Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes, namely: I AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS Processing, Research and Marketing Office of the Secretary (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, $48,355,000, of which not to exceed $5,051,000 shall be available for the immediate Office of the Secretary; not to exceed $502,000 shall be available for the Office of Tribal Relations; not to exceed $800,000 shall be available for the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Executive operations Office of the chief economist For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Economist, $16,917,000, of which $4,000,000 shall be for grants or cooperative agreements for policy research under 7 U.S.C. 3155 Office of Hearings and Appeals For necessary expenses of the Office of Hearings and Appeals, $13,399,000. Office of budget and program analysis For necessary expenses of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, $9,525,000. Office of the chief information officer For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Information Officer, $58,950,000. Office of the chief financial officer For necessary expenses of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, $8,028,000. Office of the assistant secretary for civil rights For necessary expenses of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, $901,000: Provided Office of civil rights For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $24,206,000. Agriculture buildings and facilities (including transfers of funds) For payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public Law 92–313 40 U.S.C. 121 Hazardous materials management (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Department of Agriculture, to comply with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9601 42 U.S.C. 6901 Provided Office of inspector general For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General, including employment pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, $98,208,000, including such sums as may be necessary for contracting and other arrangements with public agencies and private persons pursuant to section 6(a)(9) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, and including not to exceed $125,000 for certain confidential operational expenses, including the payment of informants, to be expended under the direction of the Inspector General pursuant to Public Law 95–452 Public Law 97–98 Office of the general counsel For necessary expenses of the Office of the General Counsel, $44,697,000. Office of ethics For necessary expenses of the Office of Ethics, $4,136,000. Office of the under secretary for research, education, and economics For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, $893,000: Provided Economic research service For necessary expenses of the Economic Research Service, $86,757,000. National agricultural statistics service For necessary expenses of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, $191,717,000, of which up to $63,350,000 shall be available until expended for the Census of Agriculture: Provided 7 U.S.C. 2204g(d) Agricultural research service salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Research Service and for acquisition of lands by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100, and for land exchanges where the lands exchanged shall be of equal value or shall be equalized by a payment of money to the grantor which shall not exceed 25 percent of the total value of the land or interests transferred out of Federal ownership, $1,182,435,000: Provided Provided further 7 U.S.C. 2250 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further 21 U.S.C. 113a Provided further Provided further National institute of food and agriculture Research and education activities For payments to agricultural experiment stations, for cooperative forestry and other research, for facilities, and for other expenses, $854,871,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table titled National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Research and Education Activities Provided Provided further, Provided further, Provided further, 7 U.S.C. 3221 Provided further 7 U.S.C. 450i(b) Native american institutions endowment fund For the Native American Institutions Endowment Fund authorized by Public Law 103–382 7 U.S.C. 301 Extension activities For payments to States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Micronesia, the Northern Marianas, and American Samoa, $481,376,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table titled National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Extension Activities Provided Provided further, 7 U.S.C. 3221 Provided further 7 U.S.C. 343(b) Public Law 93–471 Integrated activities For the integrated research, education, and extension grants programs, including necessary administrative expenses, $37,000,000, which shall be for the purposes, and in the amounts, specified in the table titled National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Integrated Activities Provided Provided further 7 U.S.C. 7626 Office of the under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, $901,000: Provided Animal and plant health inspection service Salaries and expenses (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, including up to $30,000 for representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 ( 22 U.S.C. 4085 contingency fund 15 U.S.C. 1831 Provided Provided further Provided further, Provided further Provided further 7 U.S.C. 8310 7 U.S.C. 7751 Provided further 7 U.S.C. 2250 In fiscal year 2018, the agency is authorized to collect fees to cover the total costs of providing technical assistance, goods, or services requested by States, other political subdivisions, domestic and international organizations, foreign governments, or individuals, provided that such fees are structured such that any entity's liability for such fees is reasonably based on the technical assistance, goods, or services provided to the entity by the agency, and such fees shall be reimbursed to this account, to remain available until expended, without further appropriation, for providing such assistance, goods, or services. Buildings and facilities For plans, construction, repair, preventive maintenance, environmental support, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2250 7 U.S.C. 428a Agricultural marketing service Marketing services For necessary expenses of the Agricultural Marketing Service, $88,933,000, of which $3,000,000 shall be available for the purposes of section 12306 of Public Law 113–79 Provided 7 U.S.C. 2250 Fees may be collected for the cost of standardization activities, as established by regulation pursuant to law ( 31 U.S.C. 9701 Limitation on administrative expenses Not to exceed $60,982,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative expenses: Provided Funds for strengthening markets, income, and supply (section 32) (including transfers of funds) Funds available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 ( 7 U.S.C. 612c Payments to states and possessions For payments to departments of agriculture, bureaus and departments of markets, and similar agencies for marketing activities under section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 7 U.S.C. 1623(b) Grain inspection, packers and stockyards administration Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, $43,482,000: Provided 7 U.S.C. 2250 Limitation on inspection and weighing services expenses Not to exceed $57,500,000 (from fees collected) shall be obligated during the current fiscal year for inspection and weighing services: Provided Office of the under secretary for food safety For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, $819,000: Provided Food Safety and Inspection Service For necessary expenses to carry out services authorized by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, including not to exceed $50,000 for representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 ( 7 U.S.C. 1766 7 U.S.C. 138f Provided Provided further Provided further Public Law 110–246 Public Law 113–79 Provided further 7 U.S.C. 2250 II Office of the under secretary for farm production and conservation For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, $901,000: Provided Farm service agency Salaries and expenses (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Farm Service Agency, $1,212,116,000: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further State mediation grants For grants pursuant to section 502(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, as amended ( 7 U.S.C. 5101–5106 Grassroots source water protection program For necessary expenses to carry out wellhead or groundwater protection activities under section 1240O of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839bb–2 Dairy indemnity program (including transfer of funds) For necessary expenses involved in making indemnity payments to dairy farmers and manufacturers of dairy products under a dairy indemnity program, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended: Provided Public Law 106–387 Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account (including transfers of funds) For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed farm ownership ( 7 U.S.C. 1922 7 U.S.C. 1941 7 U.S.C. 1961 25 U.S.C. 488 7 U.S.C. 1989 7 U.S.C. 1924 25 U.S.C. 488 Provided For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans and grants, including the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: farm operating loans, $61,812,000 for direct operating loans, $21,756,000 for unsubsidized guaranteed operating loans, emergency loans, $1,111,000 and $2,272,000 for Indian highly fractionated land loans to remain available until expended. In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $317,068,000, of which $306,998,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses Funds appropriated by this Act to the Agricultural Credit Insurance Program Account for farm ownership, operating and conservation direct loans and guaranteed loans may be transferred among these programs: Provided Risk management agency salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Risk Management Agency, $74,829,000: Provided 7 U.S.C. 1506(i) Natural resources conservation service Conservation operations For necessary expenses for carrying out the provisions of the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590a–f), including preparation of conservation plans and establishment of measures to conserve soil and water (including farm irrigation and land drainage and such special measures for soil and water management as may be necessary to prevent floods and the siltation of reservoirs and to control agricultural related pollutants); operation of conservation plant materials centers; classification and mapping of soil; dissemination of information; acquisition of lands, water, and interests therein for use in the plant materials program by donation, exchange, or purchase at a nominal cost not to exceed $100 pursuant to the Act of August 3, 1956 ( 7 U.S.C. 428a Provided 7 U.S.C. 2250 Provided further Provided further 16 U.S.C. 1001–1005 Watershed and flood prevention operations For necessary expenses to carry out preventive measures, including but not limited to surveys and investigations, engineering operations, works of improvement, and changes in use of land, in accordance with the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1001–1005 Provided Public Law 78–534 Corporations The following corporations and agencies are hereby authorized to make expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to each such corporation or agency and in accord with law, and to make contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for such corporation or agency, except as hereinafter provided. Federal crop insurance corporation fund For payments as authorized by section 516 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1516 Commodity credit corporation fund Reimbursement for net realized losses (including transfers of funds) For the current fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for net realized losses sustained, but not previously reimbursed, pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 17, 1961 ( 15 U.S.C. 713a–11 Provided 15 U.S.C. 714i Hazardous waste management (limitation on expenses) For the current fiscal year, the Commodity Credit Corporation shall not expend more than $5,000,000 for site investigation and cleanup expenses, and operations and maintenance expenses to comply with the requirement of section 107(g) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9607(g) 42 U.S.C. 6961 III Rural development programs Office of the under secretary for rural development For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development, $896,000: Provided Rural development salaries and expenses (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses for carrying out the administration and implementation of programs in the Rural Development mission area, including activities with institutions concerning the development and operation of agricultural cooperatives; and for cooperative agreements; $225,835,000: Provided Provided further Rural housing service Rural housing insurance fund program account (including transfers of funds) For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by title V of the Housing Act of 1949, to be available from funds in the rural housing insurance fund, as follows: $1,000,000,000 shall be for direct loans and $24,000,000,000 shall be for unsubsidized guaranteed loans; $26,278,000 for section 504 housing repair loans; $35,000,000 for section 515 rental housing; $230,000,000 for section 538 guaranteed multi-family housing loans; $10,000,000 for credit sales of single family housing acquired property; $5,000,000 for section 523 self-help housing land development loans; and $5,000,000 for section 524 site development loans. For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: section 502 loans, $38,500,000 shall be for direct loans; section 504 housing repair loans, $3,240,000; repair, rehabilitation, and new construction of section 515 rental housing, $9,209,000; section 523 self-help land development loans, $368,000; section 524 site development loans, $58,000: Provided 2 U.S.C. 661 Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1490q Provided further Provided further Asset Management Fee In addition, for the cost of direct loans, grants, and contracts, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1484 Provided In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $412,254,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses Rental assistance program For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, $1,345,293,000, of which $40,000,000 shall be available until September 30, 2019; and in addition such sums as may be necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Multi-family housing revitalization program account For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949, but notwithstanding subsection (b) of such section, and for additional costs to conduct a demonstration program for the preservation and revitalization of multi-family rental housing properties described in this paragraph, $41,400,000, to remain available until expended: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Mutual and self-help housing grants For grants and contracts pursuant to section 523(b)(1)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1490c Rural housing assistance grants For grants for very low-income housing repair and rural housing preservation made by the Rural Housing Service, as authorized by 42 U.S.C. 1474 Rural community facilities program account (including transfers of funds) For gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by section 306 and described in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $3,000,000,000 for direct loans and $148,305,000 for guaranteed loans. For the cost of guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans, as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, $4,850,000, to remain available until expended. For the cost of grants for rural community facilities programs as authorized by section 306 and described in section 381E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $43,778,000, to remain available until expended: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Public Law 106–387 Provided further Provided further Provided further Rural business—Cooperative service Rural business program account (including transfers of funds) For the cost of loan guarantees and grants, for the rural business development programs authorized by section 310B and described in subsections (a), (c), (f) and (g) of section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $64,342,000, to remain available until expended: Provided 7 U.S.C. 2009aa Provided further Provided further Provided further, Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account (including transfer of funds) For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized by the Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account ( 7 U.S.C. 1936b For the cost of direct loans, $4,361,000, as authorized by the Intermediary Relending Program Fund Account ( 7 U.S.C. 1936b Public Law 100–460 Provided In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct loan programs, $4,468,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses Rural economic development loans program account (including rescission of funds) For the principal amount of direct loans, as authorized under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation projects, $42,213,000. Of the funds derived from interest on the cushion of credit payments, as authorized by section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, $196,000,000 shall not be obligated and $196,000,000 are rescinded. The cost of grants authorized under section 313 of the Rural Electrification Act, for the purpose of promoting rural economic development and job creation projects shall not exceed $10,000,000. Rural cooperative development grants For rural cooperative development grants authorized under section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1932 Provided 7 U.S.C. 1632a Public Law 107–171 For the cost of a program of loan guarantees, under the same terms and conditions as authorized by section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8107 Provided Rural utilities service Rural water and waste disposal program account (including transfers of funds) For the cost of direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for the rural water, waste water, waste disposal, and solid waste management programs authorized by sections 306, 306A, 306C, 306D, 306E, and 310B and described in sections 306C(a)(2), 306D, 306E, and 381E(d)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, $550,383,000, to remain available until expended, of which not to exceed $1,000,000 shall be available for the rural utilities program described in section 306(a)(2)(B) of such Act, and of which not to exceed $993,000 shall be available for the rural utilities program described in section 306E of such Act: Provided, Provided further, Provided further, Public Law 105–83 Provided further, Public Law 105–83 Provided further, Provided further, Provided further, Provided further, 7 U.S.C. 918a Provided further, 7 U.S.C. 918a Provided further Rural electrification and telecommunications loans program account (including transfer of funds) The principal amount of direct and guaranteed loans as authorized by sections 305, 306, and 317 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 935 Provided For the cost of direct loans as authorized by section 305 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 ( 7 U.S.C. 935 In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to carry out the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $33,270,000, which shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses Distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program For the principal amount of broadband telecommunication loans, $27,043,000. For grants for telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas, as authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa Provided Provided further For the cost of broadband loans, as authorized by section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act, $4,530,000, to remain available until expended: Provided In addition, $30,000,000, to remain available until expended, for a grant program to finance broadband transmission in rural areas eligible for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program benefits authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa IV Domestic Food Programs Office of the under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, $814,000: Provided Food and Nutrition Service Child nutrition programs (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to carry out the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 42 U.S.C. 1771 Public Law 110–246 Provided 42 U.S.C. 1771 Provided further Provided further Public Law 111–80 Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1769g(d) 2010 through 2017 2010 through 2018 Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(3) For fiscal year 2017 For fiscal year 2018 Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(4) For fiscal year 2017 For fiscal year 2018 Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (wic) For necessary expenses to carry out the special supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 Provided 42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(10) Provided further Provided further Provided further Supplemental nutrition assistance program For necessary expenses to carry out the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Commodity assistance program For necessary expenses to carry out disaster assistance and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program as authorized by section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 ( 7 U.S.C. 612c Public Law 108–188 Provided Provided further Provided further 7 U.S.C. 2036(a) Nutrition programs administration For necessary administrative expenses of the Food and Nutrition Service for carrying out any domestic nutrition assistance program, $153,841,000: Provided Public Law 107–171 Public Law 110–246 V Foreign assistance and related programs Office of the under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs For necessary expenses of the Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, $875,000: Provided Foreign Agricultural Service salaries and expenses (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses of the Foreign Agricultural Service, including not to exceed $250,000 for representation allowances and for expenses pursuant to section 8 of the Act approved August 3, 1956 ( 7 U.S.C. 1766 Provided 7 U.S.C. 1737 Provided further Food for peace title i direct credit and food for progress program account (including transfer of funds) For administrative expenses to carry out the credit program of title I, Food for Peace Act ( Public Law 83–480 Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses food for peace title ii grants For expenses during the current fiscal year, not otherwise recoverable, and unrecovered prior years' costs, including interest thereon, under the Food for Peace Act ( Public Law 83–480 mcgovern-dole international food for education and child nutrition program grants For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 1736o–1 Provided Provided further 7 U.S.C. 1726c Commodity credit corporation export (loans) credit guarantee program account (including transfers of funds) For administrative expenses to carry out the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Guarantee Program, GSM 102 and GSM 103, $8,537,000; to cover common overhead expenses as permitted by section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and in conformity with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, of which $6,074,000 shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for Foreign Agricultural Service, Salaries and Expenses Farm Service Agency, Salaries and Expenses VI Related agencies and food and drug administration Department of health and human services Food and Drug Administration Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Food and Drug Administration, including hire and purchase of passenger motor vehicles; for payment of space rental and related costs pursuant to Public Law 92–313 Public Law 107–188 Provided 21 U.S.C. 379h 21 U.S.C. 379j 21 U.S.C. 379j–42 21 U.S.C. 379j–52 21 U.S.C. 379j–12 21 U.S.C. 379j–21 21 U.S.C. 387s Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further 21 U.S.C. 379dd(n) Provided further other activities Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General Provided further In addition, mammography user fees authorized by 42 U.S.C. 263b 21 U.S.C. 381 21 U.S.C. 360n 21 U.S.C. 379j–31 21 U.S.C. 379j–62 21 U.S.C. 353(e)(3) 21 U.S.C. 360eee–3(c)(1) 21 U.S.C. 384d(c)(8) Buildings and facilities For plans, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, demolition, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities of or used by the Food and Drug Administration, where not otherwise provided, $11,788,000, to remain available until expended. FDA innovation account, cures act For necessary expenses to carry out the purposes described under section 1002(b)(4) of the 21st Century Cures Act, in addition to amounts available for such purposes under the heading Salaries and Expenses Provided Department of Health and Human Services—Food and Drug Administration— Salaries and Expenses Provided further Provided further Independent agency Farm credit administration Limitation on administrative expenses Not to exceed $69,000,000 (from assessments collected from farm credit institutions, including the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation) shall be obligated during the current fiscal year for administrative expenses as authorized under 12 U.S.C. 2249: Provided Provided further VII GENERAL PROVISIONS (INCLUDING RESCISSIONS AND TRANSFERS OF FUNDS) 701. Within the unit limit of cost fixed by law, appropriations and authorizations made for the Department of Agriculture for the current fiscal year under this Act shall be available for the purchase, in addition to those specifically provided for, of not to exceed 71 passenger motor vehicles of which 68 shall be for replacement only, and for the hire of such vehicles: Provided 702. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may transfer unobligated balances of discretionary funds appropriated by this Act or any other available unobligated discretionary balances that are remaining available of the Department of Agriculture to the Working Capital Fund for the acquisition of plant and capital equipment necessary for the delivery of financial, administrative, and information technology services of primary benefit to the agencies of the Department of Agriculture, such transferred funds to remain available until expended: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further 703. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. 704. No funds appropriated by this Act may be used to pay negotiated indirect cost rates on cooperative agreements or similar arrangements between the United States Department of Agriculture and nonprofit institutions in excess of 10 percent of the total direct cost of the agreement when the purpose of such cooperative arrangements is to carry out programs of mutual interest between the two parties. This does not preclude appropriate payment of indirect costs on grants and contracts with such institutions when such indirect costs are computed on a similar basis for all agencies for which appropriations are provided in this Act. 705. Appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans made available in the current fiscal year shall remain available until expended to disburse obligations made in the current fiscal year for the following accounts: the Rural Development Loan Fund program account, the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program account, and the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account. 706. None of the funds made available to the Department of Agriculture by this Act may be used to acquire new information technology systems or significant upgrades, as determined by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, without the approval of the Chief Information Officer and the concurrence of the Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board: Provided Provided further Provided further Public Law 113–235 707. Funds made available under section 524(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1524(b) 708. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any former RUS borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, direct or guaranteed loan under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, or any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or direct loan under such Act, shall be eligible for assistance under section 313(b)(2)(B) of such Act in the same manner as a borrower under such Act. 709. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, not more than $20,000,000 in unobligated balances from appropriations made available for salaries and expenses in this Act for the Farm Service Agency shall remain available through September 30, 2019, for information technology expenses: Provided 710. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for first-class travel by the employees of agencies funded by this Act in contravention of sections 301–10.122 through 301–10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations. 711. In the case of each program established or amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–79 (1) such funds shall be available for salaries and related administrative expenses, including technical assistance, associated with the implementation of the program, without regard to the limitation on the total amount of allotments and fund transfers contained in section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act ( 15 U.S.C. 714i (2) the use of such funds for such purpose shall not be considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of applying the limitation on the total amount of allotments and fund transfers contained in such section. 712. Of the funds made available by this Act, not more than $2,000,000 shall be used to cover necessary expenses of activities related to all advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces of the Department of Agriculture, except for panels used to comply with negotiated rule makings and panels used to evaluate competitively awarded grants. 713. None of the funds in this Act shall be available to pay indirect costs charged against any agricultural research, education, or extension grant awards issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture that exceed 30 percent of total Federal funds provided under each award: Provided 7 U.S.C. 3310 15 U.S.C. 638 714. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel to carry out the following: (1) The Watershed Rehabilitation program authorized by section 14(h)(1) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1012(h)(1) (2) The Environmental Quality Incentives Program as authorized by sections 1240–1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–3839aa–8) in excess of $1,456,000,000: Provided 16 U.S.C. 3841(a)(5)(E) (3) The Biomass Crop Assistance Program authorized by section 9011 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8111 (4) The Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance program as authorized by section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8103 715. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 14222 of Public Law 110–246 7 U.S.C. 612c–6 section 14222 7 U.S.C. 612c section 32 Provided Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1769a Provided further Provided further 15 U.S.C. 714c Provided further 716. None of the funds appropriated by this or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel who prepare or submit appropriations language as part of the President's budget submission to the Congress for programs under the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies that assumes revenues or reflects a reduction from the previous year due to user fees proposals that have not been enacted into law prior to the submission of the budget unless such budget submission identifies which additional spending reductions should occur in the event the user fees proposals are not enacted prior to the date of the convening of a committee of conference for the fiscal year 2019 appropriations Act. 717. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by previous appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in the current fiscal year, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming, transfer of funds, or reimbursements as authorized by the Economy Act, or in the case of the Department of Agriculture, through use of the authority provided by section 702(b) of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 ( 7 U.S.C. 2257 Public Law 89–106 7 U.S.C. 2263 (1) creates new programs; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel by any means for any project or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted; (4) relocates an office or employees; (5) reorganizes offices, programs, or activities; or (6) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities presently performed by Federal employees; unless the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human Services (as the case may be) notifies in writing and receives approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days in advance of the reprogramming of such funds or the use of such authority. (b) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in the current fiscal year, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure for activities, programs, or projects through a reprogramming or use of the authorities referred to in subsection (a) involving funds in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, that— (1) augments existing programs, projects, or activities; (2) reduces by 10 percent funding for any existing program, project, or activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent as approved by Congress; or (3) results from any general savings from a reduction in personnel which would result in a change in existing programs, activities, or projects as approved by Congress; unless the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human Services (as the case may be) notifies in writing and receives approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days in advance of the reprogramming or transfer of such funds or the use of such authority. (c) The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall notify in writing and receive approval from the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress before implementing any program or activity not carried out during the previous fiscal year unless the program or activity is funded by this Act or specifically funded by any other Act. (d) None of the funds provided by this Act, or provided by previous Appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in the current fiscal year, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for— (1) modifying major capital investments funding levels, including information technology systems, that involves increasing or decreasing funds in the current fiscal year for the individual investment in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent of the total cost, whichever is less; (2) realigning or reorganizing new, current, or vacant positions or agency activities or functions to establish a center, office, branch, or similar entity with five or more personnel; or (3) carrying out activities or functions that were not described in the budget request; unless the agencies funded by this Act notify, in writing, the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress at least 30 days in advance of using the funds for these purposes. (e) As described in this section, no funds may be used for any activities unless the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Health and Human Services receives from the Committee on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress written or electronic mail confirmation of receipt of the notification as required in this section. 718. Notwithstanding section 310B(g)(5) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1932(g)(5) 719. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, or the Farm Credit Administration shall be used to transmit or otherwise make available reports, questions, or responses to questions that are a result of information requested for the appropriations hearing process to any non-Department of Agriculture, non-Department of Health and Human Services, or non-Farm Credit Administration employee. 720. Unless otherwise authorized by existing law, none of the funds provided in this Act, may be used by an executive branch agency to produce any prepackaged news story intended for broadcast or distribution in the United States unless the story includes a clear notification within the text or audio of the prepackaged news story that the prepackaged news story was prepared or funded by that executive branch agency. 721. No employee of the Department of Agriculture may be detailed or assigned from an agency or office funded by this Act or any other Act to any other agency or office of the Department for more than 60 days in a fiscal year 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. 722. None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act may be used— (1) in contravention of section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 5940 (2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or use of industrial hemp, or seeds of such plant, that is grown or cultivated in accordance with subsection section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, within or outside the State in which the industrial hemp is grown or cultivated. 723. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a detailed spending plan by program, project, and activity for all the funds made available under this Act including appropriated user fees, as defined in the report accompanying this Act. 724. There is hereby appropriated $1,996,000 to carry out section 1621 of Public Law 110–246 725. The Secretary shall continue an intermediary loan packaging program based on the pilot program in effect for fiscal year 2013 for packaging and reviewing section 502 single family direct loans. The Secretary shall continue agreements with current intermediary organizations and with additional qualified intermediary organizations. The Secretary shall work with these organizations to increase effectiveness of the section 502 single family direct loan program in rural communities and shall set aside and make available from the national reserve section 502 loans an amount necessary to support the work of such intermediaries and provide a priority for review of such loans. 726. For loans and loan guarantees that do not require budget authority and the program level has been established in this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may increase the program level for such loans and loan guarantees by not more than 25 percent: Provided 727. None of the credit card refunds or rebates transferred to the Working Capital Fund pursuant to section 729 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 2235a Public Law 107–76 Provided 728. (a) Clarification on Cottonseed (1) Designation of cottonseed as a covered commodity Section 1111(6) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9011(6) (A) by striking The term (A) In general The term ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Inclusion Effective beginning with the 2018 crop year, the term covered commodity . (2) Reference price for cottonseed Section 1111(18) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9011(18) (O) For cottonseed, $15.00 per hundredweight. . (3) Payment yield for cottonseed Section 1113(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9013(b) (4) Payment yield for cottonseed (A) Payment yield Subject to subparagraph (B), the payment yield for a farm for cottonseed shall be equal to 1.4 times the payment yield for upland cotton for the farm established under section 1104(e)(3) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 8714(e)(3) (B) Update At the sole discretion of the owner of a farm, the owner of a farm shall have a 1-time opportunity to update the payment yield described in subparagraph (A) in accordance with subsection (d). . (4) Payment acres Section 1114(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9014(b) (4) Cottonseed Effective for the 2018 crop year and each crop year thereafter, the Secretary shall allocate generic base acres for producers on a farm as follows: (A) In the case of a farm on which no covered commodities (including cottonseed) were planted or were prevented from being planted at any time during each of the 2009 through 2016 crop years, generic base acres shall be allocated to unassigned crop base for which no payments may be made under section 1116 or 1117. (B) In the case of a farm not described in subparagraph (A), generic base acres shall be allocated— (i) to cottonseed base acres in a quantity equal to the greater of— (I) subject to subparagraph (C), 80 percent of the generic base acres on the farm; and (II) the average number of cottonseed acres planted or prevented from being planted on the farm during each of the 2009 through 2012 crop years (not to exceed the total generic base acres on the farm); or (ii) to base acres for covered commodities (including cottonseed), by applying subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), and (F) of section 1112(a)(3). (C) In the case of a farm on which generic base acres are allocated under subparagraph (B)(i)(I), the remaining 20 percent of generic base acres shall be allocated to unassigned crop base for which no payments may be made under section 1116 or 1117. . (5) Recordkeeping regarding unassigned crop base Section 1114 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9014 (f) Unassigned crop base The Secretary shall maintain information on generic base acres on a farm allocated as unassigned crop base under subparagraphs (A) and (C) of subsection (b)(4). . (6) Special election period for price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage Section 1115 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9015 (A) in subsection (a), by striking For Except as provided in subsection (g), for (B) by adding at the end the following: (g) Special election In the case of a farm on which generic base acres are attributed to cottonseed or on which generic base acres are allocated to cottonseed, the producers on the farm shall be given the opportunity to make a new 1-time election under subsection (a) for the 2018 crop year and each crop year thereafter to reflect the designation of cottonseed as a covered commodity under section 1111(6)(B). . (7) Loan rate Section 1202 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9032 (c) Cottonseed (1) In general For purposes of section 1116(b)(2) and paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and (2)(A)(ii)(II) of section 1117(b), the loan rate for cottonseed shall be equal to $8.00 per hundredweight. (2) Effect Nothing in this subsection authorizes any nonrecourse marketing assistance loan under this subtitle for cottonseed. . (8) Limitation on stacked income protection plan for producers of upland cotton Section 508B of the Federal Crop Insurance Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1508b (f) Limitation Effective beginning with the 2018 crop year, a farm shall not be eligible for the Stacked Income Protection Plan for a crop year for which the farm is enrolled in coverage for cottonseed under— (1) price loss coverage under section 1116 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9016 (2) agriculture risk coverage under section 1117 of that Act ( 7 U.S.C. 9017 . (9) Administration The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out the amendments made by this subsection in accordance with section 1601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9091 (10) Application The amendments made by this subsection shall apply beginning with the 2018 crop year. (11) Clerical amendment Section 1114(b)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9014(b)(2) paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B) paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) Margin protection program for dairy producers (1) Monthly calculation of actual dairy production margin (A) Definitions Section 1401 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9051 (i) by striking paragraph (4); and (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (11) as paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively. (B) Calculation of actual dairy production margin Section 1402(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9052(b)(1) consecutive 2-month period month (C) Margin protection payments Section 1406 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9056 (i) by striking consecutive 2-month period month (ii) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking 6 12 (D) Effective date The amendments made by this paragraph take effect on September 1, 2018. (2) Participation of dairy operations in margin protection program (A) In general Section 1404 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9054 (i) in subsection (b)— (I) in paragraph (1), by inserting , including the establishment of a date each coverage year by which a dairy operation shall register for the coverage year (II) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and (III) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Election (A) In general For the 2019 through 2023 coverage years, a dairy operation may make an irrevocable election to participate in the margin protection program. (B) Coverage years A dairy operation that elects to participate in the margin protection program under subparagraph (A) shall participate in the margin protection program for the coverage year for which the participating dairy operation elects to participate and each subsequent coverage year through coverage year 2023. ; and (ii) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: (4) Exemption A limited resource, beginning, veteran, or socially disadvantaged farmer, as defined by the Secretary, shall be exempt from the administrative fee under this subsection. . (B) Effective date The amendments made by this paragraph take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Production history of participating dairy operations Section 1405(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9055(a) (3) Continued applicability of base production history A production history established for a dairy operation under paragraph (1) shall be the base production history for the dairy operation in subsequent years (as adjusted under paragraph (2)). . (4) Premiums for margin protection program Section 1407 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9057 (A) in subsection (b)— (i) by striking the subsection heading and inserting the following: Tier I: Premium Per Hundredweight for First 5,000,000 Pounds of Production.— (ii) in paragraph (1), by striking 4,000,000 5,000,000 (iii) in paragraph (2)— (I) by striking $0.010 None (II) by striking $0.025 None (III) by striking $0.040 $0.009 (IV) by striking $0.055 $0.017 (V) by striking $0.090 $0.043 (VI) by striking $0.217 $0.068 (VII) by striking $0.300 $0.094 (VIII) by striking $0.475 $0.153 (B) in subsection (c)— (i) by striking the subsection heading and inserting the following: Tier II: Premium Per Hundredweight for Production in Excess of 5,000,000 Pounds.— (ii) in paragraph (1), by striking 4,000,000 5,000,000 (C) in subsection (e)(2), by striking for a calendar year shall be legally obligated to pay the applicable premium for that calendar year shall be legally obligated to pay the applicable premium elected by the participating dairy operation for the coverage year (5) Effective date Except as provided in paragraphs (1)(D) and (2)(B), the amendments made by this subsection take effect on October 1, 2018. 729. (a) Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2 (a) Establishment During each of the 2002 through 2019 fiscal years, the Secretary shall provide payments to producers that enter into contracts with the Secretary under the program. . (b) Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3841 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 2018 2018 (and fiscal year 2019 in the case of the program specified in paragraph (5)) (B) in paragraph (5)(E), by striking fiscal year 2018 each of fiscal years 2018 through 2019 (2) in subsection (b), by striking 2018 2018 (and fiscal year 2019 in the case of the program specified in subsection (a)(5)) 730. Funds provided by this or any prior Appropriations Act for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative under 7 U.S.C. 450i(b) 7 U.S.C. 3371 Provided 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(9) 731. There is hereby appropriated $8,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8107a Provided 732. In carrying out subsection (h) of section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1472 42 U.S.C. 1490p–2 733. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to propose, promulgate, or implement any rule, or take any other action with respect to, allowing or requiring information intended for a prescribing health care professional, in the case of a drug or biological product subject to section 503(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 353(b)(1) 734. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to notify a sponsor or otherwise acknowledge receipt of a submission for an exemption for investigational use of a drug or biological product under section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(i) 42 U.S.C. 262(a)(3) 735. None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to carry out the final rule promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration and put into effect November 16, 2015, in regards to the hazard analysis and risk-based preventive control requirements of the current good manufacturing practice, hazard analysis, and risk-based preventive controls for food for animals rule with respect to the regulation of the production, distribution, sale, or receipt of dried spent grain byproducts of the alcoholic beverage production process. 736. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000 for the Secretary to carry out a pilot program that provides forestry inventory analysis, forest management and economic outcomes modelling for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program participants. The Secretary shall allow the Commodity Credit Corporation to enter into agreements with and provide grants to qualified non-profit organizations dedicated to conservation, forestry and wildlife habitats, that also have experience in conducting accurate forest inventory analysis through the use of advanced, cost-effective technology. The Secretary shall focus the analysis on lands enrolled for at least eight years and located in areas with a substantial concentration of acres enrolled under conservation practices devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species including CP03, CP03A, CP11, CP22, CP31 and CP40. 737. In addition to amounts otherwise made available by this Act and notwithstanding the last sentence of 16 U.S.C. 1310 16 U.S.C. 1301–1311 738. No partially hydrogenated oils as defined in the order published by the Food and Drug Administration in the Federal Register on June 17, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 34650 et seq.) shall be deemed unsafe within the meaning of section 409(a) and no food that is introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce that bears or contains a partially hydrogenated oil shall be deemed adulterated under sections 402(a)(1) or 402(a)(2)(C)(i) by virtue of bearing or containing a partially hydrogenated oil until the compliance date as specified in such order (June 18, 2018). 739. There is hereby appropriated $5,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019, for a pilot program for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans. 740. Section 1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3844 (m) Exemption From Certain Reporting Requirements (1) Definition of exempted producer In this subsection, the term exempted producer (2) Exemption Notwithstanding the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 ( Public Law 109–282 31 U.S.C. 6101 . 741. Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available for the supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 742. The Secretary shall set aside for Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zones, until August 15, 2018, an amount of funds made available in title III under the headings of Rural Housing Insurance Fund Program Account, Mutual and Self-Help Housing Grants, Rural Housing Assistance Grants, Rural Community Facilities Program Account, Rural Business Program Account, Rural Development Loan Fund Program Account, and Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account, equal to the amount obligated in REAP Zones with respect to funds provided under such headings in the most recent fiscal year any such funds were obligated under such headings for REAP Zones. 743. The Secretary may charge a fee for lenders to access Department loan guarantee systems in connection with such lenders’ participation in loan guarantee programs of the Rural Housing Service: Provided Provided further 744. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, to remain available until expended, for the cost of loans and grants that is consistent with section 4206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, for necessary expenses of the Secretary to support projects that provide access to healthy food in underserved areas, to create and preserve quality jobs, and to revitalize low-income communities. 745. There is hereby appropriated $1,000,000, to remain available until expended, for a pilot program for the Secretary to provide grants to qualified non-profit organizations and public housing authorities to provide technical assistance, including financial and legal services, to RHS multi-family housing borrowers to facilitate the acquisition of RHS multi-family housing properties in areas where the Secretary determines a risk of loss of affordable housing, by non-profit housing organizations and public housing authorities as authorized by law that commit to keep such properties in the RHS multi-family housing program for a period of time as determined by the Secretary. 746. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the Secretary 7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1) (b) The alternate calculation method referred to in subsection (a) is a method of calculating the actual yield for the 2017 crop year for county-level agriculture risk coverage payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1) (1) county data of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (referred to in this section as NASS data (2) if there is insufficient NASS data for a county (as determined under standards of the Secretary in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act) or the available NASS data produces a substantially disparate result, the calculation of the county yield is determined using comparable contiguous county NASS data as determined by the Farm Service Agency office in the applicable State; and (3) if there is insufficient NASS data for a comparable contiguous county (as determined under standards of the Secretary in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act), the calculation of the county yield is determined using reliable yield data from other sources, such as Risk Management Agency data, National Agricultural Statistics Service district data, National Agricultural Statistics Service State yield data, or other data as determined by the Farm Service Agency office in the applicable State. (c) (1) A supplemental payment made under the pilot program established under this section may be made to an agricultural producer who is subject to the alternate calculation method described in subsection (b) if that agricultural producer would otherwise receive a county-level agriculture risk coverage payment for the 2017 crop year in an amount that is less than the payment that the agricultural producer would receive under the alternate calculation method. (2) The amount of a supplemental payment to an agricultural producer under this section may not exceed the difference between— (A) the payment that the agricultural producer would have received without the alternate calculation method described in subsection (b); and (B) the payment that the agricultural producer would receive using the alternate calculation method. (d) (1) There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019, to carry out the pilot program described in this section. (2) Of the funds appropriated, the Secretary shall use not more than $5,000,000 to carry out the pilot program described in this section. (e) (1) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall select States to participate in the pilot program under this section so the cost of the pilot program equals the amount provided under subsection (d). (2) To the extent that the cost of the pilot program exceeds the amount made available, the Secretary shall reduce all payments under the pilot program on a pro rata basis. (f) Nothing in this section affects the calculation of actual yield for purposes of county-level agriculture risk coverage payments under section 1117(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9017(b)(1) (g) A calculation of actual yield made using the alternate calculation method described in subsection (b) shall not be used as a basis for any agriculture risk coverage payment determinations under section 1117 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9017 747. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the variety Enhancing Retailer Standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) variety variety staple food Provided Public Law 113–79 748. There is hereby appropriated $600,000 for the purposes of section 727 of division A of Public Law 112–55 749. In addition to amounts otherwise made available by this Act under the heading Domestic Food Programs—Food and Nutrition Services—Child Nutrition Programs 750. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography. (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 751. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Food and Drug Administration to develop, issue, promote, or advance any regulations applicable to food manufacturers for population-wide sodium reduction actions or to develop, issue, promote or advance final guidance applicable to food manufacturers for long term population-wide sodium reduction actions until the date on which a dietary reference intake report with respect to sodium is completed. 752. (a) There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a Working Capital Fund (the Fund) to be administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), without fiscal year limitation, for the payment of salaries, travel, and other expenses necessary to the maintenance and operation of (1) a supply service for the purchase, storage, handling, issuance, packing, or shipping of stationery, supplies, materials, equipment, and blank forms, for which stocks may be maintained to meet, in whole or in part, the needs of the FDA and requisitions of other Government Offices, and (2) such other services as the Commissioner of the FDA, subject to review by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, determines may be performed more advantageously as central services. The Fund shall be reimbursed from applicable discretionary resources, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable purpose limitations, available when services are performed or stock furnished, or in advance, on a basis of rates which shall include estimated or actual charges for personal services, materials, equipment, information technology, and other expenses. Charges for equipment and information technology shall include costs associated with maintenance, repair, and depreciation (including improvement and replacement). (b) Of any discretionary resources appropriated in this Act for fiscal year 2018 for Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Salaries and Expenses (c) No amounts may be transferred pursuant to this section that are designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 753. For an additional amount for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Salaries and Expenses 754. (a) Section 2 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1002 $5,000,000 $25,000,000 (b) Section 5 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1005 (1) in paragraph (3), by striking $5,000,000 $25,000,000 (2) in paragraph (4), by striking $5,000,000 $25,000,000 755. (a) In General Section 231 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6941 (1) in subsection (a), by striking is authorized to shall (2) in subsection (b), by striking If the Secretary the Under Secretary The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development (3) by striking subsection (d); and (4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d). (b) Authority Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 7014(b) (9) The authority of the Secretary to establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development under section 231. . 756. Funds made available for ELAP assistance shall also be made available for the transporting of hay and livestock due to an eligible drought. 757. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of applying the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 genetically engineered GE (b) During fiscal year 2018, the Food and Drug Administration shall not allow the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of any food that contains genetically engineered salmon until the Food and Drug Administration publishes final labeling guidelines for informing consumers of such content. (c) For purposes of this section, salmon is genetically engineered if it has been modified by recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques, including the entire lineage of salmon that contain the rDNA modification. 758. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay the salaries or expenses of personnel— (1) to inspect horses under section 3 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. 603 (2) to inspect horses under section 903 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 1901 Public Law 104–127 (3) to implement or enforce section 352.19 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). This Act may be cited as the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 July 20, 2017 Read twice and placed on the calendar

Summary: Highlights: This bill provides FY2018 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service which is included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. It also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Farm Credit Administration. The bill includes both discretionary and mandatory funding. The mandatory funding levels are generally set by authorizing legislation such as the farm bill and are frequently limited in the agriculture appropriations bill. The bill decreases discretionary funding for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies below FY2017 levels. Full Summary: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 Provides FY2018 appropriations to the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and related agencies. TITLE I--AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS Provides appropriations for the following agricultural programs and services: the Office of the Secretary; Executive Operations; the Office of the Chief Information Officer; the Office of the Chief Financial Officer; the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; the Office of Civil Rights; Agriculture Buildings and Facilities; Hazardous Materials Management; the Office of Inspector General; the Office of the General Counsel; the Office of Ethics; the Office of the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; the Economic Research Service; the National Agricultural Statistics Service; the Agricultural Research Service; the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; the Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); the Agricultural Marketing Service; the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; the Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety; and the Food Safety and Inspection Service. TITLE II Provides appropriations for: the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund, and the Commodity Credit Corporation Fund. TITLE III--RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Provides appropriations for Rural Development Programs including: the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development, Rural Development Salaries and Expenses, the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Business--Cooperative Service, and the Rural Utilities Service. TITLE IV--DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS Provides appropriations for the Office of the Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. Provides appropriations to the Food and Nutrition Service for: Child Nutrition Programs; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps); the Commodity Assistance Program; and Nutrition Programs Administration. TITLE V--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS Provides appropriations to the Office of the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. Provides appropriations for the Foreign Agricultural Service, including: the Food for Peace Act (P.L. 480), the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, and the Commodity Credit Corporation Export (loans) Credit Guarantee Program Account. TITLE VI--RELATED AGENCIES AND FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION Provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Provides appropriations to the Farm Credit Administration. TITLE VII--GENERAL PROVISIONS (Sec. 701) Permits USDA to use funds provided by this bill for the purchase, replacement, and hire of passenger motor vehicles. (Sec. 702) Permits USDA to transfer unobligated balances to the Working Capital Fund for the acquisition of plant and capital equipment for financial, administrative, and information technology services. Permits the transferred funds to remain available until expended and specifies restrictions on the use of the funds. (Sec. 703) Prohibits appropriations provided by this bill from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless the bill expressly provides otherwise. (Sec. 704) Limits negotiated indirect costs on cooperative agreements between USDA and nonprofit institutions to 10% of the total direct cost of the agreement when the purpose of the agreement is to carry out programs of mutual interest between the two parties. (Sec. 705) Permits appropriations for direct and guaranteed loans to remain available until expended to disburse obligations made in the current fiscal year for: (1) the Rural Development Loan Fund program account, (2) the Rural Electrification and Telecommunication Loans program account, and (3) the Rural Housing Insurance Fund program account. (Sec. 706) Prohibits USDA from using funds provided by this bill to acquire or make significant upgrades to information technology systems without approval of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Executive Information Technology Investment Review Board. Restricts the transfer of funds made available by this bill to the CIO without prior approval of Congress. Prohibits funds from being used for specified information technology projects without the approval of the CIO. (Sec. 707) Permits specified funds provided under the Federal Crop Insurance Act for the Agricultural Management Assistance Program in the current fiscal year to remain available until expended to disburse obligations made in the current fiscal year. (Sec. 708) Makes a former Rural Utility Service borrower that has repaid or prepaid a loan under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 or any not-for-profit utility qualified to receive a loan under the Act eligible for rural economic development and job creation assistance in the same manner as a borrower. (Sec. 709) Permits specified unobligated balances of appropriations provided by this bill for salaries and expenses of the Farm Service Agency and the Rural Development mission area to remain available through FY2019 for information technology expenses. (Sec. 710) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for first-class travel by employees of agencies funded by this bill. (Sec. 711) Provides that Commodity Credit Corporation funds authorized or required to be used for specified programs included in the Agricultural Act of 2014: (1) shall be available for salaries and administrative expenses associated with the implementation of programs without regard to allotment and transfer limits, and (2) shall not be considered to be a fund transfer or allotment for purposes of applying the limits. (Sec. 712) Limits funds available for USDA advisory committees, panels, commissions, and task forces, except for panels used to comply with negotiated rulemaking or to evaluate competitively awarded grants. (Sec. 713) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to pay indirect costs charged against any agricultural research, education, or extension grant awards issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that exceed 30% of total federal funds provided under each award. Permits funds provided by this bill for grants awarded competitively by NIFA to be used to pay full allowable indirect costs for specified research and development grants awarded under the Small Business Act. (Sec. 714) Limits funds that may be used for the following programs: the Watershed Rehabilitation Program; the Environmental Quality Incentives Program; the Biomass Crop Assistance Program; and The Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. (Sec. 715) Limits funds for the following domestic food assistance categories: Child Nutrition Programs Entitlement Commodities, State Option Contracts, Removal of Defective Commodities, and Administration of Section 32 Commodity Purchases. Limits FY2018 funds for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program that provides fruit and vegetables to students in participating elementary schools. Prohibits USDA from using funds for payments authorized by Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935 to increase purchasing power of agricultural producers or for surplus removal or price support activities authorized by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. (Section 32 is a program created to assist agricultural producers of non-price-supported commodities and is funded by a permanent appropriation of a portion of the previous year's customs receipts less certain mandatory transfers to child nutrition and other programs. This provision effectively prohibits the use of Section 32 for emergency disaster payments.) Rescinds specified unobligated balances provided for domestic food assistance programs. (Sec. 716) Prohibits funds from being used to prepare proposals for the President's budget that assume savings from certain user fee proposals without identifying additional spending reductions that should occur if the proposals are not enacted. (Sec. 717) Sets forth procedures, requirements, and restrictions for reprogramming and transferring funds provided by this bill. (Sec. 718) Permits USDA to assess a one-time fee for any guaranteed business and industry loan and limits the fee to 3% of the guaranteed principal portion of the loan. (Sec. 719) Prohibits funds from being used to provide reports, questions, or responses to questions that are a result of information requested for the appropriations hearing process to anyone not employed by USDA, the Food and Drug Administration, or the Farm Credit Administration. (Sec. 720) Prohibits any executive branch agency from using funds provided by this bill to produce a prepackaged news story for U.S. broadcast or distribution unless the story includes a clear notification that it was prepared or funded by the agency. (Sec. 721) Prohibits USDA employees from being detailed or assigned from an agency funded by this bill to any other USDA agency or office for more than 60 days in a fiscal year unless the individual's employing agency is reimbursed by the receiving agency for the salary and expenses of the employee. (Sec. 722) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used: (1) in contravention of a provision of the Agricultural Act of 2014 that permits an institution of higher education or a state department of agriculture to grow or cultivate industrial hemp for research purposes; or (2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or use of industrial hemp or seeds of such plant, that is grown or cultivated in accordance with the Agricultural Act of 2014, within or outside the state in which it is grown or cultivated. (Sec. 723) Directs the agencies funded by this bill to submit spending plans to Congress. (Sec. 724) Appropriates funds for direct reimbursement payments for geographically disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to transport agricultural commodities. (Sec. 725) Requires USDA to continue an intermediary loan packaging program based on the FY2013 pilot program for packaging and reviewing section 502 single family direct loans. (The loan program assists low-income applicants in purchasing homes in rural areas. Funds may also be used to build, repair, or renovate a house, including providing water and sewage facilities.) (Sec. 726) Permits USDA to increase the program level by up to 25% for certain loans and loan guarantees that do not require budget authority and have program levels established by this bill. Requires congressional notification prior to implementing any increase. (Sec. 727) Provides that certain credit card refunds or rebates transferred to the Working Capital Fund: (1) shall not be available for obligation without congressional approval; and (2) shall only be available for the acquisition of plant and capital equipment for USDA financial, administrative, and information technology services. (Sec. 728) Amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 farm bill) to designate cottonseed as a covered commodity beginning with the 2018 crop year. (Producers of covered commodities are eligible for USDA price and income support programs such as the Price Loss Coverage program.) (Sec. 729) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend certain USDA conservation programs through FY2019. (Sec. 730) Specifies the matching requirements that apply to funds appropriated for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. (Sec. 731) Provides additional funds to remain available until expended for the Rural Energy Savings Program. (The program helps rural families and small businesses achieve cost savings by providing loans to consumers to implement durable cost-effective energy efficiency measures.) Permits USDA to allow eligible entities to offer loans to customers in any part of their service territory and to offer loans to replace a manufactured housing unit with another manufactured housing unit, if replacement would be more cost effective in saving energy. (Sec. 732) Sets forth the authorities that apply for USDA to provide loans for housing and buildings on adequate farms. (Sec. 733) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for regulations to allow or require information intended for a prescribing health care professional, in the case of a drug or biological product, to be distributed electronically (in lieu of in paper form) until a federal law is enacted to allow or require electronic distribution. (Sec. 734) Prohibits the FDA from acknowledging applications for an exemption for investigational use of a drug or biological product in research in which a human embryo is intentionally created or modified to include a heritable genetic modification. Provides that any submission is deemed not to have been received, and the exemption may not go into effect. (Sec. 735) Prohibits funds from being used to carry out provisions of the final FDA rule titled "Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals" with respect to certain requirements that apply to the production, distribution, sale, or receipt of dried spent grain by-products of the alcoholic beverage production process. (Sec. 736) Provides appropriations for USDA to carry out a pilot program that provides forestry inventory analysis, forest management and economic outcomes modeling for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program participants. (Sec. 737) Provides appropriations to remain available until expended for implementing non-renewable agreements for wetlands preservation on eligible lands, including flooded agricultural lands. (Sec. 738) Prohibits the FDA from deeming partially hydrogenated oils to be unsafe or any food containing a partially hydrogenated oil to be adulterated prior to June 18, 2018. (Sec. 739) Provides appropriations to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to remain available through FY2019 for a pilot program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for programs and services to establish and enhance farming and ranching opportunities for military veterans. (Sec. 740) Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to exempt producers or landowners eligible to participate in any USDA conservation program from reporting requirements related to subawards, executive compensation, the Universal Identifier, and the System for Award Management. (Sec. 741) Rescinds specified unobligated balances from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (Sec. 742) Directs USDA to set aside specified additional funds for Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zones. (Sec. 743) Permits USDA to charge a fee for lenders to access USDA loan guarantee systems in connection with participation in the loan guarantee programs of the Rural Housing Service. (Sec. 744) Provides additional funds to USDA for loans and grants that are consistent with the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and that support projects to provide access to healthy food in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities. (Sec. 745) Provides appropriations to remain available until expended for a pilot program for USDA to award grants to non-profit organizations and public housing authorities to provide technical assistance to Rural Housing Service (RHS) multi-family housing borrowers to facilitate the acquisition of RHS multi-family housing properties in areas where there is a risk of loss of affordable housing. Requires the grants to be used to assist acquisitions by non-profit housing organizations and public housing authorities that commit to keep the properties in the RHS multi-family housing program for a period of time determined by USDA. (Sec. 746) Requires USDA to establish a pilot program to permit state Farm Service Agency offices to make county-level payments to agricultural producers under the Agriculture Risk Coverage Program using an alternate calculation method if it is necessary to ensure that there are not significant yield calculation disparities between comparable counties in the state. Specifies requirements for the alternative calculation method and provides appropriations for the program. (Sec. 747) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from be used for the variety requirements of the final USDA rule titled "Enhancing Retailer Standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)" until USDA amends the definition of "variety" to increase the number of items that qualify as acceptable varieties in each staple food category so that the total number of such items in each staple food category exceeds the number of such items in each staple food category included in the final rule. Specifies that, until the amendments are promulgated, USDA must apply the requirements regarding acceptable varieties and breadth of stock to SNAP retailers that were in effect on the day before the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014. (Sec. 748) Appropriates funds for the pilot program to demonstrate new technologies that increase growth of reforested hardwood trees on private nonindustrial forests lands on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. (Sec. 749) Provides appropriations to remain available through FY2019 to allow allied professional associations to develop a training program for school nutrition personnel that focuses on school food service meal preparation and workforce development. (Sec. 750) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for a computer network unless pornography is blocked, with the exception of law enforcement, prosecution, or adjudication activities. (Sec. 751) Prohibits the FDA from using funds provided by this bill to develop, issue, promote, or advance any regulations applicable to food manufacturers for population-wide sodium reduction actions or to develop, issue, promote or advance final guidance applicable to food manufacturers for long term population-wide sodium reduction actions until the dietary reference intake report with respect to sodium is completed. (Sec. 752) Establishes a Working Capital Fund to be administered by the FDA. Specifies purposes and transfer authority for the fund. (Sec. 753) Provides additional funds to APHIS to remain available through FY2019 for one-time control and management and associated activities directly related to the multiple-agency response to citrus greening. (Sec. 754) Amends the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to increase from $5 million to $25 million the threshold for estimated federal construction costs for certain watershed projects that requires USDA to comply with certain congressional reporting and approval requirements. (Sec. 755) Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to specify that the Secretary of Agriculture is required (instead of authorized) to establish in USDA the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. (Sec. 756) Requires funds made available for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to also be made available for the transporting of hay and livestock due to an eligible drought. (Sec. 757) Specifies that, for the purposes of applying the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act , the acceptable market name of any salmon that is genetically engineered must include the words "genetically engineered" or "GE" prior to the existing acceptable market name. Specifies that, during FY2018, the FDA may not allow the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of any food that contains genetically engineered salmon until the FDA publishes final labeling guidelines for informing consumers of the content. (Sec. 758) Prohibits funds from being used to inspect horses for slaughter purposes.