10,000
    Computer support and processing.................              11,226
    CACFP training and technical assistance.........               8,095
    CNP Studies and Evaluations.....................              20,074
    CN Payment Accuracy.............................               9,789
    Farm to School Tactical Team....................               2,251
    Team Nutrition..................................              15,504
    Healthier US School Challenge...................               1,500
    School Meals Equipment Grants...................              25,000
    Summer EBT Demonstration........................              27,000
                                                     -------------------
        Total.......................................         $20,523,795
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2014 appropriation....................................    $6,715,841,000
2015 budget estimate..................................     6,823,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................     6,623,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       -92,841,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................      -200,000,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC), the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $6,623,000,000.
    The Committee received a revised estimate from USDA showing 
that $6,623,000,000 would serve all eligible participants in 
fiscal year 2015. The decrease from the President's budget 
request is based upon several important factors. First, USDA 
has decreased the estimated average monthly participation rate 
from 8.6 million women, infants, and children to 8.5 million. 
Birth rates continue to be at a record low according to the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Second, USDA is 
projecting that more funding will be available through recovery 
and carryover funds than originally estimated. Furthermore, the 
Secretary has $125,000,000 in the WIC contingency reserve fund 
as a safety net to meet unexpected demand. With lower 
participation rates, higher carryover funds, and a sufficient 
reserve fund, USDA has revised the estimate to better reflect 
actual program needs. The Committee will continue to monitor 
WIC participation, carryover funds, and food costs and take 
additional action as necessary to ensure that funding provided 
in fiscal year 2015 is sufficient to serve all eligible 
applicants.
    The Committee provides for continuation of the 
breastfeeding peer counselor program, infrastructure, and 
investments in management information systems within the total 
amount provided in the bill. The Committee also provides 
$25,000,000 for States to continue transitioning from paper 
checks and vouchers to an EBT system. EBT is a proven, 
effective tool in combatting waste, fraud, and abuse, and all 
WIC state agencies are mandated to have an EBT system in place 
by October 1, 2020.
    Income Eligibility Standards.--The Committee recognizes 
that in response to the February 2013 GAO report, ``WIC 
Program: Improved Oversight of Income Eligibility Determination 
Needed,'' USDA issued income eligibility guidance to all state 
agencies in April 2013. The Committee directs USDA to submit a 
report within 60 days of enactment of this Act on the policies, 
procedures, training, and technical assistance it has provided 
to state WIC agencies on income eligibility determination and 
verification. The report shall include information on the 
extent to which all state WIC agencies have complied with the 
use of a standard set of income eligibility and verification 
criteria.
    Cost Management within WIC State Agencies.--The Committee 
supports USDA's efforts to rein in the cost of WIC food items 
while ensuring nutritional value and food choices for 
participants. As state agencies consider options for cost 
containment, the Committee directs FNS to closely monitor this 
process to ensure there are no unintended consequences for 
participants, vendors, or product manufacturers.
    Fraudulent Activities.--The Committee is aware that some 
individuals are selling WIC benefits or WIC-purchased infant 
formula or food items on social media sites and by other means, 
which is a violation of Federal WIC regulations. The Committee 
notes FNS issued a policy memo in February 2012 describing 
these fraudulent activities as a program violation. The 
Committee directs FNS to provide a report within 60 days of 
enactment of this Act describing how this policy is enforced 
and how many state agencies have issued claims and sanctions 
against participants for committing these activities.
    Eligible Foods.--The Committee includes bill language to 
ensure that all varieties of fresh, whole, or cut vegetables, 
except for vegetables with added sugars, fats, or oils are 
eligible for purchase through the WIC program.

               SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2014 appropriation....................................   $82,169,945,000
2015 budget estimate..................................    84,256,387,000
Provided in the bill..................................    82,251,138,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       +81,193,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................    -2,005,249,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 
the Committee provides $82,251,138,000. The total amount 
includes $3,000,000,000 for a contingency reserve to be used 
only in the amount necessary.
    Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.--The Committee has repeatedly 
directed USDA to permanently debar retailers and participants 
from the program if found guilty of fraud and abuse. However, a 
July 2013 OIG audit report identified 586 store owners that 
were allowed to continue participating in SNAP at other 
locations after being permanently disqualified. These 
ineligible store owners redeemed millions of dollars in SNAP 
benefits. The Committee directs FNS to enforce the regulations 
to ensure ineligible retailers and participants will be 
permanently disqualified from the program and directs FNS to 
report within 60 days of enactment of this Act on how the 
agency has addressed the deficiencies found by the OIG audit.
    The Committee directs FNS to report within 60 days of 
enactment of this Act on the compliance of state agencies in 
the use of the National Directory of New Hires and an 
immigration verification system as required by the Agricultural 
Act of 2014. The Committee notes additional funding has been 
provided for FNS to fight trafficking and fraud and directs FNS 
to keep the Committee apprised as fraud prevention provisions 
are implemented.
    Recruitment Activities.--The Committee directs USDA to 
ensure Section 4018 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 is 
implemented and enforced in a manner consistent with the 
statute which prohibits USDA from conducting recruitment 
activities, advertising the program, and from entering into 
agreements with foreign governments to promote SNAP benefits. 
The Committee directs USDA to enforce this provision to ensure 
state agencies are not reimbursed for similar activities 
consistent with the statute.
    Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.--The 
Committee is aware of the interest in transitioning the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands into SNAP. The FY 
2014 House report, as well as the Agricultural Act of 2014, 
directed the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study on 
establishing a SNAP program in the Northern Mariana Islands. 
The Committee expects USDA to complete this study in accordance 
with the statutory deadlines established in the Agricultural 
Act of 2014.
    The following table reflects the Committee recommendations 
for SNAP:

                         [Dollars in Thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Account:
    Benefits........................................         $71,503,411
    Contingency Reserve.............................           3,000,000
Administrative Costs:
    State Administrative Costs......................           4,118,995
    Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant             407,000
     Program........................................
    Employment and Training.........................             447,227
    Mandatory Other Program Costs...................             174,743
    Discretionary Other Program Costs...............                 998
        Administrative Subtotal.....................           5,148,964
Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico (NAP)..........           1,930,128
American Samoa......................................               7,752
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations....             119,736
TEFAP Commodities...................................             324,000
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands........              12,148
Community Food Project..............................               9,000
E&T Work Pilot......................................             190,000
Pilots and Demonstration............................               1,000
Program Access......................................               5,000
        Subtotal....................................           2,598,764
                                                     -------------------
            Total...................................         $82,251,138
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2014 appropriation....................................      $269,701,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       275,701,000
Provided in the bill..................................       275,701,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +6,000,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    The Committee provides an appropriation of $275,701,000 for 
the Commodity Assistance Program. The recommended funding level 
for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program is $208,682,000.
    The Committee recommendation includes $16,548,000 for the 
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
    The Committee has included $49,401,000 for administrative 
funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
    For the Food Donations Programs, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $1,070,000 for Pacific Island Assistance.
    TEFAP Handling and Distribution Costs.--In addition to the 
grant funds to support commodity handling and distribution 
costs, the bill permits States to use up to 10 percent of the 
funds provided for purchasing TEFAP commodities to help with 
the costs of storing, transporting, and distributing 
commodities. The Committee expects state agencies to consult 
with their emergency feeding organizations on the need for the 
conversion of such funds.

                   NUTRITION PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION

2014 appropriation....................................      $141,348,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       155,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................       150,824,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +9,467,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................        -4,176,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Nutrition Programs Administration, the Committee 
provides $150,824,000.
    The Committee does not provide funding for the Center for 
Nutrition Policy and Promotion to develop Federal dietary 
guidance for infants and children from birth to 24 months of 
age or to promote the Dietary Guidelines for Americans or 
MyPlate. The nutrition education services provided through WIC, 
along with other Federal nutrition education programs, are 
available to assist with the dietary and nutritional needs of 
infants and children. The Committee also notes that USDA does 
significant advertising of the Dietary Guidelines, MyPlate, and 
other resources to promote healthier lifestyles. These efforts 
are combined with the ``Let's Move!'' campaign and use of this 
information by the public and private sectors.
    Dietary Guidelines.--The Committee is concerned that the 
advisory committee for the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for 
Americans is considering issues outside of the nutritional 
focus of the panel. Specifically, the advisory committee is 
showing an interest in incorporating sustainability, climate 
change, and other environmental factors and production 
practices into their criteria for establishing the next dietary 
recommendations, which is clearly outside of the scope of the 
panel. The Committee directs the Secretary to ensure that the 
advisory committee focuses only on nutrient and dietary 
recommendations based upon sound nutrition science and not 
pursue an environmental agenda. Should environmental or 
production factors be included in the panel's recommendations 
to USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, the 
Committee expects the Secretary to reject their inclusion in 
the final 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

                                TITLE V

                FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

                      Foreign Agricultural Service

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Transfer from
                                                           Appropriation       export  loan          Total
                                                                                 account
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation.....................................       $177,863,000         $6,394,000       $184,257,000
2015 budget estimate...................................        182,563,000          6,394,000        188,957,000
Provided in the bill...................................        182,563,000          6,394,000        188,957,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation.................................         +4,700,000              - - -         +4,700,000
    2015 budget estimate...............................              - - -              - - -              - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $182,563,000 and transfer of 
$6,394,000.
    The Committee does not provide language authorizing the use 
of funds to pay overseas staff during a lapse in 
appropriations.
    Performance Goals and Budget Justifications.--The Committee 
stresses the need for defining budgetary needs based on 
performance goals and outcome-based measures, as defined in the 
April 2013 report from USDA's Office of Inspector General. 
These goals should be included in the budget justifications for 
increases, decreases, and base activities. Furthermore, the 
Agency's budget submission includes a major object class 
breakout overall; however, it would be more beneficial for the 
Committee to have the percentage of spending by major budget 
object class for each program and funding source, similar to 
other USDA agency's submissions. The Committee directs the 
agency to include these criteria in future budget 
justifications.

  Food for Peace Title I Direct Credit and Food for Progress Program 
                                Account

             (INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................        $2,735,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         2,528,000
Provided in the bill..................................         2,528,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................          -207,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the administrative expenses to carry out the credit 
program of Food for Peace Title I, Food for Peace Act, and the 
Food for Progress Act, the Committee provides an appropriation 
of $2,528,000.

                     Food for Peace Title II Grants

2014 appropriation....................................    $1,466,000,000
2015 budget estimate..................................     1,400,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................     1,466,000,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +66,000,000

    For Food for Peace Title II grants, the Committee provides 
$1,466,000,000, of which $375,000,000 is for non-emergency 
assistance.
    Food Aid Funding.--The Committee believes the $66 million 
reduction in the President's Budget request for Food for Peace 
Title II is simply a budgetary tactic used to give the 
appearance of savings. This proposed reduction must be viewed 
against the backdrop of the Administration's recent request to 
use the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust fund for the first time 
in several years to respond to emerging food aid crises around 
the world. For these reasons, the Committee provides funding 
for Title II at current levels.
    Food Aid Reform.--The Committee does not provide the 
changes to the Food for Peace Act requested in the President's 
budget. The Committee notes that the recently passed 2014 farm 
bill reformed the program and effectively removed the practice 
of monetization. As noted in the President's Feed the Future 
initiative, there are numerous programs across 10 Federal 
agencies that allow flexibility by providing a variety of cash 
assistance, technical assistance, and direct food donation 
programs. Transforming the Food for Peace program into a cash 
program would be duplicative of other programs and counter to 
the reforms Congress recently enacted in the 2014 farm bill.
    GAO Recommendations.--In March 2014, GAO issued a report 
(GAO-14-277) that cites deficiencies in the U.S. Agency for 
International Development's (USAID) processes for monitoring 
and evaluating the prepositioning of food aid. Specifically, 
GAO recommended that USAID systematically collect and ensure 
the reliability of data for prepositioned food aid and 
systematically monitor and assess the effectiveness of food 
aid's delivery time frames and cost.
    Also in March 2014, GAO issued a report (GAO-14-22) that 
cites deficiencies and unwillingness to use a system designed 
for shipping time and cost data collection called Web Based 
Supply Chain Management (WBSCM). The report also noted USAID's 
lack of collection of information on individual food aid 
shipments. That report recommended that USDA and USAID work 
together to ensure USDA receives accurate data and improve 
WBSCM's functionality.
    The Committee directs USDA to update the written agreement 
from 1991 with USAID to clearly define roles and 
responsibilities in managing food aid programs. The Committee 
notes that without accurate data and the use of cost-tracking 
systems the estimation of increased beneficiaries due to 
proposed reforms is difficult to formulate.
    The Committee finds GAO's recommendations useful and 
directs USDA to report to the Committee within 45 days of 
enactment of this Act on its plans to implement GAO's 
recommendations in consultation with USAID.

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

2014 appropriation....................................      $185,126,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       185,126,000
Provided in the bill..................................       198,126,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................       +13,000,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       +13,000,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and 
Child Nutrition Program Grants, the Committee provides an 
appropriation of $198,126,000.

              COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION EXPORT (LOANS)

                    CREDIT GUARANTEE PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

2014 appropriation....................................        $6,748,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         6,748,000
Provided in the bill..................................         6,748,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For administrative expenses of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation Export Loans Credit Guarantee Program Account, the 
Committee provides an appropriation of $6,748,000.

                                TITLE VI

           RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                      Food and Drug Administration

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                         [DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS]

                         [Dollars in Thousands]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Appropriation         User fees        Total, FDA  S&E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 appropriation..................................          $2,551,905          $1,794,765          $4,346,670
2015 budget estimate................................           2,575,383           1,867,968           4,443,351
Provided in the bill................................           2,574,080           1,867,968           4,442,048
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation..............................             +22,175             +73,203             +95,378
    2015 budget estimate............................              -1,303               - - -              -1,303
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee provides an appropriation of $2,574,080,000 
in new budget authority for the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA). In addition, the Committee recommends the following user 
fee amounts: $798,000,000--prescription drugs; $128,282,000--
medical devices; $312,116,000--human generic drugs; 
$21,014,000--biosimilar biologicals; $22,464,000--animal drugs; 
$6,944,000--animal generic drugs; $566,000,000--tobacco 
products; $1,434,000--food and feed recalls; $6,414,000--food 
reinspection; and, $5,300,000--voluntary qualified importers. 
The combination of new budget authority and user fees provides 
FDA with a total discretionary salaries and expenses level of 
$4,442,048,000. This total does not include permanent, 
indefinite user fees for mammography, pharmacy compounding, 
export, and color certification estimated at $33,356,000.
    The Committee recommendation does not include proposed user 
fees for food facility registration and inspection, food 
import, international courier, cosmetics, or food contact 
notification.
    The Committee does not include requested funding for a 
civilian pay increase across the agency.
    The Committee recommendation maintains the fiscal year 2014 
funding levels for the medical countermeasures initiative as 
well as recent increases for import safety. The Committee 
includes an additional $25,000,000 for food safety activities 
and $12,000,000 for pharmacy compounding activities. The 
funding provided is to support the food safety activities 
outlined in the request, such as the development of guidance, 
providing technical assistance to industry and technical 
support to FDA inspectors, as well as training for FDA and 
state inspectors. This investment is to help ensure the quality 
and consistency of inspections within the new FSMA prevention 
framework.
    FSMA Food Safety Preventative Controls for Human Food 
Rule.--FDA is directed not to implement an interim final or 
final rule regarding food safety plans under the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) until regulatory 
requirements for supplier verification and testing programs are 
proposed for public review and comment as well as an economic 
analysis of the costs and benefits associated with the 
regulatory requirements pursuant to the Administrative 
Procedure Act.
    Given the diversity in the food industry, FSMA was designed 
to be risk-based, flexible, and science-based. A one-size-fits-
all approach will not work. Yet, the Committee is very 
concerned with the overly prescriptive regulatory approach that 
the agency is taking with many of the regulations including the 
monitoring of preventive controls and verification testing 
activities. Accordingly, FDA shall ensure all FSMA regulations 
are risk-based, flexible, and science-based, and embrace the 
well-established and recognized standards for food safety 
already employed through much of the industry.
    Need to Manage Priorities.--The Committee is concerned that 
FDA is not taking necessary and required steps to provide 
agency stakeholders adequate input or economic consideration on 
an expanding list of highly technical regulatory proposals. In 
addition, the agency has provided questionable cost estimates 
on proposed rules, guidance documents, and notices of tentative 
determination. The food supply chain has been forced to provide 
comment on OMB Redline text on important FSMA proposed rules, 
not formally published in the Federal Register. Moreover, the 
agency's dramatic shift in how it determines ingredient safety 
has tremendous potential to expose the Nation's largest 
manufacturing sector and the agency to costly litigation that 
may unnecessarily lead to higher costs and taxpayer dollars 
with unknown benefits. At a time when the agency is requesting 
additional appropriations and revenue from user fees, the 
Committee recommends that the agency not overextend itself at 
the cost to consumer confidence and the Nation's economic 
health.
    FDA Partnerships Under FSMA.--The purpose of FSMA is to 
reform the nation's food safety laws to ensure a safe public 
food supply. As FDA continues implementation of FSMA, the 
Committee encourages FDA to work in partnership with existing 
government food safety programs through Memorandum of 
Understandings to verify compliance with FSMA to rules once 
they are finalized as a way to eliminate duplication of 
activities under the law.
    Pharmacy Compounding.--The Committee provides an increase 
of $12,000,000 for pharmacy compounding activities specified in 
the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA). The Committee urges 
FDA to complete inspections of compounding facilities that 
clearly fall within the agency's jurisdiction and take all 
necessary enforcement actions needed to promote the safety of 
the drug supply chain. For those pharmacies unaffected by DQSA, 
state boards of pharmacy are the proper regulator of state 
licensed pharmacies and should remain so. The Committee will 
continue to monitor FDA spending and oversight over compounding 
pharmacies to ensure the intent of both funding and legislation 
approved by Congress is observed.
    Menu Labeling.--The Committee remains concerned with FDA's 
proposed rule to regulate Nutrition Labeling of Standard Menu 
Items at Chain Restaurants. The Committee is further concerned 
that FDA has not properly considered alternatives or 
appropriately measured their impact on affected entities. The 
Committee continues to urge FDA to adopt the proposed 
alternative Option 2 definition of similar retail food 
establishments, which only applies the rule to restaurants or 
retail establishments where the primary and majority of 
business is the selling of food for immediate consumption or 
the selling of food that is processed or prepared on the 
premises. The Committee directs FDA to complete and submit to 
the Committee a detailed cost-benefit analysis, to be used in 
the final rule's review by the Office of Management and Budget, 
including an analysis of the agency's proposed options for the 
defining of ``similar retail food establishments'' that fully 
incorporates the information provided by affected non-
restaurant entities and determines which option is most 
compliant with Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and 
Review) and 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review).
    The Committee believes that the agency should take into 
account the increased costs and logistical challenges chain 
restaurants will face in meeting the requirements of the 
proposed rule. To meet the requirements of the law, FDA should 
consider a clear, conspicuous statement of required nutritional 
information on a prominently displayed poster adjacent to the 
menu board and nutritional information to be provided in 
pamphlet form prominently displayed next to drive-through menu 
boards as meeting such requirements.
    Consistent with the intent of Congress to enhance the 
provision of accurate and accessible nutritional information to 
consumers, the Committee urges FDA to modify the respective 
provisions in the proposed rule to permit restaurants and 
similar retail food establishments to: (1) label the number of 
calories in a multi-serving menu item that is typically divided 
before presentation to the consumer, by labeling the number of 
calories in the common unit division of that multi-serving menu 
item, or by labeling the number of servings and number of 
calories per serving; (2) determine and disclose nutrient 
content for variable standard menu items that come in different 
flavors, varieties, or combinations using methods that will 
enhance accuracy and accessibility to consumers, including 
ranges, averages, individual labeling of flavors or components, 
or labeling of one preset standard build; and (3) disclose 
nutrient content using a remote-access menu, such as one 
available on the Internet instead of an in-store menu, in cases 
where the majority of orders are placed by customers who are 
off-premises. Furthermore, regarding the ``reasonable basis'' 
standard applied to restaurants and similar retail food 
establishments under Section 403(q)(5)(H)(iv) of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Committee urges FDA to accept 
allowances for variation in nutrient content, such as brought 
about by variations in serving size, inadvertent human error in 
formulation of menu items, and variations in ingredients. FDA 
should not hold restaurants and similar retail food 
establishments liable for such variation in nutrient 
disclosure. If FDA's proposed rule has been finalized prior to 
the issuance of this report, the Committee directs FDA to issue 
guidance within six months of the date of this report to inform 
regulated industry of the interpretations of the nutrition 
labeling requirements set forth above.
    Bioethics Committee.--The Committee directs the agency to 
utilize a bioethics committee within the Department of Health 
and Human Services to review novel cellular and gene therapy 
matters before the Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene 
Therapies. The bioethics committee should be tasked with 
reviewing scientific and bioethical considerations prior to the 
approval of clinical trials, especially those involving oocyte 
modifications. FDA is directed to report to the Committee at a 
minimum of 30 days prior to a final agency decision on such 
matters.
    Imported Pet Food Product Transparency.--As of December 
2013, FDA has received more than 4,600 complaints of illness 
related to consumption of chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky 
treats, nearly all of which are imported from China. The 
reports involve more than 5,400 dogs, 23 cats, and include more 
than 900 canine deaths. These incidents date back to 2007. The 
Committee requests that FDA provide it with a summary of all 
activities, including discussion of noteworthy timeframes, 
associated with the investigation into the pet illnesses 
related to these products within 60 days of the enactment of 
this Act. In addition, the Committee requests that the agency 
provide it with an annual summary report on the status of the 
investigation into these illnesses beginning in April 2014 
until the issue has been resolved.
    Over-the-Counter (OTC) Cold Medicines for Children.--The 
Committee is concerned that FDA has not issued a proposed rule 
revising the monograph regulating the labeling of OTC cough and 
cold products for children. The Committee directs the agency to 
publish a proposed rule by June 30, 2014, based on scientific 
evidence for safety and efficacy in pediatric populations and 
consistent with the October 19, 2007, joint recommendations of 
its Pediatric Advisory Committee and Nonprescription Drugs 
Advisory Committee. While the Committee appreciates the 
agency's effort to explore possible improvements to the OTC 
drug monograph process, these efforts should not impede the 
prompt publication of this proposed rule.
    Drug Shortages.--The Committee is aware that shortages of 
critical drugs persist following the 2012 enactment of the Food 
and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA). 
Surveys conducted by the American Association of Nurse 
Anesthetists, the American Hospital Association, and the 
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists report persistent 
shortages of drugs used in anesthesia care, oncology, and other 
services, owing primarily to problems in manufacturing, which 
impair patient access to care and patient experiences in the 
healthcare system, delay surgical procedures, and possibly 
increase overall healthcare costs. Therefore, within the 
funding provided, the Committee directs the Commissioner to 
continue to prioritize the public reporting of manufacturing 
shortages, and to work with industry to prevent conditions that 
might lead to drug shortages.
    Seafood Advisory.--The Committee is concerned that after 
many years, FDA has not published updated advice on seafood 
consumption for pregnant women, mothers, and children. Seafood 
is an important part of a healthy diet which contains critical 
vitamins and nutrients, such as Omega 3s, which are essential 
during pregnancy to ensure optimal fetal and child development. 
The Committee directs FDA to publish final advice to pregnant 
women on seafood consumption in conjunction with all applicable 
parties as directed in House Report 112-101 and Senate Report 
112-73 by June 30, 2014. FDA shall issue its final seafood risk 
benefits assessment at the same time as the seafood advice. The 
seafood advice shall be consistent with the latest science and 
contain a clear and actionable advice that will enable the 
public, medical, and scientific communities to make informed 
dietary decisions and recommendations. Finally, FDA shall 
provide a progress report to the Committee 30 days after the 
enactment of this Act and every 30 days thereafter until the 
advisory and seafood risk benefits assessment are published.
    ANDA Review Prioritization.--In its Generic Drug User Fee 
Act commitment letter, FDA affirmed that in order to provide 
more certainty to the generic drug industry, it would expedite 
the review of Paragraph IV applications that become eligible 
for approval during the review period and other applications 
that have the potential to be the first generics to market. 
Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, the Committee directs 
FDA to report to the Committee how it has prioritized its 
abbreviated new drug application review process to ensure first 
generics are approved on the earliest possible date.
    Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee.--The 
Committee urges FDA to quickly follow up the November 2011 
meeting of the National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory 
Committee by promptly reviewing the evidence supporting 
including information related to an individual's breast density 
in the mammogram lay report and physician report.
    Accelerated Approval.--The Committee is concerned that FDA 
has underutilized the accelerated approval authority codified 
in FDASIA. Congress created this authority to facilitate review 
and approval of drugs to treat patients with rare, life-ending 
diseases that cannot reasonably be pursued through the standard 
FDA approval process. The Committee directs FDA to report on 
the way it has used this authority since 2012, its plans to use 
it in the future, and a justification for using this authority 
for diseases that are not life-ending.
    Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.--The Committee commends the 
collaboration between FDA and the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 
community to advance useful regulatory tools for benefit-risk 
considerations in this disease population and drug development 
guidance. The Committee supports the agency's engagement with 
the patient population for these purposes and to enable the 
appropriate use of regulatory flexibility as provided in 
FDASIA.
    Special Protocol Assessment Agreements.--The Committee is 
concerned about questions that have arisen in connection with 
the rescission of a Special Protocol Assessment Agreement 
(SPA), including fundamental questions concerning FDA's 
adherence to the statutory and regulatory guidelines that apply 
to the SPA process as well as to questions concerning fairness 
to the sponsors. The Committee would like to reiterate that FDA 
is expected to adhere to the established standard as informed 
by the Congressional Record and the 1997 PDUFA Goals Letter.
    The Committee is aware of FDA's ability to rescind a SPA 
agreement reached under section 505(b)(5)(C)(ii) of the Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act only if it demonstrates that ``a 
substantial scientific issue essential to determining the 
safety or efficacy of the product has been identified after the 
testing has begun.''
    This standard is informed by the Congressional Record and 
the 1997 PDUFA Goals Letter. The Congressional report explains 
that Congress intended ``that such agreements should be binding 
on both parties'' except when ``a substantial scientific issue 
has come to light after an agreement has been reached and 
testing has begun, which has a direct bearing on the safety or 
effectiveness of the product.''
    The Committee also expects that, as a matter of public 
policy and fundamental fairness to the sponsor, FDA should be 
accountable for continued diligence in identifying issues that 
bear on the continued enforceability of a SPA agreement and in 
notifying the sponsor of such issues within a reasonable period 
of time after FDA becomes aware.
    To ensure agreement over the standard to rescind a SPA, the 
Committee directs FDA to report to the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House and Senate within 60 days of 
enactment of this Act regarding the standard by which FDA would 
rescind a SPA. Lastly, to ensure agreement over the standard to 
rescind a SPA, the Committee directs FDA to revise and re-
issue, after public comment, its existing guidance regarding 
SPA agreements to clarify the agency's interpretation of the 
statutory standard regarding SPA agreements and the rescission 
of such agreements.
    Blood Plasma Products.--The Committee notes that the FDA 
Circular of Information for the Use of Human Blood and Blood 
Components states that plasma from different sources has 
identical clinical indications. Plasma from manual donation may 
be transfused and if not needed for that indication, may be 
sent for further manufacture into biologics such as 
immunoglobulin, clotting factor concentrates, and albumin. 
However, plasma from automated donation may be transfused but 
cannot be shipped for further manufacture until approximately 
one year after the donation. At that point the plasma is too 
old to be manufactured into other biologics and is destroyed 
and wasted. This seems illogical since there is a shortage of 
these biologic products in the United States. The Committee 
directs FDA to report back within 60 days of enactment of this 
Act on the scientific or medical justification for the 
different post-donation manufacturing policies and under what 
circumstances those policies might be adjusted to allow for the 
more timely use of plasma from automated donations into other 
biologics.
    Sunscreen Ingredient Review.--The Committee is extremely 
concerned that another year has passed without FDA completing 
its review of the pending Time and Extent Applications (TEAs) 
and the OTC Monograph rulemakings on sunscreens. Immediate 
action on sunscreens should be a priority since the need for 
sunscreens is evidenced by the nearly one million people that 
are currently living with skin cancer and the fact that 
melanoma is the fifth leading cause of cancer in the U.S. this 
year. FDA has listed actions related to sunscreen as a high 
priority in the Unified Agenda since 2008.
    While the Committee is encouraged that FDA has issued two 
sunscreen final rules and feedback letters to some sunscreen 
TEA applicants, significantly more work remains to protect 
Americans from developing skin cancer. The Committee directs 
FDA to complete its review by December 2014 of the remaining 
safety and effectiveness submissions already submitted for 
sunscreen active ingredients that have been found eligible for 
potential inclusion in the sunscreen monograph via TEAs and to 
work expeditiously on completing the OTC monograph rulemakings. 
The Committee is also encouraged that FDA is seeking input from 
stakeholders on how to modernize the OTC Drug Review, including 
the TEA process, and directs FDA to continue to work with 
stakeholders through the process and explore ways to improve 
the OTC Drug Review more broadly.
    Import Clearance Process.--The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Homeland Security acting through U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, should consider reprioritizing 
existing funding to ensure sufficient FDA personnel are 
available to clear shipments expeditiously at the time of their 
arrival at the port of entry including outside normal working 
hours and on holidays. The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Homeland Security acting through U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, shall develop a Trusted Trader Program 
designed to allow shipments from highly compliant importers to 
be released with minimal documentation or additional 
information being provided. This program should be designed in 
a way as to not jeopardize the safety of food and medical 
products under the agency's jurisdiction. Recognizing that FDA 
has a responsibility to ensure legitimate trade is cleared 
rapidly and that compliant shipments are not unduly detained, 
the agency will provide a report to relevant Committees of 
Congress on two statistics that measure the effectiveness of 
its targeting rules twice each year, beginning six months after 
the passage of this measure, and again after one year. This 
report will contain: (1) the number of shipments being 
identified for FDA examination as a percentage of all shipments 
subject to FDA regulatory review, and (2) the number of 
violative products detained as a percentage of those being 
held.
    Deeming Regulations.--The Committee is encouraged that FDA 
has provided options for a way forward on distinguishing 
between premium cigars and other tobacco products in its 
recently proposed rule ``Deeming Tobacco Products To Be Subject 
to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as Amended by the 
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act; Regulations 
on the Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products and Required 
Warning Statements for Tobacco Products'' (Docket No. FDA-2014-
N-0189). In particular, the Committee notes that FDA is 
considering excluding premium cigars from the scope of this 
proposed rule through Option 2. The Committee believes this 
could be a viable solution, given that the Family Smoking 
Prevention and Tobacco Control Act makes little mention of 
cigars throughout the legislation, and there is even less 
evidence that Congress intended to focus on the unique subset 
of premium cigars. The Committee notes that premium cigars are 
shown to be distinct from other tobacco products in their 
effects on youth initiation, the frequency of their use by 
youth and young adults, and other such behavioral and economic 
factors.
    Artificial Pancreas.--The Committee commends FDA for taking 
critical steps in advancing artificial pancreas systems, 
including its recent approval of the threshold suspend system. 
The Committee encourages FDA to continue collaboration with key 
stakeholders to ensure that artificial pancreas systems are 
further developed, tested, and approved, ensuring timely access 
to safe and effective systems for patients with type 1 
diabetes.
    Natural Claims.--The Committee requests that the 
Commissioner submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 
Houses of Congress a detailed document describing the agency's 
current policy with respect to natural claims on food products 
within 90 days of enactment of this Act.
    Regulation of Tree Nuts.--The Committee urges FDA to 
consider the exemption of tree nut producers from regulation 
under section 419 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
if such tree nuts meet the criteria for ``rarely consumed raw'' 
and the recipient of the produce performs commercial processing 
that adequately reduces pathogens as described in the proposed 
regulation ``Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, 
and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption; Proposed Rule''.
    Generic drug labeling.--The Committee is deeply concerned 
with FDA's proposed rule regarding ``Supplemental Applications 
Proposing Labeling Changes for Approved Drugs and Biological 
Products'' that would change longstanding policy and allow 
generics to alter their label without FDA's prior approval. 
Ironically, FDA published this proposed rule after the agency's 
recent success in launching the Sentinel Initiative. This 
initiative helps to electronically track the safety of drugs 
once they reach the market, especially in terms of identifying 
drug safety communications.
    The Committee is unaware of evidence of a need to change 
existing regulations. The proposed rule has the potential to 
threaten public health by creating unprecedented patient and 
provider confusion by having multiple labels for the same 
product, therefore undermining the longstanding policy of 
sameness. The Committee urges FDA to maintain a system where 
prescription drug labels on the market are FDA-approved, 
grounded in scientific evidence, and present no opportunity for 
mismatched dispensing or use information between the name brand 
drug and the generic version drug.
    Additionally, sufficient evidence is lacking on how FDA 
derived such a low cost estimate for this proposed rule. Under 
the proposed rule, generic and brand manufacturers could assume 
additional obligations and possible liability, which may drive 
smaller companies from the market, increase the cost of generic 
medications, and lead to additional drug shortages. FDA's cost 
impact analysis has not accounted for or addressed these or 
other unintended consequences, and further the Committee is 
concerned about the resources necessary to carry out such a 
significant policy change.
    FDA must clear up any potential confusion that will likely 
be created in going forward with the currently proposed 
regulation. The agency must also justify the cost of such a 
regulation that fails to provide a net health benefit to 
consumers and providers. The Committee directs the agency to 
complete a new economic analysis of the rule, paying particular 
attention to the cost of pharmaceutical products, before FDA 
finalizes the rule and report back to the Committee on 
Appropriations of both Houses of Congress within 90 days of 
enactment of this Act.
    National Antimicrobial Response Monitoring System 
(NARMS).--The Committee expects FDA to provide funding for the 
National Antimicrobial Response Monitoring System at $7,800,000 
and urges FDA to consider providing additional funding for this 
program if warranted. The Committee encourages FDA to utilize 
NARMS as part of the strategy to preserve the effectiveness of 
antibiotics. The agency should continue to use the NARMS data 
for evaluating new food animal antibiotics, guiding policy and 
regulations on the use of antibiotics, conducting risk 
assessments, and tracking changes in resistance to identify 
potential human and animal health problems.
    FDA User Fee Collections/Obligations.--The Committee 
continues to be concerned about the financial management of 
FDA's user fee programs. The Committee directs that not later 
than November 1, 2014, and each month thereafter through the 
months covered by this Act, the Commissioner to submit to the 
Committees on Appropriations of the House and the Senate a 
report on user fees collected for each user fee program 
included in the Act. The report shall also include monthly 
obligations incurred against such fee collections. The first 
report shall include a distinct categorization of the user fee 
balances that are being carried forward into fiscal year 2015 
for each user fee account as well as a detailed explanation of 
what accounts for the balance and what the balance will be used 
for.
    Finalization of the Veterinary Feed Directive.--The 
Committee directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
require FDA to finalize the Veterinary Feed Directive 
regulation by December 2014.
    Food Safety Monitoring.--The Committee notes that the 
National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy Plan is being 
finalized as required by Section 108 of Public Law 111-353. As 
research needs are identified to carry out this section, the 
Committee encourages FDA to consider funding research that 
would provide portable and technologically advanced testing 
platforms needed to effectively monitor and protect against 
intentional adulteration of the food supply.
    Cosmetics and Colors.--The Committee directs the Office of 
Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC) to respond by March 15, 2015, to a 
citizen petition setting safety levels for trace amounts of 
lead in cosmetics. The Committee notes that every year since FY 
2012, it has repeatedly requested that OCAC respond to this 
petition. The Committee urges OCAC to make this a priority.
    Food and Veterinary Medicine.--The Committee is aware of 
the important support provided to FDA's food and veterinary 
medicine programs and through its research and program 
relations with their centers of excellence. The Committee 
encourages FDA to maintain an appropriate funding level for 
both FSMA-related activities and the base work performed by 
these centers.
    Concerns with Opioid Application Approvals.--The Committee 
is alarmed by a growing trend of prescription drug and opioid 
abuse. The Committee notes that FDA has taken a number of 
positive steps in recent years to address this complex 
challenge. However, the Committee is discouraged by FDA's 2013 
approval of a New Drug Application for Zohydro, a high-dose 
undiluted painkiller containing hydrocodone. While the United 
States makes up only 4.6 percent of the world's population, its 
residents consume 99 percent of the world's supply of 
hydrocodone. These drugs are now the most widely prescribed 
painkillers in the U.S., and emergency room visits involving 
hydrocodone rose from 38,000 in 2004 to more than 115,000 in 
2010.
    Approving this powerful narcotic without any abuse 
deterrent formulation, despite the strong opposition of the 
relevant FDA expert Advisory Panel, seems counter to the 
assertion that ``the prevention of prescription opioid abuse is 
of the highest priority for the FDA.'' The DEA Administrator 
indicated to the Committee that the agency is spending 
considerable resources to educating agents, diversion 
investigators, and tactical diversion squads about the approval 
of this medication that ``frightens us all.'' In addition to 
strong concerns that the drug is ripe for misuse and addiction, 
the Committee is concerned that approving new applications 
without abuse deterrent properties will stifle innovation in 
this newly emerging field of scientific research.
    The Committee therefore requests that FDA provide a report 
within 60 days of enactment, including a detailed accounting of 
FDA's methodology for post-market tracking of Zohydro and 
findings to date. In addition, the Committee encourages FDA to 
continue its outreach to the medical community and provide data 
about the utilization of REMS-compliant training programs by 
prescribers. Lastly, the Committee includes bill language that 
prevents FDA from obligating $20,000,000 of its discretionary 
funding for the Office of the Commissioner unless the agency 
finalizes the draft guidance entitled ``Industry Guidance: 
Abuse-Deterrent Opioids--Evaluation and Labeling''. If by June 
30, 2015, FDA does not complete this guidance, the $20,000,000 
will be used by the Office of Criminal Investigation to assist 
in the prevention of opioid drug abuse.
    Tobacco Product Smuggling.--The Committee understands that 
nearly one in four packs of cigarettes consumed in Texas is 
smuggled in from Mexico and more than half of the cigarettes 
consumed in New York are the result of interstate smuggling 
operations. In addition, an average of one out of every five 
packs of cigarettes consumed in California, Arizona, and New 
Mexico are the result of smuggling operations. FDA's regulation 
over tobacco products provides the agency with unique expertise 
and intelligence in the area of tobacco sales and market 
dynamics. The Committee recommends FDA's Office of Criminal 
Investigations assist Federal, state, and local agencies in 
targeting the highest-level criminal tobacco trafficking 
organizations by gathering intelligence and disseminating leads 
with their partner organizations to help address this illicit 
activity.
    Compassionate Use.--The Committee is concerned with a lack 
of useful data regarding the number of Expanded Access 
(sometimes called compassionate use) requests made on behalf of 
patients that are denied by sponsors of investigational 
products. In order to obtain an accurate understanding of the 
scope of this problem, the Committee requests that GAO conduct 
a review of how FDA is working with all stakeholders to 
accelerate the approval of innovative, safe, and effective 
medicines and how FDA takes into account safety and efficacy 
data from Expanded Access programs.
    Sunscreen Labeling Regulations.--The Committee is pleased 
that FDA finalized regulations establishing significant new 
labeling and testing requirements for products marketed under 
FDA's monograph for over-the-counter sunscreen drug products. 
The Committee directs the FDA to finalize its proposed rule 
limiting the maximum Sun Protection Factor to '50' or '50+' and 
issue a proposed rule to establish testing and labeling 
standards for sunscreen sprays.
    Scientific Integrity.--Pursuant to the President's 2009 
memorandum and as directed by the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, FDA adopted a scientific integrity policy in 
2012. It appears to conform to the President's directive by 
maintaining a firm commitment to science-based, data-driven 
decision making, facilitating the free flow of scientific and 
technical information, and requiring a fair and transparent 
approach to resolving scientific disputes. The Committee 
directs the Commissioner to ensure all FDA centers agencies are 
complying with the policy and using it to guide their policy 
and regulatory decisions.
    Calorie Display in Vending Machines.--The Committee is also 
concerned with FDA's proposed rule to regulate Food Labeling 
and Calorie Labeling of Articles of Food in Vending Machines. 
To meet the requirements of the law, FDA should accept a clear, 
visible display of calories on the front of the package of 
articles of food sold from a vending machine or on the front of 
the vending machine as meeting such requirements.

                        BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

2014 appropriation....................................        $8,788,000
2015 budget estimate..................................         8,788,000
Provided in the bill..................................         8,788,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................             - - -
    2015 budget estimate..............................             - - -

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For Buildings and Facilities of the Food and Drug 
Administration, the Committee provides $8,788,000.

                          INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

                  Commodity Futures Trading Commission

2014 appropriation....................................      $215,000,000
2015 budget estimate..................................       280,000,000
Provided in the bill..................................       217,578,000
Comparison:
    2014 appropriation................................        +2,578,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       -62,422,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Committee 
provides an appropriation of $217,578,000, of which $52,578,000 
is for the purchase of information technology and $1,885,000 is 
for the Inspector General.
    Swap Dealer de minimis.--The Committee directs the 
Commission to provide clarity to market participants by 
amending CFTC regulation 1.3(ggg)(4) to require a rulemaking by 
the Commission, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure 
Act, before the ``phase-in level'' currently in effect is 
automatically reduced.
    Pay Cost.--The Committee does not include requested funding 
for a civilian pay increase across the Commission.
    Regulations.--The Committee is concerned about duplicative 
and overreaching regulations that are resource intensive. The 
Committee includes bill language directing the Commission to 
submit cost-benefit studies of these regulations to the 
Committees of jurisdiction.
    Five-year Strategic Information Technology Plan.--The 
Committee notes that the Commission did not submit a five-year, 
strategic technology investment plan per the directive in H. 
Rpt. 113-166. The Committee directs the Commission to develop 
the plan. It is essential that the Committee know where and how 
these investments are to be made with the funding provided in 
this bill per the President's request for information 
technology.
    Academic Research.--The Committee notes its concern 
regarding the Commission's reduction of the independent 
economic research by visiting scholars within the Office of 
Chief Economist (OCE). Since December 2012, the Commission has 
reduced the number of economists in the OCE by over 50%, access 
to equipment used for research has become limited, and no new 
visiting academics have joined. It has taken over a year to 
approve publication of some economic papers, delaying research 
on issues such as high frequency trading. On May 13, 2014, MIT 
professor and former CFTC Chief Economist testified before 
Congress on high frequency trading. It was revealed that his 
research was held up by the Commission for over a year. This 
raises concern given the Commission's pending rule on high 
frequency trading and the research program as a whole. The 
Committee will continue to monitor this situation.

                       Farm Credit Administration

                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

2014 limitation.......................................     ($62,600,000)
2015 budget estimate..................................      (65,100,000)
Provided in the bill..................................      (54,000,000)
Comparison:
    2014 limitation...................................        -8,600,000
    2015 budget estimate..............................       -11,100,000

                          COMMITTEE PROVISIONS

    For a limitation on the expenses of the Farm Credit 
Administration (FCA), the Committee provides $54,000,000.
    This limitation reflects FCA's approximate average level of 
obligations over the past 5 years. Authority is provided for 
FCA to exceed this limitation by up to 10 percent upon 
notification to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations.

                               TITLE VII

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

             (INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

    The General Provisions contained in the accompanying bill 
for fiscal year 2015 are fundamentally the same as those 
included in last year's appropriations bill.
    The following general provisions are included in the bill:
    Section 701: Limitation on the purchase of passenger motor 
vehicles.
    Section 702: Transfer authority regarding the Working 
Capital Fund.
    Section 703: Limitation on certain obligations.
    Section 704: Indirect cost rates for cooperative agreements 
with nonprofit institutions.
    Section 705: Disbursement of rural development loans.
    Section 706: Authority of the Chief Information Officer 
relating to new IT systems.
    Section 707: Availability of mandatory conservation program 
funding.
    Section 708: Rural Utility Service borrower eligibility.
    Section 709: Rescission of certain unobligated balances.
    Section 710: Availability of agency funds for information 
technology.
    Section 711: Funding availability for liquid infant 
formula.
    Section 712: Prohibition on first-class airline travel.
    Section 713: Use of funds authorized by the Commodity 
Credit Corporation Charter Act.
    Section 714: Limitation on funds for commodities under the 
Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act.
    Section 715: Funding for advisory committees.
    Section 716: Indirect costs for competitive agricultural 
research grants.
    Section 717: Limitation on certain funds.
    Section 718: Limitation on certain funds.
    Section 719: Language on user fee proposals without 
offsets.
    Section 720: Language on reprogramming.
    Section 721: Language on fees for the business and industry 
guaranteed loan program.
    Section 722: Language on questions for the record.
    Section 723: Language regarding prepackaged news stories.
    Section 724: Language on prohibition on paid details in 
excess of 30 days.
    Section 725: Language on the mohair program.
    Section 726: Language regarding spending plans.
    Section 727: Language on controls over humanitarian food 
assistance.
    Section 728: Language regarding Single Family Housing 
Direct Loan Program.
    Section 729: Language regarding USDA loan programs.
    Section 730: Language regarding the Packers and Stockyards 
Act.
    Section 731: Transfer authority regarding the Working 
Capital Fund.
    Section 732: Language regarding the naming of buildings.
    Section 733: Language regarding farm disaster programs.
    Section 734: Language regarding prescription drug 
approvals.
    Section 735: Language regarding federal felonies.
    Section 736: Language regarding federal tax liability.
    Section 737: Limitation on certain funds.
    Section 738: Language regarding the Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
    Section 739: Language regarding school meal programs.
    Section 740: Sense of Congress regarding the Extension 
Service.
    Section 741: Language regarding the use of funds for 
certain horse inspection activities.
    Section 742: Language regarding purchases made through 
Child Nutrition Programs.
    Section 743: Spending Reduction Account.

              HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS

                           TRANSFER OF FUNDS

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following lists the transfers of 
unexpended balances included in the accompanying bill.
    1. Hazardous Materials Management.--The bill allows the 
funds appropriated to the Department for hazardous materials 
management to be transferred to agencies of the Department as 
required.
    2. Departmental Administration.--The bill requires 
reimbursement for expenses related to certain hearings.
    3. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional 
Relations.-- The bill allows a portion of the funds 
appropriated to the Office of the Assistant Secretary to be 
transferred to agencies.
    4. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--Authority 
is included to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer 
from other appropriations or funds of the Department such sums 
as may be necessary to combat emergency outbreaks of certain 
diseases of animals, plants, and poultry.
    5. Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply.--
The bill limits the transfer of section 32 funds to purposes 
specified in the bill.
    6. Farm Service Agency Salaries and Expenses.--The bill 
provides that funds provided to other accounts in the agency 
may be merged with the salaries and expenses account of the 
Farm Service Agency.
    7. Dairy Indemnity Program.--The bill authorizes the 
transfer of funds to the Commodity Credit Corporation, by 
reference.
    8. Commodity Credit Corporation.--The bill includes 
language allowing certain funds to be transferred to the 
Foreign Agricultural Service for information resource 
management activities.
    9. Rural Development Salaries and Expenses.--The bill 
provides that prior year balances from certain accounts shall 
be transferred to and merged with this account.
    10. Rural Community Facilities Program Account, Rural 
Business Program Account, and Rural Water and Waste Disposal 
Program Account.--The bill provides that balances from the 
Rural Community Advancement Program may be transferred to and 
merged with these accounts.
    11. Child Nutrition Programs.--The bill includes authority 
to transfer section 32 funds to these programs.
    12. Foreign Agricultural Service Salaries and Expenses.--
The bill allows for the transfer of funds from the Commodity 
Credit Corporation Export Loan Program Account.
    13. Food for Peace Title I Direct Credit and Food for 
Progress Program Account.--The bill allows funds to be 
transferred to the Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses 
account. The bill also provides that funds made available for 
the cost of title I agreements and for title I ocean freight 
differential may be used interchangeably.
    14. Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program.--The 
bill provides for transfer of funds to the Foreign Agricultural 
Service and to the Farm Service Agency for overhead expenses 
associated with credit reform.
    15. Food and Drug Administration, Salaries and Expenses.--
The bill allows funds to be transferred among activities.
    16. General Provisions.--The bill allows unobligated 
balances of discretionary funds to be transferred to the 
Working Capital Fund.

               CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following statements are 
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the 
accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the 
application of existing law.
    The bill includes a number of provisions which place 
limitations on the use of funds in the bill or change existing 
limitations and which might, under some circumstances, be 
construed as changing the application of existing law:
    1. Office of the Secretary.--Language is included to limit 
the amount of funds for official reception and representation 
expenses, as determined by the Secretary.
    2. Departmental Administration.--Language is included to 
reimburse the agency for travel expenses incident to the 
holding of hearings.
    3. Agricultural Research Service.--Language is included 
that allows the Agricultural Research Service to grant 
easements at the Beltsville, MD, agricultural research center 
and to grant easements at any facility for the construction of 
a research facility for use by the agency.
    4. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.--A provision 
carried in the bill since fiscal year 1973 regarding state 
matching funds has been continued to assure more effective 
operation of the brucellosis control program through state cost 
sharing, with resulting savings to the Federal budget.
    Language is included to allow APHIS to recoup expenses 
incurred from providing technical assistance goods, or services 
to non-APHIS personnel, and to allow transfers of funds for 
agricultural emergencies.
    Language is included to limit the amount of funds for 
representational allowances.
    5. Agricultural Marketing Service, Limitation on 
Administrative Expenses.--The bill includes language to allow 
AMS to exceed the limitation on administrative expenses by 10 
percent with notification to the Appropriations Committees. 
This allows flexibility in case crop size is understated and/or 
other uncontrollable events occur.
    6. Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, 
Inspection and Weighing Services.--The bill includes authority 
to exceed the limitation on inspection and weighing services by 
10 percent with notification to the Appropriations Committees. 
This allows for flexibility if export activities require 
additional supervision and oversight, or other uncontrollable 
factors occur.
    7. Dairy Indemnity Program.--Language is included by 
reference that allows the Secretary to utilize the services of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation for the purpose of making 
dairy indemnity payments.
    8. Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account.--
Language is included that deems the pink bollworm a boll weevil 
for the purposes of administering the boll weevil loan program.
    9. Risk Management Agency.--Language is included to limit 
the amount of funds for official reception and representation 
expenses.
    10. Commodity Credit Corporation Fund.--Language is 
included to provide for the reimbursement appropriation. 
Language is also included to allow certain funds transferred 
from the Commodity Credit Corporation to be used for 
information resource management. In addition, language is 
included which limits the amount of funds that can be spent on 
operation and maintenance costs of CCC hazardous waste sites.
    11. Natural Resources Conservation Service.--Conservation 
Operations.--Language which has been included in the bill since 
1938 prohibits construction of buildings on land not owned by 
the government, although construction on land owned by States 
and counties is permitted as authorized by law.
    12. Rural Development Salaries and Expenses.--Language is 
included to allow funds to be used for advertising and 
promotional activities and to limit the amount of funds to 
provide modest nonmonetary awards to non-USDA employees.
    13. Rental Assistance Program.--Language is included which 
provides that agreements entered into during the current fiscal 
year be funded for a one-year period. Language also is included 
to renew contracts once during any 12-month period.
    14. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC).--Language is included to purchase 
infant formula except in accordance with law and pay for 
activities that are not fully reimbursed by other departments 
or agencies unless authorized by law.
    15. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.--Language is 
included to enter into contracts and employ staff to conduct 
studies, evaluations, or to conduct activities related to 
program integrity.
    16. Foreign Agricultural Service.--Language carried since 
1979 enables this agency to use funds received by an advance or 
by reimbursement to carry out its activities involving 
international development and technical cooperation. Language 
is included to limit the amount of funds for official reception 
and representation expenses.
    17. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.--Language is 
included to limit the amount of funds for official reception 
and representation expenses.
    18. Farm Credit Administration.--The bill includes 
authority to exceed the limitation on assessments by 10 percent 
with notification to the Appropriations Committees.
    19. General Provisions.--
    Section 704: This provision provides that none of the funds 
in this Act may be made available to pay indirect costs charged 
against competitive agricultural research, education, or 
extension grants awarded by the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture in excess of 10 percent of total direct costs.
    Section 705: This provision allows funds made available in 
the current fiscal year for the Rural Development Loan Fund 
program account; the Rural Electrification and 
Telecommunications Loans program account; and the Rural Housing 
Insurance Fund program account to remain available until 
expended to disburse obligations.
    Section 706: Language is included that requires approval of 
the Chief Information Officer and the concurrence of the 
Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board for 
acquisition of new information technology systems or 
significant upgrades, and that prohibits the transfer of funds 
to the Office of the Chief Information Officer without the 
notification of the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses 
of Congress.
    Section 707: Language is included regarding the 
availability of funds for certain conservation programs.
    Section 708: Language is included regarding certain Rural 
Utilities Service Programs.
    Section 710: Language is included that allows unobligated 
balances of the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development 
mission areas to be used for information technology purposes.
    Section 711: Language is included regarding reconstituted 
liquid concentrate infant formula issuance to WIC participants.
    Section 712: Language is included regarding the prohibition 
of first-class travel by the employees of agencies funded in 
this Act.
    Section 713: Language is included regarding the use of 
authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
    Section 715: Language is included that limits the amount of 
spending for USDA Advisory Committees.
    Section 716: Language is included modifying matching 
requirements for certain research grants.
    Section 717: Language regarding certain limitations.
    Section 718: Language regarding certain limitations.
    Section 719: Language is included that prohibits funds from 
being used to prepare a budget submission to Congress that 
assumes reductions from the previous year's budget due to user 
fee proposals unless the submission also identifies spending 
reductions which should occur if the user fees are not enacted.
    Section 720: Language is included that requires certain 
reprogramming procedures of funds provided in Appropriations 
Acts.
    Section 721: Language is included regarding fees for the 
business and industry guaranteed loan program.
    Section 722: This provision prohibits the Department of 
Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration from 
transmitting or making available to any non-Department of 
Agriculture or non-Department of Health and Human Services 
employee questions or responses to questions that are a result 
of information requested for the appropriations hearing 
process.
    Section 723: Language regarding prepackaged news stories.
    Section 724: This provision prohibits any employee of the 
Department of Agriculture from being detailed or assigned to 
any other agency or office of the Department for more than 30 
days unless the individual's employing agency or office is 
fully reimbursed by the receiving agency or office for the 
salary and expenses of the employee for the period of 
assignment.
    Section 725: Language is included regarding the mohair 
program.
    Section 727: Language is included regarding the use funds 
for humanitarian food assistance programs.
    Section 728: Language is included regarding the Single 
Family Housing Direct Loan Program.
    Section 729: Language is included on certain USDA loan 
programs.
    Section 730: Language is included regarding the Packers and 
Stockyards Act.
    Section 731: Language is included regarding the Working 
Capital Fund.
    Section 733: Language is included on farm disaster 
programs.
    Section 734: Language is included regarding prescription 
drug approvals.
    Section 735: Language is included regarding federal 
criminal felonies.
    Section 736: Language is included regarding federal tax 
liability.
    Section 737: Language is included to limit certain funds.
    Section 738: Language is included regarding the WIC food 
package.
    Section 739: Language is included regarding school meal 
programs.
    Section 741: Language is included regarding the use of 
funds for certain horse inspection activities.
    Section 742: Language is included regarding purchases made 
through Child Nutrition Programs.
    Section 743: Spending Reduction Account.

   DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ITEMS

    Neither the bill nor the report contains any Congressional 
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as 
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.

         STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

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

                          PROGRAM DUPLICATION

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

                          DIRECTED RULE MAKING

    The bill does not direct any rule making.

                  APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW

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

                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Appropriations in
           Agency/Program                Last Year of      Authorization       last year of    Appropriations in
                                        authorization          Level          authorization        this  bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Multi-family Housing Revitalization           9/30/2014             32,575             32,575             28,000
 Program............................
    Commodity Futures Trading                 9/30/2013          Such sums            215,000            217,578
     Commission.....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              RESCISSIONS

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following lists the rescissions 
of unexpended balances included in the accompanying bill:
    The bill proposes rescissions of $155,000,000 of funds 
derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments under 
the Rural Economic Development Loans Program Account; 
$50,000,000 from the Watershed Rehabilitation Program; 
$122,000,000 from Section 32 funds; $13,000,000 from Food for 
Peace Title I grants; and $125,000,000 from the Emergency 
Livestock Assistance Program.

          COMPLIANCE WITH RULE XIII, CL. 3(E) (RAMSEYER RULE)

    In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee notes that the 
accompanying bill does not propose to repeal or amend a statute 
or part thereof.

                 COMPARISON WITH THE BUDGET RESOLUTION

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

                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                302(b) Allocation                         This bill
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Budget Authority       Outlays        Budget Authority       Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary.......................             20,880             21,848             20,880          \1\21,716
Mandatory...........................            114,937            107,310            114,937        \1\107,310
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

                      FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS

    Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, the following table contains five-year 
projections prepared by the Congressional Budget Office of 
outlays associated with the budget authority provided in the 
accompanying bill:

                        [In millions of dollars]

Projection of outlays associated with the
 recommendation:
    2015..............................................        \1\114,820
    2016..............................................             4,578
    2017..............................................               922
    2018..............................................               242
    2019 and future years.............................             -888

\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

               ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

    Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, the amounts of financial assistance to 
State and local governments is as follows:

                        [In millions of dollars]

Budget Authority......................................            38,896
Outlays...............................................        \1\32,826

\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

      MINORITY VIEWS OF THE HON. NITA LOWEY AND THE HON. SAM FARR

    We voted against reporting the bill from committee because 
of our concerns about several aspects of the measure.
    Among those concerns are two highly objectionable nutrition 
riders.
    First, we are deeply concerned that the bill would allow 
school food authorities (SFAs) to get waivers from complying 
with the improved lunch and breakfast nutrition standards in 
the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act (HHFKA) if they can show that 
they are operating at a net loss.
    At the signing ceremony for the HHFKA, President Obama 
explained the need for the act as follows:
          ``At a very basic level, this act is about doing 
        what's right for our children. Right now, across the 
        country, too many kids don't have access to school 
        meals. And often, the food that's being offered isn't 
        as healthy or as nutritious as it should be. That's 
        part of the reason why one in three children in America 
        today are either overweight or obese.
          ``And we're seeing this problem in every part of the 
        country in kids from all different backgrounds and all 
        walks of life. As a result, doctors are now starting to 
        see conditions like high blood pressure, high 
        cholesterol and Type II diabetes in children--these are 
        things that they only used to see in adults. And this 
        bill is about reversing that trend and giving our kids 
        the healthy futures that they deserve.''
    We believe that rather than going backwards and serving 
children in some schools less healthy meals, we should be 
encouraging USDA to continue giving schools the technical 
assistance they need to meet the standards. We should also be 
encouraging USDA to continue providing flexibility, where 
warranted, in meeting nutrition standards.
    The approach in this bill, however, is unacceptable.
    Second, we are very troubled by the inclusion of bill 
language requiring that white potatoes be eligible for purchase 
in the WIC program. WIC provides supplemental nutrition through 
specified foods. For fruits and vegetables, WIC benefits are 
provided through vouchers and are extremely limited--currently 
a maximum of $10 per person per month.
    USDA explained its policy with respect to white potatoes as 
follows:
          The restriction of white potatoes, as recommended by 
        the IOM, is based on data indicating that consumption 
        of starchy vegetables meets or exceeds recommended 
        amounts, and food intake data showing that white 
        potatoes are the most widely used vegetable. Including 
        white potatoes in the WIC food packages would not 
        contribute towards meeting the nutritional needs of the 
        WIC population and would not support the goal of 
        expanding the types and varieties of fruits and 
        vegetables available to program participants, as 
        recommended by the IOM.
    Recognizing the interest in this issue, USDA has said that 
it would start the regular review of the food package that had 
been scheduled for 2015 a year earlier to determine if the 
exclusion of white potatoes is still based on the most current 
scientific information.
    This is the right approach. Congress has never mandated the 
inclusion of a specific food item in the WIC food package in 
the history of the program. If this ill-advised provision were 
to become law, it would set a dangerous precedent for 
congressional efforts to undermine the scientific basis for 
WIC.
    While funding levels in the bill are, in general, 
acceptable, there are some exceptions. The most notable is the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, funded at $217.6 million, 
which is $62.4 million below the president's request. As we 
said last year, the Republican majority must drop the pretense 
that the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act is going to be repealed and provide the agency the 
resources it needs to fulfill its mandate.
    On the positive side, we are pleased that the bill restores 
Food for Peace (FFP) funding to the 2014 level of $1.466 
billion ($66 million over the request) and increases funding 
for the McGovern-Dole program by $13 million over 2014 and the 
request, to $198.1 million.
    However, we have strong concerns about the exclusion of 
important reforms that would have furthered the impact of each 
dollar spent on food aid. First, although the 2014 omnibus and 
the President's 2015 budget set aside $35 million from the 
total FFP account for greater flexibility in development 
assistance, this was not included in this bill. The language 
would allow us to feed up to 200,000 more people at no extra 
cost to the taxpayer. Second, we would have liked to include 
the President's request to allow up to 25% of the total account 
to be used for cash-based food assistance in emergency 
situations. That language would allow us to assist about 2 
million more people around the world at no additional cost. We 
hope that as this bill moves forward, we can include these 
provisions, promote local capacity development, and assist as 
many people as possible with the dollars we provide.
    While we will do our best to address the problems we have 
described here as the legislative process moves forward, we do 
not support the bill in its current form.

                                                     Nita M. Lowey.
                                                          Sam Farr.

                                  
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